Return to the BUILD
“In this issue, the fingers are assembled! Build the right hand of the Mark III armor, which includes a repulsor with an LED.”
Contents
Parts
Materials: Only the Palm and Back Plate are metal in this issue – everything else non-electrical is plastic.
Magazine
- The History of Iron Man – First Challenges, First Armors
- Step by Step – Model Instructions
- In the Comics – Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.: After the Victory
- The Armor – Model 1 Mark III: From Silver to Gold
Build
The Right Hand
All of the finger parts are marked at the serrated tab end for easy identification. I found it easier to lay them out first:
Stage 1
Identify the two parts marked ‘1R’ that indicate the right Thumb. Fit the serrated tab of the fingertip (3D) into the matching slot of the thumb (3C) as shown.
The top surface of all of these fingers is flat, so this should help orientate the parts correctly:
Secure these parts together with one (1) CP screw, as shown.
One side of each finger part has a recessed hole, that is the side where the screw goes into:
Stage 2
Identify the three parts marked ‘2R’ for the right Index Finger. Fit the serrated tabs of each part into the matching slot of the next larger part, as shown.
I messed up and installed the fingertip backwards here – don’t do that! I discovered this after I finished the issue and corrected it:
Secure the fingertip to the middle section with one (1) CP screw and the middle section to the base section with one (1) FP screw:
Stage 3
Identify the three parts marked ‘3R’ for the right Middle Finger. Fit the serrated tabs of each part into the matching slot of the next larger part, as shown:
Secure the fingertip to the middle section with one (1) CP screw and the middle section to the base section with one (1) FP screw:
Stage 4
Identify the three parts marked ‘4R’ for the right Ring Finger. Fit the serrated tabs of each part into the matching slot of the next larger part, as shown:
Secure the fingertip to the middle section with one (1) CP screw and the middle section to the base section with one (1) FP screw.
Note that the side we are installing the screws into has changed here:
Stage 5
Identify the three parts marked ‘5R’ for the right Little Finger. Fit the serrated tabs of each part into the matching slot of the next larger part, as shown:
Secure the fingertip to the middle section with one (1) DP screw and the middle section to the base section with one (1) CP screw:
Stage 6
Fit the Screen into the Palm, aligning the part as shown, and secure the Screen into place with two (2) BM screws.
This is your friendly reminder to try using 3-in-One Oil on all screws going into metal:
Fit the switch of the LED Assembly into this notch on the battery case of the same LED Assembly, as shown:
While holding the switch in place, slide the entire battery case of the LED Assembly into the Back of the Hand, as shown.
Make sure the post of the switch goes through the matching hole:
Secure the battery case to the Palm with two (2) BP screws:
Stage 7
Fit the pins on the serrated tabs of the Finger assemblies into these recesses of the Back of the Hand, as shown:
I realized I needed to stuff all of the wiring (and the tiny circuit board) inside the hand first, so I temporarily removed the fingers to do this:
Slide the Wrist Joint into this groove at the base of the Back of the Hand, as shown:
With this Wrist Joint in place and no wires trapped or pinched, I replaced all of the fingers:
Fit the Palm assembly down onto the Back of the Hand.
Make sure all of the wiring is clear of these two parts. With all of the loose parts moving around, this may take a few tries:
Secure the Back of the Hand to the Palm from the other side with three (3) AM screws:
Stage 8
Insert one CR1025 battery (supplied in the previous issue) into the battery case of the LED Assembly, with the positive (+) side of the battery touching the spring.
Using a pair of tweezers here to compress the spring can make installing this battery easier:
I ran into a small problem at this point. As soon as I installed the battery, the repulsor light came on and would not turn off. It turns out the solder joint on the positive lead of the battery enclosure was shorting on the metal Palm. I needed to open the hand back up and put a piece of electrical tape over the contact to insulate it. This fixed the problem:
Fit the Battery Cover into place over the battery opening and secure it closed with one (1) EP screw:
Place the Back Plate into place on top of the Back of the Hand. It will hold itself in place with magnets:
That competes this issue! We can lift off the Back Plate and press on the exposed switch of the LED Assembly to turn the repulsor light on and off:
Thoughts
While this hand is not very big, it has fully articulating fingers and the working repulsor light! The LED in the Palm is not very bright, but it gets the job done. Keep this assembly someplace safe for now.
Next Up
Issue 4 – Arc Reactor