ALIEN (1979) motion tracker questions

[Gigatron]

We found the right slider switches around 6 pages back

I don't think we'll ever find the piece of equipment they came off of for one reason. I think electronics manufacturers outsourced pieces like boards, knobs, dials and whatever else they didn't have to design/build in-house.

To find the exact make and model of equipment would be next to statistically impossible as I'm almost sure knob styles changed from year to year as the manufacturer sourced whatever knobs they could find.

Fortunately, we found an exact match (dimensionally, anyway) that will work for our needs.

Simon, those dimples may be tougher to get rid of than I originally imagined. But it looks like the tray shape is too "blocky" (for lack of a better term). The correct ones have to exist somewhere, I'll just keep looking.

-Fred

 

[Birdie]

Simon, those dimples may be tougher to get rid of than I originally imagined. But it looks like the tray shape is too "blocky" (for lack of a better term). The correct ones have to exist somewhere, I'll just keep looking.

I said they were wrong :lol

I think a lot of this prop would have to be scratch-built, as we just aren't going to find the parts.

I nearly gave myself tunnel vision trying to find the CRT and the louvred parts, and came up with nothing useful.

As for the cube try, I will probably end up modifying a 7 row one.

 

[Gigatron]

I said they were wrong :lol

I think a lot of this prop would have to be scratch-built, as we just aren't going to find the parts.

I nearly gave myself tunnel vision trying to find the CRT and the louvred parts, and came up with nothing useful.

As for the cube try, I will probably end up modifying a 7 row one.

I may do the same. I know of a 7 row tray that has the right shape, I just need to figure out if the dimensions will be correct if I were to cut it.

-Fred

 

[mgoob]

I must have read the responses wrong.

I'd still like to find original;
people have found scopes used on SW props that are obscure,
so I think 1 day these too will be found.

I'll go back and re-read before I post:redface

I don't think we'll ever find the piece of equipment they came off of for one reason. I think electronics manufacturers outsourced pieces like boards, knobs, dials and whatever else they didn't have to design/build in-house.

To find the exact make and model of equipment would be next to statistically impossible as I'm almost sure knob styles changed from year to year as the manufacturer sourced whatever knobs they could find.

Fortunately, we found an exact match (dimensionally, anyway) that will work for our needs.

Simon, those dimples may be tougher to get rid of than I originally imagined. But it looks like the tray shape is too "blocky" (for lack of a better term). The correct ones have to exist somewhere, I'll just keep looking.

-Fred

 

[Birdie]

I got one of those switches as a free sample. I made a mould, now every time I do a resin pour & have a little left over, I make myself another switch. I pobably have enough for the tracker by now :}

 

[Gigatron]

I must have read the responses wrong.

I'd still like to find original;
people have found scopes used on SW props that are obscure,
so I think 1 day these too will be found.

I'll go back and re-read before I post:redface

Well, here's some questions for anybody who might still care. Since we don't don't know anything about the original slider knobs, we have no idea who made them. For all we know, the company we're getting them from, made the originals. So, if that's the case, are these considered original?

Suppose the original manufacturer sold the schematics to every knob builder out there so that every knob that fits this design, is exactly the same? Are those original?

Suppose whoever made the original electronics board used those knobs on only one model number in one year? It would be statistically impossible to find the original boards that used those knobs.

Here's my point I guess, who really cares if the knobs are 30 years old or not as long as they are exact? Suppose ASI or H&W still made their scopes to the vintage specs, would ones that came out today not be as good as ones that are 60+ years old because they aren't old. If the only difference between an H&W produced yesterday and one produced for WWII was that the new one didn't stink of mildew and cosmoline, would not be as accurate to use on a Han ANH blaster?

I say why go through the hassle and aggravation of trying to find 23 exactly matching 30 year old plastic knobs, when you can get them brand new for no trouble at all?

-Fred

 

[mgoob]

Fred,

Yes, you make lots of sense.
"Don't sweat the small stuff"

Overallpicture would be: buy 23 new ones & paint them.

