My Full size Johnny 5 build

baronvondoom

Well-Known Member
RPF PREMIUM MEMBER
I've been working on a full size johnny 5 from Short Circuit for several months now. I have waited until i had something to show before starting a thread.
I started with the head as if the rest of the build doesn't come off i still have the head to display.
I started by trying to get a list of parts together. Unfortunately a lot of the parts are hard to come by.
The first parts i bought are the eye lenses. These are Wollensak copy lenses.
They need the front black coating machining down to the brass. I dont have a metal working lathe at the moment so i made a jig to spin the lens with a drill. I used file and various grades wet and dry papers to do the machining. The jig is just mdf.

The jig
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Part done
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Finished machining
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The eyes will have servos behind them to control the iris and movement. They will be attached to gimbals for movement.

Next was cutting the eye tubes, These are 89mm aluminium tube.
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I started to make the main frame of the head at this time. I ended up doing one from ply and another using plastic. I ended up scrapping both as i couldn't get them to look accurate.
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It was around this time i started to have some parts 3d printed. I ordered the track at this time as well.

I will get the rest of the pictures up once they have uploaded.
 
Thanks for the replies.
I managed to get a circuit board from the guys at inputinc. It needed all the components fitting.
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Soldering all those LEDs took forever.
It needs a bit of adjusting to get all the leds running together.
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A quick video of it running, its only connected to the tv on this.

I had the cover for the light board 3d printed from someone on makexyz.com. Its a bit warped in places and broke on the front. I might try getting it done at shapeways instead. I made a mold of it so may just try to do a fiberglass one.

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Next up was the head base.
I started with plywood.
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I then tried plasticard
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In the end i went for 3d printing.
I dont have a picture of it before priming.
I primed it and added plasticard details. Then added it to a clay base for molding.
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The 3d part was printed in two pieces then glued together.
They broke apart when removing from the mold. Some of the deatail pieces came off as well.
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Fresh from the mold
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Trimmed and primed
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There is a J5 community out there and I remember a lengthy thread about J5 research, but that was some years ago. Great and ambitious build !!!
 
I made and molded the front part of the head.
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I cut a metal plate to fit the inside of the base to secure everything to.
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Also had the nose pieces 3d printed at Shapeways.
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Aluminium brackets to hold the front on and support the nose.
There will be quite a bit of weight in the front due to the servos for the eyes and nose.
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Some parts for the head top. The top was partly 3d printed and part plasticard. The components on top are a mixture of 3d printed and the real electrical parts.
Some were done with plasticard.
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Adding detail pieces
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Adding more pieces
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Started on the gimbal ring for the eyes
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Fitted in the eye tube
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Thanks for the comments everyone.

Nose basket pieces printed.
This will house the servos that control the eye flaps. The whole basket rotates and also house two micro servos to control the eye flaps.
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And here it is assembled.
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And with the bearings fitted
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Here's where i am currently with this build.
The next step will probably be making a mold of the top of the head and casting one from fibreglass.
Then starting to add the servos.

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Interesting work to see unfolding. It looks like 3D printing is a big help.

I was actually looking for a 1/24 johnny five online a few weeks ago as i'm planning on building a 1/24 Nova Vandura and it would make a nice additioin. I didn't find one, so if anyone knows a source, let me know.
 
Interesting work to see unfolding. It looks like 3D printing is a big help.

I was actually looking for a 1/24 johnny five online a few weeks ago as i'm planning on building a 1/24 Nova Vandura and it would make a nice additioin. I didn't find one, so if anyone knows a source, let me know.
3d printing has helped massively.
I just wish I had my own printer.

Not sure on the scale but the only kit I know of comes from China.
They sell from a Facebook page called Johnny five is alive!
Not sure if they still sell them. They also have a website, I thinks it's wantedmall.
I have heard they are not very good to deal with if any parts are missing though.
 
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