For your viewing and downloading pleasure, I present the screen used VSR Panel from the B-Car.
This is the panel from the car used for the train wreck scene at the end of Part III. The B-Car was also the car used for reference by the the crew which dressed the Part III Oxnard and Offroader cars - more on that later though.
On to the pics.
FRONT
The overall bulkhead is made from 1/8" Aluminum. The two housings are made from off the shelf Deep Drawn Aluminum Cans by Zero Manufacturing. Normally, these cans are trimmed, but in the case of the VSR they are not and the extra flange material is used to make the "feet" of the unit. In the lower left corner of the panel is a 2.75" wood disc. This disc was used to secure a length of heater hose along the door sill of the car. It is original to the unit.
Here is a shot of the A-Cars bulkhead still in place to give you an idea of it's orientation in the car. It's located behind the passenger side seat. As you can see the A-Car is missing it's original pushwheel counter.
VIEW OF THE BULKHEAD PANEL IN PLACE ON THE "A" CAR STILL AT UNIVERSAL
BACK
VIEW OF BACK BOLT DETAILS
The Details
The first detail I'll start with is what was probably the most difficult to track down from a replica builders standpoint - the pushwheel counter. This is an old vintage counter and up until only a few months ago never identified.
PUSHWHEEL COUNTER
It was implied by other builders that these units were no longer being made and commanded a premium price - this was a misconception. They are infact still being made by their Swiss manufacturer.
NEW BUILD COUNTER AND ORIGINAL
NEW BUILD CONTRAVES AG COUNTER WITH CORRECT LEDS
The maker of this counter was never publicly identified until I got my hands on this screen used bulkhead. The manufacturer is Contraves AG and a quick search on the internet will lead you to their contact information. Most importantly, this is a unit that is still made today and will cost about $60 for a unit with no LEDs or Electronics. It is beneficial to order the unit WITHOUT LEDs because the current LEDs used by the manufacturer are incorrect to what was used on the original 25+ year old version.
Next up are the three Pushbutton/Indicators on the lower casing.
PUSHBUTTON/INDICATORS
The three yellow pushbuttons are mounted on the lower left corner of the Zero can. They are mounted through a .090" aluminum plate which is in turn screwed to the Zero can. These buttons, along with the counter do have wiring present, but it is heavily damaged and inoperable. I will not be restoring this wiring.
PUSHBUTTON SIDE DETAIL
The pushbutton is a COMPU-LITE 65 model pushbutton. When I recieved this panel there were only TWO intact indicators visible. Further investigation shown that the third buttong was infact INSIDE the VSR body and damaged. At some point the button was forced in and the surrounding support ring broke off as shown below.
DAMAGED 3RD INDICATOR
The beauty of this third missing indicator was that it's original face decal was still partly intact. The other two had lost their decals to the elements ages ago.
DETAIL OF ORIGINAL DECAL REMNANT
I did track some of the COMPU-LITES down and they were overly expensive - so I did what any good builder would do. I molded them up.
REPRODUCTION INDICATORS and ORIGINAL
The beauty of the castings is that I was able to make a new surround for the third indicators lens. However, I decided against putting it back in the unit with a new printed decal since it may tear up the original decal in the process.
The last major component on the unit is the small wire trunk housing. Like the VSR, this is a modified Zero can. It's size is 2" x 4".
WIRE TRUNK HOUSING DETAIL
It's interesting to note that this parts has very important ties to the Part III cars. The B-Car was the car used by the filmakers as reference and mold masters for the Oxnard and Offroad cars. These cars were new builds for the filming of Prts II and III. As such the filmmakers molded a few components of the B-Car for the new builds. One of these items was this Small Wire Trunk Housing.
In helping to restore the Oxnard Rail Car currently at Universal Studios Florida, I was sent a series of damaged props to remold and cast for replacements. One of these was a Wire Trunk Housing. Recently when I compared one of these castings to the one on my Bulkhead panel I could see the scratches, dents, and other details lined up EXACTLY to one another. Even a spot of glue at the botton Skintop connector was carried over to the castings.
WIRE TRUNK CASTING AND ORIGINAL MASTER
I think that's pretty much it. I have one or two more details I'm trying to track down on this thing at the moment. As soon as I have them ready, I'll be sure to update this post.
