Return to the BUILD
“With the pieces you’ve received this issue, you will be able to assemble a new element for the Terminator T-800 Endoskeleton’s right arm, piece together the first articulated finger, and use a diode tester kit to check the LED eyes are working perfectly!”
Contents
Parts
Materials: Everything in this issue is metal, except for the Right Hand First Finger Component A (fingertip) and the bushings of the Articulating Connectors which are plastic.
Magazine
- T-800 Assembly – Model Instructions
- Sci-Fi Cinema Legends – Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Real World Science – Prosthetic Limbs: 3D Hands Get The Thumbs Up
Build
Components for the Right Arm and First Finger
Right Biceps Piston
Step 1
Get started with the Right Arm Component D, Right Arm Component E, Right Arm Component F, and one (1) PM 3×8 mm screw:
Steps 2-3
Put the Right Arm Component D (cap) into the wide end of Right Arm Component E (housing) and hold in place. Slide the Right Arm Component F (tube) into the opposite thinner end all the way and secure all three parts together with the one (1) PM 3×8 mm screw. You will need a Phillips (cross-point) screwdriver with a shaft at least 5 cm long to do this.
I found this to be easier by putting the screw on the end of the screwdriver and inserting the screw all the way through the tube until it poked out the other end. Then, slide the tube into the housing and twist the cap onto the screw at the other end to get it started. After that, the screw can be tightened with the screwdriver. Once complete, place this assembly aside in a safe place until the next issue:
Battery Box
Step 4
Remove the screw on the AAA Battery Holder, slide off the cover, and insert three AAA batteries as directed:
Step 5
Replace the cover on the AAA Battery Holder and fasten closed with the removed screw. Hachette recommends only making power connections with the switch in the OFF position:
Step 6
Attach the power lead from the AAA Battery Holder to the large socket marked ‘power’ on the LED Test Circuit board. Using tweezers here may make this step easier.
These connectors only fit correctly one way, don’t force them:
Step 7
Take the head assembly from Issue 2 and connect one of the eye cables to the smaller socket marked ‘LED’. Turn the AAA Battery Holder switch to ON and make sure your eye LED functions correctly.
Step 8
Repeat the process for the other eye LED. Once tested, these parts can be safely stored until a later issue:
Right Index Finger
Step 9
Lay out the finger parts Right Hand First Finger Components A, B, C, D, and E, along with all Articulating Connectors A and B as shown:
Step 10
Press the Right Hand First Finger Component A (fingertip) onto the Right Hand First Finger Component B (distal phalanx).
My fingertip did not stay on at all and required a tiny bit of super glue to hold it into place:
Step 11
This assembly then attaches to the Right Hand Finger Component C (middle phalanx) using one each of the Articulating Connectors A and B. Press the female end (bushing) through the joint and secure in place with the male end (pin):
There are a lot of online complaints about these bushings/pins (Articulating Connectors). The supplied bushings sometimes have very little resistance inside the joint, leaving the knuckle joint loose and difficult to pose. From Issue 13 on, Hachette started supplying new connectors with rubber sleeves for all future fingers to fix this problem, but that does not help us now. Fortunately, I did not have this problem after the pins were seated all the way, and my joints were not loose.
If anyone needs measurements of the knuckle joints: The hole through both knuckle joints together is 4 mm wide by 6 mm deep. The head of the male pins are 5.5 mm across while the female heads are 6.5 mm across. The knuckles themselves are ~8.75 mm wide.
Step 12
Similar to the previous step, attach the Right Hand Finger Component D (proximal phalanx) to the finger assembly, but insert the Articulating Connectors from the opposite direction:
Step 13
And finally, attach the Right Finger Component E to the finger assembly, but reverse the direction of the Articulating Connectors again as per the first knuckle joint:
Step 14
The first finger, and this issue, are now complete:
Thoughts
I do want to thank Hachette for including the battery box and test circuit early on in this build to make sure the electrics work! The biceps piston will be used in the next issue, but the finger will have to wait until Issue 8. The Battery Box will eventually be installed into the Skull when we get to Issue 107.
Next Up
Issue 4 – Right Triceps Piston, Right Shoulder