ASOUE Spyglass

A Series of Unfortunate Events is a series of books that was adapted into a Netflix TV show. In the Netflix show there is a device known as a spyglass which is a telescope with a number of dials and intricate detailing.

I wanted to have a physical copy that was as screen accurate as possible but nothing official existed so I decided to design it myself in Solidworks with the intention to 3D print it.

First I had to go through all the episodes of the show to get as many references photos from as many angles as I could. Then I had to work out which symbols were used on each ring and in which order so that it would match the real prop.

The design process was also somewhat intertwined with the prototyping stage to ensure that the parts fit together with the required resistance based on the need.

Once finished the design consisted of four large rotating rings, three telescopic sections and a cap that opens. The spyglass is made of two halves which can screw together to make the whole spyglass. Below is a cross section view of the finished model.

When printed, painted, weathered, veneered and assembled it looks like the photos at the top of this page. When the first one was finished and I was satisfied with it I manufactured a number more and sold them online to those who also wanted a physical copy of the spyglass.

I also decided to make a couple of 3D animations in Blender showing off what moves on the spyglass and how the parts go together to assemble it. These can be seen below.