Something out of Nothing - Budget Builds lets see them!
- Thread starter Fuzzual
- Start date
jediscout72
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone, heres a few more of my bot
Carbonite at 501st booth
Gonk at the convention
Carbonite at 501st booth
Gonk at the convention
My latest budget build is a HAL9000 c/w Stand. Enjoy
http://www.therpf.com/f9/hal-9000-zero-budget-build-almost-208916/
http://www.therpf.com/f9/hal-9000-zero-budget-build-almost-208916/
Luck has smiled upon me and provided some very handy materials in the form of cast offs. So much so, I have been able to upgrade my workshop 
First and foremost on my wishlist of workshop upgrades is a small pcb etching staition so I can improve my budget saber builds on the cheap.
After reaserching the etching mediums, and choosing one that suited me (in this case Copper (II) Chloride as it's pretty much self sustaining and never needs to be discarded; unlike ferric chloride) I quickly realised I'd need a few other key items.
First on the list was a fume extraction box to house the etch tank and it's sundries.
From top to bottom:
Exractor fan (from skip but works fine)
HEPA filter box (it housed a big a** choke that was delivered to my workplace, they didn't want the box)
HEPA filters (used 4 allergy vacuum cleaner filters @£4.89ea)
Main box (made from discarded shelf unit)
Clear acrylic (gift from my bro, didn't need)
A/C single phase variable drive unit (frankenstiened out of regect parts for me by the repair techies at work, plastics for it came from bin)
Latching pushbutton switch (£1.50)
Speed pot (regect from work; it's amazing what they throw away)
Cabling (from various power cables aquired over the ages)
Drive mount bracket (regect from work)
Dashboard mount (cut from a dead hifi chassis)
I then realised id need a mini PCB drill press for my through hole components and managed to make this from the metal scraps bin from work too
First and foremost on my wishlist of workshop upgrades is a small pcb etching staition so I can improve my budget saber builds on the cheap.
After reaserching the etching mediums, and choosing one that suited me (in this case Copper (II) Chloride as it's pretty much self sustaining and never needs to be discarded; unlike ferric chloride) I quickly realised I'd need a few other key items.
First on the list was a fume extraction box to house the etch tank and it's sundries.
From top to bottom:
Exractor fan (from skip but works fine)
HEPA filter box (it housed a big a** choke that was delivered to my workplace, they didn't want the box)
HEPA filters (used 4 allergy vacuum cleaner filters @£4.89ea)
Main box (made from discarded shelf unit)
Clear acrylic (gift from my bro, didn't need)
A/C single phase variable drive unit (frankenstiened out of regect parts for me by the repair techies at work, plastics for it came from bin)
Latching pushbutton switch (£1.50)
Speed pot (regect from work; it's amazing what they throw away)
Cabling (from various power cables aquired over the ages)
Drive mount bracket (regect from work)
Dashboard mount (cut from a dead hifi chassis)
I then realised id need a mini PCB drill press for my through hole components and managed to make this from the metal scraps bin from work too
Here is a Black Hole Sentry Blaster I made for a RPF contest about 1000 years ago (or so it feels like). Cost for everything was about $12 or so
and here is a tutorial on how to build it:
Tony Damata's "Build your own Black Hole Sentry Blaster" Page
and here is a tutorial on how to build it:
Tony Damata's "Build your own Black Hole Sentry Blaster" Page
Made this scope for next to nothing.
Its made from:
• a found clothes box hanger rail
• a piece of down pipe
• a couple of glue stick cases
• a short length of 1/2" pipe
• lens holder from a Nerf red dot
• the thing on top is a micro switch housing from a washing machine (the drum of which makes a great fire pit)
• the focusing knob I made from a couple of random parts from my greeblie tub.
(WIP. the gun light holder was part of the packaging from a new scooter (used to hold the handlebars to the steering shaft, but I cut one side off. Didn't use it in the end though):
(Finished)
Total cost = £0.25 for the decal.
Its made from:
• a found clothes box hanger rail
• a piece of down pipe
• a couple of glue stick cases
• a short length of 1/2" pipe
• lens holder from a Nerf red dot
• the thing on top is a micro switch housing from a washing machine (the drum of which makes a great fire pit)
• the focusing knob I made from a couple of random parts from my greeblie tub.
(WIP. the gun light holder was part of the packaging from a new scooter (used to hold the handlebars to the steering shaft, but I cut one side off. Didn't use it in the end though):
(Finished)
Total cost = £0.25 for the decal.
Caldwell
New Member
NOVA Arms Limited Model 77 Osiris electrically-charged chemical laser handgun.
Plywood, pvc piping, lamp parts, NERF gun components, an IKEA furniture hanger, and dozens of miscellaneous greebles I had saved up for such a project. The only thing I spent money on here might have been glue because I ran out.
More pictures can be found here.
Plywood, pvc piping, lamp parts, NERF gun components, an IKEA furniture hanger, and dozens of miscellaneous greebles I had saved up for such a project. The only thing I spent money on here might have been glue because I ran out.
More pictures can be found here.
superyesway
New Member
Ok, here's my Thor (variant) budget build:
1) Roundels: 5" Dollar Tree plastic plates painted with on hand Plasti-Dip and Krylon Silver Mettalic Spray Paint
2) Chest plate: Card board sheet spray painted with on hand Rustoleum flat black. Design element: Plasti-Dipped craft foam spray painted with Krylon Covermaxx aluminum. Applied with Harbor Freight tools contact cement (messy)
This chest plate was basically a big piece of card board with a cutout for my head. The triangle shape created a pauldron effect which lifts the cape rather nicely.
