I'm building Robby the Robot simultaneus with the Martian War Machine. Both of these builds feature lighting kits designed by Randy Neubert of VoodooFx. These kits are really addicting once you start using them. For some reason they intimidate people, although they really aren't too complex to work with once you do the first one. My first was on the big-scale Seaview, which had LOTS of wiring! Believe me, if I can do, so can anyone else! This kit has a lot of the work done for you, the resistors are already soldered on the board, it's just a matter of soldering in your battery connecting, and then (4) lines to your LED's. There will be a blue light for the chest, and there is three white lights to do the head and chest areas as well. The blue will "speak", it has randon flickering, and the whites stay lit solid. All you need is a very basic soldering iron and electrical solder. This IS NOT rocket science guys! This is what is in the basic kit:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/035.jpg

I'm my own worst enemy, always making things harder than they should be, and I've already complicated things more by hacking on the basic kit! LOL!! The first thing I did was to drill thru the holes in the chest plate that hold the voice tubes, which are molded in clear, in place. I'm hoping the residual light will pass thru them. I think it will.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/029.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/030.jpg
There is a large molded in "light" on each side of the board, which I don't like the look of. I ended up carefully grinding them off with my moto-tool.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/031.jpg
I then cut the tops off of two large round LED's, and then ground one side flat so it would fit in place of the removed bulbs. I again drilled clean-thru the back plate, and I will light them from the back if all works well. I'll be using fibre-optics for the first time on this build, so this is a learning experience for me as well!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/032.jpg
I want to run white light up to the top of the head, so I very carefully drilled thru the gyro base and main gyro pieces with a micro-sized bit. You have to go at really low speed, and start with an undersized bit and work your way up.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/033.jpg
After drilling thru, I tested running some larger fibre-optics up inside of it. If this doesn't produce enough light, I'll backlight it instead.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/034.jpg

The small board that runs everything fits perfectly inside the Robby body. It would easily fit inside the Lost in Space Robot or any other one. This kit is designed to be a "Universal Robot lighting kit". Randy can supply whatever color LED's you need for your application.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/037.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/038.jpg
I went on this morning and wired up the power to the board. I just left all the wires long, I'll cut the proper lengths once I have everything figured out.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/039.jpg
I test lit the blue "speaking" LED to see how it works. Pretty cool stuff! It works like a charm! It cycles thru with random blinking effects to simulate speech. More to come later as this progresses, and I'll be posting this in both the Sci-Fi section and lighting each time.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/040.jpg

Tim,
we must be brothers from different mothers..

I've got Robby next up on my list after i finish the Mummy.

I'm going a little more nuts than you as I'm also using the Flintone legs and Altaria to simulate the poster pose.

I'll be watching your build with envious eyes and slowly and surely, building my plans to copy you..

Here's the link to a one minute light test video:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/th_Lighttest1001.jpg

it liiiiiivveeeessssssss!!!!!!

Ok, next step......I boxed out the area behind the clear panel with plastruct sheet, and made a fitting for the LED out of plastruct tubing. I made a paper template first, then used it to form the wall.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/001.jpg
Everything fits neat and clean. It will all be painted black, then the back wall and floor will get covered with chrome Bare Metal Foil to give it some reflectivity.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/002.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/003.jpg
The light really spreads out nicely with it all boxed out. I'm pleased with the results so far.

My next LED to place is for the lower chest lighting. There are two rotating gyro doohickeys on the chest plate, both illuminated.
The first thing I did was to drill a series of holes surrounding the mounting hole to backlight the part.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/001-1.jpg
Then I used a really fine micro-bit to drill thru the part itself in the proper areas.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/004.jpg
If it works the way I think it will, the part(s) will be backlit once the LED is mounted behind it.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/006.jpg
Using some plastic tubing, which I cut lengthwise in half, I'm making a mount for the LED. I capped the ends with some pieces of scrap sheet plastic. (this is why you save all those small pieces!) I then drilled a hole the proper size to accomodate the LED.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/002-1.jpg
I left the inside white, but I'll paint the back of all of this part black to block out any residual light from the LED.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/003-1.jpg
In order to mount the chest panel, you'll have to grind away some of the back wall so the modified part will fit.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/007.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/008.jpg

