Brian Farmer

One thing that I really enjoy is set design and prop building. I like the challenge of building a piece of equipment, commensurate in quality to it’s manufactured equivalent, for a fraction of the retail price. So needless to say I spend a lot of time at Bunnings Warehouse.

My friends know this so from time to time I get a call from one of them requesting help with a project.

Recently I received one such call from my mate Pete, a Writer/ Director and good friend of mine.

The phone call went something like this:

Pete: “I’ve written a short Sci-Fi Action series called “The Wandering Man” about a smuggler who has a signature limp and uses a gun disguised as a crutch to mete out justice. Reckon you could build the gun?

Me: “Sounds like fun. I’ll give it a crack”

Pete: “Oh and I need it by this Sunday, cause I have already organised the shoot”

Me: “So you need it in 4 days time.”

Pete: “There’s a case of beer in it for you!”

Me: “Deal”

So after meeting Pete to pick up a crutch he got from Vinnes for the bargain price of $2, I made a run past Bunnings (man I love that store!!) and Target, to pick up expandable foam, builders bog, spray paint and a kids water pistol. It took me around 12 hours to build it, 1 of which was spent trying to clean the expandable foam off my hands! (Note to self, definitely wear glove next time you use the stuff).

When in the early hours of Sunday morning I finally finished the instrument through which Pete’s Protagonist would enforce his own brand of justice and probable mass destruction I couldn’t help but feel proud.

Here is the final Product in action