Deep Space Homer custom by Paul Wasson

Deep Space Homer
A Custom Simpson Figure by Paul Wasson

Deep Space Homer

From the episode "Deep Space Homer" comes Astronaut Homer. NASA wants to send an everyday man into space, and Homer is that everyday man!

Reporter:	Jim Wallace, Associated Press. [clears throat] Is this a joke?
Scientist:	[cheery] Far from it, Jim. One of these men will prove space travel is within the reach of the common man.
Reporter:	Toby Hunter, Minneapolis Star. No really, is this a joke?
Scientist:	No, Toby, and no more questions about whether this is a joke.

This is a very unique figure that can play every sound on every playset!

Deep Space Homer comes complete with his bane, the inanimate carbon rod!

Homer:	Stupid carbon rod. It's all just a popularity contest!

What makes Deep Space Homer unique?

Deep Space Homer has 12 switches on his backpack, that can be set to thousands of different combinations. The table below shows the switch settings for all the figures that work in the current playsets. Many of the characters have not been released yet! For more information about what figures say in different playsets, check out Scooby's Simpsons page

There are plenty of combinations left to extend the table down or to the right as new figures and playsets are added!

Warning: switch settings are out of date, please go here for the latest values.

Figure Map	R1 Switches 1-4
R2 Switches 5-12	4.7k 1111	6.8k 0111	8.2k 1110	10k 0101	12k 0001
6.8k 11111111	Homer	?Bart	***	***	***
8.2k 00111111	?Homer	Bart	Mr. Burns	***	***
10k 10011111	Radioactive Homer (Glowing Homer)	?Bart	Smither	???	***
12k 00101111	?Homer	Kamp Krusty Bart	Lenny	Martin Prince	???
15k 11110111	Pin Pal Homer	?Bart	Carl	Principal Skinner	Sideshow Mel
18k 10010111	?Homer	Dare Devil Bart	Apu (Pin Pal Apu)	Ms. Krabapple	Mayor Quimby
22k 10000111	Sunday Best Homer	?Bart	Otto	Willie	Reverend Lovejoy
27k 00101011	?Homer	Sunday Best Bart	Krusty	Vampire Burns	Comic Book Guy
33k 10010011	?Homer	?Bart	Kent Brockman	Bart the Fly	???
39k 11111101	Marge	?Bart	Moe	King Kong Homer	???
47k 00001101	Lisa	Milhouse	Barney	Devil Flanders	Jimbo
56k 10111001	Grampa	Nelson	Chief Wiggum	Itchy	???
68k 10100001	Patty	Ralph Wiggum	Maggie	Scratchy	???
82k 10110100	Selma	Ned Flander	???	Sideshow Bob	???

Key

Released figure

Future release figure

Unused setting, possible future figure

Invalid setting

Key
Released figure
Future release figure
Unused setting, possible future figure
Invalid setting

So, for example, if you wanted to hear what Kent Brockman says, first you would find him in the table above. Then look at the top of the column he's in: 8.2k which has the switch settings 1110 which corresponds to switches 1-4 of Homer's backpack. Next, look at what row he is in: 33k which has the switch settings 10010011, for switches 5-12. So you would set the switches on Homer's backpack to 111010010011, which is (left to right) ON,ON,ON,OFF,ON,OFF,OFF,ON,OFF,OFF,ON,ON. Woo-Hoo!

How does it work?

The following figure give the schematic diagram for what is in Homer's backpack. Apparent NASA has figured out the resistor-coil technology!

Deep Space Homer Schematic Diagram

Basically, changing the switches will change the resistance measured between the pads of Homer's foot. The playsets will read the 2 resistance values (called R1 and R2 above) to determine what character is being plugged in. By changing the resistance values, Homer can trick the playset into thinking he's any character.

How was he made?

I took a Radioactive Homer figure from the Power Plant playset, and modified him into the spacesuit. This involved adding pockets to his pants, a zipper to the top, and two air valves. After I was satisfied with his look, I took him apart and made silicone molds of his chest, arms, and legs. I also made a mold of the Sunday Best Homer's head.

I then poured plastic resin into the molds. Before pouring the left leg, I placed the 3 pad connection into his foot, with wires extending to the top of his legs. The wires then slipped out between the legs and the torso. Here I soldered the three wires to the resistor network show above. I encased the electronics with Magic Sculp to create the backpack.

The arms and head are connected to the body with very tight fitting wooden dowels that permits the regular arm and head articulation. The waist articulation was sacrificed for the electronics.

Then I painted him, and put on the finishing decals.

Homer:	Yeah, maybe I do have the right...what's that stuff?

Special Thanks

Thanks to my friend Tom Sliva, who after hearing me talking about making this figure for about a year, got out the soldering iron, hooked up the resistors, and got me going!

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