Low Budget Film Making: Sci Fi Props made from household JUNK!

[@OtherWorldExplorers]

Subscribed One: Because the thumbnail was intriguing. Two because I like the idea of upcycling and recycling junk into new ideas.

[@PBProps]

Well thanks very much for subscribing, I always appreciate that. Glad that the thumbnail drew you in too and hopefully the video gave you some ideas!

[@vultan2000]

Love the sand and bronze colour scheme of the welder prop.

[@PBProps]

Glad that you liked it, cheers!

[@Terry.W]

Very creative...the Doctor would be proud of your found items

[@PBProps]

Thanks - they were a fun little build!

[@brianartillery]

Nice use of a Panzer III/IV turret as the 'lump' on your third build 👍👍👍 Sorry, but it's my only 'Trainspottery' thing. I love identifying greeblies on film and TV props. In 'Thunderbirds', the most popular greebly item is the square support for the Airfix Girder Bridge - there are four on the front of every Thunderbird 2 pod; Derek Meddings even used model kit frames (sprue, if you must), applied to the models - the docking port of Thunderbird 5 is dressed with two large pieces. Another is the cab roof from an Airfix Scammel tank transporter - it's an odd 5 sided shape. Greeblies are a good way of seeing how big a prop actually is, too. My two favourite uses of greeblies are 'Close Encounters Of The Third Kind', where MPC R2-D2 parts - head dome in particular, appear on the Mother Ship at the end, and '1941', where the waste bins on the pier effects miniature, are modified R2-D2 kits. Good video, and I think I might try to make them - but to about 1/12 scale, to fit with my Doctor Who figures. I quite like the idea of seeing the Doctor's First incarnation with a 'Null Point Generator'. I've long enjoyed imagining hearing him saying modern sci-fi technobabble, on the lines of: "It's an ancient starship, caught in a perpetual warp ellipse!", "It's a small, irregular singularity. The wreckage says to me, that someone used a Dyron Jump Drive, too close to the gravity well of that star - that's dangerous. Yes, very, very dangerous, tut, tut."

[@PBProps]

Yeah, it's always fun to spot greeblies and parts - that's why I have a 40 year collection of them. The square girder bridge part that you spoke of, I take it that you meant Dapol, rather than Airfix - as that's the universal bit that appeared on absolutely everything during the 1960's, 70's and 80's, even I have a stash of them and try to work them on to various things, that said, currently they're being reserved for some studio scale replicas. Well, if you do make CO scale versions of these props for your figures, please do let me know - I'd love to see them! Thanks for watching.

[@brianartillery]

@@PBProps - Yes. Dapol now, Airfix back in the 1960's - they were used on Stingray, too. Airfix bought a load of railway model tooling from Kitmaster/Rosebud in the 1960's, and, in, I think, the 1980's, when facing a financial low (the first of several), sold all their railway (Airfix Mainline) tooling to Dapol, who use it to this day. A lot is remarkably crisp still.

[@PBProps]

It's quite odd just how many companies that we all know who have been bought out over and over again. Airfix and Humbrol now being owned by Hornby, being just one example.

[@garysprandel1817]

Digging up some of the ingenuity of the 1.98 FX/prop budget days of BBC. They absolutely look like they belong in a futuristic yet lived in universe. While time and age has restricted me I used to haunt the local Menards, Home Depot Builders Square plumbing departments,dollar stores and flea markets for prop materials. Old Nerf weapons with a bit of rework, modding and paint became serious looking blasters and slug throwers etc. Best one I came across that just needed some quick olive drab paint, some yellow stenciling with proper militaryish nomenclature were some small in ground pop up sprinkler heads that if you pressed down a certain way on top the spring loaded head popped up. Easily some quick and dirty space marine hand grenades.

[@PBProps]

Thanks for watching. It's always fascinated me how you can assemble some random(ish) parts together and end up with quite a believable prop at the end of it.

[@zebrapringlez3141]

That welder looks incredible!

[@PBProps]

Thanks!

[@michaeldumas9203]

This was great!! 🤖

[@PBProps]

Thank you - glad that you enjoyed it!

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

Beautifully done props.

[@PBProps]

Thank you kindly!

[@charlessampson6426]

Inspirational. Thanks for sharing.

[@PBProps]

My pleasure!

