Walkman Style Cassette Player prop "Last of Us”

Update: Youtuber Ada Büyük made a short  about building this model. Thank you for your nice video!

 

 

 

 

Walkman Style Cassette Player Prop Inspired by “The Last of Us”  with mp3 sample player module

 

Hi,

Last year, we made a YouTube video about “How to Repair Ellie’s Walkman”. In the comments, I was asked where to get the battery clip. Since it was unavailable anywhere, I decided to build one myself, as I was already planning to buy my first 3D printer and needed a project to get into Fusion 360. You can find the clip in my uploads. But somehow, I couldn’t stop, and this is the result:

 

A Walkman Style Cassette Player prop, inspired by Ellie’s Walkman from the game and TV show The Last of Us, featuring the following:

• Customizable “Ellie” name on the device (can be changed in BambuStudio to anything you like)
• Operational cassette door with optional magnets to insert tapes
• Dummy headphone jacks for headphones
• Print-in-place volume wheel that you can (barely 😊)  turn
• Operational Play, FF, and REW buttons, which control the:
  • Optional MP3  sound module with USB-C and (Play, Stop, FF, REW, Vol. up and down) 
  • Integrated speaker
  • Operational Battery door with access to the USB-Port (yes, the spare part for the original machine)

 

All images are taken from the untreated print and are unedited.

Boost Me

 

The cassette shown is not included in the print, you have to use a real one atm..

UPDATE: or use the new 
Audio Cassette Tape Replica by ScarfMeadow with included PDF for Last of us Stickers!

 

Printing Requirements

At the moment, an AMS is needed to successfully print the version shown in the pictures. I tried to minimize color changes as much as possible, but due to the optics and brittleness of silk silver filament, it became a must-have (for now). Maybe I can add files for a Cricut or similar plotters later.

 

Required Filaments

Main Colors:

• Bambu PLA Matte Black (or any other black filament)
• Bambu PLA Silk+ Silver (or Geeetech Silk Silver, which is slightly warmer and resembles the original silver much better—used in the pictures)
• Bambu PLA Matte Dark Blue (used in the pictures: eSun PLA+ Dark Blue)

Additional Colors:

• Bambu PLA Matte White (text on the control panel)
• Bambu PLA Green (Play text on the control panel and headphone jack element)
• Bambu PLA Grey (clip; printed in Copymaster3D PLA Matte Warm Grey in the pictures)
• Bambu PLA Red (for the small battery light dot—any red filament will do)
• Bambu PLA Transparent Grey (only if you want to print the window part; a small piece of acrylic is much more transparent)

Additional Required Components

• MP3 greeting card module with 3 buttons (Amazon EU)  or

This module will only be delivered to the EU atm, if you live outside EU i put a 3 Button module on ebay, only Ebay fees and delivery as additonal costs, https://www.ebay.de/itm/356717113450

• 1 button (AliExpress alternative + Jst SH1.0mm 2pin 20cm cable ) 

   

• 2 self-drilling screws M2 × 10 mm
• 2 self-drilling screws M3 × 10 mm (iron screws to stick to neodymium magnets)
• PLA glue

Optional:

• 90 × 45 × 1 mm acrylic sheet (recommended over printed window)
• 7 mm × 1 mm neodymium magnets
• 16 + 20 mm × 2 mm metal rods (neck strap holders) (Makers Supply: Dowel pins)

Print Files & Colors

Each print profile should be printed with the specified colors and with their unique settings:

 

The InnerParts Print Profile has 2 Plates, Plate 1 for 3 Buttion MP3 Module, Plate 2 if you want to print the model without sound, Plate 3 for 1 Button Sound Module.

