Introduction: Simple Blaster OS for Star Wars Blasters
Simple Blaster OS is just as the name describes. Its a simple script that can be used to control a Star Wars blaster prop lights and sounds. It runs on a wide variety of Arduino boards. It has the option for fire/stun, Neopixel (or WS2812) LED lights, and the option for a scope & ammo counter display. I'm providing a parts list but you can really mix and match components because of the simplicity of the code. Sounds are pulled from a Micro SD card. So you can customize it for any blaster you like swapping out the sound files.
You can get the code from my site here.
Supplies
Listed below are the components I used but again, you don't have to use these exact same parts. Just about any Arduino board will do and there are many displays with the same size that can be used.
Arduino Nano Every (any Arduino that can use the Adafruit_Neopixel library)
128x32 OLED (or any OLED the same size)
64x32 OLED (or any OLED the same size)
WS2812B Strip (you could also use Neopixels)
Buttons (One for power, one for mode switch and one for fire)
Wired for connecting the boards
Magnifying lens for the scope
Step 1: Part Selection
The first thing I would recommend is to choose your Arduino board. I used the Arduino Every because they are relatively cheap and plentiful. You could also use an Arduino clone, a smaller or larger board. I would suggest pulling down the code and loading it up in Arduino IDE. Select the board you plan to use and compile the code. If it compiles the code should run on your board. Next, decide if you want ammo or scope displays. If you do you just need to pick OLED displays of the same size. You can use my recommendations or find something different. You can use Neopixels or WS2812 LEDs for the lights. If you plan to use this in something like a DL-44 you will only need one LED. If you are building something like an E-11 blaster that has a long barrel you will need 7 LEDs.
You also need at least 2 switches. One to fire and one for switching between stun/kill. You may add a third for power but thats not strictly necessary. The biggest thing is to think about what blaster you will be installing this in and choose the buttons accordingly. For my sample E-11 install I wanted the buttons to blend in. So I used micro switches and tucked them away. You can see the mode select button in the photos. I drilled out one of the fake details on the Hasbro blaster I used and glued the button in there.
Step 2: Connectivity
This is not a traditional Instructable that will give a step by step installation guide. Simple Blaster OS is more of a simplified set of parts that can be added to any blaster based on your needs. If you just want lights and sound, you just leave off the displays. You could also just use a scope display or ammo counter. There is no need to use all the components. The example I am providing is a Star Wars E-11 Stormtrooper blaster. It’s a conversion from a Hasbro toy blaster. I installed the lights, scope display and ammo counter inside. However, depending on what you install it in your install may vary.
The parts all have risers that can be used for easy connectivity. That way you can keep soldering to a minimum. The only soldering you may need would be for the switches or power. Even then you may be able to source switches that can use jumpers and avoid soldering those as well. My setup is running on a 9v battery. You use 3 AA or AAA batteries as well. The 9v just worked for the blaster I built.
I’m including a wiring diagram that shows how the parts are to be connected.
Overview of the parts operation on a breadboard:
Step 3: Scope Display
My test build was an E-11 so here I’m going to show a quick video of what the electronics look like installed. The scope works by putting the 64x32 screen in the scope and using a 1” magnifying lens in front of it. You align it so that the lens magnifies the display to fill the rear of the scope. I glued the lens and the display into the back of the cap for the scope. Again, on a different blaster you may set it up differently to get the display to look right.
Step 4: 3D Printed Parts
The E-11 for this demo is a converted Hasbro toy blaster. Here is a short overview of the 3D printed parts used for the conversion. Most of the parts are pulled from these two Thingiverse projects:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4003566
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3989097