My Fantasy Project - The PADD Update 21.12.05

I just got back the four pieces of acrylics today and I am so over the moon! They used transparent acrylics because its more common and cheaper, I guess. It felt so nice to hold them too.

Anyway, there are a few things I noticed but I'll let the pictures tell you. So, I guess I have to go to Phase II which is to R&D on the Electronics. I have more or less decided what I want to do with the project now, and I'll go in stages. But I think this project is further set back maybe end 2006 and not in six months time as most fo the cash I am saving are now going towards car repair (RM1000) and the coming Chinese New Year Ang Pows (the price of getting married). So, I am crossing off the checklist now:

1) PADD Design - Done
2) Electronics to light up the view area - Started on research
3) Electronics to control the LEDs - Waiting
4) Electronics to control the switching On/Off - Waiting. Need RM400
5) Battery issue - Waiting. Need to look at current batteries available
6) Redesign of PADD actrylic due to fitting of Electronics - Oh, shit. This is getting to be expensive
7) Viewscreen design - I have absolutely no idea on this yet
8) Types of spray paints that does no react with the acrylics years from now - Ha ha ha ha ha
9) The correct colours for the PADD - Not easy in Malaysia


Here they are! All accurately cut


I noticed some burnt marks....


And three pieces have small melted "dents" in them, most probably where the laser starts and stops



And maybe there was a problem cutting one of the holes


Four laters, but the second layer (from the top) is supposed to be 1mm thick


View of the middle layer
See the square hole on the left?
If the electronics are OK, then this will be the slot for the Optical Isolinear Chip at the size of (2.4 x 8cm)



OK, this is roughly what it looked like when I arranged them


Hee hee hee. I couldn't resist!
As soon as I got home, I tore away the paper backing and stacked them
But there were a lot of dust and the acrylics were scratched


Here is another shot. Almost like an X-Ray image

Reference:
If you'd like to have an ultra accurate PADD kit, you can contact Matthew Munson at matthewmunson_@_yahoo.com (You need to remove the "_" from the E-Mail first as these spam bots are nasty). And, if you like to have THE ULTIMATE PADD that has lights and sound, you can give Gerhard Mros a call at gmros@cogeco.ca and you will not be disappointed.

Car Park Menace @ KL SOGO


Now, they're using another tactic.
They will wait at the entrance and "guide" you to an empty parking lot
You will assume they are part of the Sogo Car Park staff.



Once you "obey" their instructions, they will cooly walk over to you and make a killing

Man: There. There, park next to Volvo
Me: OK, (no choice since I was rushing for an appointment)


Seconds later, after I parked my car and I was still in it, he walked towards my car

Man: Boss, want to buy this? (Showing me the spray cans in his bag)
Me: No. This is not my car le (bluff him a bit so he lose interest)
Man: This spray good (He then take out and spray on my wiper
Me: WTF! HEY! I TOLD YOU THIS IS NOT MY CAR! THIS IS MY BOSS CAR! HOW CAN I EXPLAIN THIS TO HIM!
Man: Ok, OK. Keep quiet la, you don't have to shout! Just a spray only
Me: WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN? LOOK AT THIS! THIS IS OIL! HOW CAN YOU SPRAY THAT TO THE CAR!
Man quickly walks away. And I walked away too, but at the distance to take his photo.


I wonder why KL SOGO allows these type of people there. All year round, they will park their red van and then start selling their spray to these customers. One day, they might get aggressive and the customer has no choice but to buy in case something happens to their car while they're away. The spray smells like WD40 but there is no telling what it would do to your car parts. And if something goes wrong, would SOGO be responsible since the parking receipt has their name?

The place not only has these people selling sprays, but sometimes, you can meet the odd guy selling watches. At one time, these "spray guys" were not around and were replace with guys selling car security plates to prevent break-ins. Yeah, you're right. What the hell. If they can demonstrate how to break into your car, and they know how to install these plates, it would still not reinforce your confidence about parking over there.


And I paid RM8 for this afternoon's experience