We had a great time at Chicago Tardis 2013 All the guests were great.
The blue light under Mini me worked great the effect was just stunning. The motors all held out and he could turn on a dime
The convention was sold out and because of this Mini-me chose to stay in his room on Friday and Saturday the crowds were just too much, but there is something about the saying “less is more” and on Sunday he drew big crowds and the attention of that annoying dog!
My thanks to Mr Dean who took some great pictures of Mini me and sent me links and use them on my blog (sorry it took so long to post them).
You can only do it once for good luckHigh plunger!I am feeling a little queeeeesyI saw you move – go back one giant stepNow for a quick dash and hopefully they will not notice I have goneYou don’t have to shout, I am the one that shouts.I hope you washed the handPhew no one saw me
Come near me with those probes again and I will exterminate somebody.Ok I will be signing autographs laterI am surrounded
A lot has happened in the last 6 months and so I am going to add some posts to catch up.
Starting where I left off November 2013 I went to Reversed Polarity convention.
Besides Mini Me there were lots of other great props and models
I was backing up the other day and found these photos. In no particular order.
Meeeow, it’s Novice HameClassic style DalekK9New style DalekI am sure that just movedclassic style coloursDid not notice you thereMiniMePut that light out can’t you see there is a war onsomeone will make a monkey out of you
Stay where you are, this sonic screwdriver is set to Dalek
Got back from Chicago Tardis a couple of days ago. I had a great time. I took Mini-Me and he trundled up and down the hallway again like last year.
Want to buy a sonic screwdriver?Please do not touch. I exterminate people who touch
Most people were happy to see him and took the opportunity to get their sonic screwdrivers out. (Ha like that really has an effect on Daleks).
Wow I am bushed, time to take a restGive me your lunch money and next time I want you to do my home work
Last year it was obvious that he moved rather slowly and while he was cute and everything, he was also very s-l-o-w.
This year I chose to “update” his motor control by changing the gear ratio on the VEX chassis that I made for last year. I changed it from being high torque to more speed. I learned an important lesson. High torque works better on carpet especially when you want to turn.
If I were to make an upgrade to the VEX chassis for next year, I would add floating wheels for the front. I did not realize that having four fixed wheels does not mix well with low torque. I did not realize that it was more of a fluke that he could turn on a dime last year and due to the higher torque.
There were many amazing costumes and though I did not have a camera with me at all times, I managed to get a few pictures.
Before we went to Chicago Tardis, I upgraded Mini-Me from being essentially a stationary Dalek to a moving Dalek.
Previous attempts had caused the Dalek to whiz down the driveway going too fast. Then after about using it 5-6 times on carpet I heard the dreaded stripping of gears sound. The gears stripped because I tried to use a toy car and then a toy tank. Neither did very well (The tank took about 10 uses before the gears started to strip). So I upgraded to a Vex system.
My first attempt looked like this.
Basically I had a Vex kit that I purchased quite a while ago when Radio Shack were getting out of selling Vex products.
Not Thunderbird 7
I had the thing sitting around for the longest time waiting for the right project.
I had bought a starter kit and it came with a whole pile of metal bits, some motors and wheels. I started building the suggested base project. I made some modifications, added a battery holder and made a slight shape change to fit the pointy aspect of the Dalek innards and to hold the micro-controller receiver.
Looking down into the skirt
I realized that really I could not program this kit as it was a starter kit. Even though they gave you a micro-controller unit they did not give you the disk or cables to actually program it, those cost $$$$. So the only things it can do is use bumper switches to stop when it hits an obstacle. But it did come with a pretty decent remote control.
The upgrade in my opinion actually worked out really quite well.
If I were doing it again I would have made him move along just slightly faster, but I think it was pretty good upgrade.
So we went on the road trip. I was not allowed to drive because I cannot see above the steering wheel and press the gas pedal at the same time. Also I have been accused of aggressive driving. We arrived in Chicago just after noon on Friday. I hovered down and got my badge, suddenly I was surrounded by the local talent all taking photos and wanting to be around me.
I got quite a fan girl gathering, the girl Daleks started fighting each other for my affection. To be honest it was hard to shake these youngsters off but they made me pose for this photo.
“Oh, Mini-Me, you’re so dreamy”
I went in search of some more macho Daleks to hang out with and I found my cousin from the other side of the family (the side we don’t talk about much). He wanted to take me out for a night out on the town.
One day when your as big as me your base will glow blue too
You shall not pass
But we bumped into this Time Lord that would not let us pass.
I left Sec and went off on my own.
Later in line for autographs this annoying dog kept pestering me about his master.
Are you my master? No I am a superior being. Now, stop bothering me.
