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 Posted 10/4/2018 7:30:06 AM |
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What would Alfred say?
 
Last Login: 9/13/2022 4:03:58 AM
Posts: 195,
Visits: 745
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Hi guys,
After a long hiatus, I am finally building the 89 I always wanted to build.
After seeing many fantastic build logs, detailing the trials and triumphs of previous builds, I decided that I want to concentrate on the vehicle gadgetry related to our winged mentor, as though exciting stuff, would I rather see a post about stretching a frame again, or a post on the development of a function Batdisk launcher which can launch 3-4 disks a second? Personally, I vote for posts on the Batdisk launcher.
Some goals on my build:
- functioning Batdisk Launcher
- hide-away Gun Doors (not attached to top of guns)
- (ambidextrious) M-37 BMGs with correct ammo and link chutes
- functioning (est 5.5 ft) Knee Knocker
- functioning (on demand) JP-8 Afterburner
I will also say that I am taking a complete departure from the norm when it comes to the drivetrain, but we will get into those details a little later, when I have a working driveline in the chassis. As a teaser, AWD is the goal... Immediately, significant differential number of rotations per mile with the different sized front and rear tires rings the bell, but my software Engineer seems to think it shouldn't be a problem with some of his spiffy code work.
The members on here who have provided their build logs have given us newbies invaluable help and information for our own builds. I can't thank you guys enough for offering up your experiences. I hope that some of the ludicrous projects I tackle provide some of those same insights for others who chose to dive in head first into the cave...
Let the build begin;
Zeus
Bat-what?.....Na, it’s just an oversized badass big black car (with optional machine guns)
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| Posted 10/4/2018 7:58:02 AM |
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What would Alfred say?
Last Login: 9/13/2022 4:03:58 AM
Posts: 195,
Visits: 745
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Weapons Station Control Panel
Wanting a central control panel to control and identify current state of gadgetry, I picked up an old fire detection and extinguishing control panel off a decommissioned commercial airliner. Plan is to control Gun Doors, Guns, Batdisk Door, Batdisk Launcher, and Knee Knocker. This proved to be the perfect panel to modify to suit my needs.
Zeus
Bat-what?.....Na, it’s just an oversized badass big black car (with optional machine guns)
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| Posted 10/4/2018 8:18:54 AM |
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What would Alfred say?
Last Login: 9/13/2022 4:03:58 AM
Posts: 195,
Visits: 745
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Weapons Station Control Panel
I disassembled the control panel by first separating the front face plate, then off came the top cover. Seeing that I was not going to use the existing internal harnessing, I carefully cut the switch and light harnesses free to permit further disassembly. I then removed the front (backlit) face plate. Next I removed the front frame to which all the switches and lights are actually attached to. Then I removed the circuit boards and back plate from the bottom frame. On the bottom frame there is a separate mount for a hexadecimal display which was originally used for maintenance messages to the crew. I hope to keep some of the bottom frame and the hex display. Plan is to use some Arduino to drive the hex to display theoretical rounds and disks remaining on board. Once I had everything apart, I sanded down the backlit faceplate to the base material. This will be repainted and fitted with my desired switches, lights and labeling.
Zeus
Bat-what?.....Na, it’s just an oversized badass big black car (with optional machine guns)
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| Posted 10/4/2018 8:33:53 AM |
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What would Alfred say?
Last Login: 9/13/2022 4:03:58 AM
Posts: 195,
Visits: 745
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Afterburner Control Grip
There have been many fantastic afterburner builds. Obviously there are some safety concerns with having a functioning fire breathing afterburner (unless it's a prius behind you), but then again, it goes without saying, a functioning afterburner should be the norm.
My plan is to use a modified right hand tank fire control grip as the switching mechanism to light the burner. This control grip has a palm switch and an index finger switch which could be wired in series to provide redundancy to hopefully prevent accidental firings of the burner.
