What's the Secret to Mind-Blowing Sci-Fi Design

[@harbl99]

Printers, old VHS video players and old keyboards are a treasure trove of bits.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Absolutely

[@Life-my9tl]

The concept of telling a story through greeblies as the key to prop design is just perfect. Your simple insights are in reality the master keys you just keep handing over to us. Thank you, for sharing.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Wow, thank you!

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

I honestly can't remember where I heard the following definition of what a Greeblie is nor who said it, so to whomever it was, I thank you because I've used it often to explain to non prop and costume builders why I collect the random stuff I do. "A greeblie is something that looks like something that does something".

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

It’s a great definition. Love it. I once heard it also as “a greeblie defines something that is otherwise undefinable” 😂

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

@@TheSmugglersRoom That works great too. 👍

[@magmapixel8627]

It was George Lucas

[@TheOuterRim_]

To me, this is the most fun part of building Star Wars props. Finding, saving and making greeblies. You do a great job of explaining your process for using them. Inspiring, as always!

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you my friend

[@DockingBay327Build]

Fantastic bro!! Greeblification is probably my favorite part of any build! Thanks for sharing your insights into picking the right pieces.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you!!

[@deannaatkinson3004]

I feel geek-a-fied with today’s geek-a-cation. I’m glad you’ve resuscitated the Geek-a-cation series. The art and science of the application of greeblies is a wondrous thing. I can’t wait till you finish up the build. I know the build video is going to be EPIC. One could possibly even say…WIZARD!

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you!

[@JimboFettsToyTomb]

Always great to pop into the Smugglers Room!🎉

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you!!!

[@DHGamerMR]

Love the Geek-e-cation videos, and I totally agree that every piece should lend to the story behind the overall presentation you're making. Now that I'm settling into a house where I have a little space to work on and store projects, I'm eager to begin adding little bits of random tech to everything I build for our basement and my office.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you!!! Best of luck with the house and projects. Excited to see what you do!

[@DHGamerMR]

@@TheSmugglersRoom Thank you! We're upgrading a 110 year old house in western Pennsylvania, so there's lots to do, and I'm very lucky that my fiance is super open to a lot of the ideas I have. I'll be sure to let you know when I have something posted somewhere.

[@berogersjr]

I like it when you go back to your roots of the content and the channel, and the geek-a-cation is one of my favorite pieces of content! Thanks so much for this!

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

So glad to hear that. We’ve always enjoyed them and plan to do a lot more. Thanks for the comment!

[@davefletch3063]

That chucky in carbonite is amazing

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you!

[@SouthernStyleDIY]

Love seeing the thought process for the greeblies . Totally makes sense to think about what it could be used for and not just throw things on the there and hope for the best

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you!

[@ivangonzales5667]

I love greeblies, greeblies are awesome and they make any project a more realistic look, thanks for this geek-e-cation 👏👏

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

You bet Ivan! Thanks for watching!

[@dennisguthrie1775]

If someone wants to 3D print greeblies but is still learning to 3D model, McMaster-Carr has tons of 3D STEP files. There is some pretty good stuff there. It is also a good source for skilled 3D modelers. Maybe you have mentioned this in a previous video? Great video! It's always fun to watch someone's creative process.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

totally! That is a great library of parts no doubt! Great tip!

[@reginamichaelensor4981]

Great to see a new video!! I want to thank you both very much. I’ve been watching and now have started to build Star Wars themed things ❤

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you! That’s wonderful to hear!

[@MicaMakes]

Very cool ideas and tips!

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Glad you like them!

[@JohnB1163]

Love the build Brian and you could call those central parts "Electromagnetic Field Stabilizers " for Chucky. Just a thought

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Perfect!

[@haunt_happens]

Geek-e-cation is BACK!! Always down for this! Thanks!

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Hope you enjoy!

[@haunt_happens]

@@TheSmugglersRoom Always, my friend! I've been inspired to do a Star Wars themed Haunt this Halloween! Getting started soon!

[@JIMZUHN]

Awesome video! Love seeing the process of choosing whether a greeblie is “worthy” of being included in the project.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you!

[@RebelBaseBuilds]

Great video and great storytelling bro

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you James!

[@GCubedProductions]

Thank you for talking us through your process. It brought an “a ha” moment for me.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@muonwap]

would you show your process of attaching each part?

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Will do

[@muonwap]

@@TheSmugglersRoom Awesome- cant wait!!

[@asilevinson1479]

you are a greeblies genius and I love this video !

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you!!

[@CGRTist]

Another inspiring video! Great stuff, Brian!

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Awesome, thank you!

[@lylewyant3356]

I made a few bits and bobs (greebles) using Tinker Cad and my 3D printer.... Also, a few engine nacelle prototypes...

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Awesome

[@PerfectOrganismPodcast]

Loving that Aliens t-shirt!

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thank you!

