Tubes for jetpack

Been away volunteering at a camp for a week! Just got back and started work on the jet pack. Here's the progress on the tubes so far.

Here is a picture of a coat of resin on the inside to hold it all together and reinforce the cone.

 

 

Removed tape, soaked with wood hardener to harden the cardboard.

 

 

 First round of sanding.

Bits and Pieces

I got a sound card for my jetpack from www.replicaprops.com. It's pretty awesome, I used my electronics kit to rig it up to a spare speaker, momentary switch, and a fade out LED circuit.

I got the buttons in the mail. They are real die formed metal, aluminum I think. They have a dull finish, wondering if I should polish them. did one as an example.

Got this really cheap Mauser airsoft, it's all metal (yay) but only 3/4 the size of a real one (boo).....might have to get a full size version.

A friend of mine at a sign company managed to scrounge a 6" diameter cardboard tube for my jet pack cylinders. It's taller than me and it's perfect to make my jetpack strong yet light weight (as light as it can be with everything i'm throwing in it).

Jodhpurs

Jodhpurs you say? What's that?

Oh just a style of pants worn primarily by equestrian riders.

The original Jodhpurs had a flare on each hip to allow free movement while riding. Now all jodhpurs are made from stretch material making the bulge unnecessary, also makes finding them to buy or a pattern almost impossible. They were also used as military uniform pants.

Flares on my draft might be a bit big, might take them in a bit. Made them extra high just so there's a good bit of overlap with the jacket.

Cirrus X-3 case...

So I know I haven't even started on the Jetpack, but maybe If I have the extra time I could make the case. I'll need something to store it in afterall. Size would depend on my finished pack.

 

The latches are standard brass trunk hasps. Piano hinge. Footman's loops for the handle. In all a pretty easy build, since most pieces are easily bought.

Second Draft Jacket

Made quite a few changes actually. It's a bit hard to tell with the striped pattern fabric, but I can't beat a free old bed sheet. Having trouble with the collar so....there isn't one right now. Also bottom isn't hemmed.

 

Very plain front, you can see the epaulettes I've added.

 

 The wider and higher back flap with bottom band and reinforced stitching.

Oh yea, ordered these buttons, they are a tad on the small side but big on the impression.

Helmet and Jacket

So my friend found a great template to make a cardboard helmet and then coat it with fiberglass. Here are some progress pics of that.

 Taped Up.

 Layer of resin.

 Fiberglassed inside.

Peaks sanded smooth.

Filled in with bondo, primer, and putty.

I also found a decent jacket pattern, have to change some details but its pretty good considering how few patterns are available for men. I already sewed up a rough cut from muslin and a bedsheet to see where I need to make the major changes. The front panel will be last after the jacket is made.

 Left the pockets, cuffs, and wrist slits off. Have to change the collar so it flips up under my chin and extend the front panels for the zipper.

Added a faux back flap under the yolk, but going to make the yolk and flap higher.

The making of a Villain

I've always enjoyed dressing up and putting together costumes. I hadn't been to a real convention till this year, Heroes Con in Charlotte, NC. It was there that a friend and I decided we had to go to Dragon Con. I have many costumes....Darth Vader, Biker Scout, Rorschach, Corto Maltese, Roy Mustang, Indiana Jones, and Kroenen....but I wanted to do something new. So I saw the chance to do the Rocketeer. I loved the movie as a kid and he looks pretty awesome. While searching for vinyl and seeing how cheap the black stuff was, I figured why not make an evil version....the bad Roketeer......the NAZI Rocketeer! What if they had gotten their hands on Cliff Secord and the jetpack.....Thus Die Roketieur was born, an elite Waffen SS Soldier. I took a drawing by Dave Stevens and used photoshop and illustrator to make my mock up of what is to come.

 

Original Colored Version.

Sketch Version from book that I scanned to use.

Sketch for Eagle Fin.

More or less finished version.