I have been collecting those nice hallmark Star Wars ornaments since 1999. Ever since I got a decent amount of them I have wanted to put a Death Star on top of the tree. This year was the year (inspired by the instructables community).
I didn't think this was going to be that involved, but it has been my most difficult and longest build yet (hence why I am submitting this on the last day of the contest). I started out with a feature list that I wanted it to have.
Features:
With that I started collecting supplies.
I didn't think this was going to be that involved, but it has been my most difficult and longest build yet (hence why I am submitting this on the last day of the contest). I started out with a feature list that I wanted it to have.
Features:
- AC powered
- LED lights
- white "running" lights, always on
- 8 green weapon lights
- Will charge (iterate through each light), then fire (all on)
- Linked up to death star firing sound effect
- Sound
- Randomly (or iteratively) plays Imperial March, Death Star Motif, Death Star firing sound effect.
- Death Star firing sound will kick off weapon LEDs
- Button to by pass motion sensor
- Motion sensor
- Will kick off sound play
- Button to turn off
- Will only trip every x minutes (time delay between trips)
With that I started collecting supplies.
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Signing UpStep 1: Tools and Materials
Components:
Tools:
- Model:
- AMT Death Star Model - $18 off ebay
- Paint - $25
- Plastic Cement - $2
- Plastic Putty - $4
- Fiber Optic Cable:
- End Glow: 3 feet LG64-25 (64 strands @ .25mm) - $9
- Side Glow: 2 feet SG23 (23 strands @ .75mm) - $10
- White Glue
- 3' of 1/16" Clear Shrink Tube - $1
- 3' of 3/32" Clear Shrink Tube - $1
- Electronics:
- Two Ultrabright White LEDs - $2
- Eight Ultrabright Green LEDs - $8
- A Green Laser Pointer - $8 off ebay
- Low dropout voltage regulator with on/off control (for laser power conversion) or a relay?!?
- Motion Sensor - $10
- Arduino Starter Pack - $65
- Arduino Wave Shield Pack - $35
- Speaker - Included in pack
- SD Card - Included in pack
- AC Power Cord - Included in pack
- Wire, solder, shrink tubing - $15
- Connectors - $3
- Switch's - Included in pack
- Resistors - $2
- Plastic screws, washers, and lock nuts
Tools:
- Mac/PC Adruino IDE and USB cable
- Breadboard
- Multimeter
- #80 Drill bit
- Hand Drill
- Drill and Drill bits
- Dremel
- Good Soldering Iron
- Utility Knife or Exacto Knife
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FANTASTIC Ideal though!
The awesome ness just eminates from such a project, but then Luke just had to blow it up!!!!
IMA FIRIN MAH LAZOR!!!!!
So many movie/tv special effects are physics-impossible i.e. like the bending rays (without magnetism etc).
SO modelling it - realistically - or at least WONDERFULLY (as I don't quite remember the original) is GREAT!
What a COOL idea having light pipe to simulate "rays". Thank you thank you thank you, I'm smiling! That's good!
he has ALL the star trek and star wars Halmark ornaments and this would be a wonderful companion
And now I plan to start collecting Star Wars tree ornaments.
I wore my ECCO Boba Fett hoodie to work today and no one recognized it! (lots of young women at my work place)
I am 50+ and a girl, btw
Lillith
Love it!