3) Arm Guards: Dollar Tree toy arm guards Plasti-Dipped and dry brushed with Krylon Covermaxx. Attached to arm with velcro fasteners. Red fabric that goes under the arm guards are Dollar Tree Christmas red place mats
4) Shin guards: $5 from Goodwill. Plasti-Dipped and drybrushed
As for the rest: Red cape was my old Rubies Man of Steel cape turned inside out (double lining hides the "S" quite well)
Hammer: Rubies
Shoes: old pair of combat boots
Belt: Old brown leather belt (not pictured) with silver pray painted edges.
Shirt: Wal Mart black long sleeve short turtle neck
Pants: Wal Mart black sweats
1) Roundels: 5" Dollar Tree plastic plates painted with on hand Plasti-Dip and Krylon Silver Mettalic Spray Paint
2) Chest plate: Card board sheet spray painted with on hand Rustoleum flat black. Design element: Plasti-Dipped craft foam spray painted with Krylon Covermaxx aluminum. Applied with Harbor Freight tools contact cement (messy)
This chest plate was basically a big piece of card board with a cutout for my head. The triangle shape created a pauldron effect which lifts the cape rather nicely.
3) Arm Guards: Dollar Tree toy arm guards Plasti-Dipped and dry brushed with Krylon Covermaxx. Attached to arm with velcro fasteners. Red fabric that goes under the arm guards are Dollar Tree Christmas red place mats
4) Shin guards: $5 from Goodwill. Plasti-Dipped and drybrushed
As for the rest: Red cape was my old Rubies Man of Steel cape turned inside out (double lining hides the "S" quite well)
Hammer: Rubies
Shoes: old pair of combat boots
Belt: Old brown leather belt (not pictured) with silver pray painted edges.
Shirt: Wal Mart black long sleeve short turtle neck
Pants: Wal Mart black sweats
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mattycsi
Master Member
I did this to go in the window for Halloween.
Ann Uumellmahaye
The jar was about £5 on sale in the supermarket a few months back. Novelty brain was about £4 and piece of clear acrylic tube I had left over from making a stand for my auto 9.
The light is an old push LED shed light I found sitting in a drawer, and the whole thing is sitting on a Tupperware box.
Ann Uumellmahaye
The jar was about £5 on sale in the supermarket a few months back. Novelty brain was about £4 and piece of clear acrylic tube I had left over from making a stand for my auto 9.
The light is an old push LED shed light I found sitting in a drawer, and the whole thing is sitting on a Tupperware box.
Shataan
Sr Member
This is my new AVP backpack sculpt. It is made from varying thicknesses of Intercell plastic. I as well found the proper model kit Greeblies that ADI used. Hope you dig it. ADIs AVP backpack sculpt on left, mine on right. ;pView attachment 550354View attachment 550355View attachment 550356
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Chaank
Sr Member
this is my mass effect n7 eagle i built out of extra foamboard, then filled with plaster i already had, and then sanded. The whole build cost me $0, and i still have to paint the n7 logo on the side of the gun.
Here's my BladeRunner-inspired JW bottle set. Made from a old whiskey bottle, and I DIY'd the labels. Liked this project so much, I ended up making 2 of them!
Empty Bottle + box: owned
Finlandia Cap - $15
Ribbon - $0.50
Metallic decal sheets -owned (left over from another project)
Empty Bottle + box: owned
Finlandia Cap - $15
Ribbon - $0.50
Metallic decal sheets -owned (left over from another project)
cavx
Master Member
I'm so glad this thread came back to the front page again. To me, this represents a BIG part of the community of the RPF and what prop fans are all about. Subscribed now.
My most recent build was a set of stones from the Fifth Element.
Not screen accurate, but considering the cost ($0.00), who cares. I think they came out quite good.
My most recent build was a set of stones from the Fifth Element.
Not screen accurate, but considering the cost ($0.00), who cares. I think they came out quite good.
Attachments
Hey Guys,
I've been a member for a while, but never got around to posting anything yet...
So here's a picture of a Fallout 4 New Vegas helmet I built for next to nothing a few years ago (all I really paid for was a US Army style helmet from a party supply shop - the rest is cardboard, fibreglass, resin, putty, and paint (and a few plastic greeblies I had laying around)
I've been a member for a while, but never got around to posting anything yet...
So here's a picture of a Fallout 4 New Vegas helmet I built for next to nothing a few years ago (all I really paid for was a US Army style helmet from a party supply shop - the rest is cardboard, fibreglass, resin, putty, and paint (and a few plastic greeblies I had laying around)
cavx
Master Member
I didn't even know the Fight Club soap bar was a thing until I saw images of them in people's collections and I've really wanted one, because that movie rocks!
They say if you can't buy one, then make one, so today I had a go making my own from MDF.
So I started with finding a really squared up image of the soap bar.
I then imported that into Sketch Up and made a pattern of the text.
I then scaled it to be the same height (the boarder) as a business card.
I printed that, then glued it to some MDF and started carving. I messed up the G a bit, but considering this hand carved, I did OK.
Slap on some pink paint and done!
They say if you can't buy one, then make one, so today I had a go making my own from MDF.
So I started with finding a really squared up image of the soap bar.
I then imported that into Sketch Up and made a pattern of the text.
I then scaled it to be the same height (the boarder) as a business card.
I printed that, then glued it to some MDF and started carving. I messed up the G a bit, but considering this hand carved, I did OK.
Slap on some pink paint and done!
