Hi there !
I've been sharing this work with a couple of people involved in PR stuff, and they suggested I leave a trace in this forum, so here we go. I've self documented the project on my website, so I won't dupplicated the post I've put in different other forums, I'm just going to put a few links.

In a nutshell, building sabers for 2 years, I've developped a saber sound board that uses a SD card to put any custom sounds in it. I then decided to build a blaster version (and then a generic sound board for any costume, props, or droid), and I went across alien stuff and the PR, and decided to build one, adding my 2 cents of electronic circuitry.

My article is here, it even has a demo video :
http://www.plecterlabs.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=39&language=en

The initial posts of the project on the BBC :
http://www.imperial-fleet.com/bbcforum/viewtopic.php?t=1732

if some of you have some interest about the blaster board, it's there :
http://www.imperial-fleet.com/bbcforum/viewtopic.php?t=1676
http://www.imperial-fleet.com/bbcforum/viewtopic.php?t=1694
and the one with a graphic mini screen on the side
http://www.imperial-fleet.com/bbcforum/viewtopic.php?t=1674

The next plan (early 2008) is to build a sound board version that will embbed the 2 digit counter. That was a great fun to hack the one that came with my kit, but it will be more elegant to provide a complete and ready made kit to the PR builder.
So... if some of you have some interest in that, just post here your thoughts !
Erv'

Hi there

Looks like you have put a lot of time and effort into that and it certainly looks to have paid off for you.

I originally had an airsoft Pulse Rifle and I gave thought to making it a light and sound version as well whilst still keeping it as a functional airsoft gun. However, I found that the 2 were not completely compatible.

You could overcome the issue of not being able to remove the magazine bottom and the magazine at the same time by using one of the custom made pieces created by Matt Noble on this board. This allows you to grip the bottom of the mag and pull it out as per the original Pulse Rifles and also gives you access to the winding mechanism on the 190 round magazine.

You can see details of those here:

http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?t=1467&start=0

I'm guessing that when you pull the trigger of the Thompson the electric motor is still running? It sounds like it in the video clip. This is the main reason that I decided to do separate airsoft and light/sound versions. With the sound of the motor in the background it is difficult to drown that out with sound from a sound board and you end up with something that doesn't really sound like the guns in the movie. If you can find a way to bypass the motor when not skirmishing with it so that only the sound board is providing the sound that should be a much better result.

I also couldnt figure out a way of using it at a convention because of the need to for the counter to "see" the BB's moving through the barrel in order to count down but if you are able to hack the supplied board and enable it to count down off of the trigger only then that is great work.

So, my only suggestion to you would be to do something about the magazine release and try to find a way to bypass the motor so that you get a cleaner Pulse Rifle sound.

Great work though and look forward to seeing future updates.

Cheers

Darren

Hey ! thanks for the advices. I actually discovered the piece you're talking about just before posting here, browsing the different topics. It sounds like I'm late for the last run that has been done, but I'll PM Matt to ask him anyway.
Yep you're right : some hack has to be done for the BB counter. It's an optical fork that creates a pulse. Well, the IC in the counter is actually not detecting an edge, which is a shame : as soon as the input level on the IC pin goes low, it starts counting down very fast, instead of decreasing just one, wait for the level to go up, then wait for the next edge. The thing works since the BB passes the fork very fast.
My ack is that my board has its own "software counter" in the program of the little processor, and sends the pulse to the slave visual counter. I had to adapt the duration of the pulse until it matches the BB speed.
You're totally right also about the airsoft sound vs the PR sound. Well, I definitly couldn't afford 2 PRs So I decided to make a combination of the 2 systems. It's more a prop than something to be used with a costume I'll probably never make. For now, the trigger info is taken from the airsoft motor itself, I don't have a real other solution if I want to keep the airsoft working. The solution I've found anyway is to use an almost empty battery. Not enough juice to activate the motor but it triggers the opto coupler and the soundboard. Sure, it's not so good to do that for long runs cause the battery is pumping, but since it's a high discharge (10C) version, it's designed for that purpose, it just slightly heats after a while.
And for the next step, I have to finish the case and I'll move to my motion tracker, with display, animation & sound and it will be also a real GPS (working and displaying direction and coordinates in the hama slide viewer). But that's another story, I'll probably document that here too !
Erv'

Hi Erv'

Mark

_________________
 
"Everybody online... lookin' good".
.

