The Ugly Truth About My Room Build 

A: a room build is never "finished", B: squirrel!

Hey brian- just wanted to send a quick thanks for the four years I've been enjoying your videos and gleaning unlimited inspiration. I started out as just a kid in his dad's garage, building with hot glue and cardboard, in awe of what you were able to crank out. Over the years, I've been redesigning my bedroom into the interior of a ship, which has been one of the greatest joys in my life, and I owe it all to you. A few months ago, I had to call my room "done", as I moved a couple hours away for my freshman year of college. I'm currently studying architecture, and I'm even giving a presentation about my experience doing a room build. All because I happened upon your channel four years ago and saw that May the Fourth droid caller prop build. So thank you, for inspiring me and so many others to have the courage to start building, even if the only materials accessible are cardboard and hot glue.

Took me almost ten years to “finish” my full scale droid. I truly understand a large build project is a marathon and not a sprint. Keep up the great work! 😊

The room is hot Bryan, can't wait to see what you come up with next...stay safe!

Hey Brian, I’ve been watching you build something out of nothing for about 3 years now and have enjoyed each and every second of it, you have sparked a creative side of me that I didn’t know I had! About two years ago I got a Cricut from a family friend as a gift and the first thing I thought of was the Smugglers Room and man are those Cricuts amazing machines! I just am so grateful for creative side of me you have helped me find and am so excited for the next chapter of the Smugglers Room and what’s projects I am going to be working on next! May the force be with you always! 😊

Ha! The Microwave! I can't wait to see the crate diorama setup. That design looks sick!

you and few others inspired me to get into this hobby, thank you all and i enjoy my time and build, although not as good as you, your Utube videos are great. keep it up

Cant wait to see it all come together, but the journey is the best part. Thank you for all you do.

After just getting off a Disney cruise ship, and visiting their Star Wars play area… your space wins hands down… I would pay $$$ to see your creation any day! Envy galore!!! Carry on!

I love the idea for the 3 3/4 scale display hidden in a stack of crates.. Genius!!

I recently had a moment whilst sat in my build where I asked myself Why am I doing this? And I realised that I DONT want to finish my build. For me the build process is actually the fun part. It's a time and place where I can retreat from whatever is going on in the World and throw all my energy into pure escapism. It's fun and I'm learning new techniques from the smugglers room and all of the member of the room builder group all the time. So thanks Brian and everyone else for the entertainment and inspiration, and here's to another four years

This is the most awesome mis-use of space I've ever seen in my life. I am in absolute awe!

a thought..one you could fully pull off..( its also something my jawas are working on in their fort ).. use the Han in carbonite to hide a door..like a sliding hiden door...that way han isnt just taking up space..

Man, all you folks who do these builds, from small projects to entire rooms, simply amaze me! I just got through watching this video, and one of the video recommendations over to my right is Nerdforge turning a room into a wizard's study. Jayzis, all you nerds are awesome! Keep it up! ^_^

I’ve been working 8 years on remodeling my house to Walt Disney World. I’ve completed my Adventurer’s Club office, EPCOT hallway and Haunted Mansion stairwell but I’m stumped on the Tomorrowland bathroom. I still have 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 powder room, the kitchen and a family room. Each a separate land and elements have been built and pieces bought. I get it. Inspiration hit and focus changes. I stopped my Pirates of the Caribbean bedroom, because it still needs to be emptied out and I ran into a roadblock on the headboard. I have to duplicate the other half of the stern of the Black Pearl which I already did. So now I’m doing my Tiki Room/ Adventureland kitchen. I get where you are coming from.

I would deal with the window by painting some aurebesh letters that say something like "To escape pod" or "Gun turret access" in the window well, to really make use of the corrugated metal out there.

You guys are my favorite creators. Love the creativity. The Cantina area may be my current favorite. It will never be "finished" and that is just perfect

Maybe an armory would be a good way to display you armor and helmets.

Hairy Chubbaca testicles it's been four years already!!! It's been one heck of an adventure my friend and can't thank you enough for allowing us to be part of it.

Idea for displaying your Mando kits: You could put a jail cell door (laser bars, etc.) in front of them. You could even curve it to allow them to still take up the corner. This would give you display, story, and conversation elements. Makes it so you have easy access to them the next time you want to wear them.

