RETRO TECH DIY: CRAFTING 70s SCI-FI FILM PROPS FROM EBAY FINDS

[@ssskids123]

Quick safety comment: be careful with CRT’s. The coils often hold dangerously high voltage, sometimes for years. Taking off the safety hat, I love this idea and build. Thank you!

[@bearnaff9387]

In his defense, I don't think he ever tried powering it up. That said, it never hurts to do a little cautious discharge of the CRT. KZbin has videos showing how to do it safely, folks. Save yourself the shock!

[@KensToys74]

Another fun build to watch! That being said, the greeblie collector in me would have disassembled the entire thing. 😊 I was seeing wall props and bits for models. It was fun to watch .

[@createscifi]

I know LOL It was just. atime crunch situation

[@WarGamerGirl]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@RevvyTone]

This is one of the best pieces you've done. What a great idea. And the weathering is so realistic. Great video!!!

[@createscifi]

right on thx

[@eclectipunk]

So effective. I love the grungy cassette futurism vibe.

[@phild8095]

Thanks for sharing your project. As a guy who works in stones I appreciate what you are doing. We are all looking forward to the next movie.

[@WarGamerGirl]

That ended up having a really cool look. How soon before you start shooting?

[@ryanworkman3032]

If you make one of the photos on the digital frame a green screen with tracking markers, it’ll save you frustration when you have to composite the image later.

[@metajock]

Nice one. I'm planning on using some old laptops for my gameroom's "active decor", but now I'm thinking that old tablets might be a better idea. Thanks for the ideas.

[@ericblenner-hassett3945]

Nice build! My prefrence would have been to open the case and gut it as if I was going to repair it. I have experience with Arduino and other forms of single board computers and would have looked to see if the keyboard could be used. One movie ( I forget what it was ) mentioned they had the keyboard scanned and the screen type what they wanted as fast or slow as the actor actually typed, in spite of what keys the actor pressed. They also had a key sequence to ' jump ' to the beginning of sequences they were going to film. I hope that insite of how another film maker did live typing helps you one day, keep up the amazing work!

[@TheMichaellathrop]

So you know all of those restoration video's where they clean up old plastic and then slather it with peroxide gel to de yellow it, do you know a good method to artificially get that kind of yellowing? I've noticed it looks different than the nicotine sprays or paint weathering I've seen you do? I'm also curious how your graphite trick looks over base coats other than gloss black, for instance if you did it on this piece after you had already done your silver dry brushing would the graphite finish look substantially worn?

[@K-Anator]

The yellowing is caused by chemicals in the plastic reacting with UV light over the course of many years. If the plastic is prone to it, you may be able to force it to happen a lot faster with a powerful UV light, such as the ones used for curing resin, or if you have more time perhaps some cheap grow lights. If your plastic is more chemically stable though, you'd probably be best trying a combination of nicotine sprays and other paints/washes to achieve the appropriate colour. Do some experimenting on the inside of some shells, see what you can come up with.

[@createscifi]

I've tried graphite over other gloss colors, such as blue and burgundy. It is an interesting effect but not "shazam!" like with the black. If I had to yellow a piece? I'd start with washes and maybe find a spray paint color that gives that look. I'm sure there is a chemical way to encourage that in the plastic, but I've only seen clean-up videos. Sounds like you're on a journey :)

[@TheMichaellathrop]

@@createscifi Like I said I'm wondering if that very lack of shazam could be used as a weathering effect, or if it would be just too subtle to come through.

[@bakubricks1895]

This 70s build/up-cycle creation just reminds me a bit about, which I love! Honestly I just gotta ask, do you think you could make a DIY pip-boy? or something from fallout, whenever you can of course. Keep up the amazing creations!!

[@JosephKeenanisme]

With the screen being an inch or so back because of the foam it also gives it a bit of depth. That look gives it another kind of freaky retro look. Always like a technical issue that adds a little more pop to a project.

[@createscifi]

agreed!

