When History in the Making needed support on a demanding brief (replicating WW2 vehicle part fabrication and artillery components for film and museum use), they turned to ICEE. The challenge called for absolute authenticity, but also modern precision, repeatability, and consistency. ICEE responded with a tailored approach that applied its advanced fabrication techniques to meet strict visual and mechanical requirements.
Here’s how ICEE fabricated the past to make it come alive in the future.
History in the Making is a UK-based company that provides high-fidelity film and theatre props. Their projects include supplying historical replicas for productions spanning the BBC, Netflix, and a growing number of heritage institutions.
Founded by Hamish Macleod in 1992, the company has built its reputation on delivering era-specific props, costumes, and a wide range of era-accurate items.
For this project, ICEE was asked to reproduce a series of components from WWII-era military vehicles and artillery systems. These items had to match the scale, surface finish, and form of their 1940s counterparts, so they were suitable for close-up filming and museum display.
Engineering The Past With Precision To Build For Today
Accuracy was critical in the creation of the replicas. ICEE began by reverse-engineering available legacy parts and images to generate CAD drawings. These models allowed the team to test tolerances, assess feasibility, and determine the most efficient production process.
To meet the brief, ICEE deployed its in-house custom metal fabrication team, utilising modern manufacturing methods, like:
- Laser cutting for consistent edge profiles
- Folding and forming to match the original part geometries
- Precision welding for strong, unobtrusive joins
- Textured finishing for authentic material appearance
These processes replicated the aesthetic of wartime components without compromising speed and quality. Modern methods allowed the team to deliver faster turnaround times and reduce waste. Consequently, ICEE was able to produce pieces that were both visually faithful to their original counterparts and engineered for repeatability.
Modern Execution of Historically Engineered Machines
The client needed small-to-medium production runs of parts that were no longer in circulation. For example, items like brackets, gun mount housings, vehicle panel work, and ammunition trays were necessary for authenticity. These were not just static display pieces.
Several components were destined for use in functioning vehicle rigs and interactive museum exhibits, where mechanical durability, not just cosmetic accuracy, was an important consideration.
ICEE’s expertise in precision engineering allowed the team to meet these highly bespoke fabrication requirements. By integrating bespoke design into its workflow, ICEE could offer modifications where period-specific detail was unclear or undocumented, while still meeting the visual and structural goals of the brief.
As Terry Saunders, ICEE’s Head of Manufacturing, explains:
“Working with History in the Making has been a truly exciting experience. Reproducing intricate components from historical conflicts — for museums, movies, and beyond — is a challenge we’ve embraced. Once we modernise these designs in our system, we can mass-produce parts quickly and accurately. Our strength lies in our ability to adapt and meet exact historical specifications, no matter the scale or complexity.”
Building For Beyond The Screen
This project is just one example of how ICEE’s engineering services can be utilised in specalised industries like Film & TV. The same tools and workflows are regularly used to support:
- Telecoms enclosures with custom-built frames and mounts
- Electrical panel manufacturing with precise cut-outs and folding
- Defence and infrastructure components that require ruggedness and reliability
- Bespoke fabrication for short-run industrial projects
- Vintage vehicle restoration requiring one-off bracketry or sheet metal forms
The flexibility of ICEE’s laser cutting, waterjet cutting, and welding services makes it a suitable partner for highly regulated industries as well as creative sectors like media production.
Manufacturing Both The Past and The Future
By applying WW2 replica manufacturing techniques through a modern lens, ICEE has shown how it can take on unusual and history-focused projects.
The collaboration with History in the Making demonstrates how replica part manufacturing in the UK can bring together craftsmanship and modern industrial capability. It’s an approach grounded in technical skill, careful planning, and respect for the original design intent. Additionally, the process was faster, cleaner, and more scalable, thanks to ICEE’s fabrication expertise.
