Mu-TH-UR Computer 6000

[sethb6025]

That's too awesome! Your work definitely paid off so far.
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Wait; I'm having one of those things! You know; a headache with pictures?

[Space Jockey]

That's fantastic, well done Mike!
You must've gotten a real buzz seeing that photo Bob sent.

[Mike Rush]

Okay. Left-to-right (if your screen's big enough)... original outline (red); original+5% (blue); original+10% (green).



I refuse to simply redraw the key to fit the visible shape, as from my research so far I believe the key to be the right shape at least. Which just leaves the final size to be determined.

I think the green one looks just about there? I am slightly worried by the locking bar on the right (although I think in practice the key would just slip in and out without any real problems).

More of a worry is the big screw in the middle, as it may or may not foul the key. I'm not even sure why it's there, although my best guess is that someone put it there perhaps after filming, to lock the key down for display purposes. (Though not securely enough, sadly. )

I think I would like to know about that screw, so I will see if Bob can be asked. Did the screw hold the key in place?
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Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[stephen210]

Very interesting Mike,

Send me those pictures in an email and i will forward them to Bob with the question about the screw so he can see what we are talking about.

Best
Steve

[joberg]

Well, let`s see what kind of actions were taken by the actors when they removed the key:
1) The inside of the box is never seen in the movie; therefore we don`t even know if the key is a tight fit inside those raised sides forming the outline of the key.
2) Looking at the 1st pic of the 1st post, you can clearly see the outline of the top of the handle (darker colour on top of screw). The position seem to indicate that one of the hole made for the fingers was resting on that screw.
In conclusion, I do believe that the key is and never was a tight fit inside the box, hence the use of the screw to ''hang'' the key.
I think that the red handle (first outline) should be combined with the green lower part of the key (3rd ouline)...just my 2 cents

[Mike Rush]

I wish the screw was in a position where the key would hang from it... but as it stands I'll be lucky if the screw clears the bottom edge of the handle.

[stephen210]

Mike does the round thin in the center of the key and the magnets match up to the size you know them to be?

[Mike Rush]

The magnets on my diagram are exactly the size of the one I have sitting in front of me (thanks to jtparker for the link).

The socket... I don't yet know the real-world dimensions for that. Even the sites I've found which sell the six- or eight-pin versions, don't tend to list the schematics. Unfortunately.
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Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[Mark Sheppard]

This is a great prop Mike! The magnets Im sure will make a great effect when sliding the key into the slot, and grabbing on to a metal backplate.. you might destroy the key getting it out with so many magnets if you have all of them contact metal

But it will look perfect when it is done!
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"Did you really destroy the ENTIRE shipment?"






www.alienthemovie.blogspot.com

[Mike Rush]

What, now I'm building a slot as well? When did that happen?

Well, I suppose it wouldn't be that hard. Like you said, maybe just a small amount of metal at the back, enough to grab one or two of the magnets. Could even incorporate a reed-switch...

The main question would be what does it do? Turn on a light?
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Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[Mark Sheppard]

I imaging at the angle that that box is filmed when Dallas iserts the key, may be difficult to tell, but I really have not slowed down the filme enough to try to tell if something happens. Sure go ahead! make a slot for the key!!!
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"Did you really destroy the ENTIRE shipment?"






www.alienthemovie.blogspot.com

[Mike Rush]

Regarding size... I found one site that had a diagram of a valve socket. Now of course I have no way of knowing if it's the right model (they seem to come in different styles) but it was 5/8" diameter. If I plug that into my latest key outline, I get this:





I also felt a bit more confident about the way the inside off the box works. So I went back to my Sketchup model (remember that?) and added the full interior, plus the latest key, plus the little socket inside.



Now that really is a good fit. Of course you might say it's bound to be, since I built it myself! But I haven't cheated, honest. Everything has been independently worked out from the data available.
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Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[stephen210]

excellent Mike.

I love how this is working out for you.

Steve

[SKIN JOB 66]

Great research on this prop, Mr Rush !!!

Love your detective work on the possible measurements of the key !!!



Can't wait to see what you're going to do next !!!

Fred
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THE FUTURE IS A THING OF THE PAST

[Mike Rush]

I know it's been too long, but I did get round to making dummy keys in two larger sizes and have sent them to America.



Don't say anything, I know they're not quite as pretty as the first one! But at this point I just want to see what fits and what doesn't.

I'm hoping Bob or Kathy can try them out and take photos again like last time... although Bob's health takes precedence, of course.

I'm quietly hoping that the +10% version will be it.
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Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[joberg]

Good stuff Mike, b.t.w.; does anybody had identified the two yellow round "circuits" inside, at the top of the key...I think they come from the Contempra phone used as a Vid-Phone in B.R. Anyone can confirm?

[Mike Rush]

Not sure which parts you mean exactly! Maybe you could point them out on this?



And can you show us any photos of the phone bits you're thinking of?
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Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[joberg]

Thanks for the pics Mike; I'm talking about the yellow capacitors (would be fun to have some measurements), I believe those are coming from the Contempra. If the size jives with what I have (2 capacitors) I could send them to you.

[Mike Rush]

Reviving this thread once more..!

At last we heard back from Bob Burns. They received my latest key mockups and his dear wife Kathy placed them in the box and took photos.

As you know, I enlarged the original mockup by 5% and 10%. Here is the +5% version:



- and here is the +10%.



That could be it, people.

Now, Bob commented that the large one is quite a snug fit - that screw holds it in quite tightly. Oddly enough, that fits with my theory that the screw was added after filming - possibly to hold the key in while the prop was being shipped to America. I just don't think the screw was there when Dallas takes out the key.

Bob was nice enough to say that as he planned to leave the key in situ most of the time anyway, this would work fine. Even so, I might just reduce it by one or two per cent so there's a little breathing room.

So now... time to make a master and then it's back to figuring out what's inside the darn thing!
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Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"

[Gaff87]

Very cool Mike!
The 10% looks spot on.
Can't wait to see more.

Neil.