Build the Back to the Future Time Machine - 1955 Wheels

I got two shipments this month.  Eaglemoss likes to throw in these "Special" issues.  The first two were comic books, kinda useless.  But this latest one is kinda cool.  Sure you get charged for it, but at least this is relevant to the build.

Contents of SP003

SP003 - White Wall Tire Special

This issue did not come with instructions.  Others have mentioned this, as well.  But, if you remember how you build the stock wheels, it is pretty much the same thing.  

Here are some problems with wheels in general.  In order to install these wheels, you will have to remove the stock wheels from your model.  The trouble is, it is near impossible to remove the center caps to get to the screw.  Luckily for me, I left the center caps off of my wheels in case I needed to adjust the fitting in the future.  

This center cap problem also effects the white wall tires. Once you mount the wheels on, you close off the screw with the chrome domes.  The domes will be very difficult to removed, especially without damage, once they are pressed in.

Second problem.  It is March and still quite cold.  This means that the rubber tires are hard, and the bulkiness of them do not allow them to flex.  Therefore, pressing the wheel sections into the cold hard tires is near impossible.  

I suggest either waiting for warming weather or, warming up the wheels in some warm water so there is a little give in the rubber.  I have not put my wheels together yet, as I plan to keep the Time Machine as that way it looked in 1985, when it first rolled off Doc's van.

to be continued...

Build the Back to the Future Time Machine - Issues 059-062

Ugh, time change.  Speaking of time, we have another shipment of Time Machine parts from Eaglemoss.

This shipment came in a larger than normal box, also very heavy.  Already lost an hour due to the stupid time change, let us get to it.

Issue 059 - Bulkhead (Upper)
  

Contents of Issue 059

These are the final (I think) parts of the interior.  All we have to do is mount the Torin Blower, some hoses, and a few wires.

Oh man, the wires. This is issue where all interior comes together and finally gets mounted on to the chassis.  The wiring from back issues are plugged into the board.  While there are only a few parts to this issue, you will spend a long time plugging in wires and making sure elements of the interior assembly line up with the chassis assembly.  Be patient.

Assembled parts up to Issue 059

Issue 060 - Roof Frame

Contents of Issue 060

Oh, big heavy parts.  Not much goes on as far as assembling here.  Just installing the front door pins and you are done.  But look how huge this is!

Bonus!  We have a new screwdriver!

Issue 061 - Luggage Compartment Frame

Contents of Issue 061

Another heavy part, the front section of the frame.  The frame sections get merged and you kinda get a feel of how big...and heavy...this thing will be.  

Oh, another bonus!  Back to back bonuses.  I can only be this excited, because we have a new screw, the OM.  This heavy duty screw is used to secure the front and back frame sections together.

Issue 062 - Windshield 

Contents of Issue 062

Our first window piece.  Take care in installing this, make sure you do not slip and gouge the plastic windshield.  

It also comes with a rear view mirror.  The actual Time Machine does not have a rear view mirror. There is no need for it as the bulkhead blocks the rear view.  Anyway, I left mine off.  I also broke it while trying to install it...so there is that. So, be careful install this part, too.

Update: I fixed the rear view mirror and installed it.  But, I am too lazy to update a photo. 

Fun fact: The rear view mirror on my car broke off one day. I thought I reattached it correctly, and one day, while driving, it fell off.  So, I have very little luck with DeLorean rear view mirrors...at any scale.

Assembled model from Issues 060-062

Now, the best part...screw count.  I must remind you that there is a new screw in this shipment (OM from Issue 061)

55-AP, 15-BP, 2-CP, 13-AM, 12-BM, 4-EM, 4-CM, 19-DM, 2-DP, 1-FM, 3-GM, 3-HM, 2-IM, 2-EP, 18-FP, 2-JM, 3-HP, 3-GP, 6-NM, 1-MM, 3-KM, 1-LM, 1-IP, 1-OM

to be continued...

FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - March 2019

March.  March away from that phone, because it is a telemarketer calling

4 March 2019
  310-627-4642  Compton, CA - Compton?  Well, shit!  Fuck you!

  310-627-4642  Compton, CA - Wait, you called twice?  Well, fuck you...twice!

