I big fan of Logan's Run, havi ng watched the movie in theaters and reading the book many times as a kid. I always loved the design and function of the Sandman guns as depicted in the movie (in the book the Gun is actually a 6 shooter with special cartridges which do different things such as firing a net, a Tangler, or a kill shot, a Ripper). I bought this beautiful machined aluminium Logan's Run non-working flame gun over at the RPF. Yes, it is possible to get one which actually uses a sodium bicarbonate to create an actual flame when fired exactly as they did in the movie. That was a bit beyond my ability to build and seems a bit dangerous. This comes with a working green LED that can fit into the barrel, so that's the extent I am willing to go! This is actually my first time in ages doing and electrical work.
So here's the kit as i received it and some extra supplies as well as a diagram from the guy at Radio Shack to help me wire the switches, trigger, and LED.
Awesome Bryan. I'm sure it's going to turn out great. But man, I still want one of these babies!
Logan's Run, Sandman Flamegun / Working Prop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJRM5Ky8TOU#)
Interested in seeing the build!
Well, I got the light to work...but the trigger switch is reversed, so when the light is turned on, it glows and when you depress the trigger it turns off. Going to have to see what I can do about that, but regardless, having fun!
Try using the second contact on the trigger switch Bryan. The one in the center. Hard to tell detail from the pics, but one of those should close the circuit when you press the switch and one should do the opposite.
Wow - I am jealous! Like you - I am a big fan of Logan's Run. What a fun project. I can only imagine what damage my 10 & 9 year olds would do with that flame gun..
I doubt they could resist the siren call - even if it was under lock and key. :)
Quote from: Rico on May 30, 2011, 10:59:50 AM
Try using the second contact on the trigger switch Bryan. The one in the center. Hard to tell detail from the pics, but one of those should close the circuit when you press the switch and one should do the opposite.
Yeah, I did and that didn't work either. I think I am going to need to start again from scratch, I'm not very good at soldering and I made a mess of the connections. I think I am going to get another switch for the trigger that is only on/off and bypass the toggle switch entirely (but keep it there as it is screen accurate. This thing is well machined, I can put it together and break it down with no problem. I'm going Do a little bondo filling work on some seams and then get back to the electronics and then paint.
Question, what would be a good filler for the small seam around the grip and side plates, which are resin, and the frame which is aluminum?
Testor makes some contour putty/filler that should work just fine on that. That's weird about the switch. Maybe they sent you the wrong one. Those contact switches can be made a few different ways.
Quote from: Rico on May 30, 2011, 11:46:02 AM
Testor makes some contour putty/filler that should work just fine on that. That's weird about the switch. Maybe they sent you the wrong one. Those contact switches can be made a few different ways.
Yep, that's what the guy at Radio Shack told me. I wish we were neighbors, Rico, I could use some help! :) I have an old tube of Testors right here, I'll give that a go. I know it sands down nicely as well.
Just don't get that putty on your fingers. It's a huge pain to get it off if it dries some, without peeling skin off with it! ;)
P.S. Oh, the switch didn't come in the kit? I'm guessing you maybe got the wrong one then. You want a momentary on switch.
No, sorry, the switch did come with the kit and the guy at Radio Shack wasn't sure if it was the correct one. I'm going to go back there tomorrow and get the right one and some thinner gauge wire, the 20 is too thick. Also I need a smaller tip of my soldering iron me thinks to do more delicate connections.
And you said it about the putty! When I was doing my 1/350 Enterprise build I would have that stuff all over my fingers! It works so well to use a finger to fill seams, but it stick like crazy when it dries.
Buy some nice, tight latex gloves Bryan. You'll still be able to use your fingers, but won't end up with dried putty all over them.
Quote from: Rico on May 30, 2011, 12:16:36 PM
Buy some nice, tight latex gloves Bryan. You'll still be able to use your fingers, but won't end up with dried putty all over them.
