Here’s the truth. Most builds stall out because people chase “screen accuracy” without understanding what actually makes something feel real. This episode fixes that.

In this episode of Bench Tested, I sit down with Indy Magnoli of Magnoli Clothiers to break down what separates a costume from something that genuinely looks and feels like it came off a film set. This isn’t surface-level talk about fabrics and stitching. We get into the decisions behind material choice, construction, durability, and why what works on camera doesn’t always translate in the real world.

Indy shares how he approaches recreating Ghostbusters uniforms at a professional level, what most builders get wrong, and how small details completely change the way a build reads. We also dig into the myth of “screen accuracy,” the balance between authenticity and practicality, and how modern tools are changing the barrier to entry for builders today.

If you’re serious about leveling up your gear, this is the episode that forces you to rethink how you build.

Listen now at benchtestedpod.com

In this episode of Bench Tested, Charlie Harsh talks with Sean Charlesworth about what really makes a Ghostbusters build work. From his early love of the films to building detailed, functional props like ghost traps, the RTV, the Keymaster helmet, and the ESP shock machine, Sean breaks down the difference between props that only look right and props that actually feel right.

The conversation gets into 3D printing, engineering around real-world limitations, balancing durability with accuracy, why “screen accurate” is often more complicated than fans think, and how iteration is what truly levels up a build. If you’ve ever struggled with overthinking, design compromises, internal layout, or just getting started, this episode is packed with practical insight from someone who lives in that space between fan obsession and real-world problem solving.

In this episode of Bench Tested, Charlie Harsh sits down with special effects designer and engineer Ben Eadie, who worked on Ghostbusters: Afterlife, to break down what separates props that just look good from ones that actually function under real-world conditions.

This isn’t a surface-level conversation about movie props. It’s a deep dive into how they’re engineered for film, including durability, lighting challenges, wiring strategies, and the constant balance between accuracy and practicality. Ben shares what really happens on set, from props being held together with tape and last-minute fixes to accidental details becoming canon.

The episode also challenges one of the biggest myths in the hobby: “screen accuracy.” Ben explains why it doesn’t really exist, how every prop is slightly different, and why builders should focus more on function, storytelling, and usability than perfection.

If you’re trying to level up your build, this conversation shifts your mindset. It’s not about copying what you see. It’s about understanding how it works, why it was built that way, and how to apply that thinking to your own projects.

In this episode of Bench Tested, Charlie Harsh sits down with Corey and Andrew from C&A Prop Design to break down the side of Ghostbusters builds most people overlook, the parts behind the scenes that make everything actually work.

From early 2000s scratch-built packs to today’s modern kits, they walk through how the hobby has evolved, how they got started, and how a simple frustration with existing parts led to creating their own solutions. The conversation dives into smoke systems, ribbon cables, hose connectors, and the engineering challenges of making parts that are not just accurate, but functional, safe, and consistent across different builds.

They also get into the reality of building, including trial and error, material failures, constant redesigns, and why the smallest details often make the biggest difference. This episode is a deep look at the problem-solving mindset behind serious prop building and why the “invisible” parts are what separate a decent pack from a great one.

In this episode of Bench Tested, Charlie Harsh sits down with Nomake Wan to talk about how a lifelong Ghostbusters fan went from being disappointed by toy sounds to helping shape open-source modding for packs and wands.

They get into his early connection to the gear through Extreme Ghostbusters, how the Hasbro wand pulled him into modding, and how curiosity around one missing sound effect turned into real contributions to Ghostbusters electronics. The conversation also covers beginner-friendly advice on tools, soldering, diagnostics, JST connectors, coding, AI-assisted development, and what makes a pack or wand feel more authentic.

This episode is less about hype and more about demystifying the technical side of the hobby, and showing builders that getting started is more approachable than they think.

In this episode of Bench Tested, we sit down with Chris Nance and Greg Burke from the NorCal Ghostbusters to talk about what it really means to build and wear these props in the real world.

This isn’t just about putting something on a shelf. We get into what holds up at events, what breaks, what actually matters when you’re wearing a pack for hours, and how builds change when they’re meant to be used, not just displayed.

We also dig into uniforms, the details people obsess over versus what actually translates in person, and the ongoing balance between accuracy, practicality, and personal style.

If you’ve ever wondered where the line is between overbuilding and building smart, this one brings a different perspective straight from the field.

In this episode of Bench Tested, we sit down with Chris Hunt from Dragon Workshop to talk about the builder side of the Ghostbusters community and what it actually takes to go from making props for yourself to running a shop.

We get into how Chris got started, how his builds have evolved over time, and how he approaches designing parts that are both usable and accurate. We also talk through what sells, what doesn’t, and what builders should realistically focus on when putting together their own gear.

If you’ve ever thought about building your own props or turning it into something more, this one breaks down the process from someone who’s doing it every day.

In this episode of Bench Tested, we sit down with Michael from GPStar Technologies to talk about the electronics side of Ghostbusters props and how things have evolved over time.

What started as a personal project has grown into a system that a lot of builders are using in their packs and wands today. We get into how Michael got started, what pushed him to begin developing his own solutions, and how the platform has developed into what it is now.

We also break down how the system works at a high level, including pack and wand communication, audio design, and how newer builds are incorporating things like WiFi and ESP32-based control.

On top of that, we talk through the product lineup, the challenges of scaling something like this, and what builders should think about if they’re looking at adding electronics to their own builds.

If you’re building a pack, upgrading one, or just curious about the tech side of things, this episode gives a solid look at what’s out there and how it all comes together.

This inaugural episode of Bench Tested: A Ghostbusters Podcast sets the tone for what this show is all about, the people, the builds, and the process behind the props.

We sit down with Matt Baker to talk about his journey from fan to builder, how he got started, what he’s learned along the way, and his work with the Green Stream Ghostbusters. Then we shift into the fabrication side with Marc from Scavenger Workshop, diving into high-end prop building, kit design, and the aluminum ghost trap project.

Two perspectives, one shared obsession, this is where the workbench begins.