While I’m waiting for my belt, and suit to arrive I thought I’d show what I’ve come up with so far:
I put these together after taking ideas from different threads around here, and some random parts I had lying around and a cheap pair of goggles I picked up for $7. I think they turned out pretty well for a first time. The goggles are so cheap they’re adding to a weathered look which I think looks nice. I’m just waiting for a chance to get some decals printed off and I’m good to go. For anyone wondering there’s velcro on the side of one strap, I used a D-ring and bent an old pipe clamp and then bolted it to the top. The middle strap is an old lunch box carrying handle that I cut and stitched on. The battery cover is a washer, an old water bottle top strap, a pop cap and a bolt. The on/off switch is part of a wooden handle I cut, and the side knobs are also pop caps and then a screw added to look better.
This is my attempt at a cheap holster for the belt gizmo. Believe it or not I tried 7 different stores and no one sells just a tape measure holder anymore, they’re all these new nylon multi tool holders. So I took an old piece of vinyl and went to work. I found that black shoe cream works pretty well for dying it, and it looks better than spray paint. Just be careful as scotch tape will pull the colour off.
I used the same vinyl for the belt fobs, some old snaps, and then picked up some hooks at a fabric store for a $1.50. The snaps are somewhat fragile, but I didn’t have to go buy new bigger ones so I’m sure they will be fine. They’re not screen accurate, but I don’t really care as they were cheap, and since they’re a bit winder it will fill out my belt more as I don’t have a walkie yet.
Here’s my belt gizmo. I know its not screen accurate, but I don;t care I think the real electronics look is pretty good. To make it I cannibalized some old computer parts aka a video card, sound card and RAM. I then attached them with a phone cord I picked up for $0.75. There’s a tape measure clip on the back of the daughter board. If I have time I think i might use some bic pens to make nixie tubes on the top and add some more wires. If not I think it looks pretty good as it is.
I like this thread! 'specially the goggles. I have a purchased/ made set, and also one that I cobbled together a few years ago… you have a real nice looking on there.
I like the belt fobs! If I get a chance to raid a fabric store, I will try and put some together this year yet!
Thanks man! Some of your builds are great! I hope I have a chance to do some builds at your level in the future.
I’ll see if I can get a pic of my belt holder up later today. It didn’t come out as well as I’d have liked but its not too bad for a 10 minute job until I can find a real tape holder.
Well, after seeing your “belt gizmo”, I think Mr. IBM computer from 1997 is about to meet its maker! I have been debating on cutting it up for parts, and based on your result, probably will.
When I needed a ribbon cable for my Son’s Proton Pack a number of years ago… I scrapped out my Packerd Bell computer for such at item… nothing wrong with getting parts like this!
Definitely the way to go in my opinion. Why use cardboard cutouts if you have electronic parts. Neither will be exact at that point, but I think the real parts look better.
Here’s how the gizmo belt holder came out. Not perfect by an stench, but it was cheap, and will suffice until I find a real one.
The rivets came out nicely, but could use some fake nixies to fill out the top, so I might attempt that later. I ended up stapling 2 blocks of wood into the side to hold out the vinyl. I also ended up cutting the gizmo itself to notch onto those blocks.
