Fringe shape changing box

[jason1976]

Mini toggle switch can be seen clearly in pics 12 and 13.

Yep, these pics are a huge help.

The box itself appears to be a clear acrylic box (VERY similar to the Apple power adapter case) which has been painted black/gunmetal on the inside (not the outside) - this is most apparent in pictures 1 and 2.

I was thinking of painting the inside, instead of the out side, so this is a nice little finding.

The retractable cable does not simply appear to be clear, grey or black. It appears to be a sort of transparent grey (showing the wires inside) on one side, and on the other side it seems to be the same, but with a black strip along the middle. This side, due to lighting, often appears to be silver with a black strip down the middle. The cable colouration and detail can best be seen in pictures 3, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13. Can anyone identify this type of cable? I've searched through LOADS of pics online and can find nothing.

It could be a style of cable that has been discontinued. It could be that they painted clear cable, with black, paint, and some of the paint wore off to give if that clear gray look, and the black stripe on one side, may just be a place where it didn't wear as much.

The mouthpiece appears curved across two different axis - what would be the best way to replicate this in metal? Laser/waterjet cut, then bent? 3D printing? Something else?

Any of these are good options if you can afford it. I'm WAY too cheep for any of the above, so I'll be using the old ways. A piece of metal, and a hole lot of cutting, filing, and sanding. (and blisters. :lol)

Are the heads of the "nails" that go through the mouth pieces actually a part of the nails, or are they something that has been added seperately? If not, what kind of nails are these? Are the easily available? See pic 5.

I can't see the heads well enough with my old, bind eyes, to say, but if there not found nails, then they should be easy enough to replicate.

 

[PeterLC]

Are the photos from the DVDs? Good to have some more pictures.

I had noticed a bunch of this stuff when I was looking at earlier live TV grabs that I uploaded.

Mini toggle switch can be seen clearly in pics 12 and 13.

And if you look really closely, you might see that the top little bit of it has been cut of so it fits under the cover.

The box itself appears to be a clear acrylic box (VERY similar to the Apple power adapter case) which has been painted black/gunmetal on the inside (not the outside) - this is most apparent in pictures 1 and 2.

I know it's a gunmetal looking colour in where the switch is but to me inside the window almost looks a creamy duck egg blue colour when there iis no blue light turned on. On my "test" attempt box that's what I've done anyway.

The box itself seem to have 3 small holes in the side near where the lead comes out - one of the holes has some sort of small rod projecting from it - best seen in pictures 2 and 5. I can't see that these serve any kind of a purpose - perhaps they are features of the orginal un-modded box that was used?

I don't know about the "small rod" as I can't see it but the 3 holes in a triangular pattern are where the spikes on the mouth/palate part fit when the cable is retracted, so would have been drilled on purpose.

The retractable cable does not simply appear to be clear, grey or black. It appears to be a sort of transparent grey (showing the wires inside) on one side, and on the other side it seems to be the same, but with a black strip along the middle. This side, due to lighting, often appears to be silver with a black strip down the middle. The cable colouration and detail can best be seen in pictures 3, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13. Can anyone identify this type of cable? I've searched through LOADS of pics online and can find nothing.

I still think it's a retractable network cable but what brand it might be who knows. It might be a no longer availalble brand. The ones I have (bought from two different sources) are clear with bare copnductors inside.

The mouthpiece appears curved across two different axis - what would be the best way to replicate this in metal? Laser/waterjet cut, then bent? 3D printing? Something else?

Certainly if one has access to a water cutter or some other high tech solution then it woiuld be the best way to go. I planned to use aluminium for mine but might be something else. I was going to do the curving by hand using a "soft" hammer on a soft surface.

Are the heads of the "nails" that go through the mouth pieces actually a part of the nails, or are they something that has been added seperately? If not, what kind of nails are these? Are the easily available? See pic 5.

In one of the pictures, 12 I think, the guy is bending one of the spikes. They must be made of rubber so the actors can't hurt themselves. If that is the case I don't really know what they are. The "head" of them makes them looks a bit like those rubbery spikes one buys for fixing cooling fans into computer cases to cut down vibration. They might also be molded by the prop people but a found item would be easier if one exists.

 

[Howlrunner]

Are the photos from the DVDs? Good to have some more pictures.

