In the beginning...
It was a while ago now that I first wanted to build a full set of MJOLNIR armor after seeing a motor cycle helmet that looked similar to Master Chief's. I imaged myself flying down the streets on my gho- I mean uh... motorcycle geared out on full MNOLNIR regalia. People would look on in total awe saying things like, "That guy is so cool!" and, "Was that really Master Chief?!" or, "I wish I was half as cool as that guy."
This epic fantasy did was not long lived on account that I don't own a motorcycle and it would be extremely expensive for everything required; so I abandoned all hope of that - but not before finding the collective gathering of great minds and skills here at the 405th! So began my journey with the pep:
And finally, completion of the skeleton:
So I began thinking of the next step and some cool ideas came to mind in regards to electronics. To start with the outlandish, I went to Wal Mart a loooong time ago and got a twenty dollar set of "NVG's" (really just an IR camera with a little TV screen that sat right in front of your eye) and I thought it would be cool to put the IR camera in the middle of the visor (not the face shield) and the IR lights between the flash lights on the sides of the face shields. Yeah so I dismantled it (broke it open like a freakin barbarian!!!) and removed the electronics, long story short - no way it would have worked due to the fact the camera and TV were connected to the circuit board directly and with a one-inch ribbon cable respectively, well poop.
Next idea was cool but way out of my budget, but was to attach a small HUD for the sole purpose of incorporating an IFF capability between multiple helmets. Using an OTS GPS and\or some kind of channalized radio (like in RC cars/boats/planes/etc.), run it through some processors and throw it up on the display, thought it would be AWESOME for air soft or paint ball tourneys.
Then there's the common mounted flashlights. I'm planning on using mini mags with a half-inch diameter. This seems to measure PERFECTLY for two on each side and most importantly, unlike just screwing in an LED, by mounting the entire mag head into the helmet it keeps the entire assembly that directs the light vice just flooding the area with light; more tame accurate in my opinion to have flashlights that acted more like flashlights and less like lanterns. Coolest part is that instead of hitting a button on the outside of the helmet, I want to install a pressure switch that lines up with the jaw INSIDE the helmet so that when I clench my jaw the lights turns on/off with out an viewer ever seeing me move. The helmet will be kept from shifting and stay secure with a foam padding on the inside, like a motorcycle or aviators helmet.
A more feasible install I'm working on is mounting an external speaker in the mouth piece and an external mic (probably hidden on the top during the Bondo phase) as well as an internal mic and two ear cups with working speakers using my xbox headset (that I never use), and a cheap gaming headphone set. Headphones are important vice earphones\buds because they'll be spacers inside the helmet to help hold it secure to my head. Having a comm system would be epic! I'm not totally ignorant about electronics but I'm no expert either so any tips about how to wire all of that would be invaluable.
Another thought was to build an AR (or any weapon) and to build switches (including the trigger (why not?)) that control things on the suit such as lights or an mp3 hooked up to speakers in the torso that play the Halo theme
Thoughts, suggestions, ideas?
It was a while ago now that I first wanted to build a full set of MJOLNIR armor after seeing a motor cycle helmet that looked similar to Master Chief's. I imaged myself flying down the streets on my gho- I mean uh... motorcycle geared out on full MNOLNIR regalia. People would look on in total awe saying things like, "That guy is so cool!" and, "Was that really Master Chief?!" or, "I wish I was half as cool as that guy."
This epic fantasy did was not long lived on account that I don't own a motorcycle and it would be extremely expensive for everything required; so I abandoned all hope of that - but not before finding the collective gathering of great minds and skills here at the 405th! So began my journey with the pep:
And finally, completion of the skeleton:
So I began thinking of the next step and some cool ideas came to mind in regards to electronics. To start with the outlandish, I went to Wal Mart a loooong time ago and got a twenty dollar set of "NVG's" (really just an IR camera with a little TV screen that sat right in front of your eye) and I thought it would be cool to put the IR camera in the middle of the visor (not the face shield) and the IR lights between the flash lights on the sides of the face shields. Yeah so I dismantled it (broke it open like a freakin barbarian!!!) and removed the electronics, long story short - no way it would have worked due to the fact the camera and TV were connected to the circuit board directly and with a one-inch ribbon cable respectively, well poop.
Next idea was cool but way out of my budget, but was to attach a small HUD for the sole purpose of incorporating an IFF capability between multiple helmets. Using an OTS GPS and\or some kind of channalized radio (like in RC cars/boats/planes/etc.), run it through some processors and throw it up on the display, thought it would be AWESOME for air soft or paint ball tourneys.
Then there's the common mounted flashlights. I'm planning on using mini mags with a half-inch diameter. This seems to measure PERFECTLY for two on each side and most importantly, unlike just screwing in an LED, by mounting the entire mag head into the helmet it keeps the entire assembly that directs the light vice just flooding the area with light; more tame accurate in my opinion to have flashlights that acted more like flashlights and less like lanterns. Coolest part is that instead of hitting a button on the outside of the helmet, I want to install a pressure switch that lines up with the jaw INSIDE the helmet so that when I clench my jaw the lights turns on/off with out an viewer ever seeing me move. The helmet will be kept from shifting and stay secure with a foam padding on the inside, like a motorcycle or aviators helmet.
A more feasible install I'm working on is mounting an external speaker in the mouth piece and an external mic (probably hidden on the top during the Bondo phase) as well as an internal mic and two ear cups with working speakers using my xbox headset (that I never use), and a cheap gaming headphone set. Headphones are important vice earphones\buds because they'll be spacers inside the helmet to help hold it secure to my head. Having a comm system would be epic! I'm not totally ignorant about electronics but I'm no expert either so any tips about how to wire all of that would be invaluable.
Another thought was to build an AR (or any weapon) and to build switches (including the trigger (why not?)) that control things on the suit such as lights or an mp3 hooked up to speakers in the torso that play the Halo theme
Thoughts, suggestions, ideas?
