[
Editor's note: This is Part IV in a series of blog posts.
Click here to read the entire series.]
In case you haven't been following this series of blog entries up until now, I bought a 1982 DeLorean to drive across the country on my book tour next week to promote the release of my new novel Ready Player One. But my plans for this Geek Art Car go way beyond just paying tribute to Doc Brown's Time Machine from Back to the Future. I also want to pay tribute to the classic '80s movie cars from Knight Rider, Buckaroo Banzai, and Ghostbusters. I'm converting my DMC-12 into a Time Traveling Knight Riding Ghost Busting Jet Car. A traveling geek museum nerdmobile that celebrates '80s pop culture in the same fashion as my book.
The additions/modifications that I've described so far include:
- Installed a screen-accurate Flux Capacitor replica on the DeLorean's rear parcel shelf.
- Installed a Knight Industries KITT scanner below the DeLorean's grille.
- Obtained a screen-accurate Oscillation Overthruster replica.
So my car already combines elements from three out of four of my favorite '80s super vehicles. But I still need some Ghostbusting gear in the trunk if my car is going to be able to conduct paranormal eliminations in all other time periods and parallel dimensions. Right?
Getting a PKE meter turned out to be easy, because Mattel put out a very cool collectible replica a few years ago. A bit pricey, but you've got to have one if don't want invisible entities sneaking up on you when you're out on a job.
Finding a ghost trap turned out to be a little more difficult. You can't just go out an buy a screen accurate ghost trap replica in stores. You either have to build one yourself, or obtain one from a prop builder willing to sell one of his creations. Enter eBay!
This was the most screen accurate ghost trap I could find, complete with opening doors, a removable cartridge, and super bright LEDs inside. It's a thing of beauty. You can also see a photo of me holding this trap on the cover of today's Austin Chronicle. I'm also wearing a pair of Ecto Goggles that were another eBay find.
The trunk of my DeLorean was starting to look cluttered, and I still have to leave room for the largest and most important piece of Ghostbusting equipment in my arsenal, a screen accurate Ghostbusters Proton Pack — something I've wanted to possess since I was twelve.
My proton pack is supposed to arrive by UPS tomorrow, and the story of how it came to be mine is an epically strange geek saga that will knock your socks off. Stop back here tomorrow to hear the whole tale.