[@jeffdunne1299]

I’ve got a sink plunger that looks like the meat tenderiser from two doctors

[@PBProps]

It's been a few decades since I watched any Classic Who (or any telly for that matter) - but if I'm remembering this correctly, the same plunger was also used as guns in The Armageddon Factor... or it may have been The Underworld.

[@retrothing]

I only recently stumbled across your channel and have been devouring it all. I’m especially excited by this video as I’m a filmmaker type who’s always wanted to do something more elaborate than gritty angsty (cheap) dramas, and sci-fi has always been my first love. This video speaks to me even more directly than your other brilliant installments. How about an embarrassing number of questions that may inspire future videos? Would it be strange to inquire whether anyone else would be interested in a video about adhesives? Especially which types you use where? For example, I know plastic glues from my model building days, but less so about adhesives that have to be more durable (I usually use epoxy if a prop is going to be handled a lot) - or act as a gap filler. Are UV glues the new wave? I’ve had variable success with those. I’d also love to learn about metallic finishes - is it possible to get a real chrome reflective look without electroplating? How do you sand plastic to a slick enough finish to get a mirror chrome look? With prop guns, why does no one glue in extra weight so it won’t move around in an actor’s hands looking like hollow plastic? I love your approach to 1:1 scale prop kitbashing, and would love to see more. Thank you for so much exciting inspiration! Now… where’s my old Lego bin?

[@PBProps]

Well, film making is my first love, so I always try to crowbar something of that ilk in to what I do... In regards to your other questions, in brief - I do have plans for the sort of videos that you've been asking about, though I have been reluctant to pour energy into them as usually, they go down like a lead balloon. I had ideas on videos for using plastics, glues, what sort of materials to use and tools to buy. I will do them in due course... the scripts have been written for several years now. The chrome question is a perennial one. Electroplating is the only way to go. There are other good chrome effects, but they simply don't last or handle well. That said, I do have one technique, but it requires a hefty cure time... which isn't great for the time turnaround in production. As to adding weight to guns, I'm always surprised that few if anyone ever does that anymore. It's like shopping bags in movies or on the telly, you can always tell there's no weight to it. When I used to make weapons, specifically guns, I always used to put lead weights in them. Unfortunately these days, fishing shops don't seem to exist locally, so I've been less keen to do such a project. Anyway, I'm glad that you've found the channel and are getting some use from it. Cheers!

[@mikebull1972]

Lovely looking work, as always! One thing for me though (and it could well just be my strange head!) is that no matter how dressed up it is, a hose spray nozzle is always still a hose spray nozzle! I seem to recall a few hand props on Red Dwarf (particularly) standing out to me for that sort of thing.

[@PBProps]

You're probably like me, good at parts recognition. Most of the time I can spot parts on props, but I like to see how the markers used the parts in context to what the end result is meant to be. I think it's how it looks over all that makes it, though you do get some very lazy looking props too and both Red Dwarf and Doctor Who were quite guilty of this - as were some of the big budget productions too... Star Wars for example.

[@elliottbarber]

Man I love your videos I’ve been subbed for so long they are just amazing

[@PBProps]

I appreciate that, thanks - and I hope that you continue to find them enjoyable!

[@richardcoleman3425]

Really cool! And I can totally relate to the length of time it can take to complete a project. I generally spend 25% actually working on the project; 40% coming up with new projects to distract me from the current one; 15% finding other things to do to avoid starting on the painting (yes, even housework!); and 20% picking superglue from my fingers...

[@PBProps]

That's something that I can relate to wholeheartedly. You should see my "To Do" list, plus all the "unstarted" and incomplete projects. It's about time to start actually finishing stuff... or simply stop not starting things. I'll get my coat!

[@animateangus]

Great video! I was tasked with building a miniature submarine for a low budget sci fi Film a few years ago. Totally scratch built with plasticard and acrylic tubing, but I wish I’d incorporated some of these techniques. Trying to source greeblies is a lot more difficult than I thought!

[@PBProps]

Anywhere that I can see your submarine? I'm rather interested to see what you did. As for greeblies, everything and anything can be used. I have boxes and boxes of old technology, kits, toys and general things - all with bits on them that I consider to be "interesting shapes" - if I see something that looks good, I keep it until it can be used. Thanks for watching!

