Return to the BUILD
“With this issue… add more detailed components to the emergency time circuits.”
NOTE: All of the pictures in this issue are after I installed the Hood Box Upgrade Kit from Mike Lane.
Contents
Parts
Materials: The grille (134A), spring (134F) and mesh (134H) are all metal, but the rest of these parts are all plastic.
Magazine
- Drive Time: Model Instructions
- Robert Zemeckis: A Christmas Carol (2009)
- A Time Traveler’s Guide: George ‘Buck’ Flower
Build
Time Circuit Box
Step 1
Retrieve your Time Circuit Box assembly and carefully remove the Support we installed back in Issue 131:.
If you installed this Support already, carefully lift/slide the LED ribbon off to the side, then the Support can be pulled out with a gentle twisting motion:
Step 2
Fit the Base Plate into the Time Circuit Box, covering the LED ribbon, and align all of the holes.
Since I had installed the Hood Box Upgrade, this Base Plate was no longer required. This is what it looks like anyway:
Step 3
Reinstall the Support we removed earlier:
Step 4
Secure the Base Plate to the Time Circuit Box with three (3) IP screws.
I did not install this Base Plate, but I can show you where the screws would go:
Step 5
For a bit of contrast here, I colored the connectors of the two ‘terminal blocks’ (Time Circuit Components 134J and 134K) with my Metallic Silver Sharpie. Before the ink could dry, I rubbed the ridges with my fingers to wipe it away and expose the black again:
Push the two pins of Time Circuit Component 134J (long terminal block) into the matching holes at this position inside the Time Circuit Box.
This was a very loose fit (perhaps because of the wood mod), so I just super glued it into place:
The instructions do not mention this part at all, but the Time Circuit Component 134K (short terminal block) needs to be fitted into this position inside the Time Circuit Box. Be sure the three holes drilled through it match the pattern of the holes in the base, as shown:
Step 6
Secure Time Circuit Component 134C (silver rod) inside Time Circuit Component 134B (open top box) using the two Time Circuit Component 134D (end caps).
The two ‘end caps’ will fit into the ends of the ‘silver rod’:
Hold the ‘silver rod’ inside the ‘open top box’ aligning it to the holes in both ends of the box. Press the ‘end caps’ through the box holes and into the rod:
Step 7
Wrap the Time Circuit Component 134A (metal grille) around the ‘open top box’ as shown.
There is a small notch punched in the ‘metal grille’ that allows it to fit around the locating pin on the bottom of the ‘open top box’, so this grille is meant to only be attached in one orientation:
Step 8
Secure the ‘metal grille’ into place with four (4) QP screws:
Step 9
Fit the posts and pin of the ‘open top box’ assembly into place inside your Time Circuit Box, as shown.
As I was installing this, I also gently squeezed the ‘metal grille’ around the box into a more square shape:
Step 10
Secure the ‘open top box’ assembly to the Time Circuit Box from below with two (2) NP screws:
Step 11
Clip the Battery Cover into place on the underside of the Time Circuit Box:
Step 12
Slide the Time Circuit Component 134F (spring) completely inside the Time Circuit Component 134E (red circular tube frame):
Step 13
Fit this ‘red circular tube frame’ assembly into the Time Circuit Box at this position.
This can be installed in either direction; it is totally up to you:
Step 14
Secure the ‘red circular tube frame’ assembly into place from below with two (2) AP screws:
Step 15
Press the pins of Time Circuit Component 134G (large tube) into the side of the LED Switch box.
There are four pins on the bottom of the ‘large tube’ that hold this in place. Two of the pins are larger than the others, so take care to install this correctly and fully flush, as shown:
Step 16A
Fit the pin (smaller) end of the Time Circuit Component 134I (tube base) into this hole of the Time Circuit Box, as shown:
Step 16B
Cover this ‘tube base’ with Time Circuit Component 134H (mesh) as shown, and secure down with two (2) QP screws:
Thoughts
The more parts we add to this ‘Big Chip’, the more interesting it becomes! Keep this assembly safe as we will return to it in a few issues.
Next Up
Issue 135 – Display: Railroad Tie/Ends, Connectors