Firefly PAL Comms measurements?
- Thread starter Coz
- Start date
starfighter66
Well-Known Member
you can find one here although it is a more recent model. http://cgi.ebay.com/PASS-PAL-DEVICE-LIFELI...1QQcmdZViewItem
Though not the same, the new ones can with a bit of work come out quite nice.
(I still want to replace the speaker grill with... something) but here's a start:
And the label I made for it:
Not that that helps with dimensions, I'm afraid. The newer ones are fatter at least, and I think bigger in all dimensions. That, or they pulled the back off the ones on the show and made their own backs... which I rather doubt.
Still though, they work for someone with say equipment a *little* newer than they what's on Serenity.
When I get home tonight I'll do a side-by-side with a resin cast of an original PAL I got from on here for a size comparison. No idea how much the resin one might have shrunk, but I don't think much. If you don't mind the size difference, you could prolly figure out a way to add the letters and the crinkly finish and get close.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(starfighter66 @ Jan 30 2007, 11:29 AM) [snapback]1407855[/snapback]</div>
(I still want to replace the speaker grill with... something) but here's a start:
And the label I made for it:
Not that that helps with dimensions, I'm afraid. The newer ones are fatter at least, and I think bigger in all dimensions. That, or they pulled the back off the ones on the show and made their own backs... which I rather doubt.
Still though, they work for someone with say equipment a *little* newer than they what's on Serenity.
When I get home tonight I'll do a side-by-side with a resin cast of an original PAL I got from on here for a size comparison. No idea how much the resin one might have shrunk, but I don't think much. If you don't mind the size difference, you could prolly figure out a way to add the letters and the crinkly finish and get close.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(starfighter66 @ Jan 30 2007, 11:29 AM) [snapback]1407855[/snapback]</div>
you can find one here although it is a more recent model. http://cgi.ebay.com/PASS-PAL-DEVICE-LIFELI...1QQcmdZViewItem
[/b]
starfighter66
Well-Known Member
I have one of the resin casts and they only cast up to where the backplate screws in. other than that the dimensions are a match. Kaylee do you have a pic of the top of your PAL?
Really? Cool. So a conversion would be quite doable then.
And yeah - I did a lot of sanding and filling though:
When I got it, it looked just like the one in your picture from eBay. Originally I was going to mount a FRS radio inside this one and put the controls on that top area.. I just never got around to doing that, so it's been sitting in a box.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(starfighter66 @ Jan 30 2007, 12:26 PM) [snapback]1407919[/snapback]</div>
And yeah - I did a lot of sanding and filling though:
When I got it, it looked just like the one in your picture from eBay. Originally I was going to mount a FRS radio inside this one and put the controls on that top area.. I just never got around to doing that, so it's been sitting in a box.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(starfighter66 @ Jan 30 2007, 12:26 PM) [snapback]1407919[/snapback]</div>
Coz
Sr Member
Thanks for the help.
Any info would be good at this point. I'm not sure wether to make a box from MDF, or see if there's an electronics instrument box of the appropriate size.
Cheers, Starfighter.
Nice work, Kaylee.
Closest thing I've seen so far to the design of the speaker grill is a 1920s 'mesh' golfball. Can be a little pricey tho. Also, I don't know about the size issue.
Have you tried looking for a pet toy / cat toy ball? Those kinda 'wiffle ball' things with a bell or rattle inside usually have square holes. I was thinking of something like that.
Or perhaps the bottom of a softdrink can (small diameter? We have Britvic over here in small cans), cut out the dome, then lots of drilling and filing.
For the texture, I plan on using the spray stone-effect ('stone fleck') paint, then spraying it flat black with barbaque paint.
For the lettering, I was thinking of simply using those stick-on vinyl letters you find in stationers, etc, but 3 or 4 (or more) sandwiched together then sprayed over (again) with the BBQ paint to blend it in at the edges.
Well, it works in my head, anyways.
C.
Any info would be good at this point.
I'm not sure wether to make a box from MDF, or see if there's an electronics instrument box of the appropriate size.Cheers, Starfighter.
Nice work, Kaylee.
