2135/31/08 - Intercepted Transmission A7392AA

LocID: CTY478; New Burhma, WA, USA

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[Static] ...not going to bore you with the how and the why of what happened, you know that history already.  You might not know about what the Companies were like before the bombs dropped though, so I'll tell you about that.  See, before everything went to [Static] the Companies existed for us - the consumers.  They made crap that no one needed, but we all bought it anyways.  Names you might know, like Pepsi/Nike/Apple and others that are gone now like Exxon/Microsoft/McDonalds.  Around the late 90's companies really started to get out of control, and it just got worse as the years went on.  But man, the bombs leveled everything - some would say fixed everything.  Some Companies were quick though and they adapted to stay alive.  You know Nike now because of the gear they make for the Armies.  They retooled so fast that it was amazing, and with most all of their competition destroyed, who else was there to supply gear.  Apple was a real shocker though.  Sure, they continued to make high-end computers for those living in the City Zones, only ones that could afford them now.  But, they also moved into high-end detection and survival gear.  [Static] are dozens of manufacturers of that kind of gear, but the Apple kit is some high-speed shit.  They really set themselves apart with the quality of their gear.  Most of my gear is Apple, my Nightvision, Tac-Light, Geiger Counter even my Portable Desalinator is from Apple.  I've trusted my life to that gear...

But you wanted to know what I do too, didn't you.  Well, we are Relic Hunters.  We go into the forbidden zones, the abaondoned and toxic cities, and look for relics of the past.  You see, [Static] privileged enough with money and a safe home in the City Zones pay good for relics.  Half of what we find is beat, and another quarter of it too hot to bring back.  Sometimes though, just sometimes, we find some relics that are in pristine condition.  I'm amazed at [Static] works like it does.  That is how I got my vintage Apple iPod.  It had all the usual scratches, and then some, but it still worked.  I had to rig a power source for it and I almost sold it when I found out it was loaded with actual music - but I just couldn't part with it.  I'll admit it, I keep quite the collection of relics for myself - even though [Static] trouble.  Heh, I even met up with this one team of Relic Hunters who took a lot of vintage Company products and hacked them into new products from the Companies.  That is how I got the idea for this guy.  You see, I just couldn't walk around with my vintage iPod - someone would try and kill me for it.  No, I had to conceal it...and what better than a gutted out Apple geiger counter...[Static]

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So, this year I decided to do something a bit out-there.  I love doing mods that no one would think of and are completely different than the normal mods you see.  Even better to use Apple kit, since the amount of Apple modding (compared to PC Modding) is pretty slim.  The story above is what I had in my head when I went into the mod.  So, without further adieu - the build log:

I started with a vintage Geiger Counter that I have had since high-school.  It actually still worked too.

 
Some beauty shots:

Classic Civil Defense logo:

Base - I just love how they used to include the schematics when you bought electronics:

The original gauge:

All dissassembled (I saved everything):

Ok, so in order to get the iPod to fit I had to grind down some of the supports on the inside of the lid:

Now I will need to make a tray to support the iPod and mount onto the bottom of the lid (just like the original electronics).

Cutting the smoked acrylic:

Perfect fit:

More cutting for the iPod base support:

Done, and that gets the iPod to the perfect height for the window:

With top:

Now, using acrylic triangles to make the "holder" for the iPod.  This allows a nice snug fit so the iPod will not move/shift.

Done:

Enlarging the original phono jack to accept a new retro plug...err  New Retro? Kinda like Jumbo Shrimp...

Now, I wanted to keep the original gauge face (it had some nice character).

Had to sand down some rough spots:

 
Now, to make the new wand/handle for the controls.

Cutting acrylic discs:

Two discs, chucked into my drill press and ready to be sanded:

Looking good!

Cutting the opening for the controls into the acrylic tube:

All cut, not just to sand the edges:

Time to paint (my favorite!).  First, the primer coat:

Lid, Bottom and Handle Support all primered:

Now, to paint the wand and sled a silver/chrome:

Now the all important Top-Coat: 

Now just to put it all back together! 

Handle mounted: 

iPod in its cozy little sled... 

Time to completion - 7 days.

Again, I had a blast putting this together.  I hope everyone enjoyed the story and more importantly - the mod itself!  Thanks again to MacMod for putting on such a great competition this year, as always - something I look forward to.  Also, thanks to all the sponsors and judges who make all this happen and are willing to hook us up with such excellent prizes for out modding flights-of-fancy!

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