My other blog posts on BTTF props:
Part 1: Building a Flux Capacitor
Part 2: Building the Time Circuits
Part 3: Building the Speedometer
Part 5: Building the TFC Switch
After building the Flux Capacitor, the Time Circuits, and the speedometer, the next logical thing were the Analog Gauges. That triangular device that fits the glove compartment on the passenger side with those three beautiful old analog gauges and the red light which signals when you are running out of plutonium.
Some Time Machine builders are really trying to get the original old analog gauges like those used in the movie prop. But this would be too expensive, and not an option for me. I decided to buy three inexpensive Voltmeters and an illuminated red push button switch, and do the rest with 3/16" plywood and a laser cutter.
I disassembled the voltmeters and the push button switch. For the push button switch, I printed he word "EMPTY" (in Eurostile Bold font).
I designed the labels for the gauges in the open-source software scribus, for printing as 4" x 6" glossy photos. Here are the source images...
... and these are the printed photos.
The voltmeters are glued to the wood, and the labels are inserted.
The combined unit is then glued to the front plate.
Small holes are drilled for mounting the LEDs (5mm straw hat LEDs, which have a wider light cone).
The LED wires are bent so that the LEDs are facing upwards.
And the LEDs are glued onto the panels.
The electronics, based on a Arduino pro mini (ATmega 168, 16MHz, 5V), is assembled on a small PCB.
Everything is painted and the acrylic front pieces are inserted and held by additional wooden pieces.
Since my version is not mounted in the DeLorean's glove compartment, I need a full enclosure.
And that's it. Here is the final unit.
And here, again, when the front panel LEDs are illuminating the gauges.
This unit does not have a sound player. But this piece is connected to the Time Circuits module and the two are communication via a serial connection. After turning on the Time Circuits, after three seconds, it send a signal to the Analog Gauges which then turn on. At that point the Time Circuit module is playing the "turn-analog-gauges-on" sound.
Related:
My other blog posts on BTTF-related props and pieces:
- Building the Time Circuits- Building a Hoverboard and Charger
- Building BTTF clocks
- Building a BTTF Brick Stage (featuring the smallest Flux Capacitor)
