Designed and fabricated entirely in-house by Encirco Studios, this custom steam machine was created to replace the original unit featured in the Calico Mine Ride at Knott’s Berry Farm. Built primarily from wood, plastics, and cast resins, the piece features working pistons and gears and was produced using a wide range of fabrication techniques, including laser cutting, plasma cutting, CNC milling, mold making and casting, vacuum forming, and traditional woodworking.

Encirco Studios is a Southern California design and fabrication studio specializing in custom props for film, television, commercials, theme parks, theater productions, museums, exhibits, retail displays, and live events. From one-of-a-kind hero props and screen-ready replicas to interactive displays and durable themed-entertainment pieces, we take projects from the initial concept through design, fabrication, finishing, and final delivery.

Our team combines traditional techniques—including sculpting, mold making, casting, woodworking, metal fabrication, foam carving, fiberglass work, and scenic painting—with modern tools such as CAD design, CNC machining, laser cutting, digital scanning, and 3D printing. Using these capabilities together allows us to choose the right process for each project rather than limiting a build to one material or fabrication method. Depending on the needs of the finished piece, we may work with wood, metal, fiberglass, resin, silicone, urethane foam, plastics, fabrics, composites, or a combination of several materials.

Because our artists and fabricators regularly work across such a wide range of materials, they have a strong understanding of how different surfaces, textures, and finishes behave. Our crew can recreate and match nearly any faux finish or texture, including aged wood, rusted or weathered metal, carved stone, brick, concrete, leather, bone, skin, painted plaster, polished metal, and distressed architectural surfaces. We carefully consider color, sheen, scale, texture, aging, and the environment in which the prop will be seen. A finish designed for a close-up camera shot may require a different approach from one intended for an outdoor attraction, theater stage, museum display, or hands-on installation.

Every prop is custom-built with careful attention to detail, functionality, durability, and how it will perform in its intended setting. Some pieces need to be lightweight and safe for performers to carry. Others must withstand repeated handling, transportation, outdoor exposure, or years of operation in a themed environment. We consider those requirements from the beginning so that the internal construction, materials, finish, and final appearance all work together.

Whether we are creating a realistic replica, an oversized product, a mechanical prop, a fantasy object, or a fully interactive display, our goal is to produce something that looks convincing, functions reliably, and supports the story or experience it was designed to create.