Iron Man IronMan build questions

It would seem that I too have succumbed to the Ironman armour making bug.
I am really torn between setting up a vacu-form station and doing it in polystyrene, or to be really stupid and do it in steel. (I am an experienced journeyman armoursmith).
For sheer weight to cooling issues I would lean towards the Poly I think and make sure I ventilate it well enough. I have worn my own full plate harnesses on many occassions and can tell you for a fact that the bloody stuff gets hot.

Anyhow, one of my main pains is the lighting (seems to be a common theme). I am trying to figure out a solution to the chest, hand and eye lighting. The chest and hand may be substantially easier than the ocularia I would think?
Perhaps getting away with a few LEDs with a back reflector/diffuser & convex clear plastic outer lens that is painted with light blue/green to give that Indiglo look to it without betraying the LEDs behind it...
But those eyes... What could be used to light them without nullifying your own vision?
I wonder if this might be the right track??
http://www.spygear.net/toys/spy-vision-goggles.php

Anybody have any luck with this part of the build?

Thanks in advance.

Phillip

 

Holy crap man... you are using Ti????
I have only used it once and man , it was even more hard to get along with than Stainless! I won't even get into the planishing and grinding out of the dings

In metal, I honestly don't think I would venture beyond mild steel because as TMP has pointed out, there are a great many nuances and sliding articulations to be employed to getting fully encased... take a look at Henry VIII's tournament armour and you will see what I mean. After all, it was used as a study piece for the first space suits.
The engineering involved is quite extensive to say the least, but I want to take a shot at it anyway.

So... what are your thoughts on the lighting aspects?
PM me if you want, but I am trying to get an idea for what works and what doesn't before I waste more money. I am actually one of those males that listen to people that have been down the trail a time or 2 .

 

Thats a lie. You clearly have no idea how much titanium costs and the tools to work with it arent your regular sand paper and wall mart drill bits.

 

IM23... honestly, I would prototype your pieces in a less expensive medium first. Then move to Ti once you know your patterns work together. Trust me dude. For instance, I am currently fabricating a Samurai breastplate in springsteel for a guy that is not the typical build and I am going through metal like crazy to custom fit small components and whatnot.

On another topic...On the busride to work this morning I had a startling revelation... once decked out in this costume, what to do if I need to go potty????
Now, this is a trick even with plate armour with an open bottom + maille skirting, but with a sealed in groin section...
This perhaps may be an engineering dilemma that no one has yet thought of
I again look to Henry VIII armour for ideas http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/images/HenryVIIIarmor01.jpg

Aside from that, just look at the compression articulation of the inner elbow and knee sections. This my friends is the secret of armouring the inner section of a joint.
If anyone is interested, here is a tutorial on how it is done. http://www.carmelemanuel.com/Compression.htm I have done this a few times and it is quite dreamy when you get it right.

So back on track... anyone with any ideas on lighting or the bio-relief issues? :stark