A “2001 Briefcase Computer” update: there hasn’t been much to say recently, but I’ve completed the rough-cut of the video camera. It’s made from the correct model Japanese telescope, the correct tripod and a scratch-built body with four chrome-plated “knobs.” The black bits are unclear on the prop, but were made from textured 1mm black plastic, recessed slightly into the body. The body here is white; the final versions will be fiberglass and painted to look like aluminum. There is a barely-visible square at the front, presumably a sensor… and an almost invisible square at the back. As currently built the back-square is simply a square of plastic; without further views of the proper, which I doubt are forthcoming, there’s nothing more I can add that would be “canon.” However, that would be the obvious place for switches, controls, etc.
To finish the camera, I need a correct coiled cable. Unfortunately, this sort of thing doesn’t seem to be too common these days. It is larger than a phone headset cable, with the coil appearing to be about 1 inch/ 2.5 cm in diameter. Does anyone know of such a cable? There is no connection between the cable and the camera visible; I suspect on the prop the cable was simply jammed in a hole, glued or even taped on. However, some sort of reasonable “plug” would have to be included. On one hand, a USB plug would seem right… on the other hand, the “2001” aesthetic doesn’t exactly go for “simple and easy to use,” so a nightmarish cable coax fitting would almost seem right.
To compare with:
3 responses to ““2001 Briefcase Computer:” video camera”
An old-fashioned type headphones cable perhaps ? With an XLR-type connector ?
The closest that it *seems* to match are guitar cables. Based on the 1/4″ jacks, some of these *seem* to be about 1″ in diameter across the coil. Trying to find a cheap one. the cables seem to be in 20 to 30 foot lengths, when clearly I only need 2 to 3. Of course a longer cable would provide multiple units. Still, this little project is gettin’ spendy.
Helicopter pilot headsets use coiled wire and 1/4 inch plugs. Like this wire: https://hobbsflyer.com/products/helicopter-replacement-headset-cable?variant=46165790392551