Build a Martian Electronic Eye
Introduction: Build a Martian Electronic Eye
In 1953 <PERSON> produced a big screen cinema adaptation of the classic <PERSON> 1897 science fiction story The War of the Worlds. It wowed audiences at the time with its amazing special effects. I always enjoyed the marvelous screen version of the mechanical war machines that were brought to life by the wonderful work of Production Designer <PERSON> (1912-2003) who produced the cool cobra head death ray device perched atop the manta-ray-like body of the Martian war machines. <PERSON> also designed the one-eye Martian that is briefly shown in the film as well as the eerie mechanical electronic eye with its haunting sounds that peers into the farm house.
Several years ago I built a full-scale replica of one of the Martians. Based upon the success of that make, I decided to built a studio scale replica of the Martian electronic eye that haunts <PERSON> and Professor <PERSON> in the farm house sequence of the film. I was motivated, in part, to build this because last fall, I was able to get <PERSON>, the actress who played <PERSON> in the original film, to come to our local Comic Con here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The model Martian electronic eye that I built made an attention-getting addition to our booth. <PERSON> is shown in the above photo looking at my completed electronic eye during the convention.
What follows is a step-by-step guide showing how it was built.
Step 1: Gathering the Main Parts
Because the shape of the Martian eye is so unique, much of the build had to be sculpted by hand. However, I was able to use some store-bought items to help compose the basic shape. These include a champagne bucket, a 4-inch diameter PVC elbow and a correctly curved planter pot from Lowe's.
The large jumbo-sized Mega Eggs that I found at Hobby Lobby will be used to help diffuse and intensify the red, green and blue colors that make up the complex tri-color lens of the eye. The eye itself is the hardest part of the build as it is made up of multiple parts that include a clear plastic security camera lens dome, a solid outer dome that separates the tri-colored lens segments and finally a round trim piece for the eye cut out from a serving bowl.
A Ridgid-brand shop vac hose will be used to make the grooved neck that supports the eye.
Green sculpt foam is used to help fill-in and shape the main under body of the eye before final surface sculpting and detailing with Apoxie Sculpt clay.
Everything was stuck together using Scotch-Weld 8005 by 3M. If you have never used this stuff before, it is amazing. 348
It is a two-part apoxie adhesive that will glue things that you never thought possible. The eye could not have been made without it.
Step 2: The Main Body
Using the planter pot, I cut out the general shape of the curved outer shell for the eye. You can get this shape from looking at stills from the film as well as the only surviving drawings made of the eye from the actual film's production. All of these are included in these instructions.
Taking apart the metal portable shop light, I secured this to a wood circular base that was measured and cut to fit snuggly inside the bottom of the champagne collet as shown. The champagne collet is a critical part of the build because it offers the unique shape that will house the tri-colored eye. The shop light lamp shade will serve as a base to later mount the speaker and lights. Make sure you save the electrical cord as this will be needed to power the lights, sound board and speaker.
Using the 4-inch diameter PVC elbow, glue this to the outside rear of the champagne collet as shown. When I say "glue" you will use Scotch-Weld 8005 by 3M. This adhesive works great on any type of material.
Step 3: Building the Tri-Colored Lens
The most complex part of the build is in creating the realistic-looking tri-colored red, green and blue lens that made up the Martian electronic eye. You not only have to get the shape just right but you also want to achieve an effective rich deep color for each of the multi-colored segments that will give the eye its eerie appeal.
Here you will need an appropriate sized acrylic dome for the size eye that you wish to build. These domes can be found on eBay as sellers list them as "security camera" domes. They come in a variety of diameters so order the size that you want for your eye. I ended up using one that is about six inches in diameter.
At the same time you search for the clear acrylic dome, also search for a another dome that is slightly larger in diameter. 987