Three New Darth Vader Figures (LAST TWEAKS TO EMPEROR'S DEATH DIO) & Dio Builds For Them 1) Bespin Gantry Scene 2) Force Lightning Killing Emperor Scene 3) Meditation Chamber Scene.

Time will tell... how they look like. I'm sure it would be cool, but whether or not it would be what you are aiming at might be another matter. The illumination you've done so far looks very good, whether steady or flashing. And delightful to hear your voice!

Well, you miss a few weeks, and the newest project shows up.

That's some awesome work shovelchop81. Very impressive work with all the cutting and shaping. And adding all the lighting features as well.

Stryker2012 wrote:This dance move, Alex (more often than not people say “Whoop! Whoop!” when doing it).

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I’m really impressed with what you’ve achieved.

Ah so that's what you meant! And thanks!

GubernatorFan wrote:Time will tell... how they look like. I'm sure it would be cool, but whether or not it would be what you are aiming at might be another matter. The illumination you've done so far looks very good, whether steady or flashing. And delightful to hear your voice!

LOL, voice is a bit crackly, don't talk much but have had to be on the telephone a lot recently.

cdn_rhino wrote:Well, you miss a few weeks, and the newest project shows up.

That's some awesome work shovelchop81. Very impressive work with all the cutting and shaping. And adding all the lighting features as well.

Thank you sir! You might have missed a project or two as well! LOL

ILLUMINATED AFTER INK







AND I DID WHAT I WAS SCARED TO DO, PAID THE PRICE FOR IT! THINNED OUT THE 'FAT' EFFECT CABLE BUT SHORTED IT OUT TOO, LUCKILY IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BREAK AT THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SOLDERED SECTION. BUT IT WAS STILL A NIGHTMARE TO RESOLDER, HAD TO CAREFULLY CUT AND STRIP BACK THE EL-WIRE TO EXPOSE THE <1mm ANGEL HAIR WIRES (TWO STRANDS THINNER THAN HUMAN HAIR), REMOVE A TINY BIT OF THE PHOSPHOROUS COATING TO GET AT THE TINY COPPER CORE WIRE AND SOLDER IT ALL UNDER A MAGNIFYING GLASS, TOOK A LONG TIME AND A LOT STARTOVERS.. THE PICS DON'T EVEN HINT AT HOW TINY THESE WIRES ARE, IT LOOKS ALL GLOBBY AND HUGE BUT THAT'S USING MY MACRO LENS ON MY CAMERA WHICH IS LIKE A MICROSCOPE! THEN HAD TO USE TINY BITS OF SHRINKWRAP OVER EACH CONNECTION THEN BOTH JUST PRAYING IT WOULDN'T SHORT OUT OR BREAK AFTER FINALLY BEING SOLDERED SUCCESSFULLY BY THE PRESSURE OF THE SHRINKWRAP. tHEN HOT GLUED IT ALL IN PLACE...



WORKING AGAIN! YAY!







REINFORCING THE ODD WEAK POINTS THAT CAUSED INTERMITTENT SHORTS, ANOTHER PAINSTAKING PROCESS.



TIDIED UP, INKED AND TIED UP!











STILL GOT TO FINISH VADER'S ELECTRICS...YAY..

Oh my Force, that looks incredible! You are a genius at customising.

So cool!

The effect is excellent -- I knew it would look good!

Brilliant! Such an impressive way to do the lightening.

skywalkersaga wrote:Oh my Force, that looks incredible! You are a genius at customising.

BAMComix wrote:So cool!

GubernatorFan wrote:The effect is excellent -- I knew it would look good!

Stryker2012 wrote:Brilliant! Such an impressive way to do the lightening.

Thank you so much guys! It's just down to me being pig-headed and stubborn! LOL.

Working out the final wiring and storage, access to switches, hiding stuff, tidying it up, trying to simplify things and create a proper support system for the Emperor so I don't have to worry about all of this shelf diving and taking out a chunk of my 1/6 SW collection with it!!





DOUBLING UP THE STAND AS A SOLUTION FOR THE EMPEROR, I'LL MAKE A CUSTOM LONG STIFF WIRE SUPPORT.







GETTING TIGHTER ON EVERY PASS WITH THE BLOWTORCH.







HOPEFULLY CAN REPLACE THE SIMPLE BATTERY HOLDER WITH THIS ONE THAT HAS A BUILT IN SWITCH, WIRES WILL NEED TO BE BEEFED UP A BIT THOUGH.

