BTTF 1955 Skateboard and Crate Build

[MAKE BELIEVE]

Hi Emma

Here it is. Hope it helps.
As you can se I decided to use one piece of wood roughly cuted for each skate

 

[formula388]

So it appears there could be more then 5 different boards used for filming, which is not surprising. I am almost positive at this point that most of them are plywood. Some screen grabs show just regular skateboard parts with a groove in a wide wheel to resemble the 4 wheels... Pretty cool.

 

[Roland]

I had known that they used different skateboards in the movie, but it's surprising me that there are so many of them. And I had never noticed that there are skateboards with regular skateboard parts. That's really cool.

Did they actually think, no one would ever notice all those differences? :lol

 

[Scotophor]

They had to use at least one with real skateboard trucks... the style with just roller skates bolted to a plank isn't steerable, except by lifting one end off the ground and pivoting!

I see an additional cheat in the 4th frame grab above (Capture6.jpg) -- there is some grip tape noticeable at the front. There might be more on the rest of the board but it's hard to tell. This may be the same board as in the 8th image (Capture2.jpg).

 

[MitasTouch]

II came home on leave to find the crate I ordered a while ago. I guess the seller didn't know how to measure things because it has the exact right dimensions that it should. So I will use it for my project.

 

[MitasTouch]

I've started removing the rust off of my wheels. wd40 and sand paper lol

 

[MitasTouch]

ImIm thinking that the wooden squares on the bottom are 5.5 inches on all sides.

 

[Halliwax]

This is a we some build!! I have to put this together. I was wondering if there was any measurements available. Or anyone have any idea what skates to look for. This is great!! Great reference photos as well!

 

[MitasTouch]

This is a we some build!! I have to put this together. I was wondering if there was any measurements available. Or anyone have any idea what skates to look for. This is great!! Great reference photos as well!

The board is 28.5 inches long and 8 inches wide. My measurement for the squares seems to be right because they look good on my board. The kick tail at the end is 3.5 inches long but that is the only measurement that was found for that. And the skates are Globe.

 

[MitasTouch]

I also put the rectangle piece of wood in the front because its there when Marty first finds the kid. So it's the hero version. I calcuted that piece to be 7 inches long and 1 1/4 inches wide with 3/4 inch thick wood.

Also looking at still images I found that the edge of the square on the bottom lined up with the kicktail at the back which is 3.5 inches so i made the squares that distance from each end of the board. I put the rectangle piece 1/4 inch from the end. That was just a guess from stills. Another observation I saw was that nails were put in from the top attaching the squares to the board. One in each corner area. So 8 nails. My pieces are attached with wood glue right now to make putting in the nails and screws for the skates easier.

 

[Halliwax]

The board is 28.5 inches long and 8 inches wide. My measurement for the squares seems to be right because they look good on my board. The kick tail at the end is 3.5 inches long but that is the only measurement that was found for that. And the skates are Globe.

thank you so much for sharing this information with me. i want to build this for a friend. what kind of wood did you end up using, it almost looks like plywood? and what thickness wood did you end up going with 5/8th? 3/4?

 

[MitasTouch]

thank you so much for sharing this information with me. i want to build this for a friend. what kind of wood did you end up using, it almost looks like plywood? and what thickness wood did you end up going with 5/8th? 3/4?

My home depot only had plywood that was what I wanted. 1/2 inch thick.

 

[Halliwax]

My home depot only had plywood that was what I wanted. 1/2 inch thick.

awesome! thanks so much for your advice

 

[Halliwax]

do you know what kind of thing that added to the bottom to make it spark? it almost looks like aluminum flashing you use when shingling a house?

 

[MitasTouch]

do you know what kind of thing that added to the bottom to make it spark? it almost looks like aluminum flashing you use when shingling a house?

It was some sort of stunt mechanism. It was only there for the sparks so the actual board shouldn't have it.

Also I think that at least a few boards were plywood. You can see the layers in this picture.

 

[Scotophor]

Aluminum doesn't spark, so you'll have to use steel.

 

[MitasTouch]

I didn't have a change to take a picture of my crate before I left for the airport but it has the Brave crate label on it. The next time I work on it which will unfortunately be about 7 months I will sand it to make the wood a little brighter as its a little dirty. I will also put the correct lettering on the planks.

 

[Halliwax]

It was some sort of stunt mechanism. It was only there for the sparks so the actual board shouldn't have it.

Also I think that at least a few boards were plywood. You can see the layers in this picture.
http://cursoryviews.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/back-to-the-future.jpg

yes at first glance i thought it was cedar. like barn board cedar. the first page has a bunch of great reference pics, and after you said you used plywood i took a greater look. sure enough it is plywood!! which i don't believe was around in 1955 so I'm with you 100% that they used plywood. i have also been watching eBay for skates to my surprise some that look pretty close are very inexpensive. there are 2 or 3 pairs that have the same 2 groves in the bottom of the skate like the picture on the first page once i get back into the country I'm going to go hardcore and watch see if i can grab a pair

i also was watching earlier today on youtube how to weather wood. the picture you posted looks like you can achieve that blue/dirty look with some vinegar and steel wool. i also think the "tail" part of the board is external cedar trim board you

heres a example

the second one in from the left. though it is much smaller, older homes have these up to 5" wide. you can also see the matching cedar grain from the pics on page one

as for the sparking device, i always thought they used something like a cutter torch ignitor or something under neath.

if you removed the thing in the center part of the dish and mounted them under neath i think you can achieve the same effect, thats how i always thought they did it until now where you can see some kind of metal there? I'm curious how that works lol

im super addicted to think now having the measurements, i look forward to you finishing your build!

 

[MitasTouch]

I won't be able to work on it for another 7 months sadly. I was on leave earlier and now I'm going back to deploy. I would have done more on the board, but I spent more time with my family and fiance.

 

[Halliwax]

I won't be able to work on it for another 7 months sadly. I was on leave earlier and now I'm going back to deploy. I would have done more on the board, but I spent more time with my family and fiance.

oh that stinks, now knowing your a VET i thank you for your service. its always a pleasure to meet someone enlisted.