Back to the Future - Christopher Lloyd clock

[TxBabyHuey]

As I work I have movies play in the background. Usually it's easier when it's a movie I have seen too many times.

I have seen this clock before on the movie. I think I always knew that it was probably made for the movie.

But I always thought it was kind of funny.

I know NOTHING about clocksmithing, if that is not the right term then you know how little I really know about it.

Has anyone ever done this clock?

I love 3d printing and all of the possibilities that it holds.

So I also LOVE this imagery in the movie, I don't know why. Part of Christopher Lloyds acting is physical. What I learned in Animation is that if you want to make a readable pose, that is memorable, look at the silhouette and if you can still tell whats happening, then it's a memorable pose.

So I think a year long project that would be fun would to make a wall/statue/clock of this actually printed of Christopher Lloyd.

I'm thinking it would be funny to actually attach that obnoxiously huge plug to his pants somehow and it follows him as he goes around.

I think if I get a pretty good model of Christpher Lloyd going that somebody here might do the panthers?



The only thing I don't know about is if I attach a full on figure to the big hand of the clock, will the weight cause the clock to turn the gears wrong and henceforce display the wrong time after a while? I know clocks do it anyway, but will the weight of the figure mess up the gearing?

Christopher Lloyd will take me about 2-3 months to model, I might over time find one of those antique wall clocks and just use it. I'm sure replacing the face is easy. But I just don't know if it would mess up the gearing.

I always loved this face. I think putting this face on it would really make me laugh.

I think modeling hair out of clay is easier than taking time to do it in 3d. I may just start by doing just the head with no hair, then cast that and do the hair out of clay. You have to sand 3d prints but even if I do this as a 8" figure, sanding that small is a problem.

Some companies don't even bother sanding and it shows, sometimes even in wax sculpts you can see cut marks, so I probably won't bother if it's just for personal.

 

[TxBabyHuey]

Does someone have those plugs? The big ones? What are they called?

I have to model those as well but I am much quicker with hard surface modeling.

 

[Beechy McFly]

 

[formula388]

Does someone have those plugs? The big ones? What are they called?

I have to model those as well but I am much quicker with hard surface modeling.

The plugs are called Mole Richardson Connectors if I recall correctly. Pretty expensive and not just because it is in the movie.

Beechy, Is that a real AXIS harold lloyd clock or a reproduction? Either way very cool. Do you have any other pictures of it?

 

[tk5378]

According to the commentary on the bluray disc, this clock is just a photograph that was just taped over the clock at the last minute as an afterthought.

 

[Gary Weaver II]

Mole Richardson plugs are ONLY expensive because they were in the movie. There was a time when you couldn't give the things away because they are a safety hazard and can't be used in the US (they are still used overseas as I understand it).

I used to order a few from old lighting houses back in the day and they would have them rotting in a trailer on their storage lot. Sadly, one day I called and they just recycled eveything in the trailer because the copper wire was too valuable.

-Gary

The plugs are called Mole Richardson Connectors if I recall correctly. Pretty expensive and not just because it is in the movie.

Beechy, Is that a real AXIS harold lloyd clock or a reproduction? Either way very cool. Do you have any other pictures of it?

 

[formula388]

Mole Richardson plugs are ONLY expensive because they were in the movie. There was a time when you couldn't give the things away because they are a safety hazard and can't be used in the US (they are still used overseas as I understand it).

I used to order a few from old lighting houses back in the day and they would have them rotting in a trailer on their storage lot. Sadly, one day I called and they just recycled eveything in the trailer because the copper wire was too valuable.

-Gary

Gary, thanks for clarifying. A few of the auctions on ebay that I have seen had no mention of BTTF and still went for a decent buck. I dont have a real interest in one unless I can verify the same model, seems as though there are many variations.


As for the AXIS clock, I have to disagree with the commentary on the BD.
There are a handful of near identical clocks not all related to BTTF.
Here is someones story of theirs and it in no way mentions bttf.
The Wednesday Word ? Clock | Grammar Tales
on bttf.com there are a bunch of other stories about how people used to have them. I want one.

 

[d_osborn]

There was a thread a few weeks ago about BTTF clocks... it seemed to get a little movement going for a replica run of the Harold Lloyd clock.

As basic as the clock is and with all of the reference, it shouldn't be hard. I would jump on a run in a heartbeat!

Thanks for posting the link, formula! That's the best image of the clock I've seen!

 

[TxBabyHuey]

There was a thread a few weeks ago about BTTF clocks... it seemed to get a little movement going for a replica run of the Harold Lloyd clock.

As basic as the clock is and with all of the reference, it shouldn't be hard. I would jump on a run in a heartbeat!

Thanks for posting the link, formula! That's the best image of the clock I've seen!

I haven't done any 3d modeling in 2-3 months. I always find something to do as an exercise and I know I can at least to the head and body.

I think I'll nab a clock like this but something big, something I can possibly just pay an extra $40-$50 at an antique store or Lowe's. I would want it to be big.

I know I'll more than likely have to replace the hands and the face of the clock.

I don't necessarily want to buy those plugs, I don't have that kind of money until Feb or something. Does someone have detailed photos or some that could take really detailed photos and specs for me? I would just send you the 3d file and you can do whatever you want with it.


I am pretty sure Rebelscum would cut the roman numeral clock face that I can just put on there, it would either be from very thin acrylic, or matte board.

I wouldn't do the top of the clock as a perfect replica of the actual tower, I think the panthers would be cool with a stylized version of the tower to just rectangulate the top. I hereby claim rights to the word rectangulate.