Blade Runner 2049 props and replicas
- Thread starter Mr Webber
- Start date
After getting @Gordon Gecko's excellent LAPD badge, I'm slowly getting the rest of the ID wallet together. I've got a wallet in transit from the US, so in the meantime I'm working on a backlight system for the ID. I got a few parts together and knocked this together for a test in the lab during lunch:
The backlight needs to be as thin and compact as possible to fit in the wallet, so my idea is based on a very cheap replacement backlight panel from an older-model iPhone (the one in the picture is from a 5S i think). As standard, they contain 6 tiny right-angle LEDs that shine into a diffuser panel. The panel runs at 18V (6 white LEDs x 3V), which is really too high to get from the size of battery I had in mind. However, you can get very tiny 3V to 12V boost converters which would allow me to run the panel with 4 LEDs at 12V. Here's a closer look:
Notice the silver appearance when it's off, just like the pictures of the real prop.
The tiny PB on the left is the boost converter (from Pololu). I carefully split the backlight panel open and peeled off the flexible PCB that the LEDs are mounted on. I then unsoldered 4 of the LEDs, mounted them in series on the edge of the piece of stripboard, and then cut the end off the base of the backlight panel so I could get them in contact with the edge of the diffuser. The final version will have the backlight panel mounted on the stripboard, with recesses cut into it for the battery, boost converter and a reed switch (so it will be turned off by the presence of a magnet in the badge side of the wallet).
The bench PSU I tested it with only went down to 4V, but I tested it with a 3V CR2032 coin cell and still got 11V out of it, which was still enough to light the LEDs at reasonable brightness. I plan on using a 2mm thick Lithium-Manganese 'pouch' cell which can deliver a bit more current than the coin cell though, which will hopefully get the voltage up nearer 12V.
Although I have a wallet on the way, it would help a lot if someone could measure the dimensions of the ID window from a police wallet (and a standard US police ID card), as that will tell me which backlight panel I should use as a base.
The backlight needs to be as thin and compact as possible to fit in the wallet, so my idea is based on a very cheap replacement backlight panel from an older-model iPhone (the one in the picture is from a 5S i think). As standard, they contain 6 tiny right-angle LEDs that shine into a diffuser panel. The panel runs at 18V (6 white LEDs x 3V), which is really too high to get from the size of battery I had in mind. However, you can get very tiny 3V to 12V boost converters which would allow me to run the panel with 4 LEDs at 12V. Here's a closer look:
Notice the silver appearance when it's off, just like the pictures of the real prop.
The tiny PB on the left is the boost converter (from Pololu). I carefully split the backlight panel open and peeled off the flexible PCB that the LEDs are mounted on. I then unsoldered 4 of the LEDs, mounted them in series on the edge of the piece of stripboard, and then cut the end off the base of the backlight panel so I could get them in contact with the edge of the diffuser. The final version will have the backlight panel mounted on the stripboard, with recesses cut into it for the battery, boost converter and a reed switch (so it will be turned off by the presence of a magnet in the badge side of the wallet).
The bench PSU I tested it with only went down to 4V, but I tested it with a 3V CR2032 coin cell and still got 11V out of it, which was still enough to light the LEDs at reasonable brightness. I plan on using a 2mm thick Lithium-Manganese 'pouch' cell which can deliver a bit more current than the coin cell though, which will hopefully get the voltage up nearer 12V.
Although I have a wallet on the way, it would help a lot if someone could measure the dimensions of the ID window from a police wallet (and a standard US police ID card), as that will tell me which backlight panel I should use as a base.
Im trying to put together some LAPD evidence bags...not really connected enough to do a proper run, but maybe it will peak some interest here.
I threw this together quickly, I have zero design skills:
Its a file with just the white but I had to add black so it would show up.
Here are my reference photos:
I have already sources a great fake eye so id love to see these come to life!
Size looks to be 15x25cm or so, or 6x9".
Also this is seen along the top:
And here is the eye I found:
The eye is from Dead Head Props.
Ive looked into printing but it seems most need HUGE orders to do custom bags.
I threw this together quickly, I have zero design skills:
Its a file with just the white but I had to add black so it would show up.
Here are my reference photos:
I have already sources a great fake eye so id love to see these come to life!
Size looks to be 15x25cm or so, or 6x9".
Also this is seen along the top:
And here is the eye I found:
The eye is from Dead Head Props.
Ive looked into printing but it seems most need HUGE orders to do custom bags.
Mr Webber
Master Member
Great stuff. I have some left over wig from a Dr Disrespect project on a fake Steven Segal pony tail and it would be perfect for a Rachel hair sample with one of your evidence bags.
The bag the hair got put in was yet a different bag...of course.
Mr Webber
Master Member
True, but your initial post will hopefully spark something.
That is the recycling into for the type of plastic (Plastic #4/Low Density Polyethene) and was probably on the original bags they bought to screenprint the LAPD logos onto. Very few manufacturers have the recycling info printed on the bag (it's usually something only seen in mainland Europe, especially Germany where they are very hot on recycling), and even less have it printed across the gripseal section on the top. In fact, they look very similar to the bags offered by the German seller Druckverschlussbeutel (literally 'zip lock bag') on Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Druckversc...d-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Druckverschlussbeutel
They even do one in 160mmx220mm, which is around the size you are thinking of.
Mylodon
New Member
Ah, this is very cool! Just ordered one on eBay. The person who was selling asked if I by any chance wanted more so if you guys are interested "andrei6705" on eBay may have some.
Last edited:
KramStaar
Sr Member
If you search eBay for a Linhof 9x12 film plate (under Film Backs and Holders) you will find a number of variants of this at very reasonable prices.
Regards,
MARK
mrcarkeys42
Active Member
This isnt based on a specific prop but the new YouTube series Master & Apprentice just posted a blade runner inspired build. Sort of a proto eye scanner. Im a big fan of universe building fan props like this:
Last edited by a moderator:
KramStaar
Sr Member
Ah, okay, I thought he was talking about the screen used one. A bit difficult to tell from the bit of my previous post he quoted. Yeah, the Linhoff ones are easy to find.
warvanov
Member
There are some images here including what looks like a mockup in progress.
https://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=276775&page=7
The best image I've found is from etsy.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/576578865/blade-runner-2049-officer-kd6-37-badge
