Indy Mogul
Wesley's Weekly HOW TO: Prop Safe
So you are making a spy caper film, and you need a safe for the secret file/launch codes/microfilm for your agent to crack open with a laser. And/or you really want to pull a Bugs Bunny and drop a safe on your friends head, BUT you realized that REAL safes are expensive and/or dangerously heavy, and you need a prop to fill it's place? Well worry no more, because i'm going to show you how to make you're own prop safe for whatever safey needs you might have.
I started with this shipping box I got at my local Pharmacy store, and popped it open.
I then took some black foamboard that I also picked up.
After I lined up the corners of the foamboard with the edges of the box, I cut off the excess foamboard using a T-Square.
Until it was the same size as the front opening of the box.
Next, I got a cheap locker padlock
I measured the width of the dial.
Then I sketched out the same relative size and shape of the dial out onto the the foamboard.
So I have a slot to put the dial through (you can tape it to the inside of the cover, or cover it with paper, or whatever you want. If you're going to go with a close-up on the inside when you're opening it, you'll probably want to cover it up on the inside of the box with something a little more significant than just duct tape.
I then took a toliet paper tube, and I cut off a segment off of the end.
I painted it silver and attached it to the front aroud the dial, to make it look not so naked. You don't have to do it, I just thought it makes the front look better.
I then took the rest of the tube, and I folded it.
Then poked a hole into the front face, making it wide enough for me to stick the end of the folded piece of toliet tube into it.
I then hotglued it into the hole to act as a handle. You could easily modify some kind of cylinder or lever inside that actually operates, but that bumps up the cost, and it makes the build more complicated, and really, just pulling the door out of the way while adding in a unlatching noise will make people think it's an operational handle even if it isn't.
Now, get some of these hinges that are usually used for cabinets or doors.
And attach them to the corner of the door. I used the screws that came along with the hinges, plus a little super glue to help support it. Then I just added a little more paint to touch it up, and there you go, i'm done.
You can also make a shelf inside with some of the extra foam left over, using some hot glue and duct tape. And also make the door thicker by layering more of the foam on the inside, to make it look a bit more substantial.
There you go, it comes down at under a pound or so, and can easily be thrown around or moved around for whatever purposes you need for you film.
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