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Once-bitten
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 9:48 am    Post subject: Neon Umbrella---FINISHED! Reply with quote

After looking and looking for a decent Umbrella to use at the opening of the re-release of BR and being disappointed in EVERYTHING I saw other than the caps of the movie used ones, I have decided to have one made! In less than a week!!
I am hoping ridleyville will comment here and perhaps post close up pics of the handle of his movie used UMBRELLA?
I would like to have mine made with the same style handle as his.

I know the ones in the movie were NOT neon but it was a simpler prospect than trying to convert a flourescent tube.

Pics soon!


Last edited by Once-bitten on Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:31 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Rachael
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 9:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

They are predicting rain for next friday. Which is very cool, when the weather cooperates with the authenticity. I am, after all, only happy when it rains.
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andy
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 9:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the battery packs and transformer you will need to wear on your belt might cause some issues with homeland security Smile The LED replicas do not look too bad as Ms Geek and I can attest to. Not to mention the prices.

Here is an article with great pictures if you still want to do it...

http://media.bladezone.com/contents/film/production/props/lostandfound/umbrella/index.html
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's allready in the works with a NEON Specialist, though thanks for the link!
I've been looking at that and showed it to the NEON guy as well.
I also looked at the photo's posted by MsGeek and I just wasn't impressed...though it's funny to note that while I don't have time to have something shipped I apparently DO have time to build something from scratch!!

I also showed the link to our lighting specialist at work who said there was NO-WAY that the one's in the movie were flourecent bulbs! Guess he was mistaken.

Apparently they didn't have the technology to make portable NEON back then so it would have HAD to be done with some type of early flourecent tube.
I think if it were to be done for a movie TODAY they would use NEON...It's brighter, easier,lighter and powered with 8 double A's for a lasting period of two hours.
I think we are going with GREEN as it's the brightest.


Last edited by Once-bitten on Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
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MsGeek
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The umbrella I got would have looked better if they went with a frosted rather than clear plastic. However, the thing hasn't needed the batteries swapped out yet so that's one good thing about it. I used it a lot at Comic-Con '07. I think all it needs is one AA cell. The LED inside is a Luxeon, I think. The LED light shines up through the optical fibers embedded in the plastic central mast.

Are you going to be using the kind of neon tubes used to mod cars and computers?

One thing: neon requires high amperage so it might not be a good idea to use that in the rain. According to the Korean designers of my umbrella it is not intended to be used in rain either, but I'm sure it would be OK in a drizzle. Not so good for real rain, apparently, and I don't want to risk it.

One other thing: I *DID* win the $100 "action photo of the month" award from ThinkGeek. Very convenient that WB had all those replicant replicas walking around. I think the Batty I took the picture with looked the best of the bunch. He's got that Hauer-esque smirk in the picture that was taken of me. They got Pris' makeup all wrong, and the girl in the pic doesn't look very much like Daryl Hannah.
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Rachael
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hmmm. Good thing I won't be the one holding the umbrella.
But I'm sure it'll be okay since we're having a professional work on it. In any event, he will be wearing rubber soled shoes.
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The handle will also be rubber shrunk and no wire's will be exposed.

It's being constructed on a real umbrella so I see NO problem with it being in the rain. Plus, as Rachael said, the guy REALLY knows what he is doing and has been working on portable neon for years...he's just never seen BR before and never thought of this application...I have now changed all that.
Depending on how well this little project works out, and his willingness, I may be posting a link for him here...that is IF theres ANY interest from the BR community here at the Summit...? Very Happy
Again...pics soon!
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I also meant to mention that the NEON will be powered by 8 double A batteries through a small converter for two hours total light time.
I don't imagine we'll have it on for that long a period though.
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I spent most of the day yesterday retro fitting the umbrella to accept the clear acrylic tube that the NEON goes into.
I've got the handle finished after two try's...the first one was too large and resembled a big rubber microphone.
The new one is smaller, fits better in the hand and liked by Carl The Neon Guy.
The only problem I'm having at this point is burring out one of the two center hubs to accept the acrylic tube so that it will slide and let the umbrella open.
The more I bur away the more fragile the plastic hub becomes and if it breaks it will be off to the store for a new umbrella.
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andy
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They used a few Chinese umbrellas for the neon ones as well. They are hollow and collapse around the shaft.
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now he tells me... Mad
No, I'm kidding...I thought about that the other day but ofcourse, I allready have the other umbrella in the works so...
If it doesnt work out then I may go to one of those.
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, the NEON should be ready to go today.
The biggest problem I have had with the umbrella has turned out to be the main spring.
I had to cut the main rod in order to replace it with the acrylic tube.
In order to fit the tube I had to cut away some stabalizing bits and bore those destabalized bits out.
In this process the main spring popped out and I have been un-able to get it back in and fear that if I force it, things will break.
I'm picking up a weaker spring today.

On a side note: I got a look at the converter yesterday as it arrived and it's lighter and smaller than the 8 double A's we're using to power it!
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well here it is! I love how bright it is even in a well lit room.

The first pic is with the room lights out.
Second pic is on the floor with the room lights on.
Last pic is a close-up of the handle, plug and 8 double A's
on top of the converter, it's a very compact little package
which will fit easily into one of my coat pockets.

Here is the contact if you are interested in owning your very own
BR-NEON Umbrella:

NEON ART CO.
Carl Keithley-(360)561-1174

Tell Carl that Paul sent you!



More pics soon showing the umbrella being held for comparison.
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MsGeek
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gotta admit, that is awesome.
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amish
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ummm.... WOW! That turned out fantastic. Way to go
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks guys! I'm pretty happy with it.
More pics tonight!
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well here it is!
The pictures go from total dark to total light to show the variation and brightness of the NEON.
Pretty sweet if you ask me.
Thanks to my friend Jay for his assist in the photo's!
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Next time you build a neon umbrella, try it with this:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/8069/?cpg=60T

This is an umbrella that has a handle with electronics that check with AccuWeather and give forecasts of chance of rain. The lights on the handle flash fast for "good chance of rain" slow for "little chance of rain" and stay dark for "no chance of rain."

Yes, this is from the same place I bought my LED umbrella from.
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting idea!
The big problem I had with mine was retro-fitting the acryllic tube.
After cutting off the fiberglass handle (and my hands feeling like they were stuck with a thousand needles) I had to bore out the narrow channels so that the tube would fit through, leaving the whole assembly a little weak.
I think the next one I make will be with a more sturdy Bamboo umbrella as Andy suggested.
It seems to me that they have a more simplistic design which should make removing the shaft easier.
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andy
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They were selling the Chinese umbrellas in NYC and I thought about buying one. I used to find them at garage sales and thrift stores all the time but girlfriends kept keeping them on me Smile.
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