How to make a Star Wars datapad and wrist communicator (aka kitbashing)

In preparation for a trip to Galaxy's Edge in Disney World, I've been putting together some pieces for the occasion. Inspired by the kitbashing tutorials and builds that have been popping up, I decided to apply it to making my own datapad (aka smartphone case) and a wrist communicator (modded wristwatch). 


For those unfamiliar, "kitbashing" refers the practice of using parts from plastic model kits to add insane amounts of detail to miniatures for filming, best known in the work of Star Wars. Take a close enough look at the Millenium Falcon or a star destroyer and you can make out spare parts from plastic model tanks and battleships. The same amount of detail can be found in so much of the Star Wars universe, and the same techniques can also be extended into prop-making.

Materials

  • Smartphone case
  • Wristwatch
  • X-wing Starfighter plastic model kit
  • Lego pieces
  • Random metal parts (innards of a broken sewing machine)
  • Rustoleum "copper rose" spray paint
  • Clear coat enamel spray paint
  • Black acrylic paint
  • Black knit elastic
  • Rivets

Tools

  • Epoxy glue
  • Painter's tape

1. Gather the materials

For my kitbashing materials I bought a miniature X-wing plastic model kit from a craft store and various Lego pieces scavenged from my Lego Abyss. 


2. Attach the pieces

With a bit of fiddling I found a good arrangement of bits and bobs on the devices. I wanted most of these pieces to be painted, so I started gluing these on with epoxy. You can add as many pieces as you like but personally I think a few pieces can go a long way and overloading it can make it look clunky. I also tried to anticipate how much pieces might interfere with use of the phone, or where slipping it in and out of a pocket might break off pieces on the edges. Finally I taped off the areas I wanted to remain black.


3. Paint

Spray that paint! Don't forget to seal with clear coat enamel. 


4. Add details

Finally I added some more bits and paint to give the phone case some more variation. To bring out the details of the kitbash pieces I used a little diluted black acrylic paint in the crevices, blotted off the excess, and let dry. Some silver paint here and there. And I had a bag of old sewing machine parts, so I added a random greeblie along one side. 


For the watch, I did the same with black and silver paint, then the additional lego piece on the "light" button. Then I used a length of black knit elastic to make a new watch-band, securing the ends into place with rivets. 




At the end of the day kitbashing is a pretty simple project that is a boon for anyone with random collections of greeblies. Good luck and keep crafting!

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