''Hands of Blue''......Are there any of us still around?

POSTED BY: propmaster2000
UPDATED: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 19:04
VIEWED: 15969
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PROPMASTER2000

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 4:11 PM

Are there any of us still around?
Just wondering.....it's been several years.

propmaster2000 aka 2x2 HOB

WISHIMAY

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 9:25 PM

Is this a question or a brag?

PROPMASTER2000

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 11:11 PM

It's a bit of both.
Prop builders sometimes like to show off and brag a little as well.
It's our nature and in our DNA :)
Thanks for asking.

I can remember back in 06, there were several
fans of the HOB.

I thought you might like to see a video of the working prop (shown above) as well....

Just a word of warning: "I would stand a few feet back from the monitor. The energy from these things is kind of unpredictable".

ADDED NOTE:
I think the original prop used the "Dual Spring" activation and needed to be reset ''off camera''
each time, by pushing the rods in seperately, until they latched. There is nothing wrong with that particular design and much simpler to build and more reliable then mine. Since we only saw it on camera "poping out", it's the most practical.
I wanted to design a version that could be reset easily by pushing only one rod (opposite the latching mech.)until it locked.
There are advantages and faults to my design, which I am well aware of and I am sure there are those that would point them out and tell me how I should have did it or how they would have done it.
It's the nature of the business. But even with the faults, it still works pretty well :)

propmaster2000

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PENNAUSAMIKE

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 11:32 PM

Making a little forward progress on my next project.
I've had a static version of this prop for a long time, but it is just very unsatisfying.
I'm not too sure about the internal mechanism,
and I realized I drew the return position ramps on the release mechanism in the wrong plane.
The other area for concern is that the extended springs will collapse back to compressed position without kinking.
A lot of these types of problems would be easier to solve if there was more internal space to work with.
But if it works....it'll be so cool.

Springs proved to be unusable, I have new ones on order.
But, I'm still on track to have a working Blue Hands Neural Bleeder.
Well, working like pops open, not working like makes people bleed out!

The springs came in, I drilled the bodies to accept them,
and they work as hoped for!
So, the project is back where it was a week ago.
Barely a hiccup, when I was expecting far worse.

The next step is to finalize sizes for the release mechanism.
It will basically be a slim, rectangular release button in the center
that holds the little blocks back.

There is still a lot of work to go,
(release mechanism, top cover, paint, fitting and final assembly).

I've always been interested in your version.
I haven't figured out how to put the release mechanism on the end,
so mine will be in the middle.

Mike

PENNAUSAMIKE

Thursday, June 2, 2011 5:39 AM

It looks like you used two racks and a pinion to make both rods move when pushing only one.
Good job of getting the mechanism in such a small package.
So, let's see the insides!

Mike

PENNAUSAMIKE

Thursday, June 2, 2011 9:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by propmaster2000:

ADDED NOTE:
SNIP
I wanted to design a version that could be reset easily by pushing only one rod (opposite the latching mech.)until it locked.

Yes, very cool.
I couldn't figure out how to get a rack and pinion in that small "box" and still have a decent amount of rod length and travel.
Likewise the end latching mechanism.
Once I gave up on the rack and pinion,
I was locked into the center release.

Quote:
Originally posted by propmaster2000:

There are advantages and faults to my design, which I am well aware of and I am sure there are those that would point them out and tell me how I should have did it or how they would have done it.
It's the nature of the business. But even with the faults, it still works pretty well :)
propmaster2000

It is also the nature of the business/hobby that most of the fault-finders and nay-sayers
could never actually accomplish the things they complain about.
I own one of your Alliance pistols and have always been impressed with the HOB device you built.
I'd love to see what your method of release is.
PM me here or at
www.fireflyprops.net
if you are willing to let me see how it works.

We Firefly/Serenity prop BUILDERS have always been small in number,
and over time that number is dwindling.

Mike
My Firefly Collection thread:
http://fireflydvd.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3541

PROPMASTER2000

Saturday, June 4, 2011 3:38 PM

Since my original "HOB-rod Device" was a bit of a challenge to build, I think I will design and make one that is a bit easier using the 'dual spring' single use activation.
I started on it yesterday [it looks good on paper] and I should have time to mock something up this weekend (fingers crossed). If it's simple enough to build, I may make a few.....
One disadvantage is I don't have access to a mill/lathe full time so my progress will be a little slow creating the prototype.

propmaster2000 aka 2x2 HOB

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SHINYGOODGUY

Monday, June 6, 2011 1:17 PM

SHINY!

I Like it!

SGG

PIRATENEWS

Monday, June 6, 2011 8:28 PM

Shiny...literally.

Why is blood dripping out of my nose?

PROPMASTER2000

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 2:51 AM

As I mentioned in my last post, Friday I had the chance to start on the V2 HOBROD device using the dual spring popout activation. Thankfully, I was able to take most of what I drew up on paper and put it toward a working mockup.
As with my first device V1, I made this one out of mostly brass as well. It is a bit larger then V1 but I think I can use the extra space for added details that the first one could not have. Here is a video of HOBROD V2:

One of the things I get asked allot when I show the first prop, is "does it light up?".

Of course I would have to say no, since the real one did not light up either.
But, since I am making my own designed "pop out thingy", I can make it do what I want, so with the bit more added room in this prop, there is a 40% chance I can make the rods light up.
Instead of the rods being blue acrylic, I will make V2 with clear, sandblasted rods with blue LEDs for illumination. Adding batteries is another issue.

I think at some point, when I get all the details worked out, I will make some of these to sell on ebay.......(as with many of the props I design, I tend to keep internal electronics and building information to a miniumum [especially on the net] since there may be an instance, at some point, where I'd like to build these to sell at auction, so I appologize for being a bit veg on detailed design information).

I mocked up a rod to see how it would look with an LED:

So, if I make another dual spring HOBROD, I will see if I can light the rods.

propmaster2000

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