Hi Mark,
nice to see you here
I LOVE the poster
Erv'

Bit of advice:
Make the right side (as you are looking at it) of the counter board as short as you can. If it's too long it can run into the spas cage when you clamp the shrouds together. Most of the time I grind off the part of the GL unit that the counter impinges on, not a problem with resin and plastic but a real pain if you build real steel.

Matt

_________________
"Stand up for something...Or get knocked down for nothing..."

excellent advice. I'm really planning to make a short short board. Current design without the counter is 43 x 28 mm. I need to add a few parts to hand the 2 digit display, but it should remain in that size / scale, more or less.
Erv'

Almost done with the case. The 6 grenades are missing, I'll machine them later, I have several things to do before.
I've finished the stickers and even made a special "shipping contents" one since my case is not exactly baena's one. I've replaced the cleaning rod by my reflex (red dot) sight, labeled M123.2 (it's not the exact same model as described into baena's manual).
The magazine is not visible for the moment, I still plan to get a second one with the proper bottom cap attached to it, so I've labeled this as an "optional spare magazine).
All the stickers were re drawn since the one I got on ebay are awfull (except the vinyle ones that goes on the top of the case). The serial & center plate were printed on a matte metallized sheet with a laser printer.

after moving and 4 months of work in the new house, I back to props work.
Thanks to mnoble2, got finally the expected solution to attach the mag cap to the magazine, using the stock G&P cap (thanks matt)

Updated pics and a bit of text at the bottom of this page
http://www.plecterlabs.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=39&language=en

And the finished thing (M40 grenades still missing, lathe is down for the moment)



Enjoy !
Erv'

so long since I've put an update. I know it's almost necro posting. I got my 10 x M-40 and the ammo box from tommin (so GREAT ! worth the wait). So now the project is kinda complete.

http://www.plecterlabs.com/Media/PulseRifle/PR_Improved03.JPG

I also got the problematic part of my motion tracker (resin / catalyst weeping impeaching any kind of primer coat or paint) re-casted. So I'm going to work on the electronics of the motion tracker soon. Project isn't dead !

Hi Erv!

Cant wait to see your tracker project - i've got a CF board in a custom saber and it always makes my FX sabers feel lifeless after!

_________________
MSgt Matt Bradley 'Crashdown' (Formerly Mattb)
A12/TQ2.0.82145E1
CO UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'
"There are very few problems that cannot be solved through a suitable application of high explosives."

thanks

Hey Erv:

Awesome looking Pulse Rifle case, I especially like your added touch of a laser sight. I also like how you have the cutouts for the six M40 grenades, nice work.

_________________
James R. Combes
Callsign: Seraph
Captain
A09/TQ0.0.22142E1
U.S.C.M. USS Terrapin
3rd Battalion 7th Regiment

"If you like that, you're gonna love this." - Hudson

thanks a lot ! foam cutting would have been WAY better with a nichrome wire hot cutter, hobby knives just do a dirty job. Next time => better

My Pulse Rifle case arrived today! I am using a Pelican black 1700 case. I was going to make the foam cutouts with an electric knife. Unfortunately, it seems that I have misplaced the blades for the electric knife. I am seriously considering using a “nichrome wire hot cutter” like Erv suggested. Does anyone have any suggestions?

_________________
James R. Combes
Callsign: Seraph
Captain
A09/TQ0.0.22142E1
U.S.C.M. USS Terrapin
3rd Battalion 7th Regiment

"If you like that, you're gonna love this." - Hudson