[@PerfectOrganismPodcast]

@@TheSmugglersRoom did you see our recent Alien short film, Alien: Absolution? Your videos were a huge inspiration for the set creation.

[@blizatrex]

Another great greeblification education.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Hope you enjoyed!

[@TheMandoDave]

Woohoo Geek-a-cation is back!!!!

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Glad you like them!

[@fsj197811]

Very nice. I'd love to know how much misc junk AKA stuff, you have stored so you can find just the right parts. I'm a mechanic and have a fair bit of space dedicated to that so I'm certainly not one to judge. As always, thanks for sharing.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

I save a lot less now than I used to. But I still have plenty on hand 😂

[@RyanP57]

Great video as always! How much space do you devote to greeblie storage? That tends to be one of my bigger blockers from getting into full scale stuff more often, I just don't have the space to store a bunch of greeblies. I'd love to see a follow-up shop tour/storage video sometime for some inspiration. 🙂

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Way too much space!! LOL

[@kurisuuu48]

Inspiring video as always!!

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Thanks so much!

[@SwervingLemon]

The problem, for me, is that I've taken so many machines apart that I recognize almost everything and it bugs me when something isn't functional as well as cool-looking. Edit: Forgot to mention - Love the video!

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

I totally get that. We also appreciate you watching.

[@alfreddumas4611]

Nice vid and ideas Any more of the viewer question vids coming soon?

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Yes, very soon!

[@MonkeyBox123]

This is a great video, but now I feel like I need to go curb shopping for parts. I mean, more parts😜

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

😂😂😂 totally

[@amvive08]

Hi love your channel! Can you share your 3D print model for add it to the store for a light switch toggle? In one of your videos where you make a Star wars light switch cover it looks like there's a 3D vent printed to go over a toggle switch.😊

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

That light switch is actually one that I purchased and not a 3D model. It’s a Control4 Dimmer.

[@Crafttime316]

How thick is your acrylic you use the most? And where is the best place to buy it?

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

I typically use 1/8” acrylic and I purchase most of it from Delvie’s Plastics: www.delviesplastics.com/c/laserable-plastic-sheet.html

[@Crafttime316]

Thanks!! I just got a 36”x50” boss laser And I enjoy your videos and all the cool things you make. I’m still amazed at all the small details In your sci-fi stuff. When watching your videos I find myself looking in the background and yelling when I know what the part/juice cap that Is in the panels. Thanks!

[@kylearpke4945]

How did you 'glue/screw/etc' all of those parts into the board?

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Almost every detail is bolted on. Apologies for it showing that. I tend to attach mechanically if I can over glue. That way things can be worked on more efficiently.

[@robertvalade2400]

Veri cool 😮

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

thanks!

[@rowdyrycon8177]

xbox 360 power supply housing? I think I saw that a few times

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

LOL! Yep! Nice catch!

[@rowdyrycon8177]

@@TheSmugglersRoom Funny enough. One of my deathstar panels I am working on has one. That is how I caught it :)

[@ZenHulk]

Got a short story. Had a playstation 3 stopped working, took it apart found some good stuff for my gonk, my brother comes to my shop and starts screaming it was easy to fix that playstation just some silicone, well not now.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

LOL!!! That’s outstanding

[@anthonycampano5586]

Using mother boards as landscapes for decades.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Awesome!

[@securityrobot]

What’s clear is that you don’t understand the term greeblies. You don’t make them or extract them from household objects. Greeblies are solely the constituent parts of commercial model making kits, commonly of the styrene variety. That’s it. Like so many you’re bastardising and dumbing down the definition.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Wow!! Aren’t you a pleasant person. Thank goodness you are hear to correct us. I suppose what we should do is take down this video and all the others that reference Greeblies so incredibly incorrectly. Or maybe you should invest a bit of time researching a bit more the history behind the term, and what George Lucas intended by it. Or maybe more importantly take some time to self reflect on why you felt it necessary to be rude and attack someone who is simply sharing something fun with a community of people that are here for the enjoyment of our hobby. Hope you have a better day and find something that brings you joy.

[@CaribbeanLounger]

I get what you're trying to do, but IMHO, you go way too overboard with trying to stuff a 'greeblie' in every visual section of a display. Looking at the majority of walls in SW, there is typically a simple panel, maybe two -- but when you see the panel, it isn't stuffed with 83 pieces of random bits and bobs. It has a lot of blank space, a couple of buttons, maybe a droid socket, and a couple of static lights.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Not in every case; clean surfaces that you see in the death star or star destroyers. Certainly have a lot of subtle blank surfaces with minimal texture, however ships like the Millennium Falcon are packed full in just about every corner. You can also see dense displays of parts and texture in scenes from Cloud City in Empire Strikes Back. I don’t believe there is a minimal or maximum amount of detail that you have to stick to. At the end of the day build details the way you want to see them, as long as it helps tell the story you are aiming for.