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How to Build a DIY Project Hail Mary Cockpit Control Panel

  • Writer: Matt
    Matt
  • 4 days ago
  • 4 min read

The Ultimate Sci-Fi Movie Prop Challenge This was either going to look amazing or totally stupid.


Astronaut in orange harness navigates a spaceship cockpit, surrounded by illuminated control panels. Focused expression, tech-filled setting.

I saw a picture of the cockpit control panel from the new sci-fi movie Project Hail Mary and I couldn't stop looking at it. I decided I kind of wanted one for the shelf. The catch? I had a really tough deadline. I wanted to build this entire DIY movie prop with almost no real reference material, and no idea if it would actually work, just in time for the movie's opening weekend.


Spoiler alert: Everything went very wrong at least once, but the final result is an awesome, fully functional sci-fi console. Here is exactly how I built it.



Parts & Materials for a DIY Project Hail Mary Cockpit Control Panel


To pull this off, I used a mix of off-the-shelf electronics and custom-fabricated pieces.

Off-the-Shelf Hardware:




A custom laptop with a retrofuturistic design shows "CAUTION" on its screen. It's on a workbench with tools and a cutting mat.

Step-by-Step DIY Prop Build Process


1. Scaling a Movie Prop from a Single Photo


The biggest challenge was that I had no relative scale. The first thing I did was draw a flat sketch of the single internet photo I had.


Pro-Tip: Buy all your off-the-shelf components first. By measuring the actual screen, buttons, and keyboard I purchased, I could build and scale my 3D prints and laser-cut files around those exact dimensions to create the DIY Project Hail Mary Cockpit Control Panel.


2. 3D Modeling in Tinkercad & Laser Cutting


Once I had my measurements, I recreated the panel configurations and sent them to my laser cutter, doing an initial test cut on craft paper before committing to the wood.

Hands assemble electronic parts on a green grid mat. An orange frame holds a black screen and blue panels with holes. Loose wires visible.

The prop has specific toggle guards on every push button. I found an incredible 3D model of a space shuttle toggle guard online, took it into Tinkercad, and spent 30 minutes modifying it until it perfectly fit my purchased buttons.


I also used Tinkercad to design the entire back box and the hinge that connects the top screen to the bottom keyboard. It handled the mild complexity perfectly—right up until my 3D printer created a massive spaghetti mess, bent the print head, and cost me a few very stressful hours of repairs.


3. Assembling the Cockpit Panels


Once the wood panels were laser-cut, sanded, and painted silver, it was time to put it together.

  • Add the screws first: I added the decorative screws around the panels before mounting the switches so I wouldn't have to drill on an uneven surface later.

  • Mount the screen: I laid down some hot glue to insert the screen. It immediately shifted, and I had to carefully pick away the glue hoping I didn't destroy the internal wiring. Lesson learned: Mechanical fixing methods are usually better than glue!


A person drills a black panel on a wooden board with an orange drill, surrounded by tools and wires on a green cutting mat.

4. Wiring the Push Buttons to a Numei Media Player


The Numei media player is the secret sauce for interactive props. I wired all the push buttons in series to the Numei's sensor port. This means if you press any button on the panel, it sends a signal to the media player to change the video on the screen.

I added LEDs behind the 3D-printed buttons, hot-glued them in place, and then tackled the power problem. I took my multi-adapter USB cable, plugged the USB-C into the screen, another adapter into the media player, and then stripped an unused wire to solder to the LEDs. One cable, three powered devices.


Hands working on a circuit board with red and black wires on a table. Tools, an open manual, and a soldering station are nearby.

5. Creating Spaceship UI Graphics with PowerPoint

I needed authentic spaceship UI graphics, and I used a tool that might surprise you: Microsoft PowerPoint.


Spacecraft interface showing a navigation screen with a ship diagram. Displays data on CO2, O2, temperature, and propulsion. Text: "Caution".

PowerPoint is fantastic for laying out computer displays for film props. It's super good at making little boxes and buttons, and it's easy to duplicate slides to make those buttons flash or display caution alarms. I created the screens, exported them as a video, and dropped them onto a memory stick for the Numei player. Pressing the physical buttons perfectly triggered the creeping telemetry video and a blaring alarm.


6. Final Console Assembly

I sandwiched the old broken keyboard between my laser-cut parts and the 3D-printed hinge, ran the metal bar through it, and used black foam and matte gaffer tape to hide any unsprayed parts.


Hand holds a control panel with a digital screen displaying technical graphics, surrounded by knobs and buttons. Workshop setting.


The Final Verdict: Screen-Accurate or Total Disaster?


I took the finished prop and headed straight to the movie theater to finally watch Project Hail Mary and see how close my blind build actually was.


Custom laptop with toggle switches, blue lights, and a screen displaying "CAUTION" in red. Set on a workshop table with tools.

As it turns out, it looks almost exactly the same from the front! However, the back of the panel—which I couldn't see in any reference material—is completely black in the movie, not silver with a frame like I made it. But considering the prop is only on screen for maybe 15 seconds, I am super pleased with how this build turned out.



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