5 March 2019
  813-694-7239  Florida - This came in on the phone as "Unknown".  But, I looked in the Call Protect app and it shows the number as listed.  Did you really think disguising yourself as 'unknown' would make any difference?  Fuck you!

6 March 2019
 310-939-1813 - Redondo Beach, CA - Three days in a row.  I hope they call everyday of the month.  Fuck you!

7 March 2019
  310-325-6401 - Lomita, CA - Where the fuck is Lomita?  Well, there was a voicemail

310-325-6401

Lomita sounds like an acronym for a robo-telemarketing computer.  L.O.M.I.T.A.  Yeah, I do not have time to think of what it stands for.  Fuck you!

8 March 2019
  310-849-5898  Beverly Hills, CA - Sweet!  Five days in a row.  Left a voice mail for some credit card something.  Whatever.  As if I have any credit.  Fuck you!

  310-285-9242  Beverly Hills, CA - Second call of the day. Perhaps making up for tomorrow?  You guys have called on weekends before.  I wonder if the time change will mess with your system.  Fuck you!

12 March 2019
  310-956-1244  Hawthorne, CA - Getting quite a few 'random' numbers.  Mind you, these are still telemarketers.  Are they starting to run out of 'Beverly Hills' numbers to spoof?  Fuck you!

  310-956-1244  Hawthorne, CA - Two calls in one day.  Must be important...NOT!  Fuck you!

19 March 2019
  310-448-2048  California - This came in as "unknown".  But using Call Protect, I found out the number.  Fuck you!

20 March 2019
  310-994-778  California - So, I got a voicemail from these guys.  But, the phone did not even ring.
What is this witchcraft?  Obviously a telemarketer, but how did they bypass the calling and went straight to voicemail?  Fuck you!

21 March 2019
  310-849-8057  Beverly Hills, CA - It has been a while, Beverly (we are on a first name basis).  Fuck you!

22 March 2019
  646-794-7536  New York, NY - Definitely a robo-telemarketer.  Left a message in a foreign language.  Pretty pointless if you ask me.  1. I do not answer calls from the unknown.  2. If the message is in some kind of foreign language, how the fuck am I supposed to 'buy into' whatever you are trying to sell.  Fuck you!

  310-373-6462  Redondo Beach, CA - First, New York...now, California.  Coast to coast telemarketers.  Fuck you!

Build the Back to the Future Time Machine - Issues 055-058

Another delay in shipping as, according to some sources, there were shortages of Issue 56.  Well, I guess they have their supply and the next shipment was received.  Only month (January) delay, much better than the gap...crevasse...that was between the late June and December shipment.

Issues 055-058

Lots of small parts in this shipment. Oh, also, this parcel came with another binder.

Issue 055 - Lower Bulkhead

Contents of Issue 055

This parts include speakers that are located behind the seats.  I did not know there were speakers located behind the seats.   In a DeLorean, the speakers are located on the inside of the B-pillar.  Maybe they upgraded to better speakers and placed them just behind your butt for better bass.

Out of focus photo of speaker behind passenger seat

I am not sure there is enough room on a real DeLorean to place speakers behind the passenger seat. They would have to move some things around to accommodate. 

Issue 056 - Circuit Board

Contents of  Issue 056

Yay, more wires.  But this time, you get to plug them into the circuit board. 

Focus, damn it!

Actually, this is a good place for the circuit board.  The area behind the passenger seat is where the fuses and relays are. So, this kinda looks like the fuse and relay box.  Too bad my photo is way out of focus.

Issue 057 - Upper Bulkhead

Contents of Issue 057

This gets Issue is pretty exciting.  The upper bulkhead gets a lot of screen time in the movies, so everyone recognizes this area of the car.  Simple assembly here, pretty straight forward.

Kinda in focus

Most of the upper bulkhead is complete after this issue, there are still a few elements that are missing.  Which brings us to...

Issue 058 - Flux Capacitor

Contents of Issue 058

A lot of people are disappointed in how the flux capacitor is represented in the build.  I would have to agree, it is not that great.  It gets most of the elements and details but leaves a lot to be desired.  For such and icon part of and iconic car, they could have done a lot better.

Uh, okay

Well, there you have it, a flux capacitor.  While it is supposed to make time travel possible, needless to day, this time machine, with this flux capacitor is not going anywhere.

