Chopping up my MQ-1 Calculator

As many of you know, I discovered the MQ-1 calculator years and years ago (almost a decade ago now) and was the first to have one in hand... but in all that time, I have never been brave enough to chop one up. I don't know why today was the day (I don't have gauntlets to put it in) but today I chopped up the original Casio I got so many years ago. It was really stressful, but also rewarding to finally give it a shot and see how it turned out. I am pretty pleased with the results. One of the mistakes I feel a number of people have made in the past is cutting the sides down too much and not leaving enough of a lip on each side of the calculator. This was really slow moving as I filed down a little... checked it... and then filed down a little more. I think I might do a couple more file touches, but overall, I am really happy with how this has turned out. It really isn't a big undertaking as it is simply cutting and sanding, but it is very small details and delicate work and you don't want to screw up your $150 calculator that is not easily replaced. So here is my calc (sorry about the fingerprints) and here is the original. Give me your thoughts and critiques.

Looks good Art. Bet you had fun keeping track of the button, I did. Now you just need a set of gauntlets.

No problem with the buttons... I just kept the back plate screwed in place. This only furthers my belief that only the top half of the guts of the MQ-1 were used for the back of the helmet, and the bottom half was left attached the the keypad.

interesting. We were just discussing the MQ-1 yesterday. I was wondering if I could find a way to cast the keypad without cutting it up. I have a few ideas I may try.
Like Art said, it isn't easy to look at it and then decide to start cutting it. I know it is an easier resin part to find, I just am really digging process right now, and to "find" a way to mold it without cutting it sounds fun to attempt.

I'd like to find an original myself.....would be nice to have a functional keypad that could be rigged to perform other functions in the suit.

Originally Posted by dankenman

interesting. We were just discussing the MQ-1 yesterday. I was wondering if I could find a way to cast the keypad without cutting it up. I have a few ideas I may try.
Like Art said, it isn't easy to look at it and then decide to start cutting it. I know it is an easier resin part to find, I just am really digging process right now, and to "find" a way to mold it without cutting it sounds fun to attempt.

There is a way to do it. I did. You just mold up the whole top half.

I figured that would work, thanks asok

I just took the 2 rear screws off, but the back still seems to be attached. Is there another screw under the rear sticker or? I don't want to force it off, but I want to get the circuit board out. Any thoughts?

I am not going to be much help. It was about 3 or 4 years ago I took mine apart and said to say, I had to sell it.

no worries. thanks anyways. It seems like the back plate is still attached in the middle somehow. The screws were on the ends, and the ends are loose, but I don't want to force it. Maybe there is a clip inside somewhere. I just need to figure it out

Good work Art, takes guts to cut into this baby!

What are you using to do the cutting with? I haven't looked at my MQ-1 in a long while. It's been sitting in a closet awaiting the same procedure. It does look like in the reference photo of the real gauntlet that there is a space cut out underneath the calc pad where the back plate could be sitting. So that is interesting. That makes a lot of sense. Easy solution to the button problem. However it does look like the top lip on the pad in the ref photo, which faces forward on the ROTJ gauntlet, is trimmed more than what you have so far done on yours. I'm sure you probably see what I'm talking about.

Nice work Art, looks great. Funny, I destroyed mine as soon as I got it lol, well destroyed as a calculator. Maybe it would have taken 10 years if I left it?

Yes you can cast it witout damaging it, but I seem to remember I had an issue with the silicone and the rubber under the key pad, so use a release.

Best, Rob.

i got so excited with mine that i took it apart right when i got it at work... not realizing that the buttons weren't connected to anything. i then crawled around the floor at work until i retrieved all of them.

lol. I want one to actually use the keypad on my gaunt. I had borrowed a freinds to cast the pieces, but i want one of my own to use the "real deal" parts on my gear.

Originally Posted by asok

I am not going to be much help. It was about 3 or 4 years ago I took mine apart and said to say, I had to sell it.

I'm not sad you sold it...to me. LOL

I just used a hobby saw, cutting block, and metal file to get mine all cut down to where it should be.

Looking nice Art! Glad you finally got around to it. Satisfying wasnt it?

Originally Posted by Darth Voorhees

lol. I want one to actually use the keypad on my gaunt. I had borrowed a freinds to cast the pieces, but i want one of my own to use the "real deal" parts on my gear.

they still roll around from time to time, this one ended before christmas.

Very Rare Vintage Collectable Casio MQ-1 Calculator (eBay item 120656656228 end time 13-Dec-10 06:02:22 AEDST) : Consumer Electronics

Originally Posted by kbrosseau

I just used a hobby saw, cutting block, and metal file to get mine all cut down to where it should be.

Looking nice Art! Glad you finally got around to it. Satisfying wasnt it?

I used the same thing. I first cut the long in with a hobby saw (baby hack saw) and then used a table sander to sand down both sides. From there I went to jewler's files and sandpaper on a flat surface.

It is satisfying... primarily because it actually came out well and I didn't ruin it! I have trashed a lot of similar projects because this just isn't my area of expertise...

my cutting method was a dremel to rough cut it well away from the finish line, then a belt sander with fine grit paper to smooth it out.

Looks great, Art. Now all you need is a suit to put it in.

Originally Posted by Art Andrews

No problem with the buttons... I just kept the back plate screwed in place. This only furthers my belief that only the top half of the guts of the MQ-1 were used for the back of the helmet, and the bottom half was left attached the the keypad.

I'm sorry for resurrecting this thread, but it's clearly seen in so many pics that just the top half of the MQ-1 board was used for the helmet, being the bottom half of the holes covered with the same material used for the visor.

To add to that, there are a couple pictures in the gallery where you can see the other half of circuit board underneath the gauntlet keypad.