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2DIS Build Diary

TheUnpromised

TheUnpromised

New member
This is only my second post here so I apologise if I'm not doing this right.
So, uh, anyway...
I got my hands on a Sinclair Scientific calculator and decided, what the hell, time to build a 2DIS!

I started out by measuring the calculator. Then I imported the concept art for the 2DIS into my 3D software and began modelling shapes to fit the concept art. I did try to source real parts, but I couldn't find them, so just about everything ended up being fabricated.
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I wasn't sure how to handle the actual case so I passed the measurements onto a friend who understands better software than what I'm using. Meanwhile I worked on the bulbous shape that I figured would be the hardest thing to model. The idea was that, if I couldn't do that, I might as well abandon the rest.

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The software I was using was 3D Builder, free with Win11, so creating more complicated shapes took a bit of creativity. Slicing up spheres and the like. I was worried this wouldn't 3D print.

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It took a lot of shapes to make that one part!

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It took a lot of work to get here. It was very hard to construct the shapes using such simple software. I also discovered that the concept art isn't true-to-scale, so that lead to some changes.

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So with the 3D components sculpted and split for printing... Well... Next step is to print them!
 
So, it took a few test prints and some failed "real" prints at first...
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But I did eventually get there!
This part of the case is one solid piece. There's not much in the way of a back view in the concept art, so I had to intuit from the side-view.

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Whilst working on this, I realised the concept art and the final prop used in Flatline do differ quite a bit in some ways. So my project has ended up being sort of hybrid.
... A hybrid... Huh...

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So with all the parts printed, it's time for sanding, priming, painting, and, finally, building. I also obtained a small radio antenna. It's a bit big, but I can cut it down.
(I forgot to take a photo of the bulbous part before priming it so that'll come with the next post)
 
Sorry, I got kind of frustrated with a bunch of things going wrong and ended up not taking so many photos.

Problems such as paint bubbling, pock marks, and pieces straight-up melting.

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But I cracked on.

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Trying to copy the Doctor's handwriting with a brush was difficult to say the least.
I also traced over the button labels enhanced and shared by angelus lupus at a higher resolution and printed them onto label paper to stick onto the calculator buttons. My goal was to completely avoid doing anything that would damage or affect the calculator itself in any way, so I opted for labels rather than drawing directly onto the buttons.

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I was too busy and worked up to take photos of the process, but I secured the segments of a small radio antenna together with super glue and cut the bottom off to make it smaller. I filled it in with modelling putty and then glued it all on.
I got my hands on some cheap wires to work with and got to work attaching those.
They really did not want to stick on. I probably should have included some holes in the prints. Drilling holes was a no-go because it tends to kick up heated plastic into a nasty big spiral.

As I was attaching the wires, lots of things just... Broke off and I had to stick them back on. I officially declare this a "do not touch" project for display only.

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I threw in a silly label for fun, since there's no unobscured rear view of the prop.

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In keeping to my "do not damage the calculator" rule, I put some insulation tape on the bottom-left button and glued the wires to that. Simply sticking them down with the tape didn't work.
So with the wires secured in place, I suppose I can officially declare this project complete.

So... My 2DIS, such as it is.
Probably the hardest build I've ever worked on.
I... Wish I felt some satisfaction from it lmao. I guess I just don't feel like it's good enough. Then again, I've also only had five hours of sleep so that might be it.
Ah well, on to the next.

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Thank you to those who followed this journey, such as it was.
Peace out.
 
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