Sandbagger's Iron Man builds - Now in STEEL.

[BuildsByBaz]

GAAAAAHHHH!!!!!! Troubleshooting the voice changer and just realised the whole reason it's not working is because the faceplate is up and the microswitch is not engaged. Connected power and activated the motor and it got caught on the soldering station on the desk. Completely stripped the bowden cable and stuffed the drive mechanism for the faceplate!!! Gonna be a late night.

Big day tomorrow. FFFFFF...

 

[BuildsByBaz]

For all those big hearts who supported me all the way through this, you should take a big pat on the back. The Starlight Foundation fundraising drive today raised a little over the total amount raised for the entire week combined.

Today's event was nothing short of amazing. The kids had an absolute blast and I reckon more than a few adults got a bit giddy too. Good to see the innocence coming out in everyone. There were smiles, screams, joyful outbursts, lots of high-fives and fist bumps, a few cuddles, some frightened crying, questions about flight capabilities and jaws on the ground.

At one point, three S.H.I.E.L.D looking security guards escorted for a full length walk of the shopping centre, stopping for photos with many along the way. Shop keepers and customers all came running out, I photobombed a poor bloke getting his hair-cut and popped over the rail, looking down into the food court a level down. Many exclamations from down there when that happened.

The suit was comfortable for the most part, with a couple of friction spots becoming apparent after time. I was hot, but we all knew that was going to be the case. No surprises there. However, once I got wet enough through the undersuit, i was actually self-cooling pretty well. Spent three hours in the suit, with two ten minute breaks spaced apart for some water and a couple of sweet lollies.

Very glad to get the suit off at the end, but what an experience!

There were a couple of good learning experiences with some of the wiring, a couple of the soft-parts of the suit coming unstuck, (no biggy) and the voice changer stopped working about half-way through. The good thing now is that I have some time to refine these things without the rush of a deadline.

Oh, and keep your eye on the Today show tomorrow morning channel Nine around 8:27am.

Video coming soon.

 

[Jme]

congratulations!

I love that the kids are all striking the pose.

 

[SavedbyGraceG12]

Sandbagger

All that hard work that went into your build is finally paying off! Just as happy, and excited as you are! And I'm sure to the many others that have been tagging along for the ride! By the way the Link provided to watch the interview isn't working. Not on your end, but Canberra's end. One more thing, you said it was hot in the suit? Suck it up, ya Sook! Lol!

 

[BuildsByBaz]

So many people made this happen. My heartfelt thanks to you all. I should mention ROBO3687 and JFCustom especially, members of the cosplay forums who developed the original files for the templates that they shared online for free, for all to enjoy. Without good people like that, these things would never even start.

There are too many people to thank along the way, there were so many. I pray this outcome rewards you all with the knowledge that you played a part and that when it comes to this kids in pain, it really does make a difference. We can't take away their physical pain, or cure their cancer or whatever else may be torturing them, but we can make their situation a little less scary, a little more fun and exciting - even if it is only for a couple of hours at a time, the flow on will no doubt be significant.

 

[SI3RRA 117]

Congratulations and a true hero man, awesome job!!!

 

[bestellen]

Could you imagine Stan Lee seeing this thing? Cosplayers have met him for less, like Sufficiently Advanced's MJOLNIR hammer.

 

[RobotChicken]

In a word, spectacular. Great job!

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Some shots from the day.

Get me outta this thing!

Ahh, pretend beer from a plastic Iron man mug...

Phew! Mission accomplished.

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Big batch of electronics arrived today. A couple more to arrive then it's into upgrades and miniaturisation of the larger circuits.Especially the voice changer that ViPeR-7 instructed me on making.

I think my first attempt, while successful, could have been done a lot better.

After soldering up the first one, I'm pretty sure I can make it all smaller and neater. I bought another two sets of everything so I can do this and have a spare, that will just velcro in and out of the suit via a couple of jacks so if one claps out halfway through a visit, I can just rip it out and stick a new one in.

