Meet “The Leia Project” - Last Hope Blockbuster

[BoxBeats]

This is the GE Blockbuster I bought as a parts box but darn it it keeps saying, “Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, your my only hope!.” I have christened her Leia and she is sort of a parts box since I took her working meters and transplanted them in my #1 box.

Here are some progress photos.

She desperately needs my help - I’ll try.

Yoda: “Do or Do Not. There Is No Try”.

 

[goodman]

This is a big restoration project, but this boombox deserves a new life. After cleaning it looks good.

 

[blu_fuz]

That blaster was pretty rough, nice job bringing it back to life. I hope you find the parts you need.

 

[BoxBeats]

Here is an update on “Leia” - she recently got a new cassette door. It’s from another box and it has that green transparent hue on the cassette window I kinda like.

Has anyone ever replaced the acrylic main window glass on a box?

Since this is a crazy restore I was thinking about matching that green transparent acrylic throughout all display windows, especially since the main glass has some kind of pitting I can’t get out. Do you think it would be doable or would I have to have it cut custom? I can’t figure out how to pop it out.

I found some Realistic SCR-8 knobs for the missing ones and they mostly fit. I’ll be rebuilding the meters from meters sourced from overseas so the meters are currently detached.

The tape transport buttons were damaged so I’m figuring that out to get them working.

My revised spindle gear arrives tomorrow - fingers crossed. New belts, idler tire will be installed.

I’ll be addressing the broken head mount bracket with JB Weld.

Not giving up on Leia…

 

[caution]

Sure, many of us have replaced dial glass, but in all instances the original was injection molded so it's sort of luck (or lack thereof) on how difficult it is to replace. Some are more simple of a shape and some are more detailed and harder to reproduce simply. The last one I did for a fellow member's C100F was a bit of a hack because it had a bunch of mounting flanges and couldn't reproduce that part, so I carefully cut the main part out and glued a new piece in place that I had a local plastics shop bevel for me.

I've done a couple of custom deck door glass pieces, but those only make sense if you plan on selling some yourself, because a one-off is going to cost a ton due to setup charges.

 

[BoxBeats]

Thank you Caution for the info!

 

[BoxBeats]

My revised spindle gear works! Paired the new gear with a new idler tire and Bob’s your uncle it worked.

However, the service I used for printing gave me inferior quality printed gears so I’m sending them back for quality issues. I’m going to buy my own 3D printer soon because waiting is a nightmare and I can prototype faster.

Might put a small kit together to sell with the revised spindle gear and idler tire since I have 100 idler tires and sell on Ebay.

Waiting sucks…

 

[BoxBeats]

While I'm waiting for parts, here is a sneak peak at a work in progress hang tag for Leia.

 

[BoxBeats]

just ordered some blue transparent vinyl to see how it would look on all the windows. Also thinking about wrapping the box with modest brushed aluminum and greys - thinking about it.

 

[BoxBeats]

FYI for anyone relying on 3D print service for 3D parts, stay away from JawsTec.com! Their parts are not good and the customer service is bad. I am sticking with Shapeways.com!

 

[BoxBeats]

FYI for anyone relying on 3D print service for 3D parts, stay away from JawsTec.com! Their parts are not good and the customer service is bad. I am sticking with Shapeways.com!

At least until I get my own printer.

 

[BoxBeats]

Just got a replacement torsion spring for the missing one on the transplanted cassette door. Not exact part but it works! Anyone need one I have a couple extra. Check that off the list. Antenna arrives tomorrow as does the vinyl tint for the windows. I also installed a three led strip in the vu meter of my main box and it looks good. Pictures to follow later…

 

[caution]

Shapeways tends to be on the pricy side but they back up their work. I've only had one bad print, and they sent me two replacements. Usually they ship ahead of schedule too. By the way if you need this deck part you can get it here, it's in my list of parts there somewhere.

 

[BoxBeats]

Thanks caution, I just ordered your 3D head mount a few days ago. My spindle gear is being printed there, a bit pricey but better quality.

 

[BoxBeats]

Here’s Leia with some blue vinyl tinting and hang tag and lit led meters. Still waiting for parts for the tape deck and as mentioned in another post I’m making a 3D printed replacement door closer to the original. Still waiting on replacement meters, head mount, spindle gear and I’m going to 3D print the tape transport buttons plastic parts. She’s coming along. Oh yeah, I created the missing sweep meter plaque under the meters. Used liquid chrome painted on card stock and vinyl lettering on top.

 

[BoxBeats]

I could only afford a basic 3D printer which I bought from Best Buy because I had a $150 credit. It arrives Thursday but I’ll have some prototypes ready for it.

 

[BoxBeats]

Oh it’s ON, my paper mock-up of the cassette door is pretty damn perfect. Next step is WAITING again for my 3D printer to arrive this thursday. I’ll do a low level mock-up with what comes out of the magic 3d printer box. This version has the cut out for the acrylic glass to side in. Damn always waiting for parts, how do you guys stand it. The wife baked cookies so I’m gonna sign off so I can get my cookie on.

 

[BoxBeats]

Cookies are good and wanted to say that I have an affinity for solid digital calipers when measuring stuff.

 

[BoxBeats]

Here is a snapshot of my paper cassette door. You can print and cut it out and put in place til I get it printed and painted once it is 3D printed.

 

[BoxBeats]

All the 3D files are ready including the plastic hooks needed to clip it in. I will probably JB Weld them in place. Learned a lot.