RT-Mod Rob[501st] Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 I have been spending many hours at my real job, sitting in hotel rooms, surfing for and doodling up ideas for the interior of the trooper helmet. We all know the encyclopedia version looks good but practical wise not the greatest. We want ventilation, microphones, speakers, power supplies etc. But there are issues - Ventilation: you dont want blowing on your mic or in your eyes, feedback: from speakers to mic, cables: running out of the bottom from/to speakers and/ or battries. And you dont want the inside looking cluttered and sloppy. Ideally the helmet should be competely self contained. Well, after going through dozens of versions I settled on this layout. Features: -Eyes: A unifed look and tied into the 'Tears' for static ventilation. Will take regular or bubble lenses. -Mouth: Also tied into the static ventilation and given some cosmetic appeal. -Fan: A regular 25mm low db fan mounted sideways in the housing. Draws air from the left cheek tube neck area and pushes it across the front of the faceplate and exits out the right side do to the layout. No mic interference and a quiet, constant flow of fresh air. -AMP: Mic and amp system board mounted in center unit feed to speakers in insulated spaker housings with sound through to outside via Mic-tips. -Battery: Mounted in right cheek tube. 4.5v AAA or dual 9v configuration. -Switches: Not shown but the swithces are mounted in the ears. The bump itself is the switch. Slide it forward to the center position to turn on the system. Right ear for the Amp. The left ear bump does the ventilation. With the batteries installed it adds about 6oz. to the weight of the helmet but is nicely balanced from front to back and side to side. I went with the gray scheme because the black tended to hide some of the cosmetic appeal of the mod. As I get this project further along I'll try to update. Cheers, Rob Here's the mock-up... Quote
joukov Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 Excellent, you've done what most of us have just thought!! Quote
Darth Aloha[Admin] Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 (edited) Rob... that's bada$$. Have you thought about working with Jim Sauter (TK6294) to integrate his iComm and Aker amp products? Aloha, -Eric Edited January 19, 2012 by Darth Aloha Quote
dashrazor Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 that is sweet! i have often thought about making a setup like that for my helmet and you have nailed it do you think it would work in other lids? Quote
matt black Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 Holy cow . That is one of the coolest things ever! I want one. Quote
James[501st] Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 oh holy crap Rob I'm having a freaking nergasm here. Quote
Tray[TK] Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 that is totally sweet. The grey is nice but id liek to be able to make it match the interior of my helmet now. Excellent work. Count me as very interested in a kit. Quote
RT-Mod Rob[501st] Posted January 20, 2012 Author Report Posted January 20, 2012 Thanks for the kind words. It's a custom fit to my buckets but I did test fit it into the original sized units and fits well enough in those as well. I'm working on a bigger housing, for bigger circuit boards, to go between the speakers as an option for those with different gear. Problem is if you get to much bigger than what's there now the area in front of your mouth gets a bit claustrphobic. I've never seen first hand the Iker or iComm units so I can't say they'll fit. Quote
James[501st] Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 It's really top notch man, very cool this. Quote
James[501st] Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 Oh and this is all ABS? What material is the conduit? Quote
RT-Mod Rob[501st] Posted January 20, 2012 Author Report Posted January 20, 2012 It's all .060 ABS. The conduit is the automotive wire wrap painted chrome though I am trying to source a metal variety. Here's a pic of the optional amp box... Quote
xaoslord Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 Size looks very reasonable. Sounds like some fantastic options not only for functionality, but also to dress up the inside of the helmet! Quote
Spectre Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 HOT DAMN!! That is awesome! That is the sort of interior you would expect in a real space-age tech battle helmet! Great work man, it's freaking wicked! :D Quote
Angevine[TK] Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 (edited) If this ever gets released as a kit I would be really keen to purchase!!! Awesome work... going to keep a close eye on this! Edited January 20, 2012 by Angevine Quote
James[501st] Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 For those of us with a wireless mic the conduit on the left would help if it can wrap to the back (optionally) to connect to the tranciever. Not sure how that might connect with the mic, amp, mic tip speakers you're mentioning though. I haven't used mic tip speakers, but I have heard a good deal about feedback issues with them. I wonder if you want to make the innards specific to that audio setup or somewhat adapatable to others. For my part I can see getting just a kit of the panels and incorporating my own gear, though I don't think those fan chamers would hold the two squirrel fans I use (open to trying the ones you are using though I suppose). Quote
Daetrin[Admin] Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 A fantastic start! In my perfect world I prefer mic tip speakers. My garrison mate used blue tac to eliminate feedback. I wonder if a RomFx could fit in there? Quote
ZacMuleer[TK] Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 This looks amazing! I hope it becomes a reality! Gotta start saving my pennies for both the helmet and the innards! Quote
senna1rossi[TK] Posted January 23, 2012 Report Posted January 23, 2012 shweetness!! are you gonna sell these? Quote
RT-Mod Rob[501st] Posted January 25, 2012 Author Report Posted January 25, 2012 shweetness!! are you gonna sell these? I'm still trying to guage if it's something that I could offer as an add-on but which isn't cost prohibitive. At the present it's a bit time consuming. The balance between my time, the time it takes and the cost people would likely pay has not been reached. However... I can see, if the interest is there, where once the molds are finalized I could form them them and offer it as a kit for the DIY'ers. Presently I'm doodling up ideas for the inside ear area and rear trapz. I think I have found the final draft which I will fashion into molds and have a kick at. Quote
senna1rossi[TK] Posted January 25, 2012 Report Posted January 25, 2012 ...offer it as a kit for the DIY'ers. Exactly. Keep us posted! Quote
James[501st] Posted January 25, 2012 Report Posted January 25, 2012 I'm still trying to guage if it's something that I could offer as an add-on but which isn't cost prohibitive. At the present it's a bit time consuming. The balance between my time, the time it takes and the cost people would likely pay has not been reached. However... I can see, if the interest is there, where once the molds are finalized I could form them them and offer it as a kit for the DIY'ers. Presently I'm doodling up ideas for the inside ear area and rear trapz. I think I have found the final draft which I will fashion into molds and have a kick at. If you need a tester just let me know ... Quote
Dday[501st] Posted July 18, 2012 Report Posted July 18, 2012 Rob, any progress? I've been looking for some realism to put into the helmet I order from you, this might just be it! Quote
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