ANH hero bubble lenses - experiences?

I want to make some darker bubble lenses for my ANH hero lid (and the CFO ROTJ for that matter) and got me some dark green Perspex in 3mm.
Now I have to heat up that stuff, but don't want to mess it up.

Any experience on how high the temperature should be? How to prep it up in the oven? Will heavy leather gloves be enough to handle the hot plastic?

Any help would be appreciated!

you could use a heat gun ( used for paint stripping ) ?

i wouldn't trust myself leaving it in the oven lol

Heat gun! Genius. How did I not have that idea?
That's what I'm gonna try. Guess it'll give me a lot more control over the heat. Thanks Rob!

And:
it worked like a charm with the heat gun.
The Perspex got pliable real fast, and held it's shape when dipped in cold water.

Here's how they look.

On the ANH hero:


On the ROTJ:


Let me tell you what still rings true for bubble lenses though:
"I can't see a thing in this helmet!"

ObiHahn wrote:

Heat gun! Genius. How did I not have that idea?
That's what I'm gonna try. Guess it'll give me a lot more control over the heat. Thanks Rob!

your welcome dennis & good job on the bubbles

Looks like you have landed yourself a job Dennis,L.S.D bubble lens maker.Great job ,both look the part.

WOW..great job on the lenses. Those look fantastic.

Hey Dennis, I need a set for my ROTJ...what do ya think?

Those are some of the best bubble lenses I've ever seen, nice job.

If there is a run I'd like some.

Great.
So... Any plans for a run?

Saludos.

Thanks, guys - I'm really flattered. Official L.S.D. bubble lens maker, now wouldn't that be something...

Thing with a run is... I will always need the helmet that the individual bubble lenses are formed for. Has to do with the trimming that will be slightly different on each eye and each lid.
That makes a sigle bubble lens very speciel and individual, so a run would be difficult I guess.

Also, making only ONE lens is a pain in the behind! :D

I guess I'll think about if and how I can help you guys with this.

^^I understand that. Can you show the method you used to form the lens using the heat gun?

JohnBlackk wrote:

Can you show the method you used to form the lens using the heat gun?

I didn't snap any pics while doing it.
But I heated the perspex up nice and even (holding it with pliers), until it acted a lot like rubber and was all wobbly and soft. I then pressed them in the eye sockets (wearing leather gloves) with my thumb until they were in the desired shape. After that I very quickly pulled them out again and threw them in a bowl of cold water.

Job done!

Thanks for that!