There are a few more pieces that need to be installed before, the bulkhead gets mounted to the interior.  Those parts will come in the next issue.  Until then, here is your screw count up to Issue 058

54-AP, 15-BP, 2-CP, 12-AM, 11-BM, 4-EM, 4-CM, 18-DM, 2-DP, 1-FM, 3-GM, 3-HM, 2-IM, 2-EP, 17-FP, 2-JM, 3-HP, 3-GP, 3-NM, 1-MM, 3-KM, 1-LM, 1-IP

to be continued...

FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - February 2019

Well here we go, another month and no time wasted.  It had been over a week since our last call.

 1 February 2019
  213-807-1922  Los Angeles, CA - At least this call was intercepted by AT&T.

213-807-1922

I wonder if they will call repeatedly on Groundhogs Day.  Fuck you!

4 February 2019
  310-849-5651  Beverly Hills, CA - Early morning call at 7:06.  They did leave a message:

310-849-5651

By the way, this is the same robo message left by multiple callers.  Well...partial message, since I have a long greeting to my voicemail.  That generally cuts off most of the robo messages and lets me know if 'missed' calls are legit.  Fuck you!

7 February 2019
  310-849-6415  Beverly Hills, CA - Oh, we all know who this is...I mean, we do not know who it is, be we know who it is.  Fuck you!

10 February 2019
  310-547-8135  Los Angeles, CA - Point to AT&T for flagging this one as a telemarketer.

310-547-8135

Keep in mind that this call came in on a Sunday at 11:03.  I mean, what if I was at church...not likely.  If there was a god, there would be no telemarketers.  Fuck you!

11 February 2019
  310-849-8376  Beverly Hills, CA - Something about these Beverly Hills numbers allow them to sneak pass the AT&T Alert system.  Fuck you! 

12 February 2019
  443-853-8092  Maryland - Not one...

  443-853-8092  Maryland - ...but two calls from this number.

443-853-8092

Both calls caught by Call Protect...and labeled by AT&T Alert!  Bam, bitch!  That is a double sack!  fuck you!

13 February 2019
  310-849-8851  Beverly Hills, CA - This call slipped through the cracks.   Oh no, I did not answer...just like ever suspicious call, I ignored it.  Fuck you!

  310-849-9791  Beverly Hills, CA - Two calls in less than an hour.  The day is young...bring it on.  Fuck you!

15 Februray 2019
  849-949-4755 Dominican Republic - No kidding.  Someone from, or pretending to be from, the fucking Dominican Republic called me.  I shit you not.

849-949-4755

 Like, who do I know that is from the Dominican Republic?  Better question, do I even know where the Dominican Republic is?  Fuck you!

849-947-3151  Dominican Republic - What!  This is awesome. Not only getting more than one call today, but more that one call from the Dominican Republic.

849-947-3151

Did they run out of number from the US to spoof or call from?  Fuck you!

18 February 2019
  310-849-6976  Beverly Hills, CA - Ah, good old Beverly Hills!  None of that 'Santo Domingo' bullshit.  Oh, they left a robo message:

310-849-6976

I mean, it sounds legit, right?  Of course not!  Fuck you!

  510-906-2793  Alameda, CA - Interesting.  Hey, today is supposed to be a holiday of some sort.  Fuck you!

19 February 2019
  310-598-4832  Beverly Hills, CA - Oh, I guess they ran out of 849 prefixes and had to spoof some other numbers.  Fuck you!

  559-884-5930  Riverdale, CA - This was intercepted by AT&T Alert and branded as a Telemarketer.  I am too lazy to take a screenshot, but just take my word for it.  So, thumbs up to AT& T, and for the telemarketers on the other end, the usual...fuck you!

20 February 2019
  310-849-3689  Beverly Hills, CA - Okay, I guess there are still some more 849 prefixes in the Beverly Hills area.  Good for you and fuck you!

  310-849-1000  Beverly Hill, CA  - Great number.  Makes it look so official, like it is coming from some place important.  Good try, fuck you!

25 February 2019
  310-849-6449  Beverly Hills, CA - Starting the week off with another spoofed number from Beverly Hills.  I wish it was some luxury retail brand calling me about some luxury item.  But, no.  It is some robo telemarketer, as usual. Fuck you!

