AA/Diamond $20 Star Trek Communicator: modified with metal parts

[NakedMoleRat]

I found a great solution to my jewel bezels, from Lowes. I SO BADLY want to post pics, but I am still waiting for a new moire bezel to show up. I can't post any pics until she's complete!
But I guarantee you'll post of couple of these guys :eek when you see it!

 

[caseyatbt]

Are these what you used?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Atlas-N-Scale-3...ryZ19127QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Harbinger]

NakedMoleRat--

New moire bezel, eh? Someone's tackled making these in metal, I take it? Do you know if these will be available for sale?

 

[Neon Sentry]

So, I checked out the circuit board and everything looks fine. I re-soldered a decent amount of wiring, and still no audio. Actually, since putting it back together the motor is loud as hell. Like, really bad. I'm thinking I lucked out and got a quiet model, and then screwed it up with my half assed attempts at getting the extra sound clip.

Anyway, my T-Jet hubs should be here any day now (should have been here a while ago!) and I've already got the existing buttons trimmed off where they exit the control panel. I plan on backing up the slots for the jewel bezels so they don't fall through, etc., etc..

I printed up HeroComm's moire sheet and replaced the interior disc and WOW, big difference. Much cleaner, the effect looks great, and since the new disc is raised it is much brighter as well.

Has anyone tackled adding the rear midplate? The space between the hinges looks so lonely.

 

[Kylash]

I found a great solution to my jewel bezels, from Lowes. I SO BADLY want to post pics, but I am still waiting for a new moire bezel to show up. I can't post any pics until she's complete!
But I guarantee you'll post of couple of these guys :eek when you see it!

any update?

Also, does anyone make or knowwhere to get an upgrade grill that doesnt have the rounded off corners this one does, that will still fit this?

 

[NakedMoleRat]

Still waiting to for a moire ring. I WON'T show any pics until she's 100%.

 

[Incept Date]

Hey all,
I'm new to this site and i had to join in all the ST TOS Comm fun!
I just got my Comm's from New Force and they rock! I opened up one of them to check out the the moire motor to see if i could quite it up, well, now it's louder than ever.

But it got me thinking, what if you took out the all the gears, left only the motor and the disk with the moire and added a rubber band (or a short heavier type of vinyl band).

Of course you would have to clean the area of all the grease and lube really well (alcohol, nail polish remover??).
This would make the disk spin really fast if it was just attached to the motor shaft and the disk, so if looped around a second shaft would make it spin a bit slower. Also adding Tool Dip (Plasti Dip- http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000210.php) to the shafts would make it grip better.

This sounds simple but my be very hard to accomplish.
What do you think?2 cents

~R~

 

[wintersdawn]

Just wanted to say 'thanks' to all who posted on this fascinating thread! I learned alot. I know I am pretty late here but just got a AA/DST communicator and successfully did my first mod! I managed to get one of the 2007 versions with the metal lid (not the gold/shiny edition). After looking for sometime on Ebay and usually seeing really high postage costs for one outside of the U.K., I saw one this week in the U.K. and got it for £14 plus £2 postage! It is opened but the seller stated it was never played with and I can see that this seems correct.

I found the sound a bit harsh so boldly opened it up and took the speaker out and put a piece of insulation tape over the inside mesh holes. This took some of the harshness away but I still felt it was too loud/raw so repeated the procedure with a second piece of insulation tape and now the sound has a lovely tone, especially the opening chirp.

Not sure I am ready to tackle anything more adventurous yet but would love to do some of the things that others have posted here - especially changing the coloured lights and the two buttons. Also is there maybe an easy way to 'colour' the speaker mesh gold without taking it out?

Thanks again.

 

[StarTrek101]

I hate how playmates star trek toys are so small. I guess they are for small kids.

 

[Travisses]

I bought a STTE comm, swapped in the electronics from the DS toy, replaced the LEDs with the proper t-jet hubs with crystals, replaced the mic grille with a gold one and sanded down thr antenna to the solid brass underneath, polishing it with super fine steel wool.

I plan on a few more mods before I call it done and work on my John Long kit.