I'll save up a bit, and get on it.

Sometimes you have to hear the obvious from someone else before you accept it, eh?

...
I say why go through the hassle and aggravation of trying to find 23 exactly matching 30 year old plastic knobs, when you can get them brand new for no trouble at all?

-Fred

 

[Gigatron]

Here's a bump from the graveyard.

I'd still like to find the missing pieces.

-Fred

 

[Birdie]

Still with you there, bud

It's probably innacurate, but I noticed recently on the Alien laserdisk extras they say that Ron Cobb built the trackers.

I thought Cobb only did design work, but who knows?

 

[ghostryder]

You guys have any luck with those pieces?

 

[Gigatron]

nope, I scour ebay once a week or so, looking for the correct ice cube tray.

We still have no idea what connects that drain cover to the main body, where that damn tube shield came from or what those goofy little square things are.

I'm at the point where I'm willing to use fabricated parts. If someone wants to sculpt and cast the missing parts, I say go for it.

-Fred

 

[Jonesythecat]

Hello, new here but very interested. Can anyone make a check-list with the parts that have been positively identified and the ones that are still missing?

I kinda lost the count with all these pages. Was the little monitor identified? And the oscilloscope cathode ray tube? What's the mystery on the ice cube tray? Can that info be made public?

 

[Birdie]

Correctly IDed and located - The Panasonic Ranger, the gully cover, the slider switches and the vernier dial.

Tenuous (ie not actually located) - The correct ice tray, the CRT tube (if, indeed, that is what it is), the nutplates that are mounted on the part that supports the gully cover.

Everything else - a mystery :lol

 

[Jonesythecat]

I'm no expert at all but the ray tube looks more like something that was built from scratches than an actual ray tube. At least judging from the details on it. Or else, it could be a ray tube, painted and with details added on it.

For that piece I would go for a scratch-built replica instead of sourcing expensive and possibly impossible-to-find cathode ray tubes.


PS for the list don't forget the car ignition key which was identified thanks to a member who was able to access the "real thing" and take a picture of it.

 

[Funky]

Hello, new here but very interested. Can anyone make a check-list with the parts that have been positively identified and the ones that are still missing?

I kinda lost the count with all these pages. Was the little monitor identified? And the oscilloscope cathode ray tube? What's the mystery on the ice cube tray? Can that info be made public?

I just recently got my Ranger and am starting in on this project as well. Like the above post, I'd like to offer my services in searching for the missing pieces as well. However, I need a HUGE favor: Any way I can get someone to post a nice close-up of the tracker with the unknown parts circled? This way I can try and match things side-by-side.
Also, I'm of the opinion that this thread be moved to the main Prop forum. I wouldn't have know it existed but I stumbled upon it by chance. :wacko

 

[Jonesythecat]

I agree, something like that would be most appreciated.

 

[stephen210]

Here is mine in the works with some of the bits added.

 

[Birdie]

Tinted parts are not positiveley ID'ed. Also: the prod at the front, correct ice tray and nutplates (bottom pic), various bits and bobs.

 

[Jonesythecat]

The tubes look like electrical wiring corrugated tubes but I think they are identical to hydraulic tubes

(from a car)

Unless they are more simply black old-fashoned telephon cords, glued in the center and with dirt accumulating through the coil so giving it a "corrugated tube" look

Yeah actually rethinking about it they do look exactly like telephone cords!
http://coreoneproduct.com/shop/images/Coil beauty shot BC25CC.jpg

 

[Gigatron]

The green discs look like small reel-to-reel cases. Like they took one, seperated into two halves and mounted them.

The yellow thing kinda looks like an old electronics breadboard.

The teal thing...I've seen it somewhere before, but I can't imagine where.

All I'd need is 30 minutes with the real deal and my camera and we could probably have more than half the things identified in no time. I know most of these parts most likely have manufacturer and part no.s stamped into them somewhere. It's just a matter of getting a good picture of them.

-Fred