Hi all,
I've gone off the deep end and decided I want to do an Ecto build on my 2002 Subaru Forester. I've done a lot of planning and collecting of parts and I'm now in the process where I'm slowly building it up. I should add I'm doing this as cheaply as possible, easily removable, and using found parts for as much as I can get away with.
![Image]()
![Image]()
I'm building this out in a 3d program called Rhino so I can visualize how everything will look once completed, and I'll be including screenshots from that where applicable.
Roof Rack
The base of the rack is this old roof rack I've had for years that's just been hanging out in my side yard. The plan is to attach aluminum angle and flat pieces to build it a bit longer and add the angled sides at the front. I've already added the angles with a rivnut tool and 1/4-20 screws.
![Image]()
I've also started building the cylinders on the left and right sides. I had a heck of a time finding 6" tubing but I finally was able to order 3 pieces, 2ft long each, from Home Depot for $10 each. The caps for the green tube have been 3d printed in ABS and I have a couple of handles that fit perfectly already. Those were salvaged from a space heater I found during our neighborhood cleanup, which by the way will be playing the part of the FA-4919 that's impossible to find.
![Image]()
The air tanks I'm also building using the 6" tubing and I'm 3d printing domes to assemble them. I grabbed a couple of air regulators from Harbor Freight for $6 each to detail them out. I modeled a thread into one of the domes but I misunderstood the difference between 1/4" NPT and 1/4-20 so I'll have to find or make an adapter for that.
The lights are going to be an interesting challenge. I have already ordered a marine strobe to try out, if I like it I'll get two more and put them on the front bumper. As for the light bars, I don't fancy tracking down real ones and spending kinda too much money to get them to look right. Nor am I interested in a less accurate modern LED bar. So I've got the crazy idea to print these out of ABS. I will be using blue transparent for the lenses and I hope to do some acetone smoothing to get them at least semi-decent looking. Wish me luck on that!
![Image]()
Found parts!
I had the good fortune of deciding to start this build right when we had a neighborhood cleanup - literal piles of treasure all down the street! I scored a space heater, two vacuum hoses, and the one I'm most excited about, a bunk bed ladder that's pretty much a perfect fit. I'll be cutting it down slightly and painting it black.
The space heater I stole the handles off of for the green tube, and I'm going to cover up the vents with a sheet of metal so I can add some fake knobs and hoses for an approximation of the aforementioned FA-4919.
![Image]()
I've also got a pile of PVC and plywood to get me going. So far not much to show for the build but once I'm done with Halloween costumes this thing is shifting into gear and I'll be posting more as I build!
I've gone off the deep end and decided I want to do an Ecto build on my 2002 Subaru Forester. I've done a lot of planning and collecting of parts and I'm now in the process where I'm slowly building it up. I should add I'm doing this as cheaply as possible, easily removable, and using found parts for as much as I can get away with.
I'm building this out in a 3d program called Rhino so I can visualize how everything will look once completed, and I'll be including screenshots from that where applicable.
Roof Rack
The base of the rack is this old roof rack I've had for years that's just been hanging out in my side yard. The plan is to attach aluminum angle and flat pieces to build it a bit longer and add the angled sides at the front. I've already added the angles with a rivnut tool and 1/4-20 screws.
I've also started building the cylinders on the left and right sides. I had a heck of a time finding 6" tubing but I finally was able to order 3 pieces, 2ft long each, from Home Depot for $10 each. The caps for the green tube have been 3d printed in ABS and I have a couple of handles that fit perfectly already. Those were salvaged from a space heater I found during our neighborhood cleanup, which by the way will be playing the part of the FA-4919 that's impossible to find.
The air tanks I'm also building using the 6" tubing and I'm 3d printing domes to assemble them. I grabbed a couple of air regulators from Harbor Freight for $6 each to detail them out. I modeled a thread into one of the domes but I misunderstood the difference between 1/4" NPT and 1/4-20 so I'll have to find or make an adapter for that.
The lights are going to be an interesting challenge. I have already ordered a marine strobe to try out, if I like it I'll get two more and put them on the front bumper. As for the light bars, I don't fancy tracking down real ones and spending kinda too much money to get them to look right. Nor am I interested in a less accurate modern LED bar. So I've got the crazy idea to print these out of ABS. I will be using blue transparent for the lenses and I hope to do some acetone smoothing to get them at least semi-decent looking. Wish me luck on that!
Found parts!
I had the good fortune of deciding to start this build right when we had a neighborhood cleanup - literal piles of treasure all down the street! I scored a space heater, two vacuum hoses, and the one I'm most excited about, a bunk bed ladder that's pretty much a perfect fit. I'll be cutting it down slightly and painting it black.
The space heater I stole the handles off of for the green tube, and I'm going to cover up the vents with a sheet of metal so I can add some fake knobs and hoses for an approximation of the aforementioned FA-4919.
I've also got a pile of PVC and plywood to get me going. So far not much to show for the build but once I'm done with Halloween costumes this thing is shifting into gear and I'll be posting more as I build!
Statistics: Posted by TerranCmdr — October 22nd, 2025, 12:36 pm