28 February 2019
 302-232-9625  Delaware - Call Protect to the rescue on the last day of the month.

302-232-9625

Actually, double tagged as AT&T Alert label this call as "Fraud Risk".  Fuck you!

  310-255-2535  Santa Monica, CA - Who the fuck is this?  Telemarketer, that is who.  Fuck you!

Build the Back to the Future Time Machine - Issues 051-054

Finally got a new shipment of parts! 

Well, it has been a quite a while.  How long, you ask?  Five months.  My last (real) shipment was from July 2018, Issues 047-050.  This new shipment was received in December 2018.  I was out on holiday most of December, so here we are in January with this update. 

Issues 051-054

More fun wires and for the interior and finally a place for the passenger to sit.

Issue 051 - Passenger Seat

Contents of Issue 051

If you remember way back in July, we worked on the driver's seat.  This is exactly the same.  But, there is a difference between the driver and passenger seat.  The detail of the folding lever is correctly molded on the outside of both seats.  So, 050 is the driver's seat and 051 is the passenger seat.

Issue 052 - Driver Side Door Sill

Contents of Issue 052

Oh looky, more wires.  This is the set of wires that lay across the door sill.  You also have the the parking brake.  Yep, while most cars have their parking brake handle at the center console, the DeLorean has the parking brake handle located on the left of the driver.

Issue 053 - Passenger Side Door Sill

Contents of Issue 053

Surprise, more wires.  The passenger side has the bonus of a corrugated tube that runs beneath the wires. Like the driver side these should be the last of the wires in the cabin...until we get to the...

Issue 054 - Bulkhead

Contents of Issue 054

While there are no wires in the parts, you will have to deal with existing wires. But this is when it gets exciting again.  The rear shelf of the DeLorean was (rumoured to have been) designed to carry a set of golf clubs as the bonnet was to small and shallow to fit anything thicker than a pizza box.

The bulkhead is where some of the cool stuff is in the interior of the Time Machine. There will be lights in the future...which means more wires.

Assembled parts up to Issue 054

Not too bad.  The interior is slowly...and I mean slowly...coming together.  Hoping the next shipment will arrive on schedule and not half a year later.

Fun fact:  John DeLorean was born on 6 January 1925.  Did I just happen to upload this post on 6 January, at 19:25?  Maybe.

Oh, I have waited since summer for this.  Screw count!

49-AP, 12-BP, 2-CP, 12-AM, 11-BM, 4-EM, 4-CM, 18-DM, 2-DP, 1-FM, 3-GM, 3-HM, 2-IM, 2-EP, 16-FP, 2-JM, 3-HP, 2-GP, 3-NM, 1-MM, 3-KM, 1-LM, 1-IP

to be continued...

FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - January 2019

It sure had been a while.  Well, not really.  I have been on holiday and had my phone turned off for most of December.  You know, too cheap to pay for roaming charges.  So, there is no telling how many times the telemarketers have tried to contact me.  But here we are, as the saga continues.

3 January 2019

  424-375-2327  Gardena, CA -  First call of the new year.  How exciting is this?  I am sure this is the first of many to come this year...heck, it should be the first of many to come this month. So, fuck you!

4 January 2019
  206-480-1729  Seattle, WA - Wait, Seattle?  Is it the new NHL team calling me with a job offer?  I could be a scout, coach, or general manager.  Wait, no...it is a telemarketer.  Fuck you!

8 January 2019
  213-807-5417  Los Angeles, CA -  Could be a legit wrong number...

  213-807-5417  Los Angeles, CA - ...but they called twice in less than a minute, and did not leave a message.  Sure that totally sounds like a wrong number, but we know how telerobomarketers work.  So, just to be safe, fuck you!

9 January 2019
  310-978-4499  Hawthorne, CA - Yeah, I am going with spoofed number on this one. Fuck you!

  310-849-7770  Beverly Hills, CA - No speculation here, this definitely a spoofed number.  Fuck you!

10 January 2019
  310-849-9876  Beverly Hills, CA - These last three numbers have pretty cool 'last four' digits.  Nice and easy to remember, so that makes it easy for me to ignore.  By the way, they seem to be really poring it on thick, three days in a row with three calls.  Fuck you!

