Updated: Added speakers to Tomy Refit Enterprise connected to WiFi, HomeKit & Home Assistant
Thanks for all the nice comments on my original post on my mod to the Tomy Refit Enterprise. I decided to take it one step further and added an internal speaker as an optional build feature - now the ship can boot up with the amazing orchestral score by Jerry Goldsmith, and also features synchronized phaser and torpedo sounds (thanks to ExcalaburVT who shared their sound files)! With the built in speaker, the sounds will play from the model if regardless if they are triggered by the web interface, HomeKit or Home Assistant. If you don’t install a speaker the sounds can play from the web interface and play on your phone or laptop.
I also added a timing tweaker to the web interface so users can tune to the millisecond the sound effects in case their unit’s timing differs from mine.
I modified the base cover plate to accommodate a speaker, with mounting brackets for the ESP32 and amplifier.
I kept a silent boot up sequence as well so home automations don't have sounds suddenly playing when people aren't expecting them.
Original post text: (https://www.reddit.com/r/StarTrekStarships/comments/1t52pqm/connected_tomy_enterprise_refit_model_to_homekit/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
The Tomy Enterprise refit is a beautiful model, but sadly it has no wifi connection and no way to power it on using a smart switch - you have to touch the touch sensitive buttons to make it work. I really wanted it to be turned on automatically each day so it is shining when I get home from work. After much tinkering, I found a nondestructive way to connect the ship to wifi using an ESP-32 controller, 2 resistors, and 2 transistors, and this can be done without any permanent mods to the model’s circuitry (ie no soldering to the Tomy electronics). Yes, you’ll still void the warranty by opening up the unit, but all mods are reversible. No external switchbot or visible mods to ruin the clean look. I made a 3d printed cover to allow wifi signals through the metal enclosure and to mount the ESP 32 board. Over the weekend I used Claude code and was able to get HomeKit and Home Assistant functionality as well as its own web interface (in case you don’t want to use HomeKit or Home Assistant) - you just open a local web browser and you can control the ship!
Native buttons work normally, too.
I’m working on cleaning up the documentation but have posted the how to, 3d file, and sketch on GitHub for anyone to try out!
https://github.com/SteveW25561/Tomy-Enterprise-Refit-Homekit-ESP32