I wanted to get one more project in before Christmas. A droid caller based on a Leitz Wetzlar flash - i found one for $12 - I have all the parts and hopefully it’s only a few hours build.
A kobold flash is just out of my budget, even an accurate replica is pricey. I saw a tutorial on the smugglers room and liked the idea of using found parts to make something in universe rather than have a resin cast, that I’d have to then paint.
Here’s all the parts, obvs there’s the flash, I’ll be adding a switch, led, buzzer, battery plus connector, d ring, an ANC 4 weld on fitting and a knurled thrums screw.
I stripped the flash down, here are all the bits I’m keeping for the build.
And here all the extra pieces I don’t need, including a funky 22 1/2 volt battery. There’s some nice potential greebles here - I’ve ear marked the brass pin for a hardware graflex.
The bottom is held in by 3 screws, (don’t loose one like I did and spent about 30 mins hunting for it) the rest of the bits come off too, I used a dermal to take down the central contact and opens the side a bit and cut down the connectors - to give extra room for the battery to fit.
I cut the thumb screw down, then turned it in my hand drill. I also cut the thread down. Tapped a hole in the upper part of the flash.
The ANC fitting fits perfectly in the top, just as some extra detail. The d ring just pushes in the the c track, it’s snug.
I drilled the 2 holes for the switch and led, there is just enough room for the battery.
Bit of hot glue and the buzzer sits on top.
Add the battery and screw the bottom back on, hopefully at this point your 3 screws are still where you left them and you’re not on your hand and knees hunting for it.
Quick test that the electronics work, twist the top on and it’s done. Not a bad rainy day project. Not accurate, but looks the part