Hasbro E-11 conversion progress pics

Tips and tricks for Star Wars-related costumes and props. Armor builds and other SW costuming questions and answers.

Moderator: Garrison Officers

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
4poziom.waw.pl
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Hasbro E-11 conversion progress pics

Post by InvaderSith »

A while ago, I started modifying my Hasbro E-11. I opened it up, added a laser sight, chopped the front piece off, and replaced the LED in front.

I did not take pics of those steps, however.

I did take pics of the next steps:

I cut off the "fins" that were at the wrong angle:
Image
Image

Then I cut off the front curved "fins," marked where the new holes needed to be drilled, and made small pilot holes with a Dremel:
Image

Drilled and trimmed the new holes:
Image

Here is the internal view of the blaster:
Image

This is the element from a laser pointer glued into the scope:
Image

I attached leads to the existing battery contacts to avoid adding a second power supply. Here is the switch:
Image

This is a focus on the wiring I added:
Image

The red wire goes from the positive battery contact to the positive contact on the laser. The black wire goes from the negative battery contact to the switch, and from the other contact on the switch to the negative contact on the laser.

More pics as the project progresses.
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

User avatar
SHEEPDOG54
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 2434
Joined: Mon May 01, 2000 2:00 am
501st Legion ID: 265
Real Name: Javier Esqueda
Location: Joliet, IL

Post by SHEEPDOG54 »

Thats the same way I wired my laser running off the batteries of the blaster and I also used a seperate switch for the laser. My laser is installed in the scope.
Great job!! I wish I would have photographed and written the tutorial like you did but I didn't even think about it at the time 8 years ago!

TB 0101
Inactive Member
Inactive Member
Posts: 13896
Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2002 3:39 pm
501st Legion ID: 101
Location: Hanover Park, IL
Contact:

Post by TB 0101 »

Jason, once you're finished (because it says in progress), I'd like to "stick" this for future reference. Since you've gone to the trouble of posting it all, it'd be nice to have handy.

Your efforts are noted and appreciated! Thanks very much for sharing :D

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

I'd be glad to have this stuck when it's complete!
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

Ok, this part concentrates on the detail I decided to add to the Scope.

Here we have a lens that I found, a small graphic that I printed and laminated, and the replacement for the scope's original cap, a Scotch Tape dispenser roller:
Image

Better view of the scope graphic:
Image

Replaced the front LED with a Jumbo Super Bright LED and added a Super Bright green LED to the inside of the scope, projecting to the rear:
Image

Close-up of the Jumbo LED:
Image

Close-Up of the green LED in the scope:
Image

More to come!
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

Time to paint!

First I mask off the internal components:
Image
The newer toy has the parts glued in, so they do not slide out as easily as the older version.

I purchased a detail parts kit from a guy in the UK. I needed to do very little filling and sanding:
Image
I painted the whole thing a "brass" hammer finish paint by Rustoleum. It is their line made specifically for plastics, like the Krylon Fusion line.

Here is the eyepiece of the scope:
Image

This is a cap from a monitor cleaning kit:
Image
I drilled a hole in the center for the laser to shine through.

This is the folded stock:
Image
It does not unfold. I may remove it and add a working one later.

Detail shot of the T-Track I cut and sanded down to more closely match the real stuff:
Image
I chose a thinner version to allow more light to shine through from the internal LED. It's made by Plastruct.

Final assembly should be tomorrow!
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

I have some touch-ups to do yet, but I can declare this a troopable blaster now.

Scope lights up nicely when not in direct sunlight, and the laser works perfectly.
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

You like it dark?

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

IronManAtArms
Inactive Member
Inactive Member
Posts: 1544
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 5:05 pm
501st Legion ID: 1296
Contact:

Post by IronManAtArms »

How did you take apart the laser
:?
"It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees."~ Emiliano Zapata
ImageImage

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

It was a larger laser pointer, powered by 2 AAA cells. I simply grabbed the end with pliers and twisted. I've not experimented with a smaller laser pointer yet.
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

The resin stock has been destroyed. I am working on an aluminum functional replacement.

