FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Profile Log in to check your private messages
 Forum Index      Log in  Register
Nostromo Med Lab door switch
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic     Forum Index -> Alien Props
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
aliensarchive
Community Member


Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 17

PostPosted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:42 pm    Post subject: Nostromo Med Lab door switch Reply with quote

Picked this up recently, door panel from the Med Lab.

[/img]

It needs some work on the middle panel which was unfortunately lost. Would like some help finding the missing parts, they look like separate buttons to me.

Reference I was able to find:



Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
ukwookie
Community Member


Joined: 30 Jul 2009
Posts: 23
Location: Northern England

PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 3:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now there's a coincidence - I started *this* just a couple of weeks ago!


Based almost entirely on a grainier version of the second reference pic you posted and obviously completely wrong in every respect now that I've seen a better pic! Sad Oh well, back to the drawing board - but it's only plastic sheet and time, isn't it? Very Happy

Considering the missing keypad - I've been looking at pics of vintage calculators but haven't come across anything even remotely similar. Some early computer keyboards had similar keys (raised round pads on square/rectangular bases) but I suspect these would be too big.

Is there any chance you could post more pics? as I'm keen to make a more accurate version of this prop. Some measurements would be a bonus too - and might help in the quest for the missing keypad.

Cheers,

Tony
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
ukwookie
Community Member


Joined: 30 Jul 2009
Posts: 23
Location: Northern England

PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also - I assume the main unit is a vacuum-formed shell? Many years ago I got to examine one of the med lab blinky light panels and it was just a simple vac-formed shape with added lights and switches.

Cheers,

Tony
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
joberg
Community Member


Joined: 06 Oct 2008
Posts: 9447

PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Congrats on the prop there! As for the buttons, the bottom ones(6) could be the same size as the Alien detector Ash built (I'm sure at the RPF you could find also the info) For the top buttons (5) it could come from those old portable T.V. (Sony, Toshiba were popular at the time)...good luck.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
SKIN JOB 66
Community Member


Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 2724
Location: FRANCE

PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Nostromo Med Lab door switch Reply with quote



The 6 black wiggets on the lower part of the prop were also used on the motion trackers...

Look here, on both sides of the key (first pic) :

http://www.propsummit.com/viewtopic.php?t=2361&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=40

Fred
_________________
THE FUTURE IS A THING OF THE PAST


Last edited by SKIN JOB 66 on Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:22 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
aliensarchive
Community Member


Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 17

PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi, yes will post more pictures once I have cleaned it up. Will also measure what you need.

I would like to recreate the missing part. It does look like rubber keys to me.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
superjedi
Community Member


Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 389
Location: Newport News, VA

PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, cool score!
In the reference pics you show in your first post, the section with the open and close buttons is oriented differently between pics.
Is there evidence that these buttons are configurable?
Maybe there was a single panel shell that had interchangeable parts to dress different sets?
_________________
I find your lack of faith disturbing. . .
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
Mike Rush
Community Member


Joined: 30 Jul 2009
Posts: 184
Location: Hertfordshire, England

PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 5:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gosh, look what turns up in Flash Gordon a year or two later.



Smile
_________________
Mike

"We're not heroes - we're from Finchley"
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
joberg
Community Member


Joined: 06 Oct 2008
Posts: 9447

PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 6:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow thanks Mike...can you say "vacu-form" Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
andy
Community Guide


Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Posts: 6237
Location: Rochester, NY

PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That explains the difference in color.

Andy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
Mark Sheppard
Community Member


Joined: 18 Apr 2009
Posts: 951
Location: In my office playing golf, pouring drinks, making deals.

PostPosted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 3:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mike Rush wrote:
Gosh, look what turns up in Flash Gordon a year or two later.



Smile


Great Find Mike! I just watched that again for the first time in 30 years a few days ago!
_________________
______________________________________


"Did you really destroy the ENTIRE shipment?"






www.alienthemovie.blogspot.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
ukwookie
Community Member


Joined: 30 Jul 2009
Posts: 23
Location: Northern England

PostPosted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Flash Gordon? That's nothing

How about this:



Sure, it has been modified a bit and repainted, but it's definitely the same piece...

The control panel was used upside down as a detail piece on this prop/costume:



Marvin the Paranoid Android from the BBC production of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy!

Tony
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
joberg
Community Member


Joined: 06 Oct 2008
Posts: 9447

PostPosted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 6:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

How many pulls can you get from one wooden form
Good one Tony!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
SKIN JOB 66
Community Member


Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 2724
Location: FRANCE

PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great finds, Mike & Tony !!!



Fred
_________________
THE FUTURE IS A THING OF THE PAST
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
aliensarchive
Community Member


Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 17

PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The missing rectangle on my prop is 3.6 cm by 8.8 cm.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
aliensarchive
Community Member


Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 17

PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote



Cleaned this up and wired it up. Still works after 32 years...you push the button and the triangle lights up. Digital readout is static and reads A 5, possibly for 'A Deck'.

Button colors are reversed for the med-lab switch, these white ones also show up in the lower decks as Ripley runs to the Narcissus. There are a couple of bloopers where the arrows should be pointing left-right but should be pointing up-down.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
joberg
Community Member


Joined: 06 Oct 2008
Posts: 9447

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Beautiful! TFS that with us all Cool
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
ukwookie
Community Member


Joined: 30 Jul 2009
Posts: 23
Location: Northern England

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the photo and the measurements

It looks lovely doesn't it?

Some progress identifying the key panel I think.

Sanyo calculators from the early 70s seem to have had the correct type of buttons:

Sanyo ICC-82

Sanyo ICC-805

Sanyo ICC-0081

Brother Pro-Cal 408 (apparently a rebadged Sanyo)


Here's a closeup of the 805's keypad:




On the right track, do you think? Very Happy

Tony
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
ukwookie
Community Member


Joined: 30 Jul 2009
Posts: 23
Location: Northern England

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also the Sanyo CY 3411DP Printing Calculator:



This one has the double-and triple width buttons... (A and RESET)

Of course there's no guarantee the keys are small enough...

Tony
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Author Message
aliensarchive
Community Member


Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 17

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The circuit board the digital display is on is at least as wide as the open space. That should narrow things down if the numeric pad is from the same device as the display.

There seems to be more space on the top and bottom of the buttons than on the left and right sides which is unusual based on the photos shown.

The keys looks like they may be rubber:

http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/olivetti_electronic_calcs.html
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic     Forum Index -> Alien Props All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
BBTech Template by © 2003-04 MDesign

Problems Registering Contact: help@propsummit.com