[@shaddouida3447]

​@@createscifi The scale was originally designed in 1964 by the Russian astrophysicist Nikolai Kardashev (who was looking for signs of extraterrestrial life within cosmic signals). It has 3 base classes, each with an energy disposal level: Type I (10¹⁶W), Type II (10²⁶W), and Type III (10³⁶W). Other astronomers have extended the scale to Type IV (10⁴⁶W) and Type V (the energy available to this kind of civilization would equal that of all energy available in not just our universe, but in all universes and in all time-lines). These additions consider both energy access as well as the amount of knowledge the civilizations have access to.

[@bearnaff9387]

I thought about snooting the place up with comments about how it wouldn't have been that much more difficult to make a working computer that fit into the case so you could use it as an interactive hero prop - but you mentioned a time crunch and I don't think a fully fit-for-purpose system could be made as cheaply as you did. Your greebles were excellent. I can't wait to see the console on the set where it will blend in with the general grime and wear beautifully.

[@ClintCarneyCreates]

Hell yeah! Thanks for giving your Patreon subscribers an early look! Turned out great!

[@createscifi]

Thanks, and thanks for your support!

[@seanmeadows129]

Great video Anthony, really enjoyed that. Always satisfying when you take something apart for a project especially when you find interesting parts inside too, all helps the creative process. All the best!

[@createscifi]

right on thx!

[@paulfuryes203]

That looks great, That gives me an idea for an old laptop. Great work 👏

[@michaeldumas9203]

Man, this came out great! All of your stuff looks awesome, but I really dig this piece. It looks real “Aliens” or “ Blade Runner “ to me.

[@thetribunaloftheimaginatio5247]

Your builds always bring a smile to my face, brother. ^w^

[@mobileupload4374]

Always love your videos big man, keep um coming… Jezza Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 uk 🇬🇧

[@AlanVonGoodleef]

Outstanding

[@gedward1475]

Blotch It' a Technical Term. Love your videos.

[@Astro1derboy]

Excellent!

[@aaron2709]

Fantastic!

[@NinjaChris77]

I cant lie, watching you destroy that old crt machine kinda hurt my little retrotech heart a little, but the end result still looks awsome, so worth it! :) love that you got an actual screen in it too, haha, wonder if you put the diashow of that thing on max speed and have similar looking pictures in it (lets say that homescreen, but add more and more text to it as it swaps pictures) if you could have like a more animated kinda look to the screens. Keep the vids coming, great work!! 👍👍

[@Jestunes]

I love it when you said "Blosh" Black wash. Awesome keep the newness real.. haha. You Never know when they add it to the dictionary.. Always enjoy your entertaining videos...

[@createscifi]

hahah thx

[@jimrockford9486]

Where can I get the silicone resin molds for the console buttons and rocker switches at?

[@roguefilmproductions7565]

Before I get lost in the comments, I just want to say I love this channel! EPIC!

[@createscifi]

Thankl you fr saying, means a lot

[@wonderdogger]

Great work 👏👏👏

[@createscifi]

thank u

[@seanabsher5577]

man this looks great, What's the name of the movie going to be? (I know it's a short film, but I'm still interested)

[@Frankyshanks7718]

dam this wasagreat video making my own movie and this video realy helped thanks

[@createscifi]

I always love to hear that

[@ryanworkman3032]

Why don’t you use your laser cutter to make a benzaldehyde for the screen?

[@briano6115]

Even the CRT can be reused, place a cutout greenscreen on it and key in video "tech stuff" :) p.s. ...... all one day props could be used in something else lol

[@centaur1a]

Instead of expoxy. Have thought of using “White glue?’ It’s cheaper,you can find it almost anywhere. Plus, you’re using it props. You’re use it once or it a quick shot be destroyed.

[@wormdriveshow]

This channel is such a big inspiration, helped us out alot when we made our own sci-fi! It would be an honor if you checked us out. All the dollar store builds, green screen tutorials, so cool

[@hugoitano]

my dad and I have never had a harbor freight tool fail

[@createscifi]

I know, right?

[@ryanworkman3032]

I hope you’re saving all of the guts you’ve removed for future prop projects.

[@MiamiMillionaire]

Great idea, that definitely looks like it has a function 👍