EFNY Life Clock

[RobWolf]

Hey guys

I have been wanting to make a replica of Snake's Life Clock for a while now. I am currently in contact with a company to see about the possibility of having a countdown timer made with smaller than usual digits, and with the function of the clock still running even when not lit up, pressing the button lights up the display for a while etc. This will be mains powered but I'm certain it can be adapted to battery power (I asked for battery and they said it was technically impossible for them). This BTW will ONLY be the timer guts, they aren't making the whole watch for me!

What I really need to know, from anyone who has a replica of this prop, is how high the digits are. I am being offered the option of 0.5" and possibly even 0.3", I need to know which is best.

I have been offered the price of $50USD for one unit all inclusive with shipping, and for a buy of 25+ units it would be around $20 per unit + shipping. However I am planning to buy one myself to see if it is adaptable and then if it is then I will post the details up here and maybe you guys can get a group run of them done

 

[eaviii]

If this is the begininning of an interest list then I'm interested.

Doc

 

[RobWolf]

If this is the begininning of an interest list then I'm interested.

Doc

Well I see it like this. They're telling me that it may be possible for them to do a countdown timer with .5" or .3" digits, that will do what it would need to do. BUT it will be mains powered, and although the digits may be small, the actual space the electronics will take up may be too big. So this timer may be adapted and whittled down to fit inside the watch, or it may not.

Now, if 25+ people want to spend around $20 and take a chance that they may be able to use the timer, then that's fine, we'll sort that out. But I thought it would make more sense for one person to check the thing out first.

Quoted from the email:

"If you order only one of these modules then it will cost you USD 50 all inclusive of development charges & shipping . if the qty is more than 25 pcs then the it may be appx USD20 each + shipping as applicable . ( shipping charges for 25 pcs may be appx USD35 only.)"

So a run of 25+ would also come with a shipping charge which would be divided amongst however many people want one. But that would be just to ship the units as one package to one address. So anyone interested would have to then pay an extra shipping cost to get the unit from whoever received the shipment.

 

[MFP 2020]

I am also interested in expressing my interest.

 

[Funky]

I seem to recall the original was some sort of kitchen countdown device. That ring a bell with anyone else?

 

[Contec]

Maybe this could help you? been a while since i saw the movie's ,so this one could be from EFAL

http://www.therpf.com/f9/escape-new-york-la-43474/

Hi Guys,
This "Watch" was made at Prop'er Effects. The body was custom made. All of the hero parts were cast metal. I think that we made 1 or 2 plastic ones and 3 rubbers. It also had a ribbon cable about 2 inches wide coming off of each hero.
I will post more as I thinnk of it.

HMS Mike

 

[DS Operative]

I think 0.3" would be closer to the original. Half an inch seems awfully big for digital watch numbers, but then again-- maybe they were that big so they could be seen by the camera easier.

I'm still going to suggest 0.3" though.

 

[rkpetersen]

Just rewatched the movie the other day, and was thinking that I'd like one of these. Interested in the electronics if the case and strap are also available somewhere.

 

[Contec]

I seem to recall the original was some sort of kitchen countdown device. That ring a bell with anyone else?

From this thread http://www.therpf.com/f9/escape-new-york-snakes-watch-39653/

I've researched this piece quite a bit and from what I've gathered it started out as a kitchen timer and was modded with a custom frame, made out of painted sheet styrene and a leather band with a velcro closure (as noted how Snake closes the band around his wrist).

There are a couple of angular shots where you can see the raised LED demarcation points between the hour:minute:second digits.

I have searched for quite a bit to locate a vintage countdown timer to mod and have had zero luck so far....

P.S. If you can find one...I'm looking for a "Dial-a-matic" mini-flare launcher for my collection too. It was seen on the weapons/ordinance table (orange handle with a cylindrical shaped flare holder) when Snake is being debriefed for the mission.....

 

[RobWolf]

I've had quite a few searches on eBay and have not yet encountered the 'kitchen timer' as has been referenced. The closest I came was a Bulova diver's watch (display far too small) and a Cronus Single Event timer stopwatch which has the right kind of display but the format is MM:SS:1/100ths of a second.

Just rewatched the movie the other day, and was thinking that I'd like one of these. Interested in the electronics if the case and strap are also available somewhere.

My intention was to make the case myself out of styrene plastic and then have the timer made to put into it. I suggested this run of timers thinking that others would follow the same route, ie making their own case. It's a much cheaper alternative to have someone make the entire watch.

 

[RobWolf]

I have had some more thoughts about the case, after viewing the thread about the Dick Tracy watch (http://www.therpf.com/f9/definitive-gti-dick-tracy-watch-thread-87929/). In it, zenix has submitted a CAD file of that watch casing to a website called shapeways.com who can make 3D shapes to order in various materials INCLUDING metal.

So what I'm thinking is that IF I can get the timer small enough and then create a case for it out of styrene, I can then pass said case onto someone here who is good with CAD, they can do a 3D model of it and submit it to shapeways, and then people can have cases made to order. So then that will be the timer AND the case freely available for for the forseeable future and making owning a Life Clock replica a reality for a lot of people.

 

[Spylocke]

What's the latest word on this?

thanks,
Spylocke

 

[Samhain2000]

Nada, I PM'ed the guy. Just waiting for a reply.
The Plissken costume is an exercise in patience.

 

[Necromonger]

I've had quite a few searches on eBay and have not yet encountered the 'kitchen timer' as has been referenced. The closest I came was a Bulova diver's watch (display far too small) and a Cronus Single Event timer stopwatch which has the right kind of display but the format is MM:SS:1/100ths of a second.

Change the oscillator reference crystal?

 

[Samhain2000]

Someone had suggested buying the timer from this site: PIC Projects for the Electronics Enthusiast

I talked to the guy today and the timer that counts backwards, the dimensions for the piece are 6.5" x 3". The life clock would look more like a Pipboy 3000 then Snakes lifeclock.

 

[TheMechanic]

I had one of these made a few years ago by an aerospace engineer / machinist. It was a 1:1 replica and it was fully functional. The housing was machined out of solid brass. It was about 3/8" thick and ran on an N cell battery.
Sadly I had to sell it. There were only 2 made. 1 for me and 1 for my friend.

 

[Samhain2000]

I have been toying with making my own, buying the guts then making the body with wood putty or plumbers putty.

A 1/2 inch, 6 digit red LED display seems impossible to find.

 

[PipGirl 3000]

I am contacting Bethesda on behalf of the pip boy clocks. I am hoping to see is they will sell a resin mold for fans to create their own pip boy. I will report back to all as soon as I get a reply! :lol

 

[CHROMIUMDIOXIDE]

any updates?

 

[Sigma-LS]

Also going to express my interest in whatever happened and how to get one of these. If we can get a shapeways model BTW, they will machine it out of metal (stainless or brass) for us, just going to cost a hell of a lot.