1/6 SSC ESB/ROTJ Darth Vader Modification Thread

[Pixelpiper]

Modified Kumik body

Which Kumik? My first suggestion is a different body or start by padding this one out more. He looks frail & too thin. It will make a big difference and an equally big improvement, otherwise off to a good start.

 

[mrshurricane]

New CCFL MR Piper 'that hasn't been done yet'..... Is it 'cordless' no hard connect from hilt to hand (been there done that ) 'in body power , no trailing wires or mains power (done that too) .... Very intrigued to what you have planned

 

[shocktrooper_au]

What is this one?

Thanks any iidea what the base elements where? Helmet / mask etc

 

[shocktrooper_au]

Well what needs to be done is like the new iPhone wireless charging, wireless power lighting, put the figure near a source enough to light it that would be sweet, where's tesla when I need him

 

[Solo_bones]

View attachment 96114
Oh yeah .....

Wow!!! That looks great. I love modding, but not interested in taking on this challenge. Can I get on the list? Is it possible? What do I need to provide?

 

[Pixelpiper]

Is it 'cordless' no hard connect from hilt to hand (been there done that ) 'in body power , no trailing wires or mains power (done that too) .... Very intrigued to what you have planned

I've seen those, but I'm not sure if they interest me. The dry contact hilt/hand is straight forward enough, but then the hand itself is still wired to the body - no point to expend the effort for my use. Modding the hand to also have contacts? Doable, but that does leave 300volts exposed at the wrist. No trailing wires means batteries, and pretty much everything I do in electric 1/6 involved eliminating batteries, so this will definitely not go that route.

If you've seen any of my threads, you'll know I don't keep secrets in 1/6 work, so I'll put up progress pictures and describe the work.

I'll integrate the inverter into the scene as rubble, it will power both Luke and Vader's sabers. I'll modify the glove to run the wires inside it. The saber will look the part whether it's energized or off - this is the most important part because the power isn't always on. It will come on when the lights in the display come on, just like everything electrical in all the other displays/shelves. Power will come from the rails on the Detolf that also power all the other shelves in this unit - no wires running down over shelves or to a 12v transformer. Nothing difficult and nothing ground breaking. Just clean - and always looking the part.

If I can get my hands on some different supplies, I also have a few ideas using (much) thinner CCFL tubes.

 

[mrshurricane]

I've seen those, but I'm not sure if they interest me. The dry contact hilt/hand is straight forward enough, but then the hand itself is still wired to the body - no point to expend the effort for my use. Modding the hand to also have contacts? Doable, but that does leave 300volts exposed at the wrist. No trailing wires means batteries, and pretty much everything I do in electric 1/6 involved eliminating batteries, so this will definitely not go that route.

If you've seen any of my threads, you'll know I don't keep secrets in 1/6 work, so I'll put up progress pictures and describe the work.

I'll integrate the inverter into the scene as rubble, it will power both Luke and Vader's sabers. I'll modify the glove to run the wires inside it. The saber will look the part whether it's energized or off - this is the most important part because the power isn't always on. It will come on when the lights in the display come on, just like everything electrical in all the other displays/shelves. Power will come from the rails on the Detolf that also power all the other shelves in this unit - no wires running down over shelves or to a 12v transformer. Nothing difficult and nothing ground breaking. Just clean - and always looking the part.

If I can get my hands on some different supplies, I also have a few ideas using (much) thinner CCFL tubes.

Sounds good

 

[MarfMaster]

Gadzooks! HIS SABER IS IN HIS LEFT HAND! Very nice picture. The purplish background looks an awful lot like a Star Destroyer's interior.

Thanks! I really like the drama that the right hand brings to the pose, and unfortunately they didn't include a left hand version.

And yeah, saber in the left hand? Just put it on his belt already. Vader also never carries around an unlit saber in his hand, why would he?

Oh, and if you feel like I get in your face because I speak my mind, then just scootch over a bit out of the way. I do bite sometimes.

You must have missed the part of my post where I mentioned the cathode saber is incoming, so it won't be unlit for long. Also, it is possible to speak your mind without coming off like an @ss.

