Many vents attach a "dummy" mic to their figure
to further increase the appearance of "life", and some even attach a
"dummy" transmitter for the mic to plug into. I decided to take it one
step further by including a working red light on the transmitter to
indicate that the unit is "on".
First, here's a list of items I used that I purchased at
Radio Shack
(with RS item numbers);
Project Box (#270-1801)
E-5
Lamp Holders (pkg. of 2, #272-340)
Mini #222
Lamp (pkg. of 2, #272-1176)
Battery Holder
for 2 AAA (#270-398)
Mini-Clips (pkg. of 12, #270-380)
Micro-Mini Toggle Switch
(#275-624A)
There are a few other misc. items needed, but they can
probably be found without making special purchases, i.e., a small length
of small gauge wire, a small piece of thick foam rubber, etc.
The project box has "feet" which I made the inside or back
of the transmitter that would be facing the figure. This leaves the lid
and the screws that hold it facing "out", but you can paint the screws
black when you're done and they won't be noticeable.
The first thing to do is to drill a few holes in the project
box.
The first hole will be in the top for the lamp holder which I put
right in the center of the top.
Now decide which will be the front edge
of the transmitter, i.e., if you hold your figure on the right and the
figure wears the unit on it's right. Once you have determined that, drill
a small hole towards the "back" of the top edge of the box, this will be
for the "wire" leading to the mic.
Next, you will need to drill a hole
for the switch along the "back" edge of the unit (I centered it).
Last,
a small hole will be needed in the back for attaching the "belt
clip".
Now you can hot glue the battery holder in place (I drilled
a hole and screwed it down, but realized afterwards that gluing would work
just as well and be easier).
Next, install the lamp holder and
switch.
Now comes what was the most difficult part of the project for
me, soldering the connections. I've never gotten along real well with
soldering and would have preferred to use a liquid solder, but couldn't
find any at the time. Afterwards, I found out Radio Shack has one.
However you do it, you need to attach one of the red wires
from the battery holder to one of the connection prongs on the switch and
the other red wire from the battery holder to one of the connection prongs
on the lamp holder.
You will now need a very small length of small
gauge wire to connect the two "empty" connection prongs on the switch and
the lamp holder.
Once the connections have been made, insert two AAA
batteries and a lamp into the lamp holder and give it a test. It works?
Good! Now screw on one of the lamp holder lenses - they give you white and
red ones, I used the red myself, but whichever you prefer - there's no
rule.
Okay, now before you screw on the lid, you need to do two
more things.
The transmitter needs a clip. Take one of the
"mini-clips", and either find yourself a very small screw and nut to
attach that with through the hole you drilled for that purpose or (and I
didn't think of this until afterwards) but I imagine you could attach it
with a cotter pin just as well through the hole.
Now for the "mic" wire.
For this, you can use a length of
any small gauge black wire or hollow flexible tubing. If you cannot seem
to find either, you could use string painted black, but this will not look
quite as "realistic" if you ever get up close to anyone with the unit on -
but it will look fine from stage distance.
The length of this will
depend on your figure(s). I made mine excessively long on purpose to cover
a variety of figures and to also heighten it's visibility with it "hanging
out there".
Whatever you use, insert one end through the hole you
drilled behind the light and knot the end so that it cannot pull out of
the hole, and go ahead and put the lid on the box and screw it
down.
Alright, the "transmitter" is done, now we need to make a
"mic" for this unit.
For this, I cut off about an inch from a 1/2" dowel I had
sitting around, drilled a small diameter hole through the length of it,
and a small diameter starter hole in the side, and painted it black - and
while you've got the paint out, go ahead and paint one of the mini-clips
black also. Insert the free end of the "mic wire" through the hole that
you drilled lengthwise and knot it so that it can not slip out. Then
attach the mini-clip to the dowel with a small wood screw into the starter
hole.
Now as luck would have it from being a "pack-rat", I had a 2"
thick piece of gray foam rubber from which I cut out a round ball for the
head of the mic. If you don't have gray foam rubber handy, white will work
too, it will just mean painting it either gray or black.
I also cut
into one end, a bit of a recess in the ball for where it attaches to the
"mic". So now a bit of hot glue over the end of the mic and the knot which
helps hold it in place, and then place the "ball".
(Don't forget to
paint the screws on the lid of the transmitter black, and there you go, a
"dummy wireless).
SOME FINAL NOTES
The materials I listed as having been bought from Radio
Shack came to about ten dollars, and this could cost you a little bit more
if you need to buy any of the other items like the small gauge wire,
etc.
You could build something like this a bit cheaper if you have a
lot of misc. "stuff" laying around in a workshop, I did one from "scrap
stuff" before building this one, but I do have to say, this one does look
a lot neater.
When writing this idea up for the transmitter with a
light, my goal was to, as much as possible, use parts that anyone could
get anywhere.
Also, some may find the sizes I've chosen for things like
the "mic" or even the lamp on the transmitter a bit large. I did this not
only because I want them to be noticeable, but because I often view
figures and the things they say and do as a caricature or exaggeration of
"real" people, and so things associated with them should be the same (in
my opinion).
Of course, I've only attempted to relate a way to do this
project, you may decide to use materials you have handy, or come up with a
better way to do part or all of it - if so - good!
A performance tip?
Well,
there's the obvious one I use - When the figure first starts talking,
they're not quite audible, so you ask if they turned on their mic, and as
you do it, the figure's voice suddenly comes through loud and clear in
mid-word.
And of course you can reverse it for the ending too, after
the figure cracks some wise remark, you tell him you've had enough, you're
shutting him off, and as you shut off the switch, his voice again becomes
inaudible in mid-word as he's protesting you turning off his mic.
(The
light coming on and going off adds to the effect of it being a working mic
that's just been turned on or off.)
Have fun!
Dave
Picture
legend;
A: Hole for light
B: Hole for mic wire
C:
Hole for toggle switch
D: Hole for attaching
belt clip
E: Wire from light to battery
box
F: Wire from battery box to
switch
G: Wire from switch to
light