Well, for everyone who was wondering why I wanted to buy an Iphone 5C case....

I want to replace the Hama slideview with a more functional display. Thanks to the awesome Iphone Tracker app (Joey To made it), I had an easy replacement. The hard part was getting the phone to look like part of the tracker. Originally, I wanted to get one 3D printed, but the cost was just too high. So, I found an empty Iphone case on Amazon, got it shipped to me, and started to mod it.

The 5C is larger than the 4S (which is what I have), so I had to pad the interior just a bit. I used 2mm craft foam.





Once I was sure the phone would fit, I did a lot of test and measurements to get the screen placement right. Once I had it where I wanted, I sharpied the screen outline on the top cover. I used a dremel, a file, some 250 grit sandpaper, and a lot of time to get the cut made. It's not perfect, but I think it's pretty good for being done completely by hand. I did have to go back a few times and enlarge it a bit. I deliberately erred on the side of making it too small; I didn't want to have to go back and try to add to cover up a gap.

I installed a 1/4" audio plug (like Spat does on his tracker kits) to mount up the box to the motion tracker. This will allow me to (relatively) easily switch out the Iphone for the standard Hamas.



That picture also had my original paint scheme, which I have since redone.

New paint scheme. I used some of the standard stickers for the tracker, plus a new one I made up to give the top a bit of flair.









Here you can see the Iphone resting inside the case.



Here it is loading



The lighting is lousy, so it ruins the look, but you get the idea:



And here is a quick video of it in action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDBC2C-9sj8

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

That...is sooooooooooo cool!!!!

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USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

That would look awesome as a flip-out PR attachment.

Very nice

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AKA: Simon

Thank you all for the compliments. I have seen some builds that have done just that, mount it on the side of the PR. Wasn't in keeping with how the MTs worked though, and seemed a bit too much like Call of Duty to me.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Awesome work ! Could you post pics and videos of it all together ?

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Cpl Matthew Rendar. M56 smart gun operator. 2nd bat 7th colonial marines "Rendars Raiders "

I would to do that. Except I don't actually have the tracker yet. I'm waiting on my order from Spat. But once I have it built, you bet there will be some pics coming!

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Great idea.
This would also make a great Aliens:Isolation tracker

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Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

Your mentioning of Alien: Isolation had me go looking at articles and screenshots from the game. It seems that CA had a mantra to go by "CRT, not LCD." Having seen some of their replicas of a Nostromo style atmosphere, I'm wondering about adding some bits to housing to "bulk it up" to make it look less like a touch screen. Although I think I will wait til I get the MT kit together before deciding that.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Why not consider it as a model between the two?
Your "larger screen attached Aliens MT" might be version that would be build after Aliens and before Aliens:Isolation.
Would be fitting.

Anyway I like both your idea and your build.
Thanks for sharing.

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Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

Alien: Isolation comes before Aliens in the timeline. One of the reasons I went with the iphone box (instead of just modifying a normal phone case) was to give a bit of size anyway. The more I look, the more the back is just too plain and smooth. It needs some kind of greeblie to make it look more like an actual bit of tech. I will poke through the junk drawer and see what I can come up with.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Yes, I'd bulk up the backside to make it look less like the flipped out LCD screen from a camcorder. You can easily add bulk without adding weight and you might even find a ready-made piece to just glue on the back and paint to match. I wonder about something from a gardening store? The black plastic trays you plant seedlings in often have neat surface details molded into them...

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

Looking good. Maybe the real flash unit parts would help.

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Martin 'Victim' Victory
A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

Martin: I was thinking the same thing for when I try my hand at this. I want to make something that snaps securely on the front of the slide viewer and then use some of the spare Vivitar flash bits to dress it up.

I hope your kit gets to you soon Charlie!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

The planter idea is a good one. I keep checking ebay regularly to see if I can score some more original parts but no joy on anything so far. One thing I am grappling with, and would love some ideas if anyone has them, is the cover. It snaps, but not super tight. I'm trying to think of some way to secure it to keep the phone from accidentally falling out, why still making it possible to remove the phone.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Recycling Easter decorations.

Wooden base, plastic egg, spray foam, and Bondo.



Base coat of spray paints.



Going to use brushes to apply the finer details of the paint. It's too small to really be a screen accurate egg.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

First round of hand brushing



Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Nice egg!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

I got a little package in the mail today from Morgan13.



It's outstanding work. The cast was already prepped by Shawn, except for the interior flash suppressor and the selector switch. The cast is super smooth, with very little line work to do and almost no bubbles I could see. The sling brackets are already installed. The gun and the tank are foam filled; light weight but enough heft to make it quite controllable. All in all, I'm exceptionally pleased with my purchase and I'm heading to to prep and paint this afternoon!!

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Well I coated the whole setup with layers of metallic silver and clearcoat, just like I did with my PR. Also, I switched out the nozzle. The original resin flash suppressor provided by Shawn was replaced with the flash suppressor from an airsoft MP5. (I had a junked one laying around). There was nothing wrong the one provided, but I wanted something with a more 3D look to it.



The diameter of the flash suppressor was such that it fit inside the nozzle housing PERFECTLY. I had to send the edges just a bit, and it was a tight fit but its in to stay.

Once the silver and clearcoats were dry I put on my beloved Dark Forest Green. To do the details, I actually hand brushed accents on. I used several brushes and Citadel "Abbadon Black" paint. It came out much better than I expected it would.





Once the black had dried, I used wet 400 grit sandpaper to highlight some of the edges, letting the silver show through. I also used to clean up some slight overpaints with the black. It's subtle, but I think it adds a lot to the weapon. Here is a far shot:



And a few closeups to show how it came out.





It will still weather "naturally" as its carried and used. The outer layer is fairly robust, but not enough to stop scratches and surface wear. The silver and clear layers are on fairly solid. I am finishing up work on the tank. Once that's done I've got a Noble sling for it. I'll take a good picture of the final product.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

That is fantastic! Great job Charlie, you must be thrilled!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

Thanks! It is pretty cool to walk around the house saying "nobody touch nothing" with it. And I might go get some black athletic tape and tape it to the spare PR.

Here's the finished piece with tank:





Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Then you just need to add your tracker tube to the handle of the PR!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

Very nice !

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Cpl Matthew Rendar. M56 smart gun operator. 2nd bat 7th colonial marines "Rendars Raiders "

This is just amazing,there are so many verry Talented People here just Putting a Lot of Love and hard work into there Hobby.

Praud to be here,

Neil.

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Cpl N.Storey A12/TQ2.0.02132E1
MARINE RAIDER

Beautiful! Your weathering is outstanding. I'm a big fan of subtlety in that area and I think that thing is going to age like a fine wine. Clean, yet 'used'. Perfect!