For the West End production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Propworks approached us to develop a neat and nimble electronics solution for their Anti-matter Raygun prop. With our in-house 3D printing and electronics expertise, we were well positioned to take on the challenge.

We began by designing and 3D printing the body and trigger mechanism. After a series of prototypes, we refined the trigger tolerance to enable smooth, frictionless activation and optimised the internal cavity to house the necessary electronics. Propworks specified a 12V light bulb, but fitting a 12V battery within the prop would have made it too large and cumbersome for the cast member to use. To overcome this, we utilised a 3.3V lithium cell paired with a 12V boost regulator to power the blue LED bulb - the sourcing of which to the correct specification proved unexpectedly difficult, though ultimately well within the capability of our team.

To finish, we sanded and sprayed the 3D printed body to achieve a smooth, high-quality surface fit for the stage.
We were delighted with the result and thrilled to see our work stun the West End.