Exploring the inside of the Rangefinder (possible found part alert!)

Updated the end of the first post with 2 images regarding the working red LEDs on most of the helmets and some partial view of the perspex block's light.
 
Now I'm a bit dense but am I correct in the understanding here that the perspex block itself is supposed to be internally lit up by the GoW lights?
 
Amazing info Rafalfett, as always!!!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!!

Leo

Thanks a lot! FR accepted!

Now I'm a bit dense but am I correct in the understanding here that the perspex block itself is supposed to be internally lit up by the GoW lights?

Yes, that's the whole idea, but it seems that not the whole perspex block was lit, just the 3 channels; this effect was achieved by restraining the glow power of the GoW lamps (higher voltage lamps are used with lower voltage batteries; ex: 12v lamp with 4X1.5v batteries) and also increasing the life of the bulb.

ESB Inner Light.jpg
 
Here is an example of a 3mm diameter/6mm long 6V GoW bulb (note the different form of the bulb) with full glow running at 6V:
grain_bulbs_6v.jpg

... and a pale glow at 2V:
grain_bulbs_2v.jpg
 
Just ordered some of these bulbs to do a test. Also, from your pic of the ESB RF top that's partly hanging out, Rafalfett, it looks like there is a 1mm or so section of aluminium on the inside of the RF block?
 
Just ordered some of these bulbs to do a test. Also, from your pic of the ESB RF top that's partly hanging out, Rafalfett, it looks like there is a 1mm or so section of aluminium on the inside of the RF block?

That's great news!

I noticed too that there's something under the perspex block, and I assumed that its purpose is to let the perspex block to sit at a specific distance in the RF housing. Here is a drawing (a WiP of my new RF templates that will be awailable with my RWH v2 helmet templates) that shows with approximation these 'spacers':
RF Side Sections.jpg

The Rangefinder casing thickness is around 2mm and the spacers are 1mm for the ESB and 1.5mm for the ROTJ. The image is an interpretation of the movie era RF setup for both ESB and ROTJ.
 
Looks good there.

I just received a precision vice so have been able to accurately drill the three holes into the RF block. A nice slow speed and feed rate keeps the bit straight and doesn't melt the Perspex...(y)

Block-1.jpg


Block-2.jpg
 
What a piece of beauty! Just need some light (I know they are on their way to you) and some experiment with them and we'll have some great rangefinders... I hope.

Keep up the great work!
 
RafalFett, you are brilliant and I can verify that you are indeed correct on both the wheat lamps and the 2 part Perspex. There are three wheat lamps in the perspex in addition to the two red LEDs that everyone already knows about.
 
The metal is not a spacer, but serves to reflect the light of the wheat bulbs. Also, it covers the entire top of the perspex.

The perspex is simply pressure fit into the rangefinder (with doublesided tape holiding it in place). The reason you are seeing a difference between the RotJ and the ESB is most likely due to the perspex not having been cut exactly the same thickness from helmet to helmet.

That's great news!

I noticed too that there's something under the perspex block, and I assumed that its purpose is to let the perspex block to sit at a specific distance in the RF housing. Here is a drawing (a WiP of my new RF templates that will be awailable with my RWH v2 helmet templates) that shows with approximation these 'spacers':
View attachment 66828

The Rangefinder casing thickness is around 2mm and the spacers are 1mm for the ESB and 1.5mm for the ROTJ. The image is an interpretation of the movie era RF setup for both ESB and ROTJ.
 
RafalFett, you are brilliant and I can verify that you are indeed correct on both the wheat lamps and the 2 part Perspex. There are three wheat lamps in the perspex in addition to the two red LEDs that everyone already knows about.

Thanks a lot Art!

The metal is not a spacer, but serves to reflect the light of the wheat bulbs. Also, it covers the entire top of the perspex.

That is a good explanation, but in the Pre-Pro #2 images there is definitely a square piece under the perspex block that doesn't cover the whole part:

PP 2 Helmet 11.jpg PP 2 Helmet 12.jpg

The perspex is simply pressure fit into the rangefinder (with doublesided tape holiding it in place). The reason you are seeing a difference between the RotJ and the ESB is most likely due to the perspex not having been cut exactly the same thickness from helmet to helmet.

The thickness is the same and the best way to verify this is to check out the C-IV images for the ESB (the front corner of the perspex block is hanging out a bit) and the Heilman images for the ROTJ (the perspex block is also hanging out from the RF casing), the only major difference is the front cut angle (around 50 degree for ESB and 64 degree for the ROTJ), the lamp channel diameter and length (?) and the triangle is a bit bigger on the ROTJ (with 0.5mm), but again these are not set in stone and further research might change these values.

Perspex Compare.jpg Perspex Block Measurements.jpg
 
That's it. So on the PP2 the aluminium foil isn't there...
Because you have the wires running into the Perspex block powering the grain of wheat bulbs, when the adhesive strip fails, as seen on the ESB hero, the only thing preventing the block falling out are those wires. This is why the narrow end of the block has slipped out, revealing that aluminium backing sheet.
 
That's it. So on the PP2 the aluminium foil isn't there...

That would be my guess. The square you see in the top of the PP2, is very similar in shape and size to the doublesided tape.

Because you have the wires running into the Perspex block powering the grain of wheat bulbs, when the adhesive strip fails, as seen on the ESB hero, the only thing preventing the block falling out are those wires. This is why the narrow end of the block has slipped out, revealing that aluminium backing sheet.

No, the wires aren't what hold the perspex in. The perspex is primarily held in place via pressure from the sidewalls of the rangefinder top. The doublesided tape helps support it, but the pressure is the primary thing that hold it in place.

The grain of wheat bulbs are a good fit into the holes in the perspex, but aren't a tight fit. The wires are actually pretty strong and I suppose they could provide some support, but again, the true support is coming from the rangefinder body itself.
 
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