Recall when Rey was in the cantina with Fin and heard a child down some steps… the hall walls down there have been something I wanted to replicate in my home and maybe a nice inspired scene for the entrance to your basement SPACESHIP 😊

On the room with the Mandalorian and carbonite, a cool idea would be a TV that displays space all the time with a build around it to look like a window into space

It's such an amazing room, and thanks for sharing your processes. Something I love about having a Star Wars cave is that it is never finished. There is always room to improve. That said, your work is incredible. Keep it up bro.

I have a few shelves full of collected mementos and one light switch cover done for my room build and seeing this (and other videos) from you make me wanna design more and keep on. Thanks for the awesome inspiration and motivation.

Mr. Thompson sir this video is one of your best ever. Sometimes people don’t need a build from you to get motivated sometimes all it takes is a reality check in a humble way and I for one think that this video delivers just that so for all of the room builders in this community head up move forward and try new things because in reality it’s all about learning and trying your best !!!!

You have created quite an awesome room. I just hope you and your wife are committed to staying in that house. I couldn't imagine the effort it would take to move everything. I look forward to your next build. Thanks

I think you have done a lot for 4 years and have come along way looking forward to the next steps :)

It's fine that the details aren't done. The whole room is fun to be in. Warm low key lighting will pull it together.( like in your visual concept illustration). The orange and brown and mustard colors in the concept are what pulled the look together, but that new eclectic look is fine too. You just need to sort the lighting.

Brain, after watching this episode, especially near the end on your plans for a scene within a scene…the light bulb went off for nailing an age long issue of displaying my Star Wars collection! Thanks, I’m stealing one of your ideas, because in the end, it’ll be the BEST way to “show off” my cherished collection!

The diorama/crate idea sounds fantastic! May the Force be with you on this journey!

Okay odd suggestion. That basement window. Has to be an escape area I'm guessing. For safety. Doo you have a plastic cover over it? Be the perfect area I think. For going Along the edge. Painting it like a forest. Making a Endor village.

I feel you on that build crunch, myself i make cosplay, props and gunpla/model kits and the sheer volume of projects just pile up and never seem to end. Dont let it get to you just because you cant work on them, im sure both of you will find the right time to push each project to an end. Its much better this way too, as makers we all know its better to do a project when you *want* to rather than Force-push yourself to do so. I might have an idea for the back wall you have where the poor Solo icicle is. Nerdforge did a video where she basically mounted a giant screen behind some foam decor and basically has a programmable "outside" screen. What if you did something similar, with the desert of Tattooine, or the lush forests of Kashyyk? Heck, imagine having a window to an ISD hanger with Tie fighters lifting off and landing back and forth. The bonus aspect here is also it'll give some light and animation to the area which is always nice to have when you spend a lot of time working there. Here's the video in question btw, might give you some ideas: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Vg1TGADF248.html

Love it. This project brought me to your channel initially. Hard to believe it's been four years. Thanks for the update and all the great additional content since starting the room build.

that scale model crate area is soooo sick

Loved the video. Not just the content but the story telling throughout it. Especially the side commentary.

It is a marathon not a sprint. I enjoy all of your build videos and am excited to see what comes along the way.

Great episode. Thanks for sharing your room build. I agree with you. The community is becoming more important to me than the things I’m building. I love the creative energy of the group.

From someone with ptsd and some other good things, i have a constant issue of motivation and direction. I build, change, build change, many times. I have been working on a full 6ft 2 tall humanoid robot, does everything but walk, i am on year 3, i can only work in my workshop spring through fall, because my heater doesn't like Utah winters. I also have a poor Gonk in pieces, because the whole plastic container thing just doesn't work for me, so now he's going to be wood and in the exact position he was in, in Empire, one day.

Another great video over my morning coffee, as always! Love watching your channel because you never shy away from showing us the successes, the (relative) failures, and the works still in progress. I've been following your videos for about three years now, and I keep coming back to see your process and your techniques. Can't wait to see where it all goes next!

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Oooh all that cantina progress! It's looking awesome! Love the designs for the upcoming bits, too!

We plan on giving our "set" a refresh and seeing what you have done gives us so much inspiration. We have always loved that you take elements from the universe and make it your own. Great job.

I've been a huge fan of the channel for the entire time -- keep up the great work. As for the cove, I'd suggest turning it into a carbonite storage "coat rack". You could even build a carbonite "display" box for the Mando costumes.

