Back to The Future MODs Survey

[Lwanmtr]

Your links appear to be broken.

[Timebender]

Great info, especially from Steven on his vents etc. I had a similar thought before seeing the work he had done for mine, as I do a lot of events as the Doc and right now have some odds and ends in the cabin, like the FC, the speedo box, and I attach the top part of a Mr. Fusion to my louvers using tape that easily pulls off after - and my Mr. Fusion lights up for night just using the little strand of grain of wheat LEDS with the copper wire and battery box. I plan though on making it more realistic, and hopefully printing a base for it someday.

But, my idea for the vents was to make them as well from gator board that's hinged in the right spots, and a cross bar that goes over the louvers, so the Mr. Fusion would mount to that, and an additional crossbar that's lower - the idea is to spread the weight of the vents across the louvers. Hinging them would allow you to essentially fold them flat so they could fit in your front trunk, or even inside the car as you're head to your event, and on the way home. You could even do them with a light aluminum as well so once set up they could stay on the back of the car on top of the louvers. You'd need to brace the louvers in spots (get the middle brace of course) and then some extra that go form side to side. Also the thought I had was to find a way to slide the vents on so they hook on to the louvers as well, but could be removed easily when you need to work on the engine.

Maybe the cross bars/plate/surfaces could be bungee corded to the louvers, or use some other method.

[mluder]

Sorry about the broken links... I'll try to fix that tonight.

BTW - My initial plan was to cut the gator board so that it would slip over the louvers with them in the closed position. Then the reactor, etc would all be built to sit on top as well. However I found that the deck equipment mostly sits below the level of the louvers - in other words with the louvers in place the stuff would be below and even if you built it to sit on top it would just look wrong. This is why I decided to just build it as accurate as possible and then just display with the louvers open. Of course you can easily remove and re-install the louvers but I opted not to... I spent a lot of time getting my louver latch to actually work and didn't want to undo that.

Cheers
Steve

[Lwanmtr]

While my plans for a time machine add on are a ways down the road..I've thought of something on top...but yeah, figured it would look wrong..though if you didnt care about being accurate to the movies at all, something could be designed so that the louvre was actually part of the design with streamlined vents, etc...which would lead to having to redesign the bands and other bits to reflect that... perhaps ill do some mockups..could be interesting...hehe.

[cpistocco]

Sorry about the broken links... I'll try to fix that tonight.

BTW - My initial plan was to cut the gator board so that it would slip over the louvers with them in the closed position. Then the reactor, etc would all be built to sit on top as well. However I found that the deck equipment mostly sits below the level of the louvers - in other words with the louvers in place the stuff would be below and even if you built it to sit on top it would just look wrong. This is why I decided to just build it as accurate as possible and then just display with the louvers open. Of course you can easily remove and re-install the louvers but I opted not to... I spent a lot of time getting my louver latch to actually work and didn't want to undo that.

Cheers
Steve

I would love to check out those links....when you have a moment. (they aren't working).
-Best
-Charlie

[mluder]

I would love to check out those links....when you have a moment. (they aren't working).
-Best
-Charlie

Trying again...
Time Machine Gator Board Cutting Layout REV 2015-12-15-Model.pdf
Time Machine Gator Board Cutting Layout 2015-12-14-Model.pdf

If this doesn't work I'll put them in a Box.com folder.

Cheers
Steven

[cpistocco]

Trying again...
Time Machine Gator Board Cutting Layout REV 2015-12-15-Model.pdf
Time Machine Gator Board Cutting Layout 2015-12-14-Model.pdf

If this doesn't work I'll put them in a Box.com folder.

Cheers

Steven

Thank You Steven.
Do you think that I can use these layouts for 1/8 inch aluminum?
Also, I don't see any measurements / dimensions...
I greatly appreciate all of your help.
-Charlie

[mluder]

Well... I resized the slots where the fins go together so that they would work with 3/16 gator board. For 18" alum they will be a bit sloppy. The weld can probably make up for that but I'm not a welder so I can t guarantee. Better off getting input from Gary, use the original drawings, or at least talk to whoever is going to weld it up. I'm not sure what kind of tolerances the CNC machine cuts to.

I can probably put together a dimensioned version but most places don't need it - they will just upload the file into their CNC machine and cut the pieces. I recommend also having a full sized paper print made so you can identify the parts when you get them back from the shop.

Cheers
Steven

[Lwanmtr]

Thanks alot. Do they even make 4'x10' gator board? all I've seen is 4'x8'

[mluder]

Thanks alot. Do they even make 4'x10' gator board? all I've seen is 4'x8'

They actually make a 5'x10' in 3/16" - I think the shop that cut mine actually split things up on to 2 4'x8' sheets.

Cheers
Steve