Back to the circuit board, time to solder some short wires to it and the LED. Notice how the board is very clearly marked positive/negative (+/-). Tin your wire a bit, push it thru, drop just a tiny bit of solder on the backside, and your done.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/009.jpg
Quick and easy. It should look like this:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/010.jpg
I turned on the switch, and it works! Easy! It will get a bit more complex for the next step, at least for me, because I'll be using some fibre-otics material to try and run clear light up to the main gyro in the dome headpiece. Even more difficult, I'm going to try and drill out the (4) weapons sensors which have a blue light in them. I'll have to try and run some very fine optics line up thru them, if I don't kill them drilling them out! It's getting late, will try to get to it tomorrow! Until then.......

OK, I couldn't sleep last night, so I did a bit more work on this guy. I was kind of anxious to see what I could do with the fibre-optics anyway, so this is what I came up with. I needed to run some white light to the back of the red lenses I made for the faceplate, so I drilled two 1mm holes in the top of the fixture I had made for the lower body lighting, and inserted a 1mm diam. strand in each and ran it up to the head.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/002-2.jpg
I kicked on the lights, and it worked! Woohoo! So, next I had to make a fitting to accept the strands on the upper faceplate. I cut a short piece of aluminum tube, and mounted it on the back of each side of the faceplate.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/005.jpg
The strand fit perfectly inside, and can be cut to length once it's all ready to be installed.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/006-1.jpg
With the faceplate in place, I checked the lighting again and it works just fine. I held one of the red covers over the end of the strand it it gives off a nice dull red glow, which is good, because on the 1:1 Robby they aren't super bright either.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/008-1.jpg

Nice build!

I was determined to light the "weapons neutralizers" on the sides of Robby's head. It took some time and patience, and here's what I got so far...

The holes that hold the spiral tips have to be drilled deeper, and then you have to drill from the backside thru to that hole. I ran my Dremel at a fairly low speed, and kept making sure the bit was clean of residual plastic. If the plastic builds up on the bit, it just destroys the hole, so you have to keep it clean. This part being transparent actually was a big help in drilling it out.
It worked, and I managed to get the optics strand thru the holes with little problems!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/003-3.jpg
After some careful masking, I sprayed the part with Tamiya Light Gunmetal. The "flippers" are supposed to be clear. I hate these parts being in two pieces, the seam sucks, but most of it's hidden anyways.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/006-2.jpg
I stripped all of the chrome off the parts with Castrol Super Clean, and they will all be done in Tamiya Gloss Aluminum.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/001-2.jpg
I removed the pins off both end of the weapons sensors, and drilled clean thru them. I then used a concave bit to hollow out the ends.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/008-2.jpg
I did a bit of a mock-up with the parts, and rigged up the fibre to the blue chest light...
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/005-1.jpg
Check it out. It works!!!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/004-1.jpg
Look at the light traveling thru the fibre! The camera caught what the naked eye can't see! Kool huh?!

I know that there are alot of things out there to strip the chrome off.... what did you use?

I know that there are alot of things out there to strip the chrome off.... what did you use?

He used Castrol Super Clean and the power of the Pentacle from the looks of things.


I stripped all of the chrome off the parts with Castrol Super Clean, and they will all be done in Tamiya Gloss Aluminum.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/001-2.jpg

Originally Posted by Tim Nolan http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?p=2923045#post2923045)
I stripped all of the chrome off the parts with Castrol Super Clean, and they will all be done in Tamiya Gloss Aluminum.

:freak:

Yep, good ol' Castrol Super Clean, AKA "The purple pond"! LOL! It really does a nice quick job at removing chrome, without casuing you lung damage or skin burns! (like oven cleaner)

OK, more fibre optics and another manifold to carry the light there, and this guy is just about all wrapped up. I had drilled out the main gyro in his head for fibre optics as well, but it just didn't carry enough light, so I ended up drilling a small hole right behind it and running a 1.8 mm LED with a tiny apperture to really light it up. You really won't see it, but it will certainly throw a lot more light on the subject!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/002-4.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/003-4.jpg
I buttoned up the wiring harness, it's all ready to be installed.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/004-2.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/006-3.jpg
And now comes the crummy part. Filling, sanding, and smoothing all of the seams in the body parts! Aaargh! More to come later!

