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Rokuhan Shorty Shinkansen Layout

Posted by Chris Carpenter on

Rokuhan Shorty Shinkansen Layout

I’m working on a small (3’x2’) Rokuhan Shorty layout. I plan to put it in a suitcase sized case so it will be portable and easily stored.  The layout is going to be based on a modern city.  This is my first time working with Z scale and I really like it.  The layout has an inner  and outer track with switches and fits in a pretty small space. I have the track layout done and the mounting board.  I designed a city block with an intersecting road to lay the track on.  It’s printed on glossy poster paper. To...

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RC Knight Rider Car With Touchscreen Control

Posted by Chris Carpenter on

RC Knight Rider Car With Touchscreen Control

When I was a kid I loved Knight Rider.  I had a plastic toy KITT car that  would play sounds from the show when you pressed the license plate. It was a great toy.  I recently  looked it up online and was thinking about buying one. They weren't crazy expensive. But then I got to thinking, I could make that car and something better.  The best thing about all of the affordable tech we have now is that you can affordably make a lot of things you dreamed of as a kid pretty easily. I figured 3D printing would be...

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LCD Buffalo Sabres Jersey

Posted by Chris Carpenter on

LCD Buffalo Sabres Jersey

The Buffalo Sabres just recently brought back the famous black "goathead" jersey as a throwback.  I love this jersey. What better way to celebrate its return then by making a version with an LCD screen!  Yeah, I know thats exactly where your head went...  Turns out to be way easier than I imagined and I think one of the coolest things I've ever made. This really just mounting an app controlled super thin 64x64 LDC screen on the front of a blank jersey.  Sourcing and getting the jersey setup was actually harder than setting up the LCD screen.  I just...

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E-11 and IB-94 Blaster Mounts Now Available

Posted by Chris Carpenter on

E-11 and IB-94 Blaster Mounts Now Available

I finished two more blasters and had to make to two more mounts. The E-11 stormtrooper blaster and Mandy’s IB-94 pistol.  The IB-94 is a Rubies repaint. I’ve had it laying around waiting for a repaint for quite a while.  I tried a few new techniques with this one.  I initially filled the plastic Rubies blaster with sand to give it some weight. It worked surprisingly well and it now how a good feel in the hand.  I also used alcohol ink on the grips to give it a wood look. You apply the alcohol ink in drops and use...

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Hasbro E-11 Blaster Conversion With Simple Blaster OS Install

Posted by Chris Carpenter on

Hasbro E-11 Blaster Conversion With Simple Blaster OS Install

My first install of Simple Blaster OS is going in a Hasbro E-11 conversion.  I’ve been meaning to do a E-11 blaster for while and just haven’t gotten around to it. I actually have two Hasbro E-11 blasters now.  The video below goes over the resin printed parts I’m using.  I really liked the old DoopyDoo kits but they are not available any more. Plus I wanted to get a bit more accuracy by resin printing the parts. So I’ve made some modifications to E-11 parts I’ve found online to both fit a Hasbro E-11 and accept the electronics.  ...

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