Return to the BUILD
“Add more intricate components to the time circuit box for your DeLorean. With this issue you receive several clear pieces on sprues – not all of these parts are used in this assembly stage, please keep them safely for future stages.”
NOTE: All of the pictures in this issue are after I installed the Hood Box Upgrade Kit from Mike Lane.
Contents
Parts
Materials: Everything in this issue is plastic, except for the two metal meshes (137C and 137G).
Magazine
- Drive Time: Model Instructions
- What Robert Zemeckis Did Next: Allied (2016)
- A Time Traveler’s Guide: Rooftop Rescue
Build
Emergency Time Circuits
Step 1
Press the D-shaped post of Time Circuit Component 137N (cable support) into the matching hole of Time Circuit Component 137M (cable support base):
Step 2
Fit the pin on the bottom of this ‘cable support base’ into the top of the Time Circuit Component 137L (LED switch box top), as shown:
Step 3
Align the screw holes here, then secure this ‘cable support base’ into place from below with one (1) NP screw:
Step 4
Retrieve your Time Circuit Box assembly from Issue 134. Press the two pins of this ‘LED switch box top’ firmly into the top of the LED Switch, aligning the tab to the notch, as shown below:
Step 5
We will need to remove many parts from various sprues over the next few steps. To begin, cut the Time Circuit Components 137I (small tube bases marked ‘F61’) from the sprue. I recommend using sprue cutters or a sharp hobby knife here for cleaner cuts:
Since these will appear to be the guts of each vacuum tube, I decided to paint the tips of all of my ‘tube bases’ different colors with my Metallic Gold and Bronze Sharpies. There was no pattern to which color to use, I just did it randomly:
Fit a ‘small tube base’ through the back of one of the holes in Time Circuit Component 137G (square mesh), as shown:
Step 6
Firmly press a Time Circuit Component 137H (smooth tubes marked ‘F45’) over this pin.
If you press hard enough, these tubes should stay firmly in place. However, if they remain loose, you can super glue them so they don’t flop around. Note that normal CA super glue can fog (craze) clear plastics, but that may even be preferred when we are talking about vacuum tubes:
Step 7
Repeat the previous step three more times, filling each hole of the ‘square mesh’ in the same way.
Also, take note of this notch I marked below in the ‘square mesh’. This will be important in the next step:
Steps 8-9
Fit the ‘square mesh’ assembly into your Time Circuit Box at this position, aligning the notch (yellow arrow below) to the area near the Support as shown. Secure this into place with two (2) QP screws:
Steps 10A-10B
Fit a Time Circuit Component 137K (small tube base marked ‘F63’) through the back of this hole in Time Circuit Component 137C (rectangular mesh). Then, press a Time Circuit Component 137D (pointed tube marked ‘F51’) down over the pin, as shown:
Step 11
Repeat the previous steps six (6) more times, filling all of these holes in the ‘rectangular mesh’, as shown:
Steps 12-13
Fit Time Circuit Component 137J (large tube base marked ‘F62’) through the back of this large hole in the ‘rectangular mesh’. Then, press Time Circuit Component 137E (large tube marked ‘F49’) down over the pin, as shown:
These larger parts may be loose and not attached to any sprue:
Steps 14-15
In the same way, fit the last of the Time Circuit Component 137I (small tube base marked ‘F61’) through the back of this medium hole in the ‘rectangular mesh’. Then, press Time Circuit Component 137F (medium tube marked ‘F50’) down over the pin, as shown:
Step 16
Fit the ‘rectangular mesh’ assembly into your Time Circuit Box at this position, and secure it into place with two (2) QP screws as shown:
Steps 17-18
Slide the two Time Circuit Component 137B (black capacitors) onto the large posts of the Time Circuit Component 137A (capacitor base), then fit the base to this location of your Time Circuit Box.
These ‘black capacitors’ have a flat inside edge that will only allow them to fit the correct way, and it keeps them from turning as you secure them down:
Step 19
Secure this assembly to the Time Circuit Box from below with two (2) AP screws:
Thoughts
The little vacuum tube parts are not the easiest parts to work with, but they do look good! The older my hands get, the less they want to deal with tiny bits and pieces. Still, the box is coming along great and I am ready for more.
Next Up
Issue 138 – Display: Railroad Tie/Ends, Connectors