Tim,
where did you get those fat F.O's? they look a lot beefier than the garden variety FO's around these parts

PSA:

Castrol Super Clean (http://www.setonresourcecenter.com/msds/docs/wcd0000a/wcd00aef.htm) is 5% Sodium Hydroxide (with 10% ethanol and the rest water and fragrance)

Easy Off Oven Cleaner (http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=18001041) is 5% Sodium Hydroxide (with 5% diethylene glycol and the rest soap and butane propellant)

Drano Crystals (http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=19001029) are 60% Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium Hydroxide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide) is lye (also found in commercial paint removers)

Use at your own risk.

We now return you to your previously in progress program.

Westly's Bleeche-Wite tire cleaner also works well for stripping chrome. Use latex gloves.

Holy crap, I didn't know we were going to have a science class!! LOL!! That's great! Some of you guys are really smart.....:freak:

Lou, the fibre's came from:The Fibre Optics Store.com

http://thefiberopticstore.com/fibersample.htm

Very nice to do business with. Randy from VoodooFx got me in touch with them. That bigger stuff is 1.0mm, although they have up to 2.0mm! They will send you a sample pack of all sizes! Great stuff!

looks like a good deal! thanks

I have bought from them in the past. You can buy spindles of the stuff!

I've made some progress on Robby since my last post.

I spent a lot of time filling, sanding, and smoothing the body components. The seams are deplorable on this kit. I used Zap-a-Gap for the most part, and ended up feathering the top with some Squadron putty. It all came out pretty well, but it isn't absolutely perfect by any means. I was most disappointed with the head. There are some huge gaps in several pieces, some of which are impossible to hide. I guess I'll do it a bit differenty if I build another one in the future, it's all a learning experience.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/021.jpg
Here, you can see the side of the body and arms. The leg seams weren't too bad to fill, but the arms just didn't fit together right at all, and there was a huge ledge to be ground and filled. I spent quite a few hours doing this. I painted it all with Tamiya Dark Gunmetal, but it's probably a shade too light. He looks almost black in many photos, but he isn't. If you watch the movie, he is a gunmetal grey.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/018.jpg
Time to start putting it all inside! The board is in place, and the LED's have to be glued, then covered over the back and sealed in place with black RTV silicone. It takes 24 hrs. for this stuff to cure completely, so it slows down progress.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/019.jpg
I continually test light to make sure everything is functioning properly, BEFORE it's all sealed up!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/020.jpg
It woiks!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/022.jpg
The fiber optics strands are run thru the headpiece, and cut to fit into the LED manifold below.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/023.jpg
Once I got the length set, I used a small tie strap to hold them in place, and then glue them into the manifold.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/024.jpg
The strands are left long until the weapons analizer fittings are in place. In these phto's, you can clearly see the horrendous fit of these head pieces. Some of it will be hidden as all the dress parts are added, but some of it won't. This type off ill fit really bothers me. "Museum quality" it ain't!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/025.jpg
The two last LED's are set in place in the head.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/026.jpg
Things are starting to get a bit tight with everything going in, but it all fit neat and proper.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/027.jpg
More light testing. I didn't use a ton of glue when I put these upper head parts on, in case I ever have to go back inside. (GOD FORBID!)
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/028-1.jpg
I did this back wall in chrome Bare Metal Foil for more reflectivity before gluing the headpiece down.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/029-1.jpg
And now it all goes in place! It's time to start adding all the "doo-dads" on the outside now.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/030-1.jpg
I went pretty far overboard with the addition of all the fiber optics I guess, but I wanted to do the best I could at lighting this kit. The basic VoodooFx light kit will give you some fantastic results, but hopefully if you want to carry it a step frther, this will help you out!


More photo's to come as I wind down this project!

I installed the head completely, and all of the fiber optics and LED's are in place and working beautifully!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l35/Finktim/Robby%20the%20Robot/002-5.jpg

Looks friendly! How about 40 gallons of whiskey?

That would be adequate......:woohoo:

Looking awesome:thumbsup:, thanks for the tips and look forward to more shots.:):wave:

You artistic types are all insane!!!!!

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Robby looks awesome you went above and beyond the call of duty !!!!!!!!!!!


Robert

Sweeet!! :woohoo: you did a great job there mate. :thumbsup:

And thanks for sharing your how it was done.

Cheers,

Alec