Project in a Project - Star Wars Crate Intro & Brief

This in a way is a project in a project.

The original brief had been to build a prop worthy of being on a Star Wars TV show or movie franchise scene and set, starting with a pine box 28cm x 19cm x 6cm with the freedom to get creative.

As the prop build developed the prop increased in size, weight, fragility and huge amounts of constant purchases vastly increased the money invested in the prop to several thousand UK pounds.

In order to transport it safely it became clear a padded transport crate with wheels was needed to take the prop to interviews, job fairs or any other events.

Instead of just using the plain shop purchased case as is came from Wickes plastic look, I thought why not kit bash and paint it to become a Star Wars prop in itself, but incorporating lessons learned during this project.

Specifications and Requirements

It will need to have a suitable size and shape to:

• Fit the prop including the transmission towers, if they cannot be easily removed.
• Ideally hold the fully assembled prop with aerials ready to show as well as dissembled for transit.
• Fit in my estate car boot.
• Have a putting and control handle.
• Hold the dismantled accessories such as the communication towers securely.
• Securely hold the prop with plenty of protective padding around.
• Incorporate any assembly tools such as an electric screwdriver
• Store spare parts, glue and other repair kit in case damage.
• Ideally be able to fit into the attic hatch for storage.
• To appear to incorporate open hatch Star Was technology, mechanics, for the prop to appear a working piece of equipment.
• Possibly some electrics such as lit up buttons and batteries to go with them.
• Any kit bashed components on the outside securely fastened or otherwise protected, not just stuck on as the outside will take impacts with doorways, furniture etc.
• As rebel tech from the outer rim to appear worn, used, dirty with some damage.
• If possible, hide the wheels, possibly with mirror card material so it appears to hover like other Star Wars vehicles or transport items and / or have the wheels removable.

Research

Research started with two requirements

1. Look at the style and decoration and dirtying down of crates in the Star Wars universe to emulate.
2. Find a suitable crate, ideally with wheels that was a suitable size and study, possibly a flight case or plastic trunk.

First to look at was the styling from Star Wars franchises movies, live and animated shows and artwork as well as other prop boxes, crates and droids people have made as well as possible panels that could be kit bashed on.



Real Crate Research

Flight Case options Ruled out

I initially looked on EBay for a second- hand flight case which seemed a good idea, especially worn looking as they would be purpose built, wheeled and strong but it was soon very apparent that:

Trying to find a suitable size and shape would be next to impossible and a massive waste of time and money and effort and be totally dependent on low chance luck.

I would really need to see and try it out for suitability, weight etc.

Being very big and likely fairly heavy, getting it posted would be a major issue and big cost and most would be listed as collection only thus would need to be local

They were also very expensive, even second hand on Ebay. This part of the project should be a cheap add on.

DIY Shop boxes and crates

The next avenue looked at were storage boxes and crates from DIY, and Tool shops which included the likes of

• Screwfix Direct
• Tool Station
• B&Q
• Wickes
• B&M Bargains

The cheaper storage boxes were ruled out as

• Wrong Size and Shape
• Too weak
• No wheels as the prop was heavy
• Poor quality handles not suited to regular movement and carrying

B&Q had larger wheeled trunks with wheels and looked promising but it was Wickes that had:

• The best size and shaped crate
• That seemed narrow enough to get in the attic
• I could get arms around to carry
• Had wheels
• Looked strong
• Had the capacity to hold what was needed and space for padding
• Had carry handles
• Looked good to paint

Which ticked the most boxes and a good price at £22

Kitbashing Development of the Crate / Trunk

To make the transport crate more star was like the research photos without damaging its structural integrity, kiboshing components were to be stuck on and this took a fair bit of ideation trials.

Firstly, I looked to increase the rage of parts I could add with some new moulds, and also factoring in that I only had 1 item of several parts I wanted to use.

Some existing parts like air grates will need stuffing with form to help them stick patter and gluing and screwing to Plastazote panels, which being stretchy may form a stronger bond with impact give. This also males the box look ore panelled, thus stronger and more military and hi future tech.

Ideation of the Crate / Trunk Ends

Here different patterns of potential kit bashing to provide a technological feel, were tried, startiing with the ends of the crate.

Ideation of the Crate / Trunk Sides

The sides were next being a wider area.