....too late... :D
Ready for Last Day and those who run from Carousel.
Finally got the switch sorted so now when I pull the trigger the light comes on and it is nice and bright. Kit came together great, I love the aluminum parts, gives it weight and feels like what a real DS Gun would feel like. I'll get a real flamer one day, but for now this was a fun project!
Run, Runner!
Awesome Bryan. It does look like you used the center contact on the switch (or is that a new momentary switch?).
Quote from: Rico on June 01, 2011, 04:31:57 PM
Awesome Bryan. It does look like you used the center contact on the switch (or is that a new momentary switch?).
Yep, the center and the back contacts give on when trigger is pulled and held/off when trigger is released. What I did not bother and wire was the on/off toggle that connects to the battery pack. They way it's supposed to work is you throw the toggle forward, which creates the circuit, and then the switch above the trigger does the on/off for the LED. At worst, maybe my batteries drain faster leaving the switch open.
No reason the battery would drain with the switch open. The other sounds like an insurance measure more than anything else.
I want a flame gun...
Quote from: Feathers on June 02, 2011, 07:46:51 AM
No reason the battery would drain with the switch open. The other sounds like an insurance measure more than anything else.
I want a flame gun...
Yeah, Mike, that and it more closely resembles the actual prop where throwing the toggle activated the gas discharge mechanism.
Bryan, do you think a blue LED light or even a blue and white light would look more like the actual flame gun? I wonder why they picked a green light?
Quote from: Rico on June 02, 2011, 08:39:15 AM
Bryan, do you think a blue LED light or even a blue and white light would look more like the actual flame gun? I wonder why they picked a green light?
Because the flame was green in the film. Some transfers of the movie have made the color look more blue, but the gas/Calcium Carbide system used during filming, they added flux to get the green color.
I can't post pics here at work, but here are some screen grabs where you can really see it.
http://www.tvacres.com/images/weapon_sandman_gun.jpg (http://www.tvacres.com/images/weapon_sandman_gun.jpg)
http://www.ship-star.com/lo01.jpg (http://www.ship-star.com/lo01.jpg)
Quote from: Bryancd on June 02, 2011, 09:25:57 AM
I can't post pics here at work, but here are some screen grabs where you can really see it.
http://www.tvacres.com/images/weapon_sandman_gun.jpg (http://www.tvacres.com/images/weapon_sandman_gun.jpg)
http://www.ship-star.com/lo01.jpg (http://www.ship-star.com/lo01.jpg)
Cool shot of Francis 7!
Quote from: Bromptonboy on June 02, 2011, 02:05:03 PM
Quote from: Bryancd on June 02, 2011, 09:25:57 AM
I can't post pics here at work, but here are some screen grabs where you can really see it.
http://www.tvacres.com/images/weapon_sandman_gun.jpg (http://www.tvacres.com/images/weapon_sandman_gun.jpg)
http://www.ship-star.com/lo01.jpg (http://www.ship-star.com/lo01.jpg)
Cool shot of Francis 7!
I know, right! I knew you would dig on this. :)
I need to pick up the Blu-Ray of the "Logan's Run" movie now and watch it. Got me interested in this all again!
Quote from: Rico on June 02, 2011, 05:37:31 PM
I need to pick up the Blu-Ray of the "Logan's Run" movie now and watch it. Got me interested in this all again!
It still holds up. It's just so campy and great. And the book is terrific.
Bryan, we should do a joint podcast on it sometime. That would be a blast! Maybe later in the summer.
Quote from: Rico on June 02, 2011, 05:48:00 PM
Bryan, we should do a joint podcast on it sometime. That would be a blast! Maybe later in the summer.
Dude, I would take a day off from training to do a podcast with you any day! In fact, I was hoping to be able to Skype in for the Blade Runner cast.
Cool! Let me see what I can work out. And keep me posted on what Rylo has to say about a working DS gun. Maybe we can split the cost and each have it for 6 months of the year! ;)