ByYourCommand.net

After going through "The Young Lords" again, I think I've found the evidence that the supposedly different lit top and lower light bars inside the mouth are actually caused by different camera angles.

Just take a look at Lucifer how he turns away from the camera while speaking:

http://www.byyourcommand.net/cylongalle ... play_media

Well, what do you think? Problem solved?

Great work. I think the angle is key, yes. The plastic over the lights must have a slight bubble/curved shape to it.

very interesting. So, do you think there was only one bar on top then? or still the two seperate?

The lips are bubbled - as real lips are I presume...at least that is how I sculpted mine.

I think there were two bars, both illuminated at once when the IL spoke.

Yeah, two bars, one across the top, one across the bottom... probably all running off the same circuit/power supply.
I would guess 7 on top, 5 on bottom for an even 12 total to make power calculations easy, etc. (Just a guess!! But seems logical and easy.)

I'd rather say 6 for the top, 5 for the bottom.

As was discussed in Zeta's build hread it seems to be 6 and 5 for the 'typical' IL

Funny enough I am using a similar method as him to do the mouth set up with the voice control module. I gotta be honest that I really didn't review his thread until now and it's amazing how many similar conclusions we came up with. I only wish I was as tech savy as he is.

^ You two silly Cylons
Both of you are rocking it! Keep up the cool my friends.

Another question just came to my mind: On the screen-used heads, how you think the mouth lights would have worked by keeping all the limitations in mind they had back in '78?

Do you think they were operated by a noise-controlled unit or were there a controller switching the lights on and off by a second, off-screen operator to be in sync when the IL was talking?

Speculations are (as always) welcome!

As you know Felix Silla played the physical character. because he doesn't use his arms, perhaps he had a push button that lit up the mouth. the problily play a track on stage and he pushed the button to the track.

Also could have been a cable connected to the IL, if memory serves, the never spoke while on the move.

I agree. I did a voice activated version which I messed up in aday but then I got to thinking... a push button is the best route. If others are talking then the lights woul go off.. If stage hands shout out it would ruin the shot. It's a neat idea for a display helmet but overall the control of a mommentary button makes the most sense... plus it's totally 70 tech.

That is how Dick Tufeld did the Lost In Space Robot's mouth too... there was a switch in the right claw. In early shows you can see the right claw twitch as he worked the switch. Later he got more skilled at it and you can't see any movement.

Props and Costumes ROCK!

Perhaps the unit was inside the torso to shield it from any other background noises.

It could also tapped to microphone or something so that the mouth lit synchronically to the spoken dialogue.

Just my 2 cents.

Ack. I can't view the video. This Mac has a 50/50 problem loading video's. Even Mac friendly files types.

GoldCylon wrote:Ack. I can't view the video. This Mac has a 50/50 problem loading video's. Even Mac friendly files types.

If you had a dime for everytime I heard you complain about that mac... you could have bought a PC by now!