Adafruit contributor Becky Stern’s latest how-to guide shows us how to make retro-futuristic cyberpunk spikes that look like they would fit right in on costumes from Blade Runner. She’s taken to calling the accessories Baby Gwar or Brony-Punk, although personally I prefer Dystopian-Chic.
We’re only five years from the time period that Blade Runner took place and we still don’t have any replicants. Granted, not living in a society with lab-grown slave labour is a good thing, but everyone know’s that if you don’t have replicants then you don’t get to dress like a cool cyberpunk fashion victim. It’s like a rule or something. I’m starting to believe that the dark, rainy and grimey future that I was promised isn’t going to happen. Thankfully, until dystopia arrives, we can at least look like we live in a bleak overstimulated future thanks to our glowing LED spikes.
Stern is known for her fabulous wearable electronics, and like most of her other projects these cyberpunk spike strips are pretty cool and look relatively simple to make. As with just about every project on Adafruit you generally have to do some minor electronics work, but the tutorial is pretty easy to follow and shouldn’t be too hard for novices and new-comers. Based on the project video it seems pretty straight forward:
The spike tips themselves are printed in clear or white Ninjaflex, a rubbery, flexible printing material perfectly suited for wearable accessories. They have two styles available, the standard stubby spikes or the larger, crystalline looking spikes that have a more organic look to them. The glowing bits come courtesy of a simple flexible LED strip, a tiny LED controller and a rechargeable battery. Once assembled you can affix the strips anywhere using magnets and sewing the battery and electronics enclosure into your clothing. You can create collars, epaulets (think melodramatic shoulder pads) bracelets, or even a glowing neon-punk crown.
Both the spike strips and the enclosure can be downloaded from Thingverse, and all of the materials can be purchased directly from Adafruit for less than $100.00. If you want to make some spikes of your own read the detailed step by step tutorial here.
Source: Adafruit
I wish to start exploring the potential to 3D print a stylizilzed Giger alien suit. A functional one that I can wear for real. Including the head and tail.