The past few weeks, I’ve been building a SmartGun Headset. After putting out the call for the eye cup and Neutrik connectors. Moosh and Stimpy graciously offered up their parts. Thank you so much!! I also put in a request for the camera body. Talked with Mars and then Chef and Chef said he would see what he could do. When I didn’t hear back from Chef, He’s very good at responding and I’ll probably still buy one from him when he does. Anyway, I decided to try and build my own camera body while I waited and start on the other parts I had. I plan on posting pictures I’ve taken during the process in a little while but thought I’d give you a sneak peek at my progress so far.

Nice! The details around the screen that goes inside the eye cup, are those the same as the screen-used item? I don't think I've ever seen them before! And on the camera, I see that Robotech part, is that accurate as well?

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"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

I believe the eye cup pieces are as correct as I’ve been able to find out except for the silver piece. That came from an RC car steering ball joint. I wanted the camera to be screen accurate but I was having difficulty replicating it. So the camera is taking on a life of its own. I’ve taken some creative license and added parts and modified pieces. Using a lot more of the Robotech Axiod Kit parts.

Since I didn’t have a camera body, I started building my own. I decided to use pvc pipe and styrene plastic sheets to start with. I also used parts from a Robotech Axiod model kit for the added gribblies. I wanted to make a screen accurate camera body but as I worked on it, it started evolving into what you see. I hope you all like it. I’m going to post a bunch of pictures and if you have any questions or comments, please do so.

More build pictures.

Progress

Olympus T28 build up

Eyecup swing arm build with Transformers Megatron G1 scope mount and blue disc from Vivitar 2500 flash

The headband and T28 mounting plate

Adding the gribblies.

fascinating to watch this come together!

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PFC Mike Rizzuto MVM
USS Blackhawk
3rd Batt 12th Regt

The fun thing I’m finding out with this headset is that as I started off trying to build a screen accurate replica. I discovered when I didn’t have the correct parts. I searched for something else or had to make my own. Before I purchased the Robotech model, I made the pieces in the picture out of a thin sheet of aluminum. With a jewelers saw, I cut out the basic part that comes in the model. One night I was thinking how much I love the movie and working on this prop. I remember taking a screen shot of a Japanese symbol for “love” that was associated with Hicks, from this site. I thought wouldn’t it be cool to add that symbol to the headset. And so I made the pattern and scored it into the aluminum and using the jewelers saw, cut it out, then I polished it. I was up late that night and couldn’t go to bed until I had it finished. 
I guess during this build, that while I am using a lot of real parts, I acquired over time. I am personalizing it. Much like the actors did with their armor.
After the success I had with the “love” symbol why not make a Weyland-Yuntani “W” out of aluminum and put it on the side of the camera body. 

Thanks Mike, I’m glad your enjoying this build.

I spent the night identifying the parts I used from the Robotech Axiod kit. First up is the eyecup I got from Moosh. The picture shows Items 13, 18, 21 and 25. Additional parts are an RC car ball joint and the clear lens is cut from the center of the flash lens on the Vivitar 2500. I’m still looking for the rubber trim that goes around the eyecup piece. Does anyone have suggestions on where to find that? The other side of the eyecup pieces from the Transformer Megatron G1 scope that were cut down to fit in the rectangular hole, a couple pieces I scavenged from the Vivitar, The red button. And a couple small screws. At the bottom where it will attach to the other Megatron piece is a clear lens that came from a Polaroid 635CL. It fit perfectly in the square hole of the eyecup. So I used it.

The top of the camera body. Items 82, 95, 97, 106. Item 58 was cut and filed to fit the angle of the camera body. The black screen material you see was cut from the Polaroid 635.

The back and side, items #49 and 90, #16,70,124,21, 115/116, 92 or 107, 114. Piece 22 was the center section of that whole piece. There is a black piece on the back of the camera body that came from the Vivitar flash unit.

Two pieces go on the side of the earpiece box, #1 and 70. The white piece is the top of a plastic golf tee. Above the scratch built white box that make up the ear speaker are from a Pentax-110, 18mm Front and rear lens covers. That will be covered with a piece of earphone foam.

It’s close to being ready for mounting on the headset. This picture shows the T28 flash with the movable eyecup attached to the Megatron Scope piece. I love the blue disc from the Vivitar 2500.

I wasn’t really happy with the eyecup gribble, so I searched around and found a pearl earring and then took one of the landing gear wheels from the Axiod Kit. Some filing, drilling and glueing and now I’m really happy with that piece. I spent hours filing out the hole for the screen because I didn’t like the way it just sat on top of the plastic.

Also working on the wiring with the Neutrik plug and the part coming off the bottom of the Megatron Scope piece. I had to fabricate this piece with parts I found laying around.