Thanks for viewing,
Gary
This is the panel from the car used for the train wreck scene at the end of Part III. The B-Car was also the car used for reference by the the crew which dressed the Part III Oxnard and Offroader cars - more on that later though.
On to the pics.
FRONT
The overall bulkhead is made from 1/8" Aluminum. The two housings are made from off the shelf Deep Drawn Aluminum Cans by Zero Manufacturing. Normally, these cans are trimmed, but in the case of the VSR they are not and the extra flange material is used to make the "feet" of the unit. In the lower left corner of the panel is a 2.75" wood disc. This disc was used to secure a length of heater hose along the door sill of the car. It is original to the unit.
Here is a shot of the A-Cars bulkhead still in place to give you an idea of it's orientation in the car. It's located behind the passenger side seat. As you can see the A-Car is missing it's original pushwheel counter.
VIEW OF THE BULKHEAD PANEL IN PLACE ON THE "A" CAR STILL AT UNIVERSAL
BACK
VIEW OF BACK BOLT DETAILS
The Details
The first detail I'll start with is what was probably the most difficult to track down from a replica builders standpoint - the pushwheel counter. This is an old vintage counter and up until only a few months ago never identified.
PUSHWHEEL COUNTER
It was implied by other builders that these units were no longer being made and commanded a premium price - this was a misconception. They are infact still being made by their Swiss manufacturer.
NEW BUILD COUNTER AND ORIGINAL
NEW BUILD CONTRAVES AG COUNTER WITH CORRECT LEDS
The maker of this counter was never publicly identified until I got my hands on this screen used bulkhead. The manufacturer is Contraves AG and a quick search on the internet will lead you to their contact information. Most importantly, this is a unit that is still made today and will cost about $60 for a unit with no LEDs or Electronics. It is beneficial to order the unit WITHOUT LEDs because the current LEDs used by the manufacturer are incorrect to what was used on the original 25+ year old version.
Next up are the three Pushbutton/Indicators on the lower casing.
PUSHBUTTON/INDICATORS
The three yellow pushbuttons are mounted on the lower left corner of the Zero can. They are mounted through a .090" aluminum plate which is in turn screwed to the Zero can. These buttons, along with the counter do have wiring present, but it is heavily damaged and inoperable. I will not be restoring this wiring.
PUSHBUTTON SIDE DETAIL
The pushbutton is a COMPU-LITE 65 model pushbutton. When I recieved this panel there were only TWO intact indicators visible. Further investigation shown that the third buttong was infact INSIDE the VSR body and damaged. At some point the button was forced in and the surrounding support ring broke off as shown below.
DAMAGED 3RD INDICATOR
The beauty of this third missing indicator was that it's original face decal was still partly intact. The other two had lost their decals to the elements ages ago.
DETAIL OF ORIGINAL DECAL REMNANT
I did track some of the COMPU-LITES down and they were overly expensive - so I did what any good builder would do. I molded them up.
REPRODUCTION INDICATORS and ORIGINAL
The beauty of the castings is that I was able to make a new surround for the third indicators lens. However, I decided against putting it back in the unit with a new printed decal since it may tear up the original decal in the process.
The last major component on the unit is the small wire trunk housing. Like the VSR, this is a modified Zero can. It's size is 2" x 4".
WIRE TRUNK HOUSING DETAIL
It's interesting to note that this parts has very important ties to the Part III cars. The B-Car was the car used by the filmakers as reference and mold masters for the Oxnard and Offroad cars. These cars were new builds for the filming of Prts II and III. As such the filmmakers molded a few components of the B-Car for the new builds. One of these items was this Small Wire Trunk Housing.
In helping to restore the Oxnard Rail Car currently at Universal Studios Florida, I was sent a series of damaged props to remold and cast for replacements. One of these was a Wire Trunk Housing. Recently when I compared one of these castings to the one on my Bulkhead panel I could see the scratches, dents, and other details lined up EXACTLY to one another. Even a spot of glue at the botton Skintop connector was carried over to the castings.
WIRE TRUNK CASTING AND ORIGINAL MASTER
I think that's pretty much it. I have one or two more details I'm trying to track down on this thing at the moment. As soon as I have them ready, I'll be sure to update this post.
Thanks for viewing,
Gary
