Old School Bat Radio
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Costume making, prop building and other '66 Bat-related arts and crafts. Great place for info and helpful tips. Proudly display your latest creation. Please keep it '66 Batman related otherwise it will be moved to OFF-TOPIC.
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Be sure to read the Board Rules as well before posting for the first time.
Thank you!
Costume making, prop building and other '66 Bat-related arts and crafts. Great place for info and helpful tips. Proudly display your latest creation. Please keep it '66 Batman related otherwise it will be moved to OFF-TOPIC.
(NO SOLICITATION). If you're looking to BUY or SELL something, go to the MERCHANDISE SECTION. Even if you're trying to assemble a costume by buying or acquiring different crafted items rather than constructing or customizing them yourself, then it belongs in the MERCHANDISE SECTION. Don't even ask somebody if they're planning on selling something within this section.
Be sure to read the Board Rules as well before posting for the first time.
Thank you!
- rickrickrick
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:12 pm
Old School Bat Radio
So, just for giggles, to have another recognizable handheld prop I could easily carry to conventions, etc, I decided to make a Bat Radio. Out of real wood, like the original prop.
I beg your tolerance and forgiveness, as I am NOT someone skilled at woodworking. I am just hacking away at this for fun, so be kind!
I used screen grabs and auction photos to make a template, totally taking a guess as to the size, based on what seemed to be the relative scale of the prop as seen in actors' hands. I used a hunk of pine I had lying around, cut it out on the jigsaw, and then gutted the back - rather painstakingly - using a small chisel and a dremel sanding drum.
I like the shape so far, and the fact that the body of it is more or less made the way the original prop was amuses me. I have little brass balls for the tops of the antennae coming, and will order some brass rod for the antennae themselves. I think the biggest challenge will be the brass grill - I do not like CY's replicas with flat screens. It is obviously slightly raised, not flat. I'm thinking I will vacuform that part and then paint it as best I can.
RRR
I beg your tolerance and forgiveness, as I am NOT someone skilled at woodworking. I am just hacking away at this for fun, so be kind!
I used screen grabs and auction photos to make a template, totally taking a guess as to the size, based on what seemed to be the relative scale of the prop as seen in actors' hands. I used a hunk of pine I had lying around, cut it out on the jigsaw, and then gutted the back - rather painstakingly - using a small chisel and a dremel sanding drum.
I like the shape so far, and the fact that the body of it is more or less made the way the original prop was amuses me. I have little brass balls for the tops of the antennae coming, and will order some brass rod for the antennae themselves. I think the biggest challenge will be the brass grill - I do not like CY's replicas with flat screens. It is obviously slightly raised, not flat. I'm thinking I will vacuform that part and then paint it as best I can.
RRR
- Attachments
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- batradio1.jpg (54.36 KiB) Viewed 8370 times
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- batradio2.jpg (52.08 KiB) Viewed 8370 times
The most important thing in life is to be yourself. Unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.
- Ben Bentley
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- rickrickrick
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- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:12 pm
Re: Old School Bat Radio
I can't quite figure out what the grey button at the bottom is. Is it some kind of push on/push off button with a rubber cap over it?? Is there an off-the-shelf equivalent? Anyone with a CY replica chime in here - Clint seems to have nailed it.
RRR
RRR
The most important thing in life is to be yourself. Unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.
- Chuck Williams
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- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:57 am
Re: Old School Bat Radio
VERY COOL RICK!!!
It's looking great!
I look forward to seeing it as it progresses...
Chuck...
It's looking great!
I look forward to seeing it as it progresses...
Chuck...
Quick, Everyone, Flee for your lives, into the street!!!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
Re: Old School Bat Radio
It would be really cool if you could integrate a real walkie-talkie into it for a working model!
Re: Old School Bat Radio
Very cool. That raised grille always looked to me like the sieve from a garlic press.
Cheers,
QQ
Cheers,
- rickrickrick
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:12 pm
Re: Old School Bat Radio
Ha - QQ, is does look like one of those, doesn't it? Except in brass.
This is on hold for a few more days - the balls I ordered for the antennae tops were too small. Oops.
Still looking for input on that switch at the bottom! Anyone? Bueller?
RRR
This is on hold for a few more days - the balls I ordered for the antennae tops were too small. Oops.
Still looking for input on that switch at the bottom! Anyone? Bueller?
RRR
The most important thing in life is to be yourself. Unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.
- rickrickrick
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:12 pm
Re: Old School Bat Radio
A super quick update on the small amount of progress I've made.
Procured the solid brass rod for the antennae, and vacuformed the piece for the grill, with which I am very pleased.
Awaiting the arrival of the brass spheres for the top of the antennae, and figuring out what the heck the bottom switch thing is.
RRR
Procured the solid brass rod for the antennae, and vacuformed the piece for the grill, with which I am very pleased.
Awaiting the arrival of the brass spheres for the top of the antennae, and figuring out what the heck the bottom switch thing is.
RRR
The most important thing in life is to be yourself. Unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.
- batfan1705
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:34 am
Re: Old School Bat Radio
On the CY replica, the switch is a simple momentary on switch that turns on a light behind the frosted plastic. It looks like the sort of switch you might find at Radio Shack or similar store. The pushbutton cap is round and painted silver. Sorry I can't be of more help but I don't wish to take it apart.
Hope this helps!
batfan1705
Hope this helps!
batfan1705
- Chuck Williams
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- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:57 am
Re: Old School Bat Radio
This just looks like a brass piece to me.
The back looks to be a nut soldered on.
The back looks to be a nut soldered on.
Quick, Everyone, Flee for your lives, into the street!!!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
- rickrickrick
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:12 pm
Re: Old School Bat Radio
I guess I always assumed it was a functional switch of some kind, since Clint's replica has a working light. Honestly, I can't remember ever seeing it illuminated on the show or in the film.
But why would the interior be hollowed out if it didn't need the room for a functional light installed?
I think I'll proceed as it appears Clint did - fabricate my own top to stick on a small push button switch, so I can put in a battery operated light.
Thanks, all, for the input!
RRR
But why would the interior be hollowed out if it didn't need the room for a functional light installed?
I think I'll proceed as it appears Clint did - fabricate my own top to stick on a small push button switch, so I can put in a battery operated light.
Thanks, all, for the input!
RRR
The most important thing in life is to be yourself. Unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.
- Chuck Williams
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:57 am
Re: Old School Bat Radio
It probably did light up but the switch could have been anything on the back and not seen.
That doodad does beg to be used as a proper switch/button though.
That doodad does beg to be used as a proper switch/button though.
Quick, Everyone, Flee for your lives, into the street!!!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
- rickrickrick
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:12 pm
Re: Old School Bat Radio
And the way the bottom is hollowed out perplexes me - why was the bottom left open? For wires to go to electrical lines? If it actually lit up, did it use an external power source, rather than running off an internal battery? On Clint's replica, the bottom is not open.
RRR
RRR
The most important thing in life is to be yourself. Unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.