In our interview, we focused on The Wand Company's upcoming Fallout Fusion Flea Die-Cast Replica. At IGN Store, you can find an exclusive Desert Sandtrack variant of this replica, which is limited to one production run of 1,500 units. This replica features an opening canopy to view the inner cockpit and even a removable nuclear core in the never-before-seen inner workings of the Fusion Flea's inner engine. Currently set to ship in Q1 2026, now is the time to lock in your pre-order for the IGN Store exclusive Fusion Flea.
What first attracted you to the idea of creating a die-cast replica of the Fusion Flea specifically?
When I was a child I loved making kits of cars, when I was old enough to own a car I spent every weekend under the hood working on my car. I love the cars in Fallout, they are so strange and yet exciting to look at. I have a dream that one day I will scratch-build a drivable life-sized Fusion Flea, so what better way to start than by making some 1:18 scale versions. I imagined what the Fallout universe would have been like before the bombs dropped and in my mind’s eye I could see all these awesome
cars scooting around. I felt that by making a range of Fusion Fleas I would be bringing the pre-war Fallout world a little closer to reality. The design is so natty and the brand building in Fallout is so awesome that it gives so much potential for a lovely range of this cute little car.
At The Wand Company, you’ve worked on a wide range of licensed proplica products. How did the Flea project differ from previous collaborations in scope or creative approach?
Most of our projects are very complex and involve a great deal of electronics development, but what I like about the Fusion Fleas is that, from an electronics point of view, they are very simple and that means that I can focus on the creative development. In a way, the Fleas are a very distilled version of an idea of how to bring in-universe concepts to life. I love the way that fans collect and treasure the Fleas and I especially enjoy designing the merchandising materials. When designing the look of the Fleas and their features, I work very closely with a great product designer called Matt Bagshaw. In addition, James Barnardo, my grown up son, is a graphic designer and he not only developed the packaging concepts, but came up with the idea that in the Fallout universe the Fleas would have been given as an employee incentive reward for the Chryslus factory workers.
When did the concept of the Desert Sandtrack Flea variant begin? And what was the spark for choosing this particular vehicle/variant?
The Desert Sandtrack Flea was designed as one of a set of three released in 2025 that further extended the concept of the original Flea design. We had previously designed a military scout Flea, which was a painted version of the basic design. For the Desert Sandtrack Flea, we wanted to push the design a lot further and take the idea of the scout Fleas into the farthest corners of the battle front. In my mind, this might have been an experimental vehicle that Chryslus created for a need that never developed, or may have seen active service. The beauty of the Fallout universe is that there are so many possibilities of events and products within the scope of the universe that we are yet to learn about. The neat thing about the design is that it takes the standard Flea body and evolves it with chunky tires up front and a caterpillar track at the back, and then chops the canopy off to make a low windshield. It looks great and is a perfect evolution of the basic design.
The fandom around Fallout is very passionate about authenticity and lore accuracy. How did you achieve the model’s fidelity?
To create the original Flea we studied the Fallout team’s original sketches. They are so detailed. Although there was no suitable reference for the engines and running gear, we designed the engine and the simple suspension to fit the look and feel of the Fallout equipment from other machines where the workings are more obvious.
Walk us through the design process: from concept sketch to prototype to final production. What were key milestones or turning points?
It differs from Flea to Flea. For the Desert Sandtrack Flea the concept started with a Fallout in-universe magazine, Hot Rodder. This got us thinking about what would happen if the basic form of the Flea was evolved to make it suitable not just for suburban roads, but other harsher environments. The wonderful thing about the Flea project is that we get to let our imagination run freely, provided we follow some important in-universe rules. After the initial sketches are done, we do a very detailed 3D model of what we want. We submit the model to Bethesda, and if they approve it, we pass that to the factory. The way we work with the die-cast metal cars is different to our other projects. For all our other projects we do the 3D CAD right up to the point where the factory works on it to make the tooling CAD, but for the Fleas we send them the designer CAD and they design the actual manufacturing geometry. Once the CAD has been approved, I can then use that to design the merchandising box and the manual. I love drawing the manuals and designing the packaging, it’s a really fun part of the project; I get to imagine if the little car was real and imagine what the fan will feel when they look at the box for the first time. It’s so amazing when the first “golden sample” arrives for my approval and I see the real product for the first time… I guess this is my own personal unboxing experience. The next major milestone is the delivery to our retailers. Finally, we have the joy of hearing back from fans that have bought one to add to their collection. I think that this last step is not only the most important, but also the most rewarding part for me.
Were there any technical or design challenges unique to this particular variant?
There were two main challenges. Changing the batteries from three button cells to a single AAA and painting that wonderful camo pattern all over the bodywork. The LEDs that are used to illuminate the engine bay with that blue radiation glow need just over 5V. In previous designs, this voltage was supplied by three button cells in series, which conveniently provide more than enough voltage to drive a blue LED. The circuit is simple and only requires a single resistor and a switch to make it work. However, button cells are very dangerous if swallowed and although the Flea is not a toy, there are increasingly strict rules about how button and coin cell batteries can be packaged. As a result, for this new Flea design we decided to move to a single AAA battery. As this only produces 1.5V, some clever electronics were required to boost the voltage to make it high enough to power the LED. The camo pattern was another great challenge. Each different colour has to be applied to the bodywork multiple times to make sure that the pattern covers the surface and all fits together. It was a challenge, but the end result is stunning and totally worth it.
Tell us about the packaging and included materials. How does it tell a story for collectors?
The packaging is a fun part of the project for me. Growing up, I wanted to be a graphic illustrator. I love drawing the manuals and rendering the Fleas in different positions for the packaging and thinking up the box colour scheme to make them as collectible as possible with the other Fleas that we have created. Building the look is a lot like putting a jigsaw together, but it is a jigsaw that you are not only doing, but designing the pieces as you go along. It is as much a challenge as it is fun to do. And then of course at the end all the ideas come together and you see the finished printed parts, it is very rewarding.
What have you personally learned from working on this project that you’ll carry into future ones?
That people love these little cars and I should be making a lot more of them.
Are there any wish-list items from the Fallout universe you personally hope to tackle in the future?
Oh… there is so much to do and so little time to do it! I would love to make more cars… a Station Wagon, a Rocket 69… I have 3D designs for both of them. There are simply too many gorgeous things that need making in this wonderfully rich fantasy world of Fallout.
How do you factor in rarity when designing limited-edition items? Some Fusion Fleas have sold for thousands of dollars secondhand. Does this influence your design process?
In a word, yes. But rarity is a funny thing. There are millions of fans out there, so rarity is relative and based on how many people are actually collecting something. We have to make a minimum number of any given Flea style in order to cover the costs of tooling and doing the work to design them in the first place. At less than about 1,000 units, the project doesn't make sense for our company financially. In some cases, where we have made just a handful of Fleas for a special occasion, these are then very rare and have changed hands for many thousands of dollars. However, all the Fleas have become rare to some extent and sell in the secondhand market often for more than they cost to buy in the first place. I would like to see the demand increase, but I will always make sure that these lovely pieces are kept in high demand by only making one manufacturing run of each design, so that the rarity that fans want is there, while still given those that want to build their collections a chance at getting the ones that they want.
About IGN Store
IGN Store sells high-quality merch, collectibles, and shirts for everything you're into. It's a shop built with fans in mind: for all the geek culture and fandom you love most. Whether you're into comics, movies, anime, games, retro gaming or just want some cute plushies (who doesn't?), this store is for you!
Connexion
