I'm going to be buying one of Matt's shoulder lamps, but I'm looking for a cheap alternative. Anyone got any ideas?

I was thinking of building a durable box (made of what, I have no idea) and sticking one of those reading lamps in there or something. I've got no idea.
[img]http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/djgiggety/United%20States%20Colonial%20Marines/Vasquezsig.jpg[/img]Edited by: [url=http://p220.ezboard.com/bthealienslegacy.showUserPublicProfile?gid=deathbymugumba>Death By Mugumba[/url]  at: 4/23/07 6:16 pm

Maybe a Radio Shack project box?

Russ

Thanks! I'll look into that.
[img]http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/djgiggety/United%20States%20Colonial%20Marines/Vasquezsig.jpg[/img]

Here's my scratch-built shoulder lamp using found items I did in August of 2005 -- built in less than a day for under $20.00 USD:

<span style="font-size:xx-small;](click images to enlarge)

[img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/USCM_Shoulder_Lamp_Scratch_Build_001_t.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/USCM_Shoulder_Lamp_Scratch_Build_002_t.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/USCM_Shoulder_Lamp_Scratch_Build_003_t.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/USCM_Shoulder_Lamp_Scratch_Build_004_t.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/USCM_Shoulder_Lamp_Scratch_Build_005_t.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/USCM_Shoulder_Lamp_Scratch_Build_006_t.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/USCM_Shoulder_Lamp_Scratch_Build_007_t.jpg[/img]

$2.99 - AT&T Answering Machine found at Goodwill
$7.99 - Generic Rechargable Video Lamp bought on eBay
$1.99 - Plastic Parts Bin from ACE Hardware
$3.00 - Miscellaneous Plastic Plumbing Parts from ACE Hardware
$3.00 - Metal Washers and screws from ACE Hardware
*Painted with spray cans already kicking around the garage

TOTAL = Just under $20.00 USD

Not quite screen accurate, but gets the job done!

I was sort of pressed for time to get this finished to take to DragonCon '05, so I skipped putting any sort of a handle on it. I've since upgraded to one of Matt's Shoulder Lamp kits -- which is the cleanest and overall best kit I've seen.

Unfortunately my screen-accurate one was knocked off of my armour during a costume contest last year -- falling to the floor and smashing into several pieces.

I've been waiting for the pain to slowly go away before ordering replacement parts from Matt.

Rick "Ripstick"

[img]http://www.propguild.com/ripstick/Ripstick_Aliens_Legacy_Banner_2007.jpg[/img]

Rick,

That`s fantastic mate moreso for what you spent on it.

Top Marks.

Ja
PVT.
STEAD,J "Axeman"
A06/TQ1.0.22140E1
UKCM

That just flat out rocks Rick!

It wasn't until I read the description that I realized you used
an answering machine and NOT one of the alarm boxes. Well done!

Russ

That's perfect. Nearly EXACTLY what I'm lookin' to do.
[img]http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/djgiggety/United%20States%20Colonial%20Marines/Vasquezsig.jpg[/img]

That's a shining example of what one motivated marine and his local thrift store can do!!

Nice one Rick! You da man o' da bargain basement marines!
<span style="color:lime;]Cpl. Dom "SharP" Beaudoin - USCM Service Number Registrar
A10/TQ1.0.92147E1
<span style="color:yellow;]Need a USCM service number assigned to you? E-mail me at [url=mailto:cplbeaudoin@hotmail.com]cplbeaudoin@hotmail.com[/url]

[img]http://www.pbase.com/image/68371348/original.jpg[/img]

Thanks for the comments guys!

Even though I was already a purist for screen-accuracy back then, I found myself caught between a rock and a hard place when I decided at the very last minute to attend DragonCon 2005 -- and go all geared up as a Colonial Marine. The problem was that I had absolutely no gear, and only a week or two to put something together on a shoestring budget. The less armour, the easier... so I opted for a quick and cheap Smart-Gunner outfit:

[img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/DC_2005_Number_Six.jpg[/img]

It was the scratch-built smart-gun that took the longest time to complete -- about 7 days in all:

[img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/Smart_Gun_Project_01.jpg[/img]

Again... a bunch of cheap 'thrift store' items that were apparently destined to serve a higher purpose.

[img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/7-Day_Smart_Gun_Build_Finished.jpg[/img]

I did pick up a bunch of additional hardware to build the steadi-cam arms and harness, but simply ran out of time.

All in all everything served their purpose and it didn't break the bank.

<span style="font-size:medium;]You can do it man!
Rick "Ripstick"

[img]http://www.propguild.com/ripstick/Ripstick_Aliens_Legacy_Banner_2007.jpg[/img]

Here's my question... who's the lovely lady next to ya?

She reminds me of Tricia Helfer.
[img]http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/djgiggety/United%20States%20Colonial%20Marines/Vasquezsig.jpg[/img]

And with good reason.
Rick "Ripstick"

[img]http://www.propguild.com/ripstick/Ripstick_Aliens_Legacy_Banner_2007.jpg[/img]

That's JoeRanger's stalker.

Russ

You know I never really got a good look at your shoulder lamp at D-Con- and at first glance in the thread, I too did not think it was an answering machine!

Very well done Rick!


Kevin

[img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TgDnAloXyJBkYBZV7s*Kj9!1Bc8b0FJ!WEmX8BpHJk8yRyABH697OsLy1Bm1knQrHcDDdHqDnRAmyoDB6vy6w!ASmCM57J8W6cyCxY8Y84TWwwCw7UVNAA/Burton%20004.JPG[/img]
[img]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/ssgtburton/ssgtburton_banner201.jpg[/img]

"I know I'm human. And if you were all these things, then you'd just attack me right now, so some of you are still human. This thing doesn't want to show itself, it wants to hide inside an imitation. If it takes us over, then it has no more enemies, nobody left to kill it. And then it's won."

Great idea Rick, excellent execution! I like the low profile look, I see no reason it can't be acceptable in an expanded universe kind of way.

Get in touch with me 'bout that broken lamp, I'll fix you up.

As for the subject at hand let me say between you and me, the screen used lamps are a bit bulky and actually pretty silly. If I was to have any kind of light on my kit it'd be on the helmet, and even so I doubt I'd ever use it in any kind of tactical situation...might come in handy for heading off to the loo in the dark, but that's about it...

M
[img]http://hometown.aol.com/mattworsdell/images/matsubanner1001.gif]