Life-Sized LEGO Walkie-Talkie Replica with Bluetooth Controls

As you would probably guess, Bob Clagett is a big fan of LEGO, and decided to create a life-sized replica of their iconic walkie-talkie. He decided to even make it functional, not as a voice communication device, but as a Bluetooth input for Twitch controls.

Electronics for the build are quite straightforward, and he uses a Feather Bluefruit LE board to take care of Bluetooth communications via instructions found on Adafruit. Wiring consists simply of plugging in a LiPo battery, and connecting three buttons (and later switches) to inputs and ground. This enables the Feather’s built-in pull-up resistors to take care of any potential floating issues.

The model was cut out of layers of 1/4” MDF, using printed templates to keep everything accurate and a lathe to fashion the faux antenna. This part of the project entails a few interesting tricks, including the use of rare earth magnets to keep the device’s cover on, applying heat to release stuck-on templates when finished, and the use of EVA foam for squishy buttons.

A write-up on the controller is available here, and the process is of course documented in the YouTube video below, featuring a hotkey demo at around 13:00. Code for the build is up on GitHub, and Clagett gives a walkthrough of how it works in the second clip if you’d like more info on that aspect.