Yes, I have the boxsets of Season 1 & 2 so took the screencaps from the DVDs.

And if you look really closely, you might see that the top little bit of it has been cut of so it fits under the cover.

I noticed that the top of the switch looked odd, but didn't know why. I believe you're exactly right. Hmmm.... now do I go for screen-accurate and cut down a switch or do I use a tiny switch that wouldn't need cut (and would therefore look better)?.....

I know it's a gunmetal looking colour in where the switch is but to me inside the window almost looks a creamy duck egg blue colour when there iis no blue light turned on. On my "test" attempt box that's what I've done anyway.

I meant that the actual box itself sometimes appears a gunmetal colour rather than black. This is possibly a trick of the lighting, but I suspect that one of them actually IS a slightly different colour (in the DVD extra that shows the boxes behind the scenes - see pic 6 - there are 3 boxes - 2 are black, but one looks more gunmetal, and slightly larger).

I don't know about the "small rod" as I can't see it but the 3 holes in a triangular pattern are where the spikes on the mouth/palate part fit when the cable is retracted, so would have been drilled on purpose.

I didn't even think of that - you are of course exactly correct now that I look at it again. The rod can just be seen in pic 2 (you may need to increase monitor brightness), but is very obvious in pic 5 (sticking out of the box just below the mouth part.

In one of the pictures, 12 I think, the guy is bending one of the spikes. They must be made of rubber so the actors can't hurt themselves. If that is the case I don't really know what they are. The "head" of them makes them looks a bit like those rubbery spikes one buys for fixing cooling fans into computer cases to cut down vibration. They might also be molded by the prop people but a found item would be easier if one exists.

The spikes in the mouthpiece on the "hero" props are metal - the rubber spikes shown in pic 11 are just there on the "stunt" mouthpiece - the one that had to actually be inserted into someones mouth.

The "nail" heads look really familiar, but I can't quite place what I'm tinking of....

Oh yeah, one more thing - on the show, when the key cover is lifted up to reveal the switch, it stays open until it is pushed back down. On the one I ordered, the spring pulls it back shut as soon as you let it go. Is there a variation available? Or have the shows prop makers moddified it somehow?

 

[protokev DMD]

the heads look like the heads of socket cap screws

 

[PeterLC]

They are all designed to snap shut after use as they are meant to keep rain and dust out of keyholes. This wouldn't work if the spring wasn't active all of the time. To me it just looked like his thumb held it open. The spring is still there but maybe they've just tightened the hinge a bit. It probably wouldn't work properly as a dust cover after doing that but they don't need it to. I would think it would just work loose again anyway after a number of uses.

Oh yeah, one more thing - on the show, when the key cover is lifted up to reveal the switch, it stays open until it is pushed back down. On the one I ordered, the spring pulls it back shut as soon as you let it go. Is there a variation available? Or have the shows prop makers moddified it somehow?

 

[jason1976]

There are a few sellers that offer the switch covers on
Amazon.co.uk Has anyone from the U.S. tried ordering them from any of those sellers yet? I don't know if any of them will ship to the U.S. but if they do let me (us) know.

 

[Howlrunner]

My Apple Power Adapter acrylic case arrived this morning. I laid the switch cover on top of it to compare it to the screencaps and it looks GREAT for size and proportions. This may indeed be what they used for the real prop - if it's not, it's REALLY close!

 

[jason1976]

My Apple Power Adapter acrylic case arrived this morning. I laid the switch cover on top of it to compare it to the screencaps and it looks GREAT for size and proportions. This may indeed be what they used for the real prop - if it's not, it's REALLY close!

Very cool. That's great to know.

It took a lot of digging, but I could this place in the U.S. that sells what may be the switch cover. (I say may, because they have it photographed from a different angle. then we usually see it.)

http://www.cjanderson.com/weatherproofkeyswitchcover.aspx

The other problem is they don't have a price listed, they say you have to call to get the price.

 

[Howlrunner]

That's definitely the correct one - if you click on the "View More Images" link directly underneath the pic on the site, the 2nd picture shows it with the lid down.

I find it interesting that the 1st pic on that site shows it with the lid open without being supported. As I said before, the one I have closes due to the spring as soon as you let it go, but this one looks like it may be different. (The one in the show definitely stays open by itself without being held open with a finger).