The stand/base is already looking very promising.

GubernatorFan wrote:The stand/base is already looking very promising.

Cheers! All done now pretty much, just made a third FL EL-Wire bit since there's a third connector on the splitter cable and the right hand wire is still a bit temperamental. Made a wire support for the Emperor which took a while since it was as twisted and kinked as you can get before I spent hours straightening it in my little modelling vice lol. Might put some black rubber hose over the last bits of curved wire. The rest was soldering and Dremeling since the white battery box with built in switch turned out to be garbage so needed a quality switch for the LED's and an extension to the button for the EL-Wire driver. Added some grippy rubber to Vader's boots since he was sliding all over the place before! I still need to tidy up and blue ink the latest hot glue covered wire.









DIDN'T LIKE THE STRAIGHT LINES ON THIS PART.









THIS IS ONLY A TEST...THIS IS ONLY A TEST...





BASICALLY BALANCING FOR DEAR LIFE RIGHT NOW!LOL















REALLY HELPS!



MAKING EMPEROR'S SUPPORT.









KIND OF WISH I'D USED A HIP GRABBER SUPPORT AND RUN THE WIRES THROUGH THE TUNIC SO THE TUNIC HID THE STAND BUT TOO LATE NOW, SO MANY WIRES WOULD NEED TO BE CUT THEN RESOLDERED AND COVERED AGAIN IN BLACK SHRINK WRAP ETC..



UM...MAKES SENSE SOMEWHERE, SOMEHOW..







LOOKS A BIT CRUDE WHEN NOT HIDDEN WHICH IS WHY I'LL FIND SOME BLACK HOSE





NOW THEY'RE EARTHQUAKE PROOF! UNLESS THE ACTUAL STAND/BASE FALLS OVER...















THIRD WIRE (SOUNDS LIKE A BOOK OR BAND TITLE..)







FRESHLY HOT GLUED..

Wow, looks almost finished. And very effective. I have to revisit the scene, but in my mind the bolts of lightning went from the emperor's fingers to Vader in an arched trajectory. Perhaps something to keep in mind if you add more (and if doable and if my memory is correct).

GubernatorFan wrote:Wow, looks almost finished. And very effective. I have to revisit the scene, but in my mind the bolts of lightning went from the emperor's fingers to Vader in an arched trajectory. Perhaps something to keep in mind if you add more (and if doable and if my memory is correct).

Well here's that GIF again that pretty much covers the whole scene, it's very quick and this is my interpretation of it since I couldn't get the skull stuff to work so maybe closer to the original non touched up version then?

I'm sure the new wire will end up as beautiful as the others.

GubernatorFan wrote:I'm sure the new wire will end up as beautiful as the others.

Well if you use my version of beauty which is more Gigeresque ! lol. Thank you!
I've ordered yet another EL-Wire cable (in the UK, free shipping and only £2.50 each) to replace the dodgy one I never liked that's a pain in the neck.

3rd EL-Wire added, waiting on the fourth to replace the dodgy one, added more unlit effects but they catch the light quite well, painted the metal wires on the Emperor's support in the end.

Holy cow! You’ve made quite a bit of progress. I agree with Ian, looks just about finished. So cool.

It's filling in... nice progress.

Most impressive!

Stryker2012 wrote:Holy cow! You’ve made quite a bit of progress. I agree with Ian, looks just about finished. So cool.

GubernatorFan wrote:It's filling in... nice progress.

BAMComix wrote:Most impressive!

Thanks guys! Just some last tweaks for stability and reliability. Another bloody EL-Wire broke at the connections so had to strip and resolder that one too, getting better at it though! I discovered that if I wrap the tiny angel hair wire to the phosphate coating using very thin copper wire it's much easier to get a decent soldering connection, also forget shrinkwrap, all the connections need hot glue to protect and insulate them; did this to all the wires (sadly couldn't get the old broken one to work at all now but looks good in daylight).













Attached these bits with a little hot glue too as they were driving me mad by falling off all the time.





Seriously beefed up both stands by hot glueing them together.





Tidied everything up after and inked that which needed it.

The complexity of your installation and your indefatigable inventiveness continue to boggle the mind. Looking forward to the completed thing in all its lit up glory.

GubernatorFan wrote:The complexity of your installation and your indefatigable inventiveness continue to boggle the mind. Looking forward to the completed thing in all its lit up glory.

Thank you so much! I'm ashamed to say I had to look up the definition of indefatigable!