11 January 2019
  505-666-3675  Santa Fe, NM - Kudos to AT&T

What a lovely sight.  Love it when the phone and/or provider intercepts the call.  Even better, they branded the caller as telemarketer.  Ha, fuck you!

15 January 2019
  410-826-0092  Baltimore, MD - Holy shit, is this going to be a new thing from AT&T?  I love this!

Oh...and, fuck you!

17 January 2019
  310-849-2409  Beverly Hills, CA - The phone is still ringing as I type this, I wounder if I can get to the end before they...ah, shit...not fast enough.  Fuck you!

  310-849-2409  Beverly Hills, CA - Oh shit, they called twice in less than a minute.  I should have been able to finish typing.  Guess I need to work on my typing skills.  Fuck you!

21 January 2019
  310-849-4275  Beverly Hills, CA - Today is a holiday.  But do not let that stop the telemarketers:

310-846-4275

...calling at 7:37 in the morning.  Fuck you!

  510-906-2690  Alameda, CA - Three things Alameda is famous for.

• Used to be the home port of the USS Enterprise CVN-65. 
• Same Naval Base was used to film Matrix Reloaded, freeway chase scene.

510-906-2690

• Home of telemarketers.

Fuck you!

  926-273-8032  Sacramento, CA - Third call today.  At lease they are from different numbers. Even better, from three completely different regions (of California).  Fuck you!

23 January 2019
  310-849-2769  Beverly Hills, CA - Did you know today is National Pie Day?  Obviously there is a Pi (π) Day, March 14 (3.14), so that should also be pie day.  It makes no sense that a random day in late January is pie day.

Oh, telemarketer. I totally forgot. Fuck you!

Fitbit Memory Storage

I think I mentioned way back that I have a Fitbit Alta HR.  I have been using this fitness tracker for almost two years.  The wife also sports a Charge 3...and both of us really need to be more athletic.

Recently, we were on holiday for nearly a month.  The problem with going to foreign lands is getting internet service...for free.  I am kinda cheap.  Sure, one can pay for roaming charges or acquire a SIM card for phone.  But, these things cost money and sometimes a vacation from social media is just as important as vacation from work.

Where am I going with this? You need access to the internet to sync your Fitbit fitness tracker.  Like most people I just sync with the app on my phone. Again, no internet on phone means no syncing.

The last time I synced my Fitbit was on 1 December, before leaving on this trip.  I should also mention that our destination was Southeast Asia, a 16 hour difference.  Another reason not to sync was time zone issues.  Would I loose/gain more hours in a the days I am flying?  How can I hit my step goals if I only had 8 hours?

Anyway...we just wore our trackers for over three weeks without syncing.  We charged every week like normal.  When we got back to our time zone and had internet service, on 28 December, we synced and all the data for the past four weeks was there.  Four weeks of data was not lost.  This is awesome since we did a lot of walking and set personal bests during our trip.

Fun fact.  I got sick during the trip. Noticed that my resting heart rate was 50% higher than normal while my body was fighting off whatever virus I had. Once I was feeling better, my heart rate went back to normal.

I am amazed that these wrist mounted devices can hold so much memory.  Next time, we should plan a longer trip. 

FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - December 2018

A little disappointed that we are five days into the new month and five days since the last call.  What gives?

5 December 2018
  816-897-6519 Kansas City, MO - Wait, there is a Kansas City in Kansas and Missouri?  What, they are the same city?  Who makes a city border two states?  This is madness.  I wonder (too lazy to Google) if other cities straddle state, province, country line.  Where was I?  Oh, telemarketers...fuck you!

  513-715-8780  Harrison, OH - This is good.  I like it when they use random numbers from random locations.  It keeps me on my toes like a graceful ballerina.  But, as usual, if I see numbers and not a name associated in the Caller ID, that shit gets ignored, like a chubby ballerina.

Oh, they left a "message":

513-715-8780

I love how the phone transcribes the message.  That was it.  It pays to have a long outgoing message so the robocallers are unable to start or finish their propaganda.  Fuck you!

7 December 2018
  613-593-4396  Greenport, NY - What, no more spoofed numbers?  Did your spoofing contact run out at the end of the year?  Did not pay your bills. Ah, fuck you!

  310-849-2210  Beverly Hills, CA - Nevermind. I guess you are going back to spoofing numbers. Awesome!  This makes it way easier for me to ignore. Thanks, and...fuck you!