Zeus
Bat-what?.....Na, it’s just an oversized badass big black car (with optional machine guns)
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| Posted 10/4/2018 8:50:43 AM |
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What would Alfred say?
Last Login: 9/13/2022 4:03:58 AM
Posts: 195,
Visits: 745
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Afterburner Control Grip
First I removed the grip mounting clamp from the grip. Then I separated the two haves of the grip (watch out for those springs). Next I removed the microswitches and the switch levers, pins and springs from each half. After it was all apart, I hacksawed off the grip mounting material which will no longer be needed. I then filed the remaining material down to more replicate the other half of the grip. While apart, I also made a few clearance cuts to allow the switch levers to extend a little further out in the off position to offer a little more "feel", as the original throw was really really short. I temporarily put it all back together to look at wiring run possibilities. After some thought, I think I will keep the wires coming out of, and down the side of the grip for that "vintage" look. I will ABS weld up a little closeout panel and wire trough to run the wires in with a clear shrink wrap. The entire assy will replace the TBM throttle switch assy on top of the throttle lever. I may also do a little more filing to round out this quite square grip. I will have to see how it looks on the throttle quadrant first.
Zeus
Bat-what?.....Na, it’s just an oversized badass big black car (with optional machine guns)
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| Posted 10/4/2018 11:37:57 AM |
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Forum Member
Last Login: 3/25/2024 6:05:45 AM
Posts: 267,
Visits: 2,294
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best of luck on your build. Looks like you have many un-tried ideas that you're willing to look into. keep us posted.
To build the impossible dream . . .
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| Posted 10/4/2018 12:27:20 PM |
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What would Alfred say?
Last Login: 9/13/2022 4:03:58 AM
Posts: 195,
Visits: 745
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DanW,
Thanks for the encouragement. There have been some members here who have had access to some amazing shop equipment to assist developing gadgets for their builds. Being (yet another) aerospace guy on here, I'm hoping to be gadgetworthy. Because my non traditional drivetrain shouldn't be blocking the cross area of the side mechanics, I should have room for my wish list of gadgetry. This is gonna be an interesting ride (no pun intended) building it.
Zeus
Bat-what?.....Na, it’s just an oversized badass big black car (with optional machine guns)
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| Posted 10/4/2018 12:36:37 PM |
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What would Alfred say?
Last Login: 9/13/2022 4:03:58 AM
Posts: 195,
Visits: 745
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Body safely stored until we close on the new place on the mainland with a bigger garage...
Zeus
Bat-what?.....Na, it’s just an oversized badass big black car (with optional machine guns)
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| Posted 10/4/2018 5:01:43 PM |
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What would Alfred say?
Last Login: 9/13/2022 4:03:58 AM
Posts: 195,
Visits: 745
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Weapons Station Control Panel
Been doing a little doodling of possible layouts for weapons systems control this evening. The firex panel I picked up will work perfect for fitting all the switches and lights I need to control and status everything. I think this will be the baseline layout. Just need to play around a bit with font sizes and positioning.
Zeus
Bat-what?.....Na, it’s just an oversized badass big black car (with optional machine guns)
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| Posted 10/9/2018 12:12:45 PM |
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What would Alfred say?
Last Login: 9/13/2022 4:03:58 AM
Posts: 195,
Visits: 745
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Weapons Station Control Panel
I stopped by Sarasota Sign Machine to see my buddy Adam's brand spanking new vinyl cutter, which was reported to be being capable of cutting some smaller letters. I showed up with a file with Arial Narrow fonts as small as 11 for the test. Man is this machine AWESOME! Even Adam was surprised it did as well as it did!!
This is the first pass paint template based on a file created by Vernier Caliper measurements. Just have to move a few words around a pixel or two and thicken up the solid vertical line and dashes so they will actually cut. The two upper mounting holes will be filled in, so I am not worried about the current hole overlap.
Time to get some SEM paint and try this for real...
Zeus
Bat-what?.....Na, it’s just an oversized badass big black car (with optional machine guns)
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