Kids "Spaceship control panel" Prop

This instructable will show you how to build a spaceship control panel prop for young kids from inexpensive, readily-available materials. The interactive light-up panel adds a little excitement to those cardboard "spaceships" that seem to appear after you buy some large appliance.

Materials
Qty-2    8x10 Plexi Sheet (0.093" thick) (Available at HW stores for <$2
Qty-3ft 1x2 Pine (preferrably the higher grade that has square edges, this makes the frame look
                 better than if you use the more common rounded-edge 1x2's)
Qty-9 Single-pole (SPST) toggle switches
Qty-16 Red/Green flashing LEDs
Qty-4    Automotive (12v) paddle switches
               (mine were lighted, but that's not really necessary)
Qty-8    12V LED Panel lights
Qty-1    LM7805 voltage regulator
Qty-8   390ohm 1/4watt resistors
Qty-1    9V battery clip

Misc:
Aluminum Duct Sealing Tape
18-20gauge wire
solder + Soldering iron (15-30w)

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Step 1: Build the Frame

The supporting frame is built out of 1x2s and 1 1/2" screws. (Yes, the carpenters among you can cringe and wish I'd built a better-looking frame. Not to worry, this all gets covered up with aluminum tape, so these corners won't show). Note that frame is size just a tiny bit larger than the 8x10 plexi sheet itself.

inezneal says: Oct 8, 2012. 10:44 PM

ok so for the panel .we buy the the plexi and then send it through a printer with that layout pdf? is that how you got the picture on the plexi?

ARJL (author) in reply to ineznealOct 9, 2012. 10:39 AM

You don't print directly on the plexi. At office supply stores you can find clear sheets with sticky back to print on. You can then peel off the back and stick it on to the plexi.

inezneal in reply to ARJLOct 9, 2012. 11:31 AM

thank you for responding. im serious about attempting this .

ARJL (author) in reply to ineznealOct 9, 2012. 8:10 PM

One other comment. I printed on translucent sheet and affixed them to the "front" side of the plexi. In retrospect, I should have taken regular WHITE "letter-size self-adhesive laminating sheets" (like by Avery or Post-It) and put the (reversed image) sheet on the BACK of the plexi. That way the shiny side is on the front, and the printed sheet is protected...

ARJL (author) in reply to ineznealOct 9, 2012. 8:06 PM

Good luck! it's a neat toy, a particularly good starter. I had intended to make other panels and put them together into a rocket mockup, but my kid's interests went another direction.

chipper35 says: Dec 20, 2011. 8:39 AM

Nice!! I've been looking for something like this!!

Ddraig says: Sep 1, 2010. 1:26 PM

You could add one of these cards to it http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/ and properly wire it up and it would work as a usb joystick on the computer. Then you could use something like pinnacle game profiler to set the buttons to run various computer commands.