FUCK YOU, STOP CALLING ME - November 2018

Can you believe it is already November?  I actually hate when people say that.  It basically means that they have no concept of time and have little responsibilities.

Of course I know it is November.  I have stuff due on certain dates, Halloween just happened, and it is time for another month long blog about telemarketer calls.

1 November 2018
  305-995-0099  Florida - I like this number, so does Call Protect.  Call Protect even marked this as "Potential Fraud".  Fuck you!

  305-995-0099  Florida - Call Protect blocked two calls from this number.  It is a 'catchy' number.  A number you can give someone and they should be able to remember it. "Three-Oh-Five, Nine-Nine-Five, Oh-Oh, Nine-Nine".  How about "Double-Oh, Double-Nine"?  How about, fuck you!


2 November 2018
  818-309-1766  Los Angeles, CA - Kudos to the phone for tagging this as "Suspected Spam".  Saved be the trouble of even caring.  Fuck you!

5 November 2018
  302-232-9640  Bridgeville, DE - A few rings and self disconnected.  Good, saves me the trouble.  Fuck you!

9 November 2018
  310-849-7471  Beverly Hills, CA - Who the fuck is this?  Oh, of course...another call from fucking Beverly Hills, another fucking spoofed number (no doubt).  Fuck you! 

10 November 2018
  310-849-5308  Beverly Hills, CA - Good old Saturday morning call.  Same comment as above.  Fuck you!
 
15 November 2018
 310-849-9292  Beverly Hills, CA - Slacking of a bit, I see.  Been a few days.  Fuck you!

16 November 2018
  310-849-4476  Beverly Hills, CA - Usually when I bring up the fact that it has been a few days since I have received a telemarketer call.  They call the next day.  I wonder if they will call tomorrow as well...it is a Saturday.  Fuck you!

17 November 2018
  213-807-1916  Los Angeles, CA - Surprise!  Just like I predicted, a call on a Saturday. After not getting any calls for four days, this makes getting a call three days in a row...and on a Saturday.  Hey fuck nut, why not make it four in a row.  Call me tomorrow, bitch!  Fuck you! 

18 November 2018
  478-419-8001  Swainsboro, GA - Guys, you failed to call me on Sunday.  Now, we have to start from zero.  Lucky me, the phone branded your bullshit call as Suspected Spam

478-419-8001

I like that is says "missed call".  As if I 'missed' the call.  Oh on, we all know calls get ignored...especially ones marked Suspected Spam.  Fuck you!

  251-239-3024 - Bay Minette, AL - Call Protect, bitch!

251-239-3024

Bay Minette sounds like a nice place.  Too bad, fuck you!

20 November 2018
  310-849-5607  Beverly Hills, CA - Right on queue.  I may be jinxing this, but I wonder if they will call on Thanksgiving Day.  I doubt telemarketers have family or friends to hang out with.  So, yeah.  Spend the day working and harassing people.  Stay miserable, and fuck you!

  251-239-3024 - Bay Minette, AL - Wait same number as yesterday.  Intercepted by Call Protect, like yesterday.  Just like yesterday...fuck you!

21 November 2018
  559-418-6320  Huron, CA - I am pretty excited that this makes it three days in a row with a telemarketer call.  But I am more excited about this - check this out:

AT&T Alert:  Telemarketer

Look how beautiful that is.  You know what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving?  This.  This is a new weapon in the fight against telemarketing.  Kudos to you, AT&T!

559-418-3620

I am so excited that I almost forgot something...fuck you!

24 November 2018
  972-556-3547  Dallas TX - Aw, you missed a few days.  Do robots have Thanksgiving and shop on Black Friday?  I wonder what they were doing these past two days...not really.

972-556-3547

What a bunch of douches.  A 09:15 call on a Saturday morning.  I am loving this new AT&T Alert.  I wonder if this is were callas are originating from before they are spoofed from Beverly Hills numbers.  Meh, whatever.  Fuck you!

29 November 2018
  310-849-8024  Beverly Hills, CA - Another spoofed number from those telemarketers.  Fuck you!

30 November 2018
  310-849-4670  Beverly Hills, CA - End of the week, end of the month.  One more harassment call before the end of the month.  Until next month, fuck you!