File	Colors	Time	Model Weight	Waste	Changes
CaseFull	Silver, Dark Blue	15h	125g	144g	136
OuterPorts	Silver, Dark Blue	0.5h	2g	1g	2
ControlPanel (Plate 1)	Black, White, Green	3h	34g	23g	7
ControlPanel (Plate 2)	Black, Silver	0.5h	3g	4g	2
InnerParts (3-Button)	Black	1.5h	42g	4g	-
InnerPorts	Silver, Black, Green, Red	0.75h	2g	6g	14
Clip	Grey	0.75h	8g	0g	-
Window	Transparent Grey	0.25h	2g	1g	-

Note: Let Silk Silver prints cool down before removing supports and remove them VERY CAREFUL — even with optimized settings, the filament breaks easily. 

 

The following parts have an editable text_shape in Bambu Studio where you can change the “ELLIE” name to a name you want: CaseFull Plate 1, Control Panel Plate 1 and Clip.

 

If you want better text quality on the control panel and outer ports, print the 0.2 nozzle versions with a 0.2 nozzle, but expect 6 extra hours of print time. This version was used for the pictures.

 

Assembly Instructions

After approximately 23 hours of print time, 218g of model filament, 180g of waste, and 160 color changes, follow these steps:

 

Step	Parts needed	Picture
Glue the window in the cassette door (use acrylic if possible).	Print: Window or 90 × 45 × 1 mm piece of acrylic Print: (CaseFull, Plate 03, Cassette Door), Glue
Optional: Glue neodymium magnets on the cassette door (break off the small plastic pin if using magnets).	2 7 mm × 1 mm neodymium magnets
Insert InnerPorts into the case.	Print: (CaseFull, Plate 01, Case) Print (InnerPorts)
Glue the OuterPorts description panel to the case.	Print (OuterPorts), Glue
Optional: Insert the 16mm metal rod in the control panel.	Print: (ControlPanel, Plate 01)
Secure the rod in the control panel with the Rod Secure Part. (thinner part downwards, higher part inwards). You might need a tool to press it in.	Print: (InnerParts, Plate 01, Rod secure part)
Glue the Volume Screw in the volume wheel — carefully turn it with a small screwdriver to break it free.	Print (CaseFull, Plate 02, VolumeScrew), Glue
Connect the Mechanics Part to the Board Holder, insert MP3 knobs, and arrange cables. (pay attention to matching function on the MP3 part and the three buttons on the control panel )	Print: (InnerParts, Plate 01, Mechanics) Print: (InnerParts, Plate 01, Plate Holder), MP3 greeting card module
Insert four knobs in the control panel and attach the Mechanics Part. It doesn’t really connect, so hold in place for the following steps	Print: (ControlPanel, Plate 02, Play, Rew, FF) Print: (CaseFull, Plate 02, Eject)
Slide the speaker into the Mechanics Part.
Attach the Control Panel and electronics inside the main case — Make sure no cables interfere between the body and Mechanics part.. Attach the battery.
Arrange Cables and Battery as shown
Optional: Insert the 20 mm rod into the case.	20mm rod
Attach the Backplate. Slowly and carefully, make sure everything clicks into place. (Pay extra attention to the scew clips, they break easily)	Print: (CaseFull, Plate 03, Backplate)
Carefully screw in four self-drilling screws (M3 for downwards parts).	2 self-drilling screws M2 × 10 mm, 2 self-drilling screws M3 × 10 mm
Attach the battery clip and belt clip (requires slight force). a little more power, slowly but surely..	Print: (CaseFull, Plate 03, Battery Clip) Print: (Clip)
Screw in the front screws — magnets will hold the door if installed. If not the small pin should do, its sits a little harder at first, but should be better after a few open closes.	2 self-drilling screws M3 × 10 mm, Iron, the must stick to the neodyme magnets
Click in the cassette door — align one side and carefully bend the other.
Cut the USB Cable – i had to cut a small part from one side of the USB-C Cable to fit in the USB Port..

 

This has been designed with its original look in mind. I know that some parts could have been better designed from a FDM 3D printing perspective, but im still learning. If you have any ideas for improvement, feel free to share.

 

See also my Last of us Headphone + Controller Stand