 

[Voren Marr]

Awesome just awesome..

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Might I say, that James here, (pictured below) has been an impressively hard-working, stoic, determined, thoughtful and ingenious specialist in the Iron Man electronics I could have ever hoped for. He's taken my ideas and made them reality, plus thrown in brilliant ideas I would never have thought of.

It may have still happened without him, but it would probably have taken a few more years and I may even have had to pay for professional services, even though I doubt they would have been as helpful, flexible and cheerful about it.

In the three years I have spent building this suit, James has picked me up out of my depression and frustration and got me excited about my build many times when I've been ready to give up on the whole thing.

James deserves so much recognition for stepping up to the plate and enthusiastically volunteering to help out a total stranger. I am glad to call him friend and grateful for blokes like him in my life.

God bless you mate.

Baz.

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Iron Man is gearing up for another huge public appearance in support of the Starlight Children's foundation, less than a month from now. Stay tuned for details.

Hopefully this coming event will see all the little problems with the suit ironed out... See what I did there?..

The last event identified where refinement was needed, where to make electronic systems a little more, "battle hardy", and some improvements on attention to detail. After the event, we should be able to jump straight into the hospitals.

My seamstress is currently working hard on my new undersuit. There's modifications getting stitched in between these two pen lines mid thigh and mid shin. Elbows are also getting the same treatment.

I have 3 weeks left to get all the glitches out of the suit. Last night I fixed the rubber covers in place with M3 bolts and washers drilled through the steel shell. All the glues I've tried, including araldite and contact adhesive, seem to let go after a bit of movement. Can't have that.

I seem to be having trouble with wiring. The electronics and PCBs are working for the voice changer, (VC) but all my connecting wires and plugs outside the box, along the way to the battery and on switch are dodgy. I've tried fixing them so many times I've lost count. Every time I get it working, a little wiggle later it stops. Even touching the end of the microphone jack causes loss of signal to the speaker. I'm really crap at this and running out of time.

 

[mkshane81]

Unbelievably epic Barry! I just watched the interview with the Local Today show, and it was so cool to see everything come together!

-Matt

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Unbelievably epic Barry! I just watched the interview with the Local Today show, and it was so cool to see everything come together!

-Matt

Thanks Matt! There's more to come mate!

 

[BuildsByBaz]

The gap between the leg and the cod piece at the back is too big and obvious, even with the shiny red shorts on. So, I am designing some pliable rubber trims to fix in between, that should allow movement and greatly reduce the gap.

They will be layered and wrapped in metallic red stretch fabric.

With some Iron Man inspired lines, I should be able to ad-lib a little and make it look better.

The cable and battery is being moved into the chest so I can do away with that.

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Continuing the improving of leg trims/gap fillers on the suit. Again prototyping in cardboard before wasting expensive material. So far I've only glued the pieces of foam rubber together with fabric glue. Once dry, I'll try flexing it a few times to see if it comes apart. If it does, I'll have to hand-stitch them together.

On the arm trims, I've replaced the fake screw patterns that were melted in with a soldering iron, with press studs from a leather kit. They hold the two layers together and look better as they are shiny metal. I might even replace this small piece of silver-painted rubber with a strip of shiny aluminium later.

Meanwhile, I've found the culprit to the massive bruise on my right shoulder. There's a high weld inside the back brace where it curls over my shoulder and digs right into me on the bone. I was tempted to just pad it, but I think instead I will take the grinder to it and grind it off, then pad it.

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Replacing tacky rubber imitation with polished metal and real bolts.

That's better. Now to do the same with the rest.

 

[BuildsByBaz]

Tonight's work on the arm-hole tech fill. I've run out of button head cap screws and nuts so it's a time finding saga to try to get into town during business hours to get some more.

 

[Mebbitts]

do you have pep files you can share please?