We’ve seen Portal gun builds, a few cute turret replicas, and even a miniaturized version of GLaDOS, but [John]‘s Portal radio replica is the first physical version of this oft-forgotten Portal item.
Interestingly, the entire radio is made from scrap. The spheroid body shell is made from the foam insulation from a commercial freezer, carefully sculpted, Bondoed, and painted over the course of 300 hours. The radio guts are taken from an upcycled radio, and powered by either an internal battery or a wall wart DC adapter – perfect for carrying around a test chamber with a portal gun.
Right now, there’s an AM/FM receiver inside the radio along with an audio input so an iPod or such can be plugged in. While we would have loved to see a loop of theuptempo version Still Alive, we’re guessing [John] hasn’t found an easy way to do that with junked parts yet.
Check out [John]‘s build video after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxScP6XKNiU&w=470]
Even better would be to add GPS so that when taken to certain locations the LED would turn red and computer RFI noises would get played.
It can be done easier,using a limited range RF Transmitter/Receiver,when you are at a certain areas the Receiver will pick up the signal and trigger a Relay which can trigger an Mp3 Player with the Portal Transmissions and turn on another LED that will light RED.
Those were not RFI. The noise you heard (or heard about) is actually a slow-scan television signal:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-scan_television
Look around, someone’s done the hard work and ‘rendered’ it :)
IIRC it was an RFI sound until shortly before the release of Portal 2, at which point Valve pushed an update with the SSTV audio for a prerelease ARG.
300 hours seems a bit…long.
If I had GLaDOS breathing down my neck to make them perfect, I’d spend that time too. After all we all know what she does to things/people she is displeased with. No fun tube ride to the incinerator in Brians future ;)
The spheroid body shell is made from the foam insulation from a commercial freezer, carefully sculpted, Bondoed, and painted over the course of 300 hours.
Or he could have 3d printed a shell in about 4.
Your move, 3D printers.
Or go the cheaper route and vacuum form them.
I’m thinking about it but i can make the same Concave on foam within minutes,faster and way cheaper. :)
Hey there. It took that time because i was experimenting on how it can be done accurately,regardless if i knew my way around on Sculpturing on Foam. My second try took 2 Noons,and my third a little bit more but it looks better than my first (the one you see in this video),maybe i’ll put a video up aswell soon,you can subscribe so you wont miss it.
I see. Starting with little or no skill and coming out with a finished product and plenty of skill. Good job.
He’s not the first, here’s another portal radio build from 2009 made by a guy called flauzus. be sure to check it out it has some great pics which will give you an idea how to build your own portal radio
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21748
Man that portal radio has been on my to do list for so long! Really should take a crack at it!
Yeap true,i was the Third with the Third radio if i’m not mistaken,the second was a guy making replicas under the name “Ace Replicas”.
The HoMedics SS-5010 Soundspa Premier is the closest there is to a commercially produced Portal style clock.
looks cool but whats with the narator sounding like bella legossi playin dracula?lol
I guess because we are both European,lol.
I have the Still Alive (Looping Radio Mix) song set as my phone’s ringtone. Now I have difficulty playing Portal because I stop and try to answer my phone when I get near one of those radios. I don’t need that happening in real life too!
What would be neat on a radio like this is an LED POV display for the station number and time.
Hello. This is actually what i wanted to do in the first place. I have a circuit from another radio that can migrate to a Portal one,but maybe in a later model,as of the three radios i’ve made,two have an Aperture Logo,and one has the typical 85.2Fm.