Replica Prop Forum (RPF) user bishopdonmiguel, a.k.a. Bishop, has a thing for obscure sci-fi props and accessories from series of yore. For example, he decided to build a prop from the classic Battlestar Galactica that only appeared in a single episode. After gathering reference shots, he made some observations:

The original prop was probably held together with hot glue but I wanted to make something a bit more durable. The obvious characteristics of the device to be replicated; it is metallic red, has a design that is apparently painted on, and a switch located on a perforated sheet that activates an internal lighting source. The object looked familiar and my best guess was a “fuel (water) bottle.” After searching on everyone’s favorite online auction site, I found one that would work nicely and I was off to replicate the graphic as best as I could make out.

He found a red bottle and transformed it by cutting it apart, adding a circuit board and LEDs, and other embellishments to make it resemble the prop in Battlestar.

Read more at The RPF.