TheDickMick
New Member
Hey there kiddos, The dick is here to show you the progress of his Pipboy! A few months back I had started a thread on the costume replica board on my Vault Dweller suit progress. Progress on that as been SLOW. Found I had to get a different suit because the one I got didn't fit and I just learned a few days ago Bethesda actually released an official Vault 101 Jumpsuit. Kinda took the wind outta my sails a bit.
HOWEVER! I had also bought this little beauty from Skruffy!
After looking around at others' Pipboys, I found one that looked like the right idea. I know Skruffy came up with the domed screen idea, but this kld took took it one step beyond.
Okay, so a digital picture frame is a good idea. Know what's better? A digital picture frame that plays video, too!
This frame is a Sungale 3.5" frame with video playback capability. I knew I wanted a custom setup, and if there's anything that annoys me more is not getting a clear screen. I know a lot of people use that one guy's video of the radio and status screens for their iPhones looped forever, but I feel like I'm being lazy by using someone elses work. Granted, i may borrow ideas, but I also try to enhance them where possible. So, I rebuilt each screen in GIMP with my color of choice, my character's stats, name, and custom locations. These are just a few of those screens.
Those who are fans of The Spoony Experiment see the obvious easter egg in the Items screen. Tee Hee!
After I washed them through a few editing programs, I get my effects.
Now it's time I get this stuff together. Or should I say, apart?
The cool thing about this frame is it has an internal battery on it. It kinda sucks because the battery only has so much life in it, but I working out a way to get a cell phone backup battery into this thing so I can increase the life in it. Nice thing the USB port can also charge the device!
At this point in the build process, I was trying to remove the screen from the control board, but seeing I'm a bit excitable, I pulled too hard and ripped the ribbon cable that powered the screen. D'Oh! :facepalm Luckily, I had the part number for it and I ordered 3 new screens. Because, you know, I'm a bit of a klutz. Might as well prepare for it, you know? :lol
After waiting a few weeks and getting the screens, it was time for the fit. I had already cut down as much of the control board as possible to make it fit into the shell, but now I had to trim the INSIDE of the shell. I also had to grind down the slide viewer lens I was using for the CRT screen effect using my dremel. Like a clown, though, I forgot to take pictures of all those processes. Again: D"Oh!
Nevertheless, I managed to not screw it up too bad and I was left with this.
The bad part about this lens is it's just a hair short on the sides, As you can most likely see, I put electrical tape on the sides to act as a screen bezel to not only cover the gaps on the sides, but to cover some of the grind marks of the work done to the lens. Otherwise, the screen fits nice and snug into the window of the Pipboy shell. As you can also see, I took the time to grind out the "Stat Item Data" lights and put the covers in. They're not permanently attached yet, I just wanted to make sure they fit.
Once I was able to get the screen and control board in, I went to work on the speaker grill and carefully cut the knob off.
That was a scary thing to do. I mean, I know I'm good, but my hand isn't that steady. Remember: I ripped a ribbon cable.
After cutting the knob off and grinding down the inside under it, I found this 5-point contact switch at Rat Shack that would be perfect for controlling the picture frame functions. It has one contact for each direction (Up, Down, Ect) and if you press directly down on the button, it activates the 5th contact which is perfect for the "OK" button. It's small and it fits just right on the knob!
And that's where I'm at. I also got the handplate option from Skruffy, so what I'm going to do with that is I'm going to install a rotary switch in the handplate to control the "Stat Item Data" lights. I'll have to hide the ribbon cable going to the Pipboy with the glove, but I'll have to figure that out later.
So what ya think, Kids? Am I doing okay so far?
HOWEVER! I had also bought this little beauty from Skruffy!
After looking around at others' Pipboys, I found one that looked like the right idea. I know Skruffy came up with the domed screen idea, but this kld took took it one step beyond.
Okay, so a digital picture frame is a good idea. Know what's better? A digital picture frame that plays video, too!
This frame is a Sungale 3.5" frame with video playback capability. I knew I wanted a custom setup, and if there's anything that annoys me more is not getting a clear screen. I know a lot of people use that one guy's video of the radio and status screens for their iPhones looped forever, but I feel like I'm being lazy by using someone elses work. Granted, i may borrow ideas, but I also try to enhance them where possible. So, I rebuilt each screen in GIMP with my color of choice, my character's stats, name, and custom locations. These are just a few of those screens.
Those who are fans of The Spoony Experiment see the obvious easter egg in the Items screen. Tee Hee!
After I washed them through a few editing programs, I get my effects.
Now it's time I get this stuff together. Or should I say, apart?
The cool thing about this frame is it has an internal battery on it. It kinda sucks because the battery only has so much life in it, but I working out a way to get a cell phone backup battery into this thing so I can increase the life in it. Nice thing the USB port can also charge the device!
At this point in the build process, I was trying to remove the screen from the control board, but seeing I'm a bit excitable, I pulled too hard and ripped the ribbon cable that powered the screen. D'Oh! :facepalm Luckily, I had the part number for it and I ordered 3 new screens. Because, you know, I'm a bit of a klutz. Might as well prepare for it, you know? :lol
After waiting a few weeks and getting the screens, it was time for the fit. I had already cut down as much of the control board as possible to make it fit into the shell, but now I had to trim the INSIDE of the shell. I also had to grind down the slide viewer lens I was using for the CRT screen effect using my dremel. Like a clown, though, I forgot to take pictures of all those processes. Again: D"Oh!
Nevertheless, I managed to not screw it up too bad and I was left with this.
The bad part about this lens is it's just a hair short on the sides, As you can most likely see, I put electrical tape on the sides to act as a screen bezel to not only cover the gaps on the sides, but to cover some of the grind marks of the work done to the lens. Otherwise, the screen fits nice and snug into the window of the Pipboy shell. As you can also see, I took the time to grind out the "Stat Item Data" lights and put the covers in. They're not permanently attached yet, I just wanted to make sure they fit.
Once I was able to get the screen and control board in, I went to work on the speaker grill and carefully cut the knob off.
That was a scary thing to do. I mean, I know I'm good, but my hand isn't that steady. Remember: I ripped a ribbon cable.
After cutting the knob off and grinding down the inside under it, I found this 5-point contact switch at Rat Shack that would be perfect for controlling the picture frame functions. It has one contact for each direction (Up, Down, Ect) and if you press directly down on the button, it activates the 5th contact which is perfect for the "OK" button. It's small and it fits just right on the knob!
And that's where I'm at. I also got the handplate option from Skruffy, so what I'm going to do with that is I'm going to install a rotary switch in the handplate to control the "Stat Item Data" lights. I'll have to hide the ribbon cable going to the Pipboy with the glove, but I'll have to figure that out later.
So what ya think, Kids? Am I doing okay so far?
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Great job.