Oh, anyone got any bright ideas on how to mount the switch cover to the box? I can only think of glue at the moment, but I'm not sure if that would be strong enough.

 

[jason1976]

Ok, my cables came today. I had ordered two sets from, to different sellers. On set was supposed to be clear, and the other ones look black in their listing. Well they came, and both sets are clear. So, now I have 4 clear retractile cable thingy's.

Anyways, there cool. I know we were already pretty sure this is what they used for the show. (no the modles I bout pursay, just that they where retractile cable thingys) But, having them in my hand answered a question that had been in my mind. I was wondering why in some of the pictures when the box is just laying there, the cables didn't just retract into the box? (since they are retractable) Well, its actually a cool little feature of these cheep little cable doohickeys. When you pull them out, they go Click, click, click, as a little locking mechanism keeps popping into place, and if you let the cables go, they stay out, at whatever length you have pulled them out too. Then, If the give the just a nother little pull, and hold them right, that mechanism releases them, and the spring inside will retract them. So you can display them with the cables out, or in, and not damage the prop at all.

 

[PeterLC]

Ok, my cables came today. I had ordered two sets from, to different sellers. On set was supposed to be clear, and the other ones look black in their listing. Well they came, and both sets are clear. So, now I have 4 clear retractile cable thingy's.

I'm still pretty sure the blackish look is a result of lighting reflection on bare copper.

I was wondering why in some of the pictures when the box is just laying there, the cables didn't just retract into the box?

Yeah it would be bad if the cable was always under tension while in use and pulling on the connectors so it can be left pulled out to a useful length.

 

[PeterLC]

I find it interesting that the 1st pic on that site shows it with the lid open without being supported. As I said before, the one I have closes due to the spring as soon as you let it go, but this one looks like it may be different. (The one in the show definitely stays open by itself without being held open with a finger).

One can tighten up the hinge part so the spring is no longer strong enough to pull it closed or you could unwind the spring a little to weaken it. I suspect they've just wedged it open in the photo in the ad.

Oh, anyone got any bright ideas on how to mount the switch cover to the box? I can only think of glue at the moment, but I'm not sure if that would be strong enough.

I suspect glue is pretty much the only way. A thin layer of clear epoxy or cyanoacrylate cement (superglue).

 

[jason1976]

I'm still pretty sure the blackish look is a result of lighting reflection on bare copper.

Yeah, I agreat that it's probably the case with the screen used versions of the props. I couldn't find any of the older style cable with the wider strips of wire in it, so the ones I ordered have the really then peices in them. What I ment in my last post is that one of the sets I ordered was suposed to be black, and when it came to my home, it was clear. (the one in the ad was clearly black.)

 

[jason1976]

Well, seeing the box in the bright light of day, in tonight's episode, really shows how the cable is clear on one side of the device, and that the other cable is clear with the thick dark strip down the center. It looks to me like they used the regular clear cable (like I received) and painted, or died, or spray died, the strip on the one cable.

 

[PeterLC]

Yes there were some nice shots of the box in that last episode. I'm hoping to glean a bit more detail from them.

I'm starting to wonder if they replaced the cable in those boxes with something else. I can't see individual conductors anymore and I wonder if it might be something like that very flat speaker cable one can get for putting behind skirting boards and under carpet. Even the box looks new.

Well, seeing the box in the bright light of day, in tonight's episode, really shows how the cable is clear on one side of the device, and that the other cable is clear with the thick dark strip down the center. It looks to me like they used the regular clear cable (like I received) and painted, or died, or spray died, the strip on the one cable.

 

[PeterLC]

Some pics

 

[jason1976]

Has anyone found a place in the states that sell the switch covers, and takes paypal. I've looked, and looked.

 

[PeterLC]

Minute Man Electronics has them for sale again but I think they only take credit cards. The covers sell for US$2.99 though they have a minimum US20.00 order policy. I'd buy some but can only imagine their shipping rates to Australia.

Minute Man Electronics Hardware for Switches

Has anyone found a place in the states that sell the switch covers, and takes paypal. I've looked, and looked.

 

[jason1976]

So has anyone one finished their box yet?

I still can't find a way to get hte switch covers.

 

[Howlrunner]

Nope, got all the bits (except for the mouth pieces - not thought about them further yet) but yet to cut holes and paint.