BB FANS

This is getting better and better larry! It's fascinating. Keep it up, and keep posting the pics.

Thanks.

Here's the next installment.
Above is the collar I bought off eBay. It's not the exact pattern but most people wouldn't know this.
Next to add to the collar will have to be the ID disc with his name on.

I've also ordered the handles (3) that K9 has ,one at the front ,one on top ,and one at the back. I had to get 4 as they come in pairs. The only known source is RS Components and they aren't cheap at £7 + vat a pair!

I've still got the resistors to change and the regluing of the keyboard and I think I'll remove the terminal blocks at the front of the control board and solder the wires direct to the board then I should be able to retain the original lower casing.

The next part I need is about 50cm (less really) of Black 100mm (4inch 102mm) corrugated tubing. I know that I can buy some that is used for air ducting in performance cars at £16 + P&P for 1 Metre but I'd like to find a cheaper source. If you look at the pictures with the White ducting on the Neck that what it should look like. The dryer ducting has a spiral metal banding which isn't ideal where as the corrugated stuff is just ribbed which makes fitting easier and neater.

I'm also bidding on some cable entry plates on eBay which are the right shape to create the bit on the nose where the laser is mounted. Hopefully I'll get them in a couple of days. I can get them from Screw Fix but the postage is too high and I don't have a local store.

It's all coming together nicely .
K9 is currently sitting in a Greenhouse as the shed roof leaks. But I must sort something out to be able to continue the development over the Autumn / Winter months.

Well I didn't win the cable covers on eBay ,I bid up to the price they cost in Screw-Fix and was out-bid. But a chap at work is going to go into Bedford store for me at the weekend.

Today I've been adding a few mods to match other builds etc.

The right-hand side looking from the front now has an aperture with an external frame which will become the monitor as per the real thing. The screen is part a real LCD screen that was faulty. The current idea is the screen minus the LCD part and with a little playing around I should be able to light the LED back-lights which are extremely bright !

Next the left-hand side now lifts off part way down thanks to some magnetic catches. This did require some careful cutting and the addition of some bracing at the top and some extra batons either side.

The top now had a cut-out the same size as the keyboard .This will have a recess added so the keyboard will sit down by 12mm in to it like others I've seen pictures of.

Also the head is now fixed to the neck thanks to some bits off an old TV cabinet. It used threaded rod and some custom end-caps which screwed onto the end of the rod. So I drilled holes in both the 100x36mm neck and the 43mm tubing threading the rod and fixing the end-caps at each end.

I now have the plate behind the eye aperture fitted with holes drilled to take the plastic Red lenses from the original car. The whole area was then painted Black.
Also in the area in between and slightly below the eyes is the probe. Well actually it's a cut-down plastic paint mixer thing fitted to a thin wooden skewer.

K9 is currently sitting in the hall way and it's not until he's indoors that you realize how big it is. But it's rapidly approaching the time when the filler and primer will come out as there isn't much more I can do.
There's only things like finding the bits the ears sit in and making the back of the head. The rest is wiring for the eyes and the laser. Oh I've got some extremely bright Red LEDs coming. Claimed 22 Candles with a 4 degree beam so they are almost lasers and when on fitted at the end of the metal tube used for the laser canon it really will look the part. Must also make sure nobody looks down the tube !

The cable fitting plate should be here tomorrow night so once cut to size it will further add to the appearance.
If I remember I've get some pictures of the changes.

I remember the 'cgi' laser beam!

This is coming along really well larry

You seem to get on well with your niece?

She's a very bright and intellectually advanced for her years and can do just about anything given the chance. Whether it's playing musical instruments ,or using computers ,or rebuilding motorbikes ,etc. Her school work puts her in the top 3 for this area.

The idea with K9 was that we built it together and then she kept it. But if she does find a safe place to keep it I think I'll have to build another one.
But I've had to do the work as there's been lots of material cutting and I was prepared to let a 10 year old loose with power tools. Plus it's a time factor. The first week was at the end of the summer holidays and it gave her a change of scenery plus there were other things she needed to do to enter a local competition ,one of which she won.

By the time I've finished K9 after spending a couple of hundred pound I'm not going to be so keen to see it go unless I know it won't get damaged. I do like her idea of playing Sarah-Jane in next year's parade with K9 though it might need some thinking on how to get K9 to climb the speed humps on the route and I might have to get someone waiting near the finish with a small hand cart as it won't be capable of moving on the playing field.

Picture time.

First one isn't that good but with the flash turned off in low light and with K9 moving it was never going to be that great but give an idea of the eyes lighting up as he moves forward.



Front view showing the eyes and probe plus the addition of the nose and canon.


Right-hand side view showing the screen.


Left-hand view with the side panel removed.


Top view showing the recess for the keyboard.

that is SO COOL larry. Esp the ears! Really, they should snap you up and get you over to the Doctor Who propmaking dept pronto.

That's really good. Your niece sounds very talented as well for 10 years old.

Spotted an original BBC K9 on eBay .Check the price !!

Good news is the mine is almost the same size. There's is 30 inches high mine is 27 inches high but the original's head is more upright. There's is 46 inches long mine is 42 inches so very close.

A few mods around the nose / laser.

This the before

This is after



I have fitted the handles. I'll soon have to get the filler out and start the final prep ready for painting.

Currently trying to get one of the large models so I can copy a few things.

This is amazing Larry you clearly enjoy doing these kinds of projects and are very good at them.

Yes, it's really, really good.

Thanks.

One thing I need to to do is either paint or dye the neck tubing Black. I was thinking about using a heel pen and do it manually. The heel pen will dry Black rather than purple like most Black pens do.

It's a very fine flexible thin plastic so I'm not sure I could get paint to do the job without flaking off. And I've no idea if dye would work.

K9 MK1 has a few more bits now.
I cut the Acrylic eye shield that fits inside the apature in front of the lenses with the hole drilled for the eye probe.
I've been watching the old Dr Who stories with K9 and realized that I needed to add this. I was a little concerned that the Acrylic might break when I drilled the hole as I have been told about difficulties in cutting. But I have a fine blade for my coping saw and so far haven't had any problems.

Now if you recall from the previous pictures there was a gap in the rear panels just above the back legs and below the tail. Well this have now be filled in with a piece of Ply.

I've also been gluing around near the side panel that lifts off which has made that side a lot stronger. Tomorrow I'll add a bit more wood in there and then a couple more magnets catches.

I've got to do the same things to the other side so I'll have to unscrew a couple of bits ,but the screws won't be going back except to allow the glue to set.

I've bought a couple of A4 sheets of 1.5mm Marine Ply so I can finish the back of the head. This should hopefully flex enough but failing that it'll get steamed to help it flex.

Today I bought some wood filler so the prep work will start shortly.

Also ideas for MK2 are already in action. I bought 4 sheets of coloured Acrylic (Green ,Red ,Yellow ,and Blue) to make the keys and I've just bought a 6 channel wireless transmitter and receiver ready to give more functions to the next one.

I've got an idea on how to make the tail wag when it's not moving and to possibly have the ears moving while it moves. In the MK1 these will have to be automated while they could be controlled in the MK2. I want to have the MK2's head lift before it moves off but I've still got to learn how to build everything and interface it to the receiver. I'll have to see what comes in the kit.

I'll add a picture or two soon.