![\"\"](\"https:\/\/davidstipes.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/time-switch-5-a.jpg\" "\\"time-switch-5-a\\"")
<\/a>Micro switches on a motorizes cam bank. The ol' fashoned way!<\/p><\/div>\n
I was an old\u2019 electro mechanical kind of guy; this electronic stuff was going to challenge me a bit.<\/p>\n
Lucky for me, right here in Phoenix was a really cool company, \u00a0Jeco Glasscraft \u00a0http:\/\/www.jecoglass.com\/originalleds.html<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 Their sister company, Phoenix Lights, supplied LED light strips, power supplies and plugs, and most important, some personal one-on-one instruction from Jess, the owner!\u00a0<\/p>\n Adhesive backed LED light strips from Jeco \/ Phoenix Lights<\/p><\/div>\n After a visit\u00a0to\u00a0Jeco I was set for tight quarter lighting solutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n I still wanted some more \u201clife\u201d in the prop lights so I talked to an up-and-coming local custom prop and costume maker, Todd Cook. Todd had constructed a fine Ghostbusters Proton Pack so he was able to direct me to some pre-programmed light sequencers. \u00a0I bought a <\/strong>BK116 Chaser Kit, 16 LEDs with<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>\u201cGhostbusters Proton Pack sequencer\u201d <\/em>light kit from \u00a0\u00a0http:\/\/www.bakatronics.com\/shop\/item.aspx?itemid=741<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cGhostbusters Proton Pack sequencer\u201d light kit <\/p><\/div>\n I had the option of soldering it together myself or getting it pre built. I chose to solder it together myself.\u00a0 I probably won\u2019t do that again; not because it was a difficult kit, it was quite easy.\u00a0 But again I am used to screws, lugs and cams and those solder points on that circuit board were SO tiny!<\/p>\n Yet another realization was that, at times, I miss Los Angeles. More accurately, I miss APEX surplus, Minarik Electric, C & H Sales and the various suppliers of oddball esoteric junk that prop and set builders have counted on for years.\u00a0 Well, this caliber of surplus doesn\u2019t seem to exist in Phoenix so I had to buy everything new or fabricate it myself. That cost me a lot of time and added expense to the prop. (I am hoping that some Phoenix readers of this blog can clue me in on any hidden surplus resources.)<\/p>\n One of the first construction concerns was to add some height and bulk to the Electrolux vacuum body. I fabricated a sloped sided box under the vac.\u00a0 While trying to save on costs, I used plywood reinforced with 1×2 furring strips. \u00a0On retrospect, not such a good idea. As the electrical and lighting complexity grew, I ran into issues of splintering surfaces and 1×2 strips where I wanted to mount switches.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mounting a plywood base.<\/p><\/div>\n I know I probably should have done accurate drawings in planning and I would have if someone else were building this.\u00a0 Since I was doing a lot of the work, I ad-libed a lot \u2026 and paid for it.\u00a0 <Sigh>\u00a0<\/p>\n I had to live with it so, to this plywood box, I added an old laptop keyboard that my son, Nate, had squirreled away.<\/p>\n Adding a keyboard and trying switch positions.<\/p><\/div>\n I had to get away from plywood for more complicated shapes.\u00a0Knowing the filming needs, I adopted some \u00bd inch gator board to hold the two former coffee canisters on top of the weapon.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nate gluing coffee canisters to 1\/2" gator board<\/p><\/div>\n With my teaching responsibilities I could see that I might need some help to meet the deadline. I asked my friend Diane Cook to help with the construction.\u00a0 Diane has a fine history of costuming and semi-pro prop building. \u00a0http:\/\/kitchencostuming.com\/archives\/category\/props<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 Diane also\u00a0has a fine color eye for matching paints and has quality craftsmanship.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>