The Noisy Cricket Build

[thegnome]

looking pretty good

 

[JPH]

very cool! Nice cleanup!

 

[McKeePhoto]

Ok, back at it this weekend and rediscovered just how rudimentary my electrionics skills are.

I need help!

I thought today I would hook up the led and switch. However, there are no markings so, I am guessing at the right voltage. Someone mentioned 3v.

I wanted to save space so I bought 2 377/376 batteries and, lacking battery holders, rigged them with lead wires according to this Instructable. https://www.instructables.com/id/Heat-Shrink-Coin-Button-Battery-Holder/

But, the led didn’t light.

I pulled out my son’s multimeter and did some googling.

I think the led is ok?

I tested another led laying around the shop, which scored a little higher- whatever that means.

Still didn’t light.

Then I tested the battery set up. It’s pushing a little over 2 volts.

So, not enough voltage? Needs a resistor?

What am I doing wrong here?

Edit: just tried a 1220 battery and it lights up!

But, it is too big for the openings in the housing.

Back to Mr. Google...

 

[McKeePhoto]

Progress!

Voilà! The Noisy Cricket lights up!

Okay, sure. The heat shield was supposed to cover the bare wires. Um. Premature shrinkage.

The 1025 battery fits in the handle. The wires, I think, will fit in their channels.

A little plastic from a to-go container...

A little more polish and then time to drill holes.

Since I don’t have tiny taps, I am going to try to make the screws self-tap.

Wish me luck!

 

[eethan]

great progress mate!
don't do the screws self tap!
you'll most likely ruin your prop, you could break a part or just have really loose threads.
my advice to you, just buy a tap set, it's not super expensive and it will really change your life. I have one for almost a year now and I use it all the time. I bought one set of metric and one set of imperial and it's just great!

 

[TomVDJ]

Nice progress on the cricket! If I'm not mistaken, the part you use plastic for, was a (thin) garden hose in the original, no?

 

[McKeePhoto]

I think you are right. I just haven't had the chance to source it yet.

 

[McKeePhoto]

don't do the screws self tap!
you'll most likely ruin your prop, you could break a part or just have really loose threads.
my advice to you, just buy a tap set, it's not super expensive and it will really change your life. I have one for almost a year now and I use it all the time. I bought one set of metric and one set of imperial and it's just great!

Hmm... that is a huge fear of mine. The challenge is that these screws are so freaking tiny and I wasn't sure which tap set to get. Any suggestions on a good one?

 

[Nicksdad]

Probably only need a 4/40 tap as almost all the screws on the second movie cricket were 4/40 button head machine screws.

 

[eethan]

Probably only need a 4/40 tap as almost all the screws on the second movie cricket were 4/40 button head machine screws.

I haven't tried to figure out what screws are used yet in the kit.
Beware that we are talking about a replica of the first movie, not the second. and we definitely have different screw size provided in the kit.
I think any basic small size kit will include the most used size of screws. We really need Elilay to tell us the screws he used though, not even sure they are imperial as he is in Europe, they could very well be M2 and things like that. I'll try to check it out tomorrow but cannot promise anything.

 

[eethan]

I was able to check this morning and the screws are Metric. The big scrub screw is M4, all the medium ones are M3. The really small one I couldn't check quickly but seems to be around M1.5, however, I don't think this one needs to be threaded as it has 2 nuts going with it.
I'm hoping that Elilay will confirm in the run thread. But M3 and M4 are for sure, they are working with nuts I have and won't screw into a 4/40 thread.
Hope this helps

 

[McKeePhoto]

I was able to check this morning and the screws are Metric. The big scrub screw is M4, all the medium ones are M3. The really small one I couldn't check quickly but seems to be around M1.5, however, I don't think this one needs to be threaded as it has 2 nuts going with it.
I'm hoping that Elilay will confirm in the run thread. But M3 and M4 are for sure, they are working with nuts I have and won't screw into a 4/40 thread.
Hope this helps

It does! I ordered a metric tap kit last night. I’m on the road this weekend but hope to be tapping next week.

 

[The Dude]

Here is my pride and joy from a run done with the original Cricket as a reference. Not cast. Totally machined. Hard to find now, I am lucky to have it.

 

[TomVDJ]

Nice one. Any more info about the creator? At this moment I'll stick with the Factory Entertainment one...

 

[eethan]

guys, this is a wip thread from McKeePhoto on his Elilay kit, i don't think this is the place to show your prop from another maker and discuss it

McKee, any progress? did you get your tap set and experiment with it? Mine is well advanced, I just bought new screws to replace the ones from the kit that didn't match the screenused prop in my opinion, I didn't start the electronics though so it might just stays as it is for a while now sadly. I'm a bit sad that Elilay is not more communicative and still didn't provide any info on the assembly.
cheers

 

[TomVDJ]

I think the pictures of The Dude can be good reference material for McKeePhoto to finish his kit, certainly if it's made with reference towards a screen used cricket. Still curious about the creator ;-).

 

[eethan]

the creator is nick's dad, it's from a very old run and it's not available anymore. It's true that's it's nice to have references and this is a nice replica but we have the prop store photos of the real prop for references.

 

[The Dude]

Hey all...I posted my Cricket to help with reference to the current build and also to show off since the first Cricket is rarely talked about.

Sorry if some folks are offended by my post.

 

[McKeePhoto]

McKee, any progress? did you get your tap set and experiment with it? Mine is well advanced, I just bought new screws to replace the ones from the kit that didn't match the screenused prop in my opinion, I didn't start the electronics though so it might just stays as it is for a while now sadly. I'm a bit sad that Elilay is not more communicative and still didn't provide any info on the assembly.
cheers

Sorry, Gang. No real news. Been away from the shop much longer than intended and only had a few moments to get some sanding in.

Really digging the mother’s polish on this metal.

I think I am dragging my feet on drilling holes, since it is a major step and my tapping skills are, as yet, untested.

Eethan, what kind of screws didja get? Pics?

 

[eethan]

I just bought a box of button head hex M3, M4 and M5 screws in different length as I often use them, just the same as the ones provided in the kit but different length. In the kit Elilay provided some screws for both sides but you can see on the real prop that the screws are just on one side.

For the tapping skills, don't worry at all, just test first. Take a plate of aluminium for instance and make a few holes and taps. You'll get some experience that way and you'll also see that it's not super hard and will gain enough confidence to do it on the cricket.
On the cricket, the metal is super soft so it will be really easy to tap, you just need to take your time, make sure you are straight and it will be fine. Just practice a bit.

glad you are digging the mother's polish, it's on my workbench all the time with the tools as I use it on everything.

cheers