DIY Jetpack Project: Build Your Own Movie Prop

Ready to take your filmmaking, cosplay, or creative projects to the next level? This guide provides a detailed plan for building your own prop jetpack. Remember, this is just one approach, and you can always adapt the design to fit your specific needs and vision. We encourage you to experiment, innovate, and share your improvements with the community. If you create a particularly impressive jetpack or discover a clever modification, let us know – you might even be featured in our monthly showcase!

For more inspiring content and behind-the-scenes footage, visit our website at www.indymogul.com. Also, subscribe on iTunes to stay updated. To see this jetpack in action, check out the video below.

Shopping List: Essential Materials for Your Jetpack

Before you start building, gather these essential materials. Remember that improvisation and creativity are key, so don’t be afraid to substitute items based on availability and your personal preferences.

1. Old Rigid Frame Backpack: Look for a sturdy backpack at a flea market, thrift store, or even your own garage. I found mine for just $7!
2. Fire Extinguisher: This is optional but highly recommended if you want to create realistic blast-off smoke effects. Make sure to handle it responsibly and safely.
3. Green Screen: Essential for creating the illusion of flight in your videos. You can find affordable green screens online or even make your own.
4. Spray Paint: Choose colors that fit your vision. I used flat black, chrome, and primer gray to achieve an aged metal look.
5. Epoxy: A strong adhesive is crucial for securely attaching the various components of your jetpack.
6. Nuts and Bolts: Raid your kitchen’s junk drawer or visit a hardware store for a selection of nuts and bolts in various sizes.
7. (Optional) F.A.A. Flight Permission: Just Kidding!
8. 45-degree PVC Joint (1/2” diameter): Only needed if you want the blast-off smoke effect.
9. 90-degree PVC Joint (1 ¼” diameter): Only needed if you want the blast-off smoke effect.
10. ½” Rubber Grommet: Only needed if you want the blast-off smoke effect.
11. Plastic Junk: This is where your creativity shines! Visit junk stores, garage sales, and recycling centers to find interesting plastic pieces that can be repurposed as jetpack parts. The possibilities are endless!

Here’s what I used…

• 2 cardboard tubes (painted black to resemble fuel tanks)
• A plastic paper tray (the kind that sits on a desk)
• A plastic paper tray (the kind that mounts to the wall)
• An old cartridge from a slide projector
• 2 plastic file dividers (they look like bookends and will serve as wings)
• 2 plastic hide-a-key compartments with hinged tops (these will provide access to the fire extinguisher)
• Some wire mesh (available at art stores)
• A “danger flammable liquid” sticker (ask nicely at your local hardware store – thanks, Elizabeth!)

Building the Prop Jetpack: A Step-by-Step Guide

Don’t worry, building this prop jetpack isn’t rocket science (even though you’re building a “jetpack”!). Since the specific materials you find might differ from mine, consider these instructions as a general guideline. The ultimate goal is to create something that looks cool and convincing. This is where your ingenuity and inventiveness are needed.

The first step was to modify the backpack frame. I wanted a more streamlined design, so I used a rotary tool to cut off excess pieces.

Next, I secured the hide-a-key boxes to the top of the frame, leaving enough space between them to accommodate the fire extinguisher. These boxes are surprisingly sturdy and have convenient hinged tops for easy access.

After that, I flipped the tabletop paper tray upside down and mounted it to the hinged boxes. This creates a clever way to conceal the inner workings of the jetpack, especially when you want to cover the “guts” of the build

Then, I attached the wall-mountable paper tray and the slide cartridge to the first paper tray. I simply experimented with different placements until I found an arrangement that looked visually appealing. Once satisfied, I drilled holes and secured the components with epoxy.

Next, it was time to add the wings! The plastic file dividers were a fantastic find. As soon as I saw them, I knew they would make perfect jetpack wings. I simply epoxied them to the sides of the backpack frame.

With the basic structure complete, our jetpack was ready for paint. I considered painting the entire thing flat white for a futuristic, space-age look, but ultimately decided on an aged metal finish. You can watch a time-lapse of the painting process in our video. Basically, I applied one coat of primer, followed by a coat of chrome, and then a patchy coat of flat black to tone down the shine and create a weathered effect.

I then inserted two cardboard tubes (painted black) inside the jetpack to resemble fuel tanks. These also helped to conceal the fire extinguisher when the cover was closed.

Finally, I used a hot glue gun to attach some steel mesh (leftover from a previous project) to the frame.

The Fire Extinguisher: Adding the Blast-Off Effect

As you may have seen in the video, my initial exhaust system design didn’t work out as planned. The following describes the simplified setup that I ultimately used. It consists of two PVC joints and a rubber grommet. I used a rotary tool to cut a hole in the back of the larger PVC joint, making it just large enough to insert one end of the smaller PVC joint. I then used epoxy to join the two pieces, creating a custom exhaust nozzle. Finally, I epoxied the rubber grommet to the other end of the small joint. This should fit snugly over the nozzle of your fire extinguisher. You might need to trim the grommet with your rotary tool to ensure a proper fit, depending on the brand of fire extinguisher you use.

Once your fire extinguisher is securely taped in place, you’ll need a reliable way to trigger it. After consulting old NASA blueprints (just kidding!), I devised an ingenious trigger system: a long string!

The Magic of Flight: Green Screen and Visual Effects

I won’t delve into the intricacies of using a green screen, chroma keying, and keyframes, as there are many excellent tutorials available online. The specific software you use and your individual workflow will also influence your approach. However, here are a few resources to get you started:

Green Screen and Chroma Key Resources

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/85814 (General tips for green screen work)

http://www.videouniversity.com/chroma1.htm (A comprehensive guide to chroma keying)

Believe it or not, I didn’t use Motion or After Effects for the jetpack episode. I found the rocket effects I used on the excellent website Detonation Films.

They offer a wide selection of FREE stock footage, including explosions, rocket exhaust, and other visually stunning elements. They even provide tutorials on how to integrate them into your non-linear editing (NLE) software.

The only other program I used was Photoshop. In Photoshop, I created a miniature version of myself blasting off the ground and edited some of the backgrounds. A critical component of this project is animating the elements which you edited in Photoshop using Final Cut Pro (or Premiere). Here is a good tutorial on animating using FCP and Photoshop.

Good luck with your jetpack project! We encourage you to post any questions or comments you may have.

-Erik