Flux capacitor

I am going to build a movie accurate flux capacitor from Back to the future and would appreciate any help, tips, parts lists, links or cautionary tales.

My advice/help:

--Start here: http://www.therpf.com/search.php?searchid=2119530
--Read all pertinent threads
--Then come back and ask for help where you need to fill in the blanks, being more specific with your request, and allowing the fourm a better opportunity to help you

Link doesn't work...it just goes to a blank RPF page....just thought I'd let you know

PHArchivist said:

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My advice/help:

--Start here: http://www.therpf.com/search.php?searchid=2119530
--Read all pertinent threads
--Then come back and ask for help where you need to fill in the blanks, being more specific with your request, and allowing the fourm a better opportunity to help you

Works fine for me.

Or do it the old-fashion way and just type in Flux Capacitor in the SERACH FUNCTION.

I MISSED THIS!!
Just 3 hours up the road......
We need a Coming Events section!!!

BTTF screening and Christopher Lloyd in Austin!

Shylaah

You should use the search function for sure but first thing you need to know is to build a screen accurate using the same parts will be an expensive project. They used glass vacuum relays which are obsolete and hard to find. They sit over blocks of acrylic which taper down to the center of the Y. The spark plug boots on top of the relays are not automotive caps and are equally hard to find. The enclosure was originally a Stahlin fiberglass gasket windowed enclosure. There are also aircraft connector elbows on the top and side. Those are the basics. There are castings of the plug tops and relay tubes out there. And the case can be obtained from Adalet and buy pc window gasket materials. That might get you started, other then that screen shots screen shot screen shots.

I just learned more in a 30 second read of this post than I ever did on Gary's board.

Fluxcapacitor said:

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You should use the search function for sure but first thing you need to know is to build a screen accurate using the same parts will be an expensive project. They used glass vacuum relays which are obsolete and hard to find. They sit over blocks of acrylic which taper down to the center of the Y. The spark plug boots on top of the relays are not automotive caps and are equally hard to find. The enclosure was originally a Stahlin fiberglass gasket windowed enclosure. There are also aircraft connector elbows on the top and side. Those are the basics. There are castings of the plug tops and relay tubes out there. And the case can be obtained from Adalet and buy pc window gasket materials. That might get you started, other then that screen shots screen shot screen shots.

Wow... thanks.

-Gary

Jedifyfe said:

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I just learned more in a 30 second read of this post than I ever did on Gary's board.

Gary Weaver II said:

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Wow... thanks.

-Gary

Just kidding GWII!!! I wish your board was back up. I miss the bttfparts but I never had the patience to weed through all the BS back and forth to get to the good stuff. Love ya man!

BS? What bs? 'Parts was the epitome of respect and tolerance.

Yeah, who the heck am I kidding.

Besides any info over there is usually outdated by whatever I have waiting in the wings... like this. I just need to rework the red labels and I'm set on this one.

Damn, Gary...... Damn. That's one nice picture.

-Derek

Yeah, yeah, good ole flux capacitor...

Without skills, without the right parts or contact to people who know where you find these parts or offer you parts or know people who know people, which brother of the uncle of the father knows someone who might have these parts....

is it really possible to build a SA capacitor withound spending a fortune into parts?!?

Look, I know some guys are really picky with their props and build-ups, but if a prop collector or a fan of the BTTF franchise wants to get a capacitor, I think sometimes he will get luckier with a finished prop from Diamond or ebay... And its a lot cheaper...

Cool, if you can say "my capacitor is 100% acurate" but just for displaying it?!? If I had a delorean, sure, the diamond is not the right way... But Im happy with my Flux and of course happy that I dont spend 300 or 400 dollars more in that prop...

This site has an amazing tutorial on how to build it. Good parts list too.

Rook's Tutorial Page: M1A1 Disassembly

Not sure why the link is coming up with that heading but I assure you... strictly BTTF stuff.

Rook's page is pretty out of date now. But good info to get you started.

Gary's is definitely really good, but not perfect. Ignoring the labels which are an easy fix, the window always looked wrong on yours Gary. Post a photo of Doc pointing towards the Flux from BTTF1. I think it's the rubber gasket is too wide, and perhaps the corners aren't quite tight enough. I'm nit-picking here, so the label on the top-left relay is in the wrong place, and your clasps are the newer wrong style and in the new wrong position. The stand on your top-left relay is also the wrong angle. And your perspex bars are a bit short, but that might be a technical limitation of how you've done the light in the middle? But that's some serious nit-picking

I never said it was "perfect", I said I was merely happy with it for myself.

-Gary

I never said you said it was perfect. I was just pointing out ways it could be taken one step further.

Renesisx what do you think of Bruce's fluxes?

Well, Bruce's Fluxes aren't made to be accurate. IIRC he does use the Stahlin enclosures, and he has had a good supply of brass relays in the past. Plus he definitely had the correct plug caps. So he's had pretty much everything he needs to make them accurate.

I think there is only Bruce and Videobob (bttfstuff.com) "mass producing" these things right now?

Have you guys seen this?

App Shopper: iFlux Capacitor (Entertainment)

Can't locate in the app store though...