Love your videos!! On what to do Han Solo in Carbonite I would use it as bathroom door/ closet doors. Could even use the side panel for door lock.

Been following for a long time. For the basement window(s), I always thought of curving a screen to fit the space outside. Then mount a small projector that would place an image of a star field in it and you could have it be in all sorts of modes.

idk if anyone has said this already but you should put a "locker room" for your mandalorian gear. Would look realy good and would be a cool behind the scenes of what a mandolorian does with his gear when he isnt wearing it.

Awesome 4 years! Congrats! I'm still watching... 👀 👍 LLAP 🖖

Here's a tip from my many years of doing that sort of work. You've probably figured it out by now anyway. Don't get distracted by the details. Get a visual. Make a small 3D model. Build the big shapes first. Once you have all the big shapes in place, add the details. Commercial people use this process because if the deadline moves forward, you still get to deliver something pretty good. So for example, the bench seat around the holochess would be functional with just the framing and no cushions and lights. I would do just that part first only, and then move on the display shelves, and so on. Much faster, and your head is at the right scale all the time. I'm not sure which design tutor told me all this, it was a long time ago. It was great advice and has served me well. Hope I can pass it on to you, But, having said that, as a hobbyist, there's no deadline, and so no real reason not to have fun playing with the details endlessly.

Awesome! Thanks for the tour and update- Looks great! Keep up the great work!!!

I love the way you approach your projects, the humor and that your family (wife and dad) join in the passion shows and I have been missing more content from you. I can't wait to see whats next as a builder myself you all inspire me

I finished printing the bd 1 can’t wait to paint it

This is one of my favorite channels to watch, so I'm glad you have more builds to work on! :D Keep up the great work and the room looks awesome already

Brian. Thank you for this. I appreciate it. It made me feel much better about my own progress on my displays. I love the look of everything you build and to see the unfinished aspects of the things you have worked on is refreshing.

Hey Brian. Love the videos and inspiration that you bring. I really look forward to the geek-a-cation. I'm getting ready to start a two bay garage build. Any ideas or thoughts would be helpful. Thanks and keep up the amazing work!

I love your videos they give me so many ideas to make things, witch is always a good thing. 1 idea for your mando suits and han is have the wall done up like the carbon freezing chamber scene with han in the middle and ur mandos posing on the side, making it look like they just captured him.

super cool. I don't think it ever ends bc of the countless ideas you have and keep coming up with. You have done an amazing job and sharing all that knowledge. I really appreicate it. keep it up. cheers

Thank you soooo much for the tour :) I absolutely enjoy your channel and I'm always looking forward to new updates and videos :) Thank you again!

Gosh it’s so gratifying watching your videos.

Phenomenal work! You guys rock and are so inspiring to be creative. Keep it up and thanks for sharing your journey with us!

Job well done! Keep up the good work! Awesome!

I’ve loved watching the whole process as you progress. Looking forward to seeing more 😊😊😊

This has been a great run to this point - I know it will be great in the future work! Keep at it my man! You’ve been doing awesome and inspiring others to do impressive things

Wow, looking great despite all the stuff that is not done, yet, and certainly makes me feel better about my ST-TOS themed room build, or will it be a full-size shuttle inspired office/studio parked in the street next to my house???

Brian!! Your room and all your projects are amazing. You have ignited a lot of us to bring out our creative talents that we never knew we had. Keep up the awesome work. We have stuck with you all this years and we’ll continue too. Thank you both!!! Can’t wait for what the future holds..

I think the Mandalorians need to sit at a bistro style table just to the left of the bar. Or even more complex, make Han into a table that the two of them are sitting at with a pile of beskar ingots in between.

Again Great video, you just answered a lot of questions I had about your room build. I thought I was the only that hasn't finished the control panels on my solo in carbonite

Same problem around here in a more modest magnitude. Now I'm working on some cheap 1/18 scale toy motorbikes which I will turn into speeder bikes... eventually 😅

Looking incredible! Keep up the amazing work 👍

Super inspiring as always Brian. You help remind us to have patience with our builds. Especially for those of us who have kids, work & other areas of our lives that require us to shelve or pause our projects for a while. And sometimes for me that works out better. I may see something or have a "mind glimpse" of a twist on my project that I'm glad I had before I started or finished. I have to say that the idea you have for the crates and dioramas within, is a genius idea. Can't wait to see that. You should be super proud of all the designs, creativity & all-around cool stuff you have cranked out!