Image

Image

More pics coming soon!
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

To begin with, I took a piece of aluminum bracketing used for making a frame around plywood. I think this was for 1/2" ply.

Image

I cut out part of the bottom of the bracket with a bandsaw and bent the sides into the correct shape.

Image

Drilled holes for the mounting and sanded the ends round.

Image

I drew a template using reference pictures and the remains of the broken resin stock. This template was traced onto a thin piece of aluminum sheet.

Image

I cut out the stock with the bandsaw and used a vise to band it into shape.

Image

Image

I used JB Weld to fill in the seams. Here it is next to the resin piece.

Image

I took a smaller piece of aluminum bracket, made for 1/4" plywood, I think, that fits into the other bracket piece. I rounded the ends and drilled holes for the attachment points.

Image

I then drilled the holes in the remaining bottom portion of the original bracket piece. Here are all three pieces.

Image

Image

This is a test fit to see how it will function. The pieces are temporarily held together with nails. I will rivet them soon.

Image

Image

Next comes riveting and painting!
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

User avatar
TK118
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 4903
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2001 3:18 pm
501st Legion ID: 118
Location: IL - Midwest Garrison
Contact:

Post by TK118 »

How do you make it fold?
Image

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

I'll take some pics of the folding action once I get it riveted.
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

Marvinrobot
501st Member
501st Member
Posts: 1263
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:21 pm
501st Legion ID: 7242
Location: Belleville IL

Post by Marvinrobot »

That is simply fantastic...how did you break the resin stock? just curious because I just finihed my E-11 about 2 weeks ago and now you have me nervous.
Image

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

Marvinrobot wrote:That is simply fantastic...how did you break the resin stock? just curious because I just finihed my E-11 about 2 weeks ago and now you have me nervous.
I'm not even sure. I finished the parade in Fairbury and saw that a chunk was just plain missing. The resin one is a nice looking stock, but it is fragile. Dropping it will almost certainly lead to its destruction.
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Construction complete!

Post by InvaderSith »

Ok, Tom asked how it folded. Here it is:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Now I have to get the paint and finish the beastie!
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

E-11 Complete

Post by InvaderSith »

The project is now complete.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

User avatar
Darth Raizzar
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 836
Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:38 pm
501st Legion ID: 6312
Real Name: Pat
Location: Imperial Super Star Destroyer

Post by Darth Raizzar »

Fantastic work Jason,
mind giving a general upgrade parts shopping list. ie: Laser pointer purchased from_____, T track purchased from ________, etc.

I'm about to start on this project when my E-11 upgrade kit comes in from the UK guy on Ebay, I like what you've done, awesome job! :wink: 8)

InvaderSith
MWG Member
MWG Member
Posts: 1903
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:47 pm
501st Legion ID: 1719
Location: Roselle, IL
Contact:

Post by InvaderSith »

Wow, the laser pointer is one that I've had for years. I have no idea where I got it. I'm going to do another one using a smaller laser pointer as well, I'm sure there won't be much difficulty making that modification.

The T-Track was bought at a hobby store that specializes in model trains.

All the aluminum was purchased at a hardware store, as were the rivets, rivet tool, and rivet back plates.

The LEDs and wires were either from my large stockpile of electronics junk or Radio Shack.

I think I bought the blaster itself at Target a few years back. ;-)

The resin parts expansion kit was bought on ebay. The added hammers and front sight piece were donated by Tom.

The electronics skills were acquired at ITT Houston North campus, which I spent two years commuting to in the company of a guy just like Hank Hill for 1.5 hours each way.

Used in the project were a drill press, a band saw, rivet tool, plastic bonding epoxy, masking tape, a paper towel tube, JB Weld, several toothpicks, a hot glue gun, and several types of spray paint.

I would like to thank my kids for having the good sense to bugger off and leave me alone when working on this project. I would like to thank television and video games for distracting them during this time as well. Nothing like electronic babysitting, hmm?
Image
The Dark Lord of the Snark
SL/TI-1719

Post Reply