So, right around the time that I finished Juan's e-11 build, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at something a little more decked out, yet not as expensive. What more could I ask for than a BC 3.0 and a nerf blaster? So, I went to target and looked at all of the blasters they had. I really liked the most expensive one there (it had a nice stock, scope, and was full auto) but I decided I didn't need the best gun if I was just gonna tear it apart and start over. Then the Lumitron caught my eye.
it features a removable clip, and the new disk launching system. For anyone who hasn't tried the new disk system I would highly recommend it. it works extremely well as a blaster to deflect with a saber. Unfortunately, the mechanism in the disk launchers takes up almost all of the empty space, so I had to get rid of it for electronics. I didn't mind so much as the disks don't really simulate blaster fire as much as the darts anyway.
So, I knew I had to paint it, but I wanted to keep the stock grey parts for a nice two-tone look. Unfortunately, taping the complex indents and extrusions from the body was an impossible task. I tried painting it by hand, but it wouldn't give an even coat.
that picture is the almost complete paint job that I would have liked to have given it (there are a couple of spots that I was able to tape, and they are covered in that pic) but I wound up going all black after the 2nd and 3rd coats by hand still weren't opaque enough. Here's what I wound up with.
Now, from the start I liked the look of the other blaster better because of the stock and scope. So, I went on ebay and found a stock and a scope that fit the lumitron.
the scope lights up with 3 different modes (shown in video) from the factory.
Recharge port got placed at the bottom right of the gun in this pic
I drilled for a bargraph in the rear grip
and a ray progression in the barrel
Main and aux flashes
While I had the boards in hand, I decided to take a pic grouping a CF 5.5, CF 5.6, BC 3.1, and BC 4.0 together. One of the major improvements (to me) of the BC 4 over the BC 3 is the placement of the smd resistor footprints. Much better not being connected to the main pads of the accent leds than where they were on the BC v3. My solder joints looked not so good because I had to both bridge the pads with a piece of a resistor and solder wires to them (I very quickly after ordered some 0402 0 ohm resistors to eliminate that issue should it ever arise again).
Jumping right into the wiring, I feel this was my neatest wiring job to date. It may not have looked as neat at the very end when I had to route all of the wires though various gaps in the blaster, but as a whole, it was my neatest job. The only thing I didn't really like about it was the accent pad solder joints for the reasons I already mentioned.
and end of wiring day #1:
An example of a section of wire ready to be routed in the blaster:
The wires just for the barrel leds (progression as well as main/aux flash):
Clearly I used a satellite board for color changing ray progression (as you probably noticed earlier). that pretty well made the install take 50% longer, but I just love that effect.
Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7r9cl30sjIThis may or may not be coming up for sale. I promised Clark Kent first dibs on this blaster, so if he doesn't take it, i might list it in the TF.