Energy Transmission Tracker

[warmcanofcoke]

Mawdryn Undead 1983 Season 20 Story 126

Detector 001

Detector 002

Not really easy to see on Screen - but I had been fascinated by this little device. I'm Glad the old DVD Photo Gallery had some clear shots.

[galacticprobe]

You can only work with what you're given, Nate, and thanks once again for taking the time to grab these images. This looks like it could be one of those absurdly simple props: a decorated project box with two telescopic antennas (aerials) on top, with a light wired between the tips. With a battery pack inside the box and a pushbutton on the side of it, all you'd need to do is press the button to light the bulb at the end of the antennas and, well, Bob's your uncle!

Dino.

[warmcanofcoke]

Mawdryn Undead 001

Mawdryn Undead 002

Mawdryn Undead 003

Mawdryn Undead 004

Mawdryn Undead 005

Mawdryn Undead 006

Mawdryn Undead 007

Mawdryn Undead 008

Mawdryn Undead 009

Mawdryn Undead 010

Mawdryn Undead 011

Mawdryn Undead 012
What can I say ... I am passionate about this prop. These images will hopeful be useful to all those who attempt to build one.

[galacticprobe]

Hmmmm... interesting placement of Davison's thumb in that last photo. (Could he be pressing on that disguised button that lights the bright thingy between the antenna tips?)

The hardest part of making one of these will probably be that not-clearly-visible bracket that holds the light at the tips of the antennas. The lighting is (relatively) easy. Run some wiring through the antennas to a high-brightness cool white LED and put the LED inside a ping pong ball. The wire would have to be very flexible if the lighting part is indeed telescopic and can collapse and extend, but other than that, all you'd need are two antennas, the small project box, a battery pack (like one that can hold two AA or AAA batteries), a small momentary normally open switch, the LED and its ballast resistor and a ping pong ball to put them in, and of course the wiring.

Then the hard part: how do you make that holding bracket for the ping pong ball? If only they'd zoomed in on it just once so we could get a look at what that bracket looked like. From what I can see of it with my stanky old wizzard eyes, it's some shape like an "M" with the light below the "V" part of the M. (But then my wizzard eyes are old... and stanky.)

Dino.

[warmcanofcoke]

Well I found these at the local hardware store

[davidnagel]

Never realised there were those shots of the toolbox, to the toolbox thread!

[warmcanofcoke]

Well David I'm sure your mystery TARDIS Tool box Builder will appreciate these images. As will other builders of the box.

http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=1201.msg89893#msg89893

[Davros Skaro]

The hardest part of making one of these will probably be that not-clearly-visible bracket that holds the light at the tips of the antennas. The lighting is (relatively) easy. Run some wiring through the antennas to a high-brightness cool white LED and put the LED inside a ping pong ball. The wire would have to be very flexible if the lighting part is indeed telescopic and can collapse and extend, but other than that, all you'd need are two antennas, the small project box, a battery pack (like one that can hold two AA or AAA batteries), a small momentary normally open switch, the LED and its ballast resistor and a ping pong ball to put them in, and of course the wiring.

Dino.

easy to light this up, don't need wires running through the antennas, they themselves would be the "wires/conductors" just connect the wires to the bottom as they are for an indoor TV antenna set, then they can collapse without having to worry about the wires inside, as there aren't any. Just make sure you use a plastic box & not metal.
I have just found an old set of indoor antennas, so might give this a go sometime. But don't hold you breath for a build. LOL

Chris