Hasta La Gadget!

Speaking as someone who’s considered spending nearly $1,000 on a full Stormtrooper costume multiple times, I’m very interested in a new crowdfunding project designed to build and mass produce a complete Iron Man suit with electronic features like an automatic sliding faceplate. The Iron Man Mark III project from Iron Man Factory, which must violate at least 80 licensing agreements, also just looks so damn cool that I’m going to hope beyond hope it somehow gets made.

The prototype in the video is fully 3D-printed, and also features a number of light-up aesthetic features, powered by AAA batteries. It’s lightweight, weighing in at only 3kg (6.6 lbs) and features metal joints with a carbon fiber/polymer body. Anyone under 5’6″ or much over 6’1″ need not apply, according to the specifications, which means even if I want it so badly my entire body burns I’d be taking a risk on not quite fitting within.

The creators of the Iron Man project are a team with an injection moulding factory out of Shenzen, the company tells me, including engineers with over 15 years experience in die casting manufacturing. The factory employs between 30 and 40 people, and currently produces toys, routers, smartphone parts and more. They’ve been working with designers in Beijing on the Iron Man project, and began producing small runs of the Iron Man helmet alone via 3D printing. To get costs down and volumes up, they’re looking to cover the costs of initial setup for a full-scale, injection moulding production run.

Backers can lay down pledges for either the full injection moulded suit ($1,999), a helmet alone ($1,800) or the full, 3D-printed suit ($35,000). The latter two will ship within three to four months, while the production run suits are expected to arrive between six and eight months out should the project prove successful. No cards will be charged until orders ship, with payments managed via Stripe.

The company also tells me that it’s working on a space-grade aluminum version of the suit, too, which it plans to put into mass production provided the initial campaign is successful. They declined to comment on licensing, indicating this isn’t a project with Marvel’s official blessing, but that probably won’t stop the superfan from drooling over this. And yes it’s $2,000 and it doesn’t even fly, but imagine the faces the next time you walk the con floor.

Update: Marvel has unsurprisingly requested the project’s creators to stop selling these unlicensed works, so from now on it’ll be unavailable to buyers outside China.

It wasn’t dealt with much in the movies, but in the Iron Man comic books Tony Stark is constantly battling alcoholism. And that’s what makes these light-up glowing coasters ironic. On the big screen, he used the technology he developed to fight crime and make the world a better place. But in the comics, he would have probably been more inclined to turn the arc reactor into drink coasters just like these.

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How many of you find it extremely difficult to live without access to YouTube? After all, you have a dedicated YouTube app on your smartphone and tablet, while YouTube is on your Favorites list on the Web browser, not only on your desktop, but on your laptop as well. Just in case you so happen to be one of those who were experiencing errors on YouTube, including a slower than normal experience, all things should have returned to normal by now.

The folks over at YouTube have issued this particular statement recently, “Some people encountered errors, or a slower than normal experience on YouTube today. We worked quickly to address the issue and fixed the problem. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this caused.”

Previously, YouTube was aware that there were issues surrounding their service as well, where they mentioned, “Some people are encountering errors, or a slower than normal experience on YouTube today. We’re working to fix the problem as soon as possible.” You know what they say – all’s well that ends well. Aren’t you glad that there are no more interruptions or slow downs when it comes to watching videos over YouTube, whether on-the-go or when you are seated in the plush comfort of your home?

YouTube Service Back To Normal original content from Ubergizmo.

What if Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark had their real life counterparts? Would the world be a whole lot different? The world of fiction might have come together, thanks to a dedicated Iron Man fan who has managed to recreate the Iron Man helmet thanks the help of a 3D printer, of course. What makes this particular Iron Man helmet all the more special is the fact that it can open or close with but a simple nod, now how about that for some semblance of high tech thrown into the mix?

The man behind this 3D printed Iron Man mask is Ryan Brooks, who has actually gone ahead to call himself “the real Tony Stark.” He is definitely not wet behind the ears when it comes to churning out Iron Man paraphernalia, as a couple of years ago, he has already worked on an Iron Man suit which would eventually fold up into a briefcase-sized form factor, looking like some sort of armor that was squashed by the Hulk. The clever implementation of an Arduino Pro Mini and an Adafruit accelerometer has made this unique helmet possible, and depending on how you nod, the faceplate of the helmet would open or close.

3D Printed Iron Man Helmet Opens And Closes Through Nodding Of Your Head original content from Ubergizmo.

You may or may not be familiar with the art form called quilling. Quilling is created using strips of paper rolled up or curved to create images. An artist named Alia Syed has taken the art of quilling to a very geeky next level. Syed has used quilling to create art in the form of Marvel and Star Wars characters.

If you look at the artworks up close you’ll see strips of paper and rolled up pieces that work in conjunction to create very cool and detailed pieces of art. Among the creations are Darth Vader, Boba Fett and a stormtrooper.

There also Batman and Iron Man artworks as well as the Decepticon and Autobot logos and Master Chief’s helmet from Halo. I wonder how long it took to do each of these paper sculptures – it looks like it must have taken a lot of work.

If you’re interested in owning one of these for your own wall, head on over to Alia’s Etsy shop. Each one sells for $200(USD).

[via Lustik via Nerd Approved]