Green Cross Code Droid: In the beginning

What a mess. The years have taken their toll and the electronics are very bad indeed. The original build was a mix of ply wood and GRP, bonded together. Most of the wood has now rotted away and the smell of decaying batteries was rather strong. My first task was to rip out all the old electronics and see if anything from the original parts could be reused.

The rear castors are completely seized, however, a couple of weeks soaked in WD40 should help.

It was hard to believe that the original motor wiring was up to the jobs, it is so light. It looks like old telephone wire.

Nice little system used to connect the motor wires to the removable base. All corroded now and does not work but a nice idea. I will replace this with a Powercon connector plugged up through the centre of the body.

This was the system used to connect the body to the motor base. Unfortunately it is completely smashed and a new system will need to be designed

Most of the front details were made from cardboard and have now all fallen of. I will replace these with the same coloured card keeping the original look.

The external body work were ever possible will be kept original with all the original bumps and scrapes Most of the front facial is made from card board so will have to be replaced as most of it has fallen off.

Looks like an old accoms radio system,

The electronics have looked better.

The speaker looks like it was connected to an old realistic amplifier. This had a radio mic system connected to it. I am assuming that of camera someone spoke into the mic which made the droid look like it was talking. The whole system is completely corroded and does not work, shame really. This probably won't be replaced as it would cost a fair bit today.

Luckily the head cross brace is still undamaged

This old analogue to digital speed control of a work of Art, I would love to find out who designed this and return it to them, it really is a piece of electronics history. Very clever use of servos and push switched.

Decaying batteries. The leaking acid has destroyed most of the surfaces around them.

Motors stripped out and I will start to rebuild them. Internally they look ok so I haver high hopes.

Loving the pram wheels.

New motor brackets made up as the old ones had rusted through and the wood supports had rotted away.

Motors rebuild, we have power, Yeh.

I am going to try and keep the dome motor drive system as I love the simplicity of it and it works still.

Lots of glueing and reinforcement needed to get it all back centred and working. This is the dome pivot.

Head motor all cleaned out and working great. I love the simplicity of the original design and will keep it as it is. Hopefully there will not be any issued when it is connected up to a modern ESC. The motor looks like it is from an old tape deck.

What a great DIY resistor for the dome motor.

Body all cleaned out and ready for mew body to base mounts.

I have fitted a bolt system to connect the top section of the body to the base for easy transportation. Much simpler than the original design and stronger.