suitcase kick drum: a project on the cheap

I've been wanting one of these for ages, but it had to wait until I had some downtime in the summer to actually make it reality.
First, a cheap suitcase. I got this one on craigslist for ten bucks. I measured and cut holes for front (sound hole) and back (beater head). Then I poked holes for the tension bolts, which didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I fixed it later.
Next, drum bits:
-- the mini-snare drum which I'd originally repurposed as a sort of practice drum. I removed one head and rim, and then cut out that head's counterhoop to raise the height of the remaining head before applying the rim. This turned out rather sloppy and hard to install.
Then, I had to figure out how to make it stay where I wanted.
So I used spray foam insulation on the inside. It grew and grew overnight -- !! -- and it was ugly and weird-looking, but it got the job done and added some nice muffling qualities to boot.

-- wood blocks on all four corners in order to keep the rounded bottom of the suitcase stable. I went with whatever I could find for free, which meant leftovers from a nearby constructions site and some thin wood sheets from cigar boxes for angles. Again, it's definitely sort of ugly, but it's holding steady and I think it will be fine.

-- A bass pedal found at the Lincoln City, OR Goodwill for seven bucks, less five percent because we got there on a Wednesday and I could claim a senior discount (55+, which seems generous).  I used bolt cutters and a file to shorten the beater arm so the beater would connect with the upper part of the head's sweet spot. Shortening the beater arm doesn't seem to have affected the way the pedal handles under my foot.

-- a cymbal arm, which I scored on the cheap from Keary at Revival Drum Shop. I installed this using another thin wood sheet on the backside to stabilize the somewhat flexible suitcase material, and it definitely helps.

I may add bass drum spur arms on the sides, but Keary doesn't think I need them. We'll see.

I won't have a lot of time to play it at home between now and Rosh Hashanah, but I hope to sneak in some time here and there. If I like what I've come up with I may haul it down to the Marp Room when I lay down drum tracks for my album next month.
We'll see.

I already have most of the rest of what I need for this stripped-down kit, including the snare drum I borrowed back in 2013 to record Ten Miles (and never returned, but by then that band director had retired and the school closed down its band program, so I've got this snare drum just sitting here. I fxed it up, replaced the heads and the snares and now it actually sounds like something). I also have a cymbal stand for a crash or splah cymbal (got those too, they suck but at least I have them). I really want to find a decent ride cymbal that isn't super-huge, but I may have to settle for an 18" crash-ride and just not play it too aggressively. Video later when I get things up and running.

Next up: Making a drum throne from spare parts and a huge overstuffed bicycle saddle. Stay tuned.