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Mike Rush Community Member
Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:30 am Post subject: |
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There is enough room - the unit is surprisingly deep there.
Due to its wedge shape, it's thin at the top where the key handle goes, but down at the bottom there's at least two inches of space... right where the 'works' need to be. _________________ Mike
"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley" |
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Mike Rush Community Member
Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:23 am Post subject: |
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I found myself at a Boot Sale the other day, looking for old electrical appliances which might have some of the parts I need. Finally I saw one old radio - just the right kind of thing. I approached the stall, pointed at it and said "How much?"
The conversation which ensued was quite funny - especially if you're familiar with Monty Python's Life of Brian.
Stallholder: "Thirty pounds."
Me: (surprised but ready to haggle) "Whoa."
Stallholder: "Too much? How about five."
Me: (confused) "Five?"
Stallholder: "How much were you thinking of?"
Me: (not sure if he's joking) "Well, I was thinking about offering you ten."
My wife: (sotto voce) "He said five, give him five!"
Stallholder: "All right, tell you what - couple of quid."
Me: "Two pounds? Are you sure?"
My wife: "Yes, he's sure. Give him the money."
I bought it, shook his hand and we left. On the way back to the car we both started laughing and said "What just happened?"
So anyway, here is the beast:
And here's the innards:
Bound to be something useable in there, right? The good news is it did have vacuum tubes: not quite the right sockets I need, but not far off.
Some of the goodies from the dismantling process:
Sadly, not really anything I can use. But it was fun to try (and for two pounds you can't go wrong).
I have no idea what some of this stuff even does:
Amazingly, I also did some work - not much, I admit - on my version of the box. Now that I have some buttons for it, I drilled six holes on the front panel.
I inserted the three buttons I have so far to see how they look.
And yes, I did spend a few seconds gleefully punching them on and off. Seriously, I was surprised at how sturdy the foamex is; I thought the panel might bend and need some reinforcement, but it's really rigid.
Here's a view from the back:
As you can see, there's plenty of room for whatever wiring and batteries are required. (I got 9V bulbs, so with any luck I'll be able to run the whole thing off a PP3.) _________________ Mike
"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley" |
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8th_Passenger Community Member
Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 443 Location: Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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Mike,
Looking good. Those switches look great. Three down three to go!
£££
Colin |
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joberg Community Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 9447
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:02 am Post subject: |
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Looking good Mike...whish you had all the buttons (so you can play with them all ). |
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Mike Rush Community Member
Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:40 am Post subject: |
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Thanks. Well, I took the plunge and ordered three more buttons, plus the red caps. So that should be it, yes?
No!
When I went to order the 'contact blocks' (without which the buttons don't do anything) they've been 'discontinued'! I fired off an email to Technical Support straight away. What am I supposed to use? There has to be an alternative.
And if it's cheaper than the old ones, I'll be very annoyed. _________________ Mike
"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley" |
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joberg Community Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 9447
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 6:11 am Post subject: |
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Aaah the beautiful world of propmaking...I feel your pain Mike; if they offer an alternative at a cheaper price, send them the ones you have and get a bargain at the same time |
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Gaff87 Community Member
Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 1727 Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 10:08 am Post subject: |
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Mike, this is looking seriously impressive!
Once it's finished it'll be a challenge not to keep playing with it I think
Can't wait to see more.
Neil |
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stephen210 Community Member
Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 196
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:23 am Post subject: |
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outstanding Mike!! |
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Mike Rush Community Member
Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 7:24 am Post subject: |
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Mike Rush wrote: | When I went to order the 'contact blocks' (without which the buttons don't do anything) they've been 'discontinued'! I fired off an email to Technical Support straight away. What am I supposed to use? There has to be an alternative.
And if it's cheaper than the old ones, I'll be very annoyed. |
It's not cheaper. It's 60% more expensive. So by my own logic, I should be pleased - but I'm not.
Their excuse: this one has 'more functionality'. Well excuse me, but the last one functioned just fine... _________________ Mike
"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley" |
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joberg Community Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 9447
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:27 am Post subject: |
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That's is soooo marketing lingo Mike, it makes me laugh...NOT .
Reminded me of the letter I received from my Electricity Company saying that my bill will be, for now on, 10 cents higher on every kilowat of usage...why? Because of better service I reply by saying that : no, I'm satisfied with my current service, please don't augment my bill.
Alas, they didn't listened |
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Mike Rush Community Member
Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:05 am Post subject: |
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I was wondering what to do about the thumb pad. The lettering is too small for our vinyl cutter... I couldn't find the original Letraset for sale anywhere... finally I had the blindingly obvious idea to simply print the lettering onto the plastic! (Where I work we print onto all kinds of materials.)
I still haven't quite decided what the correct material is. I purchased some cheap Perspex in both white, and frosted clear. My heart wants to go with the frosted, but my head says it's probably the white. (Once it gets dirty it should look just like the photos...)
Anyway I printed the word THUMB within a rectangle onto each material, then sawed them out roughly and finished them on a disc sander. They now pop right in to the recess in the back of the 'console'.
There will need to be some way to retain them, bearing in mind that (as my colleague pointed out) "You know people are going to be pressing it with their thumbs all the time". Well, he's right of course. Plus I need to build a small light-box back there, which comes on when the unit is powered up. (Where's the on/off switch going to go? In the film the switch is elsewhere, like a light-switch. I'll think of something.)
Also...
At last! I have all the parts needed for the six buttons in the right colours. Looking back, it was quite hard work and quite expensive!
So yes, a period of professional-looking but oddly relaxed pressing followed. With a mug in the other hand, obviously. _________________ Mike
"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley" |
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Gaff87 Community Member
Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 1727 Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:33 am Post subject: |
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Awesome Mike!
This is looking amazing.
Best prop I've seen in a long time.
Neil |
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joberg Community Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 9447
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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Excellent Mike...now for the mug: glass or Tupperware? |
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sethb6025 Community Member
Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 248 Location: York, PA US
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Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Looking good! I think a well done prop like this will be well worth the wait. _________________ Wait; I'm having one of those things! You know; a headache with pictures? |
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Mike Rush Community Member
Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:11 am Post subject: |
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Just tacked together with tape for now, but here are most of the (external) parts in place.
Not in the picture are the screw-heads, the window... and the interior.
But the main thing I wanted to test was that things lined up, and more importantly opened!
That's my 3D-printed hinge working nicely. In this last picture you can see all of the printed parts at once.
_________________ Mike
"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley" |
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Gaff87 Community Member
Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 1727 Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 11:54 am Post subject: |
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Simply awesome Mike!
Love it.
Neil |
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nickdaring Community Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 261
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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Beautiful work!
Nick |
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8th_Passenger Community Member
Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 443 Location: Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 3:30 pm Post subject: mu th er key |
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Mike,
Looking great. All you need now is the key..!
Colin |
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joberg Community Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 9447
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Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 7:16 am Post subject: |
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Sharp and clean mate! |
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wasili Community Member
Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 58
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Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:25 am Post subject: |
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wowser !! Nice work there Mike... |
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