Missiles / Bombs

Ki-Ki

Ki-Ki

Veteran
Making a short Internet based series, based off 24. Looking for a website or tutorial where it shows you how to make any sort of fake/prop missiles or bombs.

I've got things like MP3 sticks that have a red flashing light on them. And such things for smaller scenarios and plots. Although for bigger plots and concepts it would be nice to do something proper..

Google wasn't a great deal of help and I couldn't find anything on the Search tool on the site.

The Budget is as low as possible, using things from around the house, local shop etc. If anyone has any links or advice please let me know. =]
 
Of course this is a slightly touchy subject these days...

General advice for propmaking:
Take a look at both real units (at least from pictures), and the props in shows & movies. Then look around you and see what *looks* the same.

Funny how a stick of dynamite can look like a candle .. well, that works both ways.
Or how a blcok of C4 looks like a block of butter.
The front of a missile looks a bit like a large soda bottle doesn't it? how about a coupld of soda bottles back to back wrapped in some stiff paper?

Practice seeing things for what they look like or could be, not for what they are and you will get a long way.

Also, your audience will see things for what they expect to be seeing in the context that you present them in. This is critical to selling any prop. A calulator is just a calculator, untill it's taped to a jar or red liquid with a coupel of wires running through the lid to the back of the calculator (where they are held in place [out of site] by scotch tape. Even this might be a little silly if found on an open table, but pulled out of a small black dufflebag placed behind a fuel [hot water(!)] tank .. and this really becomes pretty serious.


- Mikko
 
Yeah, but just judging from the highly critical eyes of the DVXusers, you just know some folk are going to say "that's just a calculator taped to a jar of kool aid!"
 
With any props, it's all about makeing the audeince belive it without even seeing it. If they expect to see a bomb (because Jack is looking for one) and they see "something" they will make the mental leap automatically. If the scene, location, and most importantly your characters; sell the idea, the plot-device; then the physical prop is easy to make fit.

That beeing said, it's all about the details.

Here's something I threw together (I'm bored) .. It could definatly be improved considerably, but hopefully it can provide some inspiration...
PropUnderTank.jpg


Heh, yeah, there's a reason I'm a camera operator and not a prop maker. But it's all about creativity and ideas. :)



Or there's another option:
led_art.jpg
:grin: :grin:


- Mikko
 
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The truth is, almost anything can be a bomb. Look at the terrorist who hid one in his shoe. Even Mikko's device could be an effective explosive. But, there are always going to be at least one smart alec that is going to rip apart a prop if executed less than perfect.
 
Nomis said:
Whats the number for that cellphone? :D
Click to expand...
The one in my sig. Why? :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)


"oh, wait..."



EDIT: Your comment actually goes to show how the viewer instantly connects what they are expecting and justifies it. You assumed that a phone call would set off this device; great! That's exactly the effect that it's supposed to convay.

- Mikko
 
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Interesting feedback, thanks for the replies.

Here's something I threw together (I'm bored) .. It could definatly be improved considerably, but hopefully it can provide some inspiration...
Click to expand...

It definitly did, I'm full on bummed now, going around the house collecting nails from the toolbox. Nuts, Bolts, Toilet Tubes & Bottles. Putting Lard in the Freezer and wripping digital watches apart.

I also see you're points when decieving people with the location & surroundings. Though I'll definitly post up some results when I make something, hopefully be sometime in the middle of the week...
 
i dont know if anyone else noticed but in the movie triple X (xXx) the first one at the end where he shoots a rocket at the fleeing bad guy the rocket launcher is an old sony camcorder glued to a 6" PVC pipe.
and in the new transformer move in the final battle it is very clear that the vest being used by the American soldiers are accutaly paint ball mil-sim vests:)
 
Hey first post! Congrats or whatever. =]

I never looked that closely to realise that. Although it's quite a shock to find big blockbusters like those using simple un..conveniant props with all that cash floating around. I guess it goes to show you can get so lost in the film what you think your going to see, and what you see, can often coincide.

Last line probably made no sense but i know what i mean. >.>
 
thanks! and lets pretend that i know what you ment to :)

cuz ur talknig about seeing what you want. and how ur mind plays tricks
 
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Welcome to DVXuser Wraith! :beer:



Ki-Ki said:
I guess it goes to show you can get so lost in the film what you think your going to see, and what you see, can often coincide.
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Exactly my point...
mikkowilson said:
your audience will see things for what they expect to be seeing in the context that you present them in.
Click to expand...




And yes, that shot in xXx made me laugh.
"The 'TRV-Destroyer900' bazooka fires (proprietery) long-RPG missiles with 'clear-hit' technology; resulting in a full-destruction resolution to any movie." :evil: :grin:

- Mikko
 
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another hint - anything looks more military with mysterious lines of letters and numbers stencilled onto it
 
Yeah so i made one trying to juse see if i could get it a bit like mikko's but it turned out looking like a chew toy for a dog. I'm working on a suitcase style bomb atm, see how that comes out. I'll post pictures when i'm done, if i survive to tell. =o
 
Your friendly neighborhood TSA officers love to be handed prop-bombs to be checked for authenticity.

Just walk right up to the metal-detectors, toss them your prop, and yell CATCH!

If they find the prop convincing, they will let you know with a hail of lead.
 
mikkowilson said:
With any props, it's all about makeing the audeince belive it without even seeing it. If they expect to see a bomb (because Jack is looking for one) and they see "something" they will make the mental leap automatically. If the scene, location, and most importantly your characters; sell the idea, the plot-device; then the physical prop is easy to make fit.

That beeing said, it's all about the details.

Here's something I threw together (I'm bored) .. It could definatly be improved considerably, but hopefully it can provide some inspiration...
PropUnderTank.jpg


Heh, yeah, there's a reason I'm a camera operator and not a prop maker. But it's all about creativity and ideas. :)


- Mikko
Click to expand...

nice bomb, definitely can make some big bang :beer:
 
Haha, yea. The suitcase nuke is coming along okay. I have the suitcase.. But as for the componant's it's proving to be hard. I'm just grabbing random crap wherever i can find it. Someone recommended a pringles bottle so now, i got an excuse to eat pringles.
 
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