Making Props and Making Props and ArmourArmour

So you want to make a So you want to make a prop?prop?

Does the character really need it?Does the character really need it?

How will you be getting to the convention? How will you be getting to the convention? Will it fit in the car/train/coach with no Will it fit in the car/train/coach with no problems? Do you have to adjust it so it can?problems? Do you have to adjust it so it can?

Check the guidelines for the con to see if Check the guidelines for the con to see if you’re actually allowed props. you’re actually allowed props.

Then start thinking about how to make it!Then start thinking about how to make it!

So you’re going to make it So you’re going to make it now.now.

Get good reference pictures. You can’t Get good reference pictures. You can’t make something with guesswork, know make something with guesswork, know what it actually looks like before you start what it actually looks like before you start buying materials.buying materials.

STUDY the prop. Draw it, keep looking at STUDY the prop. Draw it, keep looking at it. Figure out how it goes together, it. Figure out how it goes together, UNDERSTAND IT. When you finally get UNDERSTAND IT. When you finally get around to making it all this prep work around to making it all this prