The missus wanted a 10-inch photo frame for Christmas but I thought it was a pretty boring and mundane present so I added some flair to turn it into a miniature model TV. At 1:6 scale this is exactly the right size for a 60-inch TV. The trick was to find a digital photo frame that had a screen ratio of 16:9 and a frame that was thin enough to resemble the bezel of a TV. I found one with a frame of 12 mm, which is too thick for modern TVs but about right for an older Plasma TV.
The next step was to find a suitable TV to act as a model. I spent hours googling photos of older TVs and finally settled on a Panasonic; partly because it looked about right and was simple to reproduce, and partly because Panasonic made some of the best Plasmas on the market and I wanted to pay tribute to them with this project.
Here is the photo frame I selected.
It needs a stand but I didn't want to remove its ability to function as a regular photo frame, so I needed something that could be easily attached and removed. I decided the best option would be to use the mounting holes on the back of the photo frame. Steel plate was selected because it is strong, thin, and flexible - the latter was necessary so that it could be bent, enabling the TV to be tilted at whatever angle was needed. The steel plate was cut from this computer casing. I deliberately chose a section with ventilation so I wouldn't have to drill mounting holes.
I made the stand itself from wood and cut a slot in the top for the steel plate to slip in to. So the final result consists of only three components. The photo frame, the mounting plate, and the wooden stand. The steel plate was shaped so that the control buttons on the back could still be accessed.
Here is the final result. It isn't an exact copy because most Panasonic TVs have a square green LED. Rhinestones have the right effect but I only had round ones, so that's what I used. I drilled a shallow hole so that the rhinestone is recessed. The logos are printed on paper and glued in place.
It is still a fully functional digital photo frame that can play photos, music, and videos. Hope she likes it.
The next step was to find a suitable TV to act as a model. I spent hours googling photos of older TVs and finally settled on a Panasonic; partly because it looked about right and was simple to reproduce, and partly because Panasonic made some of the best Plasmas on the market and I wanted to pay tribute to them with this project.
Here is the photo frame I selected.
It needs a stand but I didn't want to remove its ability to function as a regular photo frame, so I needed something that could be easily attached and removed. I decided the best option would be to use the mounting holes on the back of the photo frame. Steel plate was selected because it is strong, thin, and flexible - the latter was necessary so that it could be bent, enabling the TV to be tilted at whatever angle was needed. The steel plate was cut from this computer casing. I deliberately chose a section with ventilation so I wouldn't have to drill mounting holes.
I made the stand itself from wood and cut a slot in the top for the steel plate to slip in to. So the final result consists of only three components. The photo frame, the mounting plate, and the wooden stand. The steel plate was shaped so that the control buttons on the back could still be accessed.
Here is the final result. It isn't an exact copy because most Panasonic TVs have a square green LED. Rhinestones have the right effect but I only had round ones, so that's what I used. I drilled a shallow hole so that the rhinestone is recessed. The logos are printed on paper and glued in place.
It is still a fully functional digital photo frame that can play photos, music, and videos. Hope she likes it.