I was going to wait a week or so to post this but since it was brought up in the other thread and a few people have asked me about it here goes:

I have always hated the stock palantir that Stern used and even though the different color changing LED mods make a huge different, I wanted something more Back from working on prop/prop replicas and miniatures, I had experimented on several different lighting and animated options for a statue. I really wanted to add this to the LOTR pin very similar to the crystal ball effect on WOZ. I have this about ready to go I just need to tweak a few options here and there but I want different videos to light up and play in the ball. I really like the flaming eye effect so far. I plan to have some pics and videos up within the next week or so but I can say this, so far it has way surpassed my expectations and should be a pretty neat effect when added.

Thanks,
Ryan

My version very similar what is being used in WOZ, I am using an OLED so it can play full videos. The videos I am using in my test version are a combination of re-edited captures from the films plus some additional custom animations. I am tweaking my circuit to allow the different triggers and options that will play.

Thanks
Ryan

This is what I am shooting for. I am still working on the different behavior patterns but I definitly want it to be somewhat interactive without being a distraction. I have some ideas for some cool effects for it, I am just working out the kinks on them

Those issues is why I am working with the different triggers in my circuit. My current thought process is this:

It will always have something showing. I have created an subtle animated dark cloud version with a faint eye in it that will play while the it is "off" Next I have created a birght "super firey" Flaming eye clip for when it "lit". I want it to be always flowing with different animations while still preserving the "effect" of how it works in the game.

As for the look and mounting I am finishing up a "base" that it will sit on based on the black marble pillar it was sitting on in Saruman's tower. This will alow it to have a nice clean look and help hide the mounting and LED electronics as well as provide a more stable mount above the target.

I have put quite a bit of thought and effort into this. From working with props and miniatures I have always tried to go above and beyond because the end product is always so rewarding. To me its all the little details that just stand out and make it so much cooler (even though some may go unnoticed )

Thanks
Ryan

An example of what I was talking about it (My family calls it OCD )
I made some police car mods for the Getaway and I wanted each of the lights to flash in a different speed or pattern to try and be as much as possible like a real police car, Ie the tail light blinking slower and to try and get that "rolling light" effect. I also made some of the cars custom to be car 504 with the star paint scheme like in the game.

Here is an older video for the lighting test on the car:

Thank Again

These were my thoughts exactly. I didnt really want to to become a "video mode" gimmick even though it gets tempting when you think of all the possibilites

I plan to keep it as reasonable as possible.

Wow I'm not sure I deserve all that but thank you none the less. I really look forward to putting out a nice mod with this one.

Thanks again and I really appreciate everyone's feedback with this!

Ah man you must be spying on me.. that was goin to be my next mod... but I was going to add bacon....
Dont worry I will have some pics and video ready really soon...

I had a little delay on them. I am having the crystal balls made by a company in China and they sent me an email saying they pretty much shut down for Chinese New Year until March. The good news is they were able to get my two sample ones ready and shipped to me so I could approve my design. I should have those this week. This gives me time to work on the circuits and such though. I will keep everone posted ASAP!.

Thanks,
Ryan

On another note I decided to make a couple custom one-off, hand-painted, lighted toppers just to see how they would turn out. I really like the traditional "Art" look of pins and kind of miss it with the newer photoshop look so I decided to incorperate that into a nice topper. I am almost finished with one of Quarra for Tron that I started last night. I will get some pics of later if she is finished up.

Thanks again!

Here is the painted topper I mentioned. I havent finished the base and added the lighting that will go between the two pieces yet, but I am really happy with how she has turned out so far.

Thanks,
Ryan

20130213_212340-1.jpg

I think I have finally got the details worked out with the supplier in China on the crystals 3 times with a 3-4 week wait time in between has been a killer. I just want it to be perfect and to show up as clear as possible so I have had to tweak the design several different times. My final sample crystal should be here in the next few days and I can finally get some videos of this put together. I can really complain to much though because it has given me time to get caught up on some other projects in between

Thanks,
Ryan