Wow Brian! I love every item of content that you put out, but this one I found hugely inspirational!!! What an awesome room and even better plan to really develop all the spaces lacking in creativity currently! I'm blown away with your honesty, vision and awesome geekness to build one of the best rooms I have seen, and filled me with more creativity and inspiration to add more elements to my small single uk size garage room build! I'll be along every step with you and your wife, and keep up the awesome geekiest and get building something out of nothing! ❤🤜🏻🤛🏻

Your projects and videos are amazing. Im currently in the process of installing my star wars control panel wall art and the only reason it exists is because your videos inspired me to get off my ass and get it done.

I have been enjoying the room build so much! You inspired me to start a wall in my office. It's slow, but it's getting done.

Keep up the great work here! You are an inspiration!

I cannot wait for the column builds I could definitely use that in my little build

The best part is to never finish.... it means it's still interesting! That's different than abandon a project.

Very cool and inspiring! Thank you for sharing and just subscribed!🍻

That looks incredible. I would never leave that room, lol...

Your room seems to have an echo while you speak. The room looks awesome, but once your fill the walls the only echo left would be the ceiling sound bounce. Great channel, don't worry about time as long as you're having fun!

I have the PERFECT and unique idea you could do for your space window that I've never seen done before (that I plan on doing on my own build) Use the paint Black 3.0 or 4.0 to black out the wall on the other side of it and run fiber optics to create stars. Obviously fiber optic stars has been done a million times BUT I've never seen someone use Black 4.0 as the background, people usually use black felt or something. Black 4.0 absorbs 99%+ of all visible light, it literally just looks like a black void, so much so that your brain has a hard time processing it. Adding that with fiber optics would be AMAZING (and would definitely be a trippy looking conversation area)

I know that you are a perfectionist and that perhaps many things did not go exactly as planned, but let me tell you this, that room looks incredibly amazing, I wish I had a room half as great as the one you both created there, 👏👏 Also, thank you very much for sharing throughout these years, the processes, the tricks, the ways to build and create those wonders, I and all of us who follow you have learned a lot thanks to you, so... MTFBWY and with your family dear Brian 🤜🤛

May the force be with you.

Your ending message is very motivating

Have you considered building the bathroom door to resemble a Razorcrest door, and placing the Mando mannequins on either side, acting as "guards"?

These are no ugly truth's! These are awesome plans! I love what you guys do, the video's are always awesome and the stuff you create is really cool. So much inspiration in these video's for future builds, can't wait for what's to come!

Very nice work.

These things take so much time. Thats part of the fun and would not be as satisfying if it was over too fast. My collection display mancave has been nearly 10 years and isnt complete just yet. My multi source scifi themed shuttle bay/garage/workshop will be in the works for years to come and i am looking forward to every minute.

Keep up the amazing work. It's really looking great 👍

Brian... What a Rathtar part seen through your still empty window? Great job along these four years...Lol

Do something with the Exterior too, Also the chest Plates of the Mandalorians need work. Love you Man❤

I have wanted to upgrade my walls in my tiny home office to have the angled access panels from Babylon 5. Something functional like a drop in box with two access panel doors, might have shelves in it...

looks great

Some great ideas there

Personally, I like that the journey is the best part. Finishing something can be good but also disappointing at the same time.

Very Awesome show.

Man, I laughed out loud several times, and totally can relate to your plans and your woes. Best summary of room building on RU-vid

I love this channel. Inspires me every time.

I like your training ball microwave, but if its bugging you just put an extension on it whatever way you think works, make it look built in maybe, part of the wall

It's looking really good. For the space that you first see before anything else, what if you made it look like Jabba's trophy room where he kept Han

Darn it man…. Now I want nachos…. Seriously, you guys are the best..I love watching your journey and have learned so much from all your projects. Keep makin’ something out of nothin’.. ❤❤❤❤

I had an idea for your mandalorian armor. You said you aren't happy with the mannequins that they are displayed on. What about doing a sort of display like we see in Solo on Dryden Vos's ship, the First Light? Or even like a display like what Boba Fett has in his series?