[@retrothing]

I’ve been saving misprints from my 3D printer to use as greeblies as well. The internal honeycomb bracing and the support structures you throw away have a cool architectural look to them sometimes.

[@MadmanWthABox]

I have been NEEDING THIS!!! Thanks you AOOOOO MUCH!! Im subbing

[@PBProps]

Thanks for subbing!

[@nobleathenian3945]

Nice!

[@PBProps]

Thanks!

[@gfunkin3d]

When you posted the pictures of these brilliant builds, I was hoping there’d be a video. As ever, you do not disappoint! The radiation detector is my absolute favourite of these 3, as I said in Facebook, I’m a sucker for 7th Doctor era incidental props.

[@PBProps]

Well, there very nearly wasn't a video as I built these for fun off camera, but in the end I thought that it couldn't hurt just to talk about it all as a sort of show and tell. Sorry that it's not a build video in the usual sense, but I'm glad that you like the pieces anyway!

[@StanTheSlitheen]

awesome!

[@PBProps]

Thanks!

[@craigwilliams6734]

TBH I thought everyone did this…anyway, a good looking prop! Dr Who & Aliens are my favourites

[@PBProps]

Well, this isn't meant to be a revelatory video, I'm just sharing my thoughts on a recent project that I tinkered with - that may give other folks ideas on how to tackle this kind of thing for their projects. Essentially, it's a video for KZbin Search. Thanks for watching though.

[@craigwilliams6734]

@@PBProps I wasn’t knocking it, they look like “screen ready” props TBH…I dare say most people have got a box of miscellaneous bits & pieces!!! 👍👌🙌

[@PBProps]

Don't worry, I didn't take it as a "knock" in the slightest, I just replied in general terms. This is often difficult to convey in text on a screen. No worries!

[@georgemartinezjr]

Outstanding work What Brand of paint and Brushes you

[@PBProps]

Cheers. I use whatever is to hand, to be honest. Halfords Automotive spray paints, Tamiya model paints, artist's acrylics and oils and as for the brushes, they're all ancient ones that are probably 30 plus years old - Windsor and Newton and any other high quality brushes that I can find. I also use a variety of sizes of house decorating brushes too. I hope that answers your question.

[@EthanDolan61101]

Funny you made the video, at the moment I am working on a project for university. In the project, I am designing and building a prop that I have come up with. This video really inspires me so thanks for that. Also, I don't know if you noticed but on the rear of the spot welder, it looks like it has a face. Anyway hope you are well and all the best, thanks and bye for now.

[@PBProps]

Well best of luck with your prop build and I'm really happy that this video has inspired you to some degree... And yes, the pareidolia effect on the rear of the spot welder hadn't escaped my notice either.

[@EthanDolan61101]

@@PBProps Thanks Again

[@georgemartinez1720]

How did you weather Dirty down this Props

[@PBProps]

It's just lots of thin layers of paint in different shades and tones, simply brushed on, blended in and mottled with a rag.

[@benflay6038]

This is great 👍, i like the welder Good idea to think what it is or job suposed to do Crying original falcon parts Thunderbids did this a lot amazing the bits get used the star wars did it in every ship the lightsabers were same especially obiwans , doctor who ,so were told, had a ship in frontier in space that was a cardboard tube balsa wood wings amd ball for cockpit

[@PBProps]

Why would you be "crying" over toy bits? They're ten a penny. Everything has a use beyond it's original intension.

[@benflay6038]

@@PBProps falcon original props are expensive Nd difficult to get and it's a original falcon

[@owenrichards1418]

You'll have to let us in on this sci-fi film you are working on. Just be careful using exotic technical terms with the general public. I messed around with making props for videos many years ago so I knew what you meant by 'lump' but some lay people could get easily confused. Apart from that, great video. Ummm. How many Kenner Millennium Falcons do you actually own?

[@PBProps]

I do have a film in mind, but it's purely theoretical as I have no-one to help me make it. That said, it doesn't hurt to build things for it, just to make part of it a reality and get it out of my system. As for the technical terms, sometimes they just can't be avoided, though thankfully with your extensive past experience, you understood the lingo - so we're all skookum... As for the Falcons, I think I've had three or four over the years, though my son has one... hasn't played with it for years, but I've resisted and it's still intact!