Just another day in the garage...

My now "not so secret" project is coming along nicely. The Dalek had to take the picture though.....
;)

January Update

Made a few quick disconnects for a few of my robot projects. It makes maintenance a whole lot easier.

Also got K-9's head together, no more blue tape for him.Working on the ears and nose next.

Childhood remembered

New post finally! #885!

Sorry everyone, had been laid up for a week plus had some real life stuff to do. After running up and down the stairs a million times to get stuff for B9 I decided it was time to take him downstairs. What a pain that was! At least now I can works on him easier.  K-9 is coming along even though it does not look like it. I decided to try one more neck setup on him. The second one worked just like in the show but I hated having to let go of the button right when he hit the top or bottom just to keep it there. Time for some limit switches!

"Goodbye Mistress."

Elisabeth Sladen

 On April 19th of this year, one of my favorite actresses of all time that I have watched sense I was a kid passed away at the age of 63 from cancer. Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith). She started on Doctor Who in 1973, (a year before I was born) costarring with the 3rd Doctor , Jon Pertwee. She left in 1976 after traveling around with the 4th Doctor, Tom Baker.  She has had numerous return visits to the show over the years and even has her own spin off show that was currently in it's 5th year of production. She always portrayed herself in public just like her character; smart, funny, brave, and caring.  Most of the public including me had no idea she was even sick. Her loss is sudden and tragic for everyone.
 I was hoping to meet her in person some day and get her autograph on the K-9 I am building, but alas that day will never come. I am more determined than ever to get my K-9 done this year and put a tribute to Elisabeth Sladen on K-9's view screen.
 She will be missed by family and fans alike. As the 10th Doctor said to her, "Goodbye...my Sarah Jane Smith."
  -Moose Mendolia

Get er' done day

Today I was at home installing ceiling fans and cleaning house and I got a bit dirty, so I decided to stay that way for a bit longer and get some robot work done as well.
First I wired up a different motor system in K-9's head so it moves more like the real one does. I also started cleaning up the extra wiring in his body. Boy what a mess! Hope to have the new head system done later this week.

Next I played around with the new R2 dome I got. I cleaned up all the tabs and got a tight fit to the inner dome.

Once that was done I cut the holes for the front and back holos.

Front view with R3's eye.

It started getting cold in the downstairs workshop so I moved on up to the main floor work area. I made some side pieces for R4's body.

More to come!

Just some updates

Today while we were out I got same brass pipe to make K-9's ears. It is going to be tricky to get them to look right.

Also today I got R4's horseshoes together and mounted. Now I got to bondo the ends of everything just like R3's legs. I am really not liking the yellow on R4's boosters, It scratches off easily and is not uniform in color. I may strip them and try a different brand of spray paint.

A little of everything

No pics today but a few updates.
K-9's buttons lenses came in already today so soon I will start making the surrounds for them.
Figuring out what electronics I need for the secret robot project and making an order list.
Working on a few other detail pieces for R3, getting them ready for paint.
Getting ready to get supplies to make K-9's ears.

Buttons!

Finally ordered the buttons for K-9. Dam they are expensive! LOL

Still need bed Frames part 2

Quite a few people have their eyes open for bed frames but none yet so please keep looking.  Went out shopping for stuff and found some really nice "bed" sheet fabric.  I also picked up some other odds and ends needed for the project as well..

I also did some more work on K-9 but forgot to drill one bolt hole bigger so I could put a stronger bolt in so it looks like I might have to take him all back apart just to drill this one hole. "Oh well, the Dude abides...."   :)

K-9 attack!

Had a snow day today so I took the time to finish the internal parts for K-9's head and reinstall everything inside the body.  While I was installing everything Izzy decided to attack me with her tounge. As I was holding on to stuff inside of K-9 and could not let go of it, I got completely slobbered on. LOL
Well at least K-9's head motors are back in and I can move on to the next thing that needs done.... Well maybe after a shower. :)

Just a quick video update on K-9. His eye is now fully functional with two modes of movement instead of one. It is fully adjustable and removable for repairs. Hope you like it! Please subscribe to my youtube channel for other updates!

Ok, now I am building. Sucker!

Over the holidays a friend's kid had a toy that happened to have the right sized and shape sucker for K-9's eye!  I traded some 3D glasses for one of the suckers they had. They don't remember where they got the toy but I am keeping my eye out for anything that looks like it.
I also did a bit more dialing in on all the gadgets and motors but nothing worth reporting yet. Here is two pictures of what the sucker looks like.

K-9 blues

No real updates as it is the holiday season. For me it is a time to be with loved ones not working on projects.
I have started to take K-9 all back apart so I can later do the final assembly of parts and motors that can not be done while he is together. This stage of building is were I dial everything in to work properly and reassemble it one more time before taking it apart one last time to paint, chrome, strengthen, or detail. I prefer to take these extra steps so I do not ruin a paint job later fixing something. Should be back to work on projects after the first of the year. Right now I am more busy updating my other blog; MooseLife.com.

501st Armor build day

Today Jim, Chris, and me worked on armor.

Jim got all the strips cut for his stromtrooper.

Chris sanded his armor pieces.

When the other two did not need help I made some brackets and servo holders for inside K-9's head.

Jim is now ready for glue up and Chris still has a bit of sanding left to do. All in all it was a productive evening. :)

K-9 head and tail movement

Here is just s quick video update on K-9's head and tail movement.



Now to work on the ears and nose gun!

Back to the K-9------>

Got back to work on K-9 this evening. I did some more programing to the view screen and added some more files.

Then I started building the light system for his computer screen. It is kinda like building an oversized R2 logic system.  I also go the motor and mount installed for his tail wagging. Later I will make it variable speeds.
I was going to work on his head tilting system as well but I need to get a special motor to fit in the area I want it in.

Lighting up the eye

 This evening I made a light for K-9's eye out of 10 LEDs spread out evenly across a bread board.
Even without a defuser it looks evenly lit up.  He even kinda look like roudolph with his nose all shiney. :)
I also bolted his head on  the proper way so it stays straight now.

I was going to use a few more LEDs but 10 seems to be just fine.

Yet another K-9 video update

Today I got the head mostly together. I also got the video screen wired up to run on DC power instead of the house AC power. No more cords to trip you up. LOL  I also added a few new vids to the screen.

Noggin work

Today is a lazy day so I started putting K-9's head together.  Still got a little heat shaping to do before final assembly but it is getting close :)

The pieces are slowly starting to fit right the more I heat shape them. I do not like the nose so I will make it out of a different material that is a little more sturdy.