Closest thing I've seen so far to the design of the speaker grill is a 1920s 'mesh' golfball. Can be a little pricey tho. Also, I don't know about the size issue.
Have you tried looking for a pet toy / cat toy ball? Those kinda 'wiffle ball' things with a bell or rattle inside usually have square holes. I was thinking of something like that.
Or perhaps the bottom of a softdrink can (small diameter? We have Britvic over here in small cans), cut out the dome, then lots of drilling and filing.
For the texture, I plan on using the spray stone-effect ('stone fleck') paint, then spraying it flat black with barbaque paint.
For the lettering, I was thinking of simply using those stick-on vinyl letters you find in stationers, etc, but 3 or 4 (or more) sandwiched together then sprayed over (again) with the BBQ paint to blend it in at the edges.
Well, it works in my head, anyways.
C.
d'oh.
I just got home to dig my "new" PAL out for a comparison shot when I realized my "old" PAL resin casting is back at work in a shadowbox. I think maybe I left my head there with it...
Oh, and a warning - if you're buying one of the new PALs to convert, you will need a "security TORX" head wrench to get the back off. The battery compartment comes off with regular phillips screws as I recall, the electronics portion has these tamper-proof screws holding it shut.
Neat idea on the golfball/cat toy.
I was thinking of just doing it "new school" with like metal speaker mesh or something, but that might work as well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Coz @ Jan 30 2007, 03:23 PM) [snapback]1408026[/snapback]</div>
I just got home to dig my "new" PAL out for a comparison shot when I realized my "old" PAL resin casting is back at work in a shadowbox. I think maybe I left my head there with it...
Oh, and a warning - if you're buying one of the new PALs to convert, you will need a "security TORX" head wrench to get the back off. The battery compartment comes off with regular phillips screws as I recall, the electronics portion has these tamper-proof screws holding it shut.
Neat idea on the golfball/cat toy.
I was thinking of just doing it "new school" with like metal speaker mesh or something, but that might work as well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Coz @ Jan 30 2007, 03:23 PM) [snapback]1408026[/snapback]</div>
Thanks for the help.
Any info would be good at this point.
[/b]
Coz
Sr Member
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kaylee @ Jan 31 2007, 01:05 AM) [snapback]1408239[/snapback]</div>
Heh, done that before. No worries mate. Cheers for the info on the screws.
C.
d'oh.
I just got home to dig my "new" PAL out for a comparison shot when I realized my "old" PAL resin casting is back at work in a shadowbox. I think maybe I left my head there with it...
[/b]
Heh, done that before.
No worries mate. Cheers for the info on the screws. C.
Hellclaw 01
Well-Known Member
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Birdie @ Jan 31 2007, 10:05 AM) [snapback]1408581[/snapback]</div>
Are there manufacturer marks on the original?
Are there manufacturer marks on the original?
Hrmmm... well either the resin casting is seriously shrunk, or there's a sizable difference between the original PAL and the PAL V.
Given how clean the casting is (I can read the OSHA information inside the battery compartment that looks like it was originally on some kind of printed tape even.) - I rather suspect the latter.
-K
edit - found a tape measure.
Measuring from the rear, the resin PAL is 9.3cm high (excluding the top fins) by 7.2cm wide by approx. 3.2cm deep (externally).
My measurements of the face more or less match birdies, though with the rounded edges it's hard to be precise.
So I'd say shrinkage is next to nil.
Given how clean the casting is (I can read the OSHA information inside the battery compartment that looks like it was originally on some kind of printed tape even.) - I rather suspect the latter.
-K
edit - found a tape measure.
Measuring from the rear, the resin PAL is 9.3cm high (excluding the top fins) by 7.2cm wide by approx. 3.2cm deep (externally).
My measurements of the face more or less match birdies, though with the rounded edges it's hard to be precise.
So I'd say shrinkage is next to nil.
Bronson BB
Well-Known Member
Has anyone found a source for these yet?
The originals, not a Wilco or other reproduction.
The originals, not a Wilco or other reproduction.
Bronson BB
Well-Known Member
PM sent.