 

[Pixelpiper]

That's all a matter of opinion/interpretation I suppose.

 

[McHaleyArt]

Still a work in Progress.
Pixelpiper's bite doesn't bother me. I appreciate the rigorous standards he holds Vader figures up to. It makes some of us work harder at what we're doing. Just don't take it personally, rude or not.
Regarding more severe mods. I wanted to carve into the SSC Face Mask...but there's just not enough thick materiel. You'd be better off sculpting something from scratch.

And Mrs. Hurricane...LOL...it's funny. I had the same reaction as you did (to mine) when I first saw a Hurricane Vader. This Vader Combo Mash method has been around for 15 years now...and (obviously) still works fine (although, I know he does more than that). That last pic you posted is a beautiful work of art.

 

[Rorywan]

Loving the creative mixing/modding of Vaders going on in here! Here is my Hurricane/SSC v2 hodge podge Vader. I have a cathode saber on the way as well, can't wait for that!

Looks great man. Great pic, fantastic looking Vader.

 

[mrshurricane]

We did some measuring last night admittedly only one area but as we feel the kaiyodo mask is very good and a great looking and a very good starting point for an alternative mask to sideshows this is what was found:-... Some maths , tusk root to tusk root of ESB 20 century fox Vader helmet full size ,taken allegedly from the ESB molds
95.83mm
At 1/6 scale 15.87mm
Kaiyodo/ screamin vinyl kit mask (same point to point ) 17.25mm
Glenn's /hurricane heavily reworked kaiyodo mask ,15.97mm
Sideshow ROTJ mask 19.17mm

 

[MarfMaster]

Looks great man. Great pic, fantastic looking Vader.

Thanks, bud! Glad you were able to overlook the atrocity that is Vader's unlit saber in his left hand and appreciate the photo.

 

[Rorywan]

Thanks, bud! Glad you were able to overlook the atrocity that is Vader's unlit saber in his left hand and appreciate the photo.

I just try to ignore that arse. It's hard sometimes as he seems to be gifting us with his overwhelming knowledge on so many threads.

 

[DarthAlias]

Hasbro dome all the way!

 

[FLOSI]

Word of warning, Pixelpiper, if you want to throw your insult laden opinions around prepare to become a target of criticism yourself. Your reputation around the board is growing daily, and not in a positive way. Play nice and be respectful. You’re simply reaping what you’ve sewn, so I don’t want to hear about members picking on you either.

Marf and Rory, try to play nice.

Thank you.

 

[Pixelpiper]

When you Flosi (anyone) finds an insult in one of my posts, they may feel free to report it or let me know about it. Disagreeing with an opinion or how vocal someone is is no excuse however for name calling and harassment. There are plenty of people I don't agree with but I don't make it a point to call them names or mention them when replying directly to others. This is a public space and that's al to be expected. I'm not concerned about my reputation on the board otherwise, those that get it get it, those that don't don't and I'm totally fine with that. This isn't Facebook - thankfully.

Writing what should be a private reply in a public forum is a little uncouth.

 

[MarfMaster]

Hasbro dome all the way!

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That looks great!

Marf and Rory, try to play nice.

You got it.

 

[FLOSI]

When you Flosi (anyone) finds an insult in one of my posts, they may feel free to report it or let me know about it. Disagreeing with an opinion or how vocal someone is is no excuse however for name calling and harassment. There are plenty of people I don't agree with but I don't make it a point to call them names or mention them when replying directly to others. This is a public space and that's al to be expected. I'm not concerned about my reputation on the board otherwise, those that get it get it, those that don't don't and I'm totally fine with that. This isn't Facebook - thankfully.

Writing what should be a private reply in a public forum is a little uncouth.

Thanks for the reply. We can take this to PM now.

 

[LoveMinusZero]

Hasbro dome all the way!

This really does look great. Did you do any other mods? I can see what people said about the thickness of the plastic being toylike, but the Hasbro dome has such perfect size and shape. It's a fair trade off.