Limited Run Star Trek Cricket Phaser Electronics with Lights & Sounds

[gmprops]

Hi Everyone!

I recently became aware that Stapleton Productions came out with a new Cricket phaser body kit. I had electronics for his original run of Crickets that he did a few years ago, but my stock was depleted long ago. And when several people started asking me about electronics for their new Stapleton kit I decided to do a new run. But I thought it would be a good idea to incorporate the new features I had included with my other updated phaser electronics (Dolphin, Boomerang, and Cobra). Here is a list of the features for Cricket Phaser 2.0:

• Improved phaser firing sounds
• Three separate phaser fire sounds at different power levels (1-5 Stun, 6-8 Heavy Stun, 9-10 Kill) Updated 17-Oct-14
• Separate UP and DOWN phaser power level sounds
• Short burst and continuous firing sounds
• Improved Overload effect
• Overload can now be cancelled by pressing the UP/DOWN buttons together
• NEW! 10-LED display (screen accurate) Updated 17-Oct-14

I plan to have these new and improved electronics available in the next few weeks. The new circuit board has already been designed and ALL of the programming code has been completed and tested. (I did not want to repeat past mistakes). However, a redesign like this takes not only time but money too. So if you are interested in being one of the first to own one of the new Cricket Phaser Electronics 2.0 send me a PM.

The cost of the new electronics is only $75 shipped to RPF members. My PayPal ID is gmros@cogeco.ca (please type "Cricket 2.0" in the transaction subject line).



Order list:

1. RobI (PAID) - Shipped
2. Comm510 (PAID x 2) - Shipped
3. Private - MM (PAID) - G,Y,R - Shipped
4. Private - TJ (PAID) - G,Y,R - Shipped
5. E Williams (PAID) - Shipped
6. iams001efni (PAID) - Shipped
7. Private - HM (PAID) - Shipped
8.

 

[gmprops]

A lot of people have told me they do not like the arrangement of the UP and DOWN control buttons. They are currently left button UP and right button DOWN. It almost seems wrong and they should be reversed: left button DOWN and right button UP. Even though it is not screen accurate I have had many people request that I reverse the buttons during assembly. To make it easier I now have a way to do this during the assembly process. This is now available in Cricket 2.0 electronics. Just let me know if you want it when you place your order.

 

[Endiathetos]

Hi. Can you provide the link to the cricket phaser? A decent search turned up no order info - any help would be appreciated.

I would like to know the whole cost before committing to you.

Thank you!

 

[stapleton13]

Hi. Can you provide the link to the cricket phaser? A decent search turned up no order info - any help would be appreciated.

I would like to know the whole cost before committing to you.

Thank you!

My kits are not really new. I have been offering the same kit for a few years at this point. I have one listed on ebay right now. You can also PM me for more info.

 

[gmprops]

My mistake. I remember you revamped them a couple of times after getting hold of a screen used one. But I have had about a dozen people over the last month asking for Cricket electronics to go into their "new" Stapleton Crickets. So I decided it would be worthwhile to do another run. But I can't go ahead with it until I have the funds to get the boards printed.

 

[Endiathetos]

I'm in. I have a note to Stapleton on the cricket. Really cool guys.

 

[stapleton13]

My mistake. I remember you revamped them a couple of times after getting hold of a screen used one. But I have had about a dozen people over the last month asking for Cricket electronics to go into their "new" Stapleton Crickets. So I decided it would be worthwhile to do another run. But I can't go ahead with it until I have the funds to get the boards printed.

I have been selling a few more on ebay these days. That is probably what it is.

 

[ripleys clone]

Just thought I'd ask if the power meter is all green or is it green, yellow, & red?

 

[comm510]

Let's get them to go from 1-10! Eight just isn't accurate for the heroes.

 

[gmprops]

Just thought I'd ask if the power meter is all green or is it green, yellow, & red?

You can request all green, yellow, & red if you prefer that. But the default will be all green. (Updated 18-Oct-14)

Let's get them to go from 1-10! Eight just isn't accurate for the heroes.

I would consider doing them with 10 LEDs if I could see irrefutable proof that they had 10 LEDs and not 8. (There is still time to change the board design.)

 

[E Williams]

The heroes used a trimmed down 10 LED bar graph:

http://youtu.be/BFC6y74G5fA?t=6s

http://youtu.be/ESGgjBuZHQs

 

[gmprops]

I could make the display with 10 LEDs, but I am worried the current kit that Myron offers would not accommodate the 10 LEDs properly. The clear bezel is divided into 8 sections. Plus the opening in the body may not be wide enough and you would not be able to see all 10 LEDs.

 

[comm510]

Like this: these are the actual electronics from the cricket in the second link above. The setting is controlled by a pot inside the body.

 

[stapleton13]

While this is all great info to have. I for one like having sound that would most likely need to be eliminated if one was to put one of these displays in the cricket body.

 

[comm510]

Oh yes, I agree but I wasn't suggesting that the original ten count board be used - just ten LEDs.

 

[gmprops]

Okay, I have returned to the drawing board and checked to see if I could change the display to a screen accurate 10-LED version. Yes, I could. But if I use the same display that they used (like the one Comm510 posted) I would have to eliminate the sound. However, if I tightened the current 8-LEDs and made room for 2 more surface mounted LEDs we could have 10 LEDs and keep the sounds.

But I need to know that everyone is on board for this new version electronics with the 10-LED display and sound. Nobody so far has shown any interest in this run. If anyone is interested in the new version with 10 LEDs than please place an order. If I get enough orders I can go ahead and have the bare circuit boards printed. They will still be $75 each.

 

[RobI]

I'll go for a 10 LED version.

 

[comm510]

Me too!

 

[gmprops]

Okay then. I have completed the redesign so that all 10 LEDs fit into the same area as the original 8 LEDs. A few people have indicated that they want the buttons reversed. Normally the left button is the UP control and the right button is the DOWN control, which I believe is screen accurate (correct me if I am wrong). Some people want this reversed. I have built a feature into the board which will allow me to reverse the buttons. When you place your order, please indicate if you want the buttons reversed. Otherwise I will just wire them into the regular configuration.

We have already established that the 10-LED display is screen accurate (thanks to those that helped). I also believe that the hero version had only green LEDs. As a default, all boards will be assembled with 10 green LEDs for the power meter. If you wish for a different configuration of colors, please indicate this when you place an order. One possible configuration would be green, yellow, and red LEDs.

To keep track of the orders I will update the first post with a list of all people that want to order one of these. Once we have enough orders to cover the costs of all the materials I will start the process. It will take about 2 weeks to get the printed circuit boards back from China. So the faster I get the orders the faster I can get all of the materials to start assembling them.

Check back here for regular updates.

 

[gmprops]

I now have about 4 orders for the electronics. I have decided to go ahead and send the files in to the manufacturer for the bare PCB's on Wednesday. I am sure more people will want the new Cricket electronics once I start assembling them. But I will fill the pre-paid orders first. If you want to get in on this run you can still place an order to get on the pre-paid list. If you are on the list already and have not paid, you can do so at any time now.

ETA for the bare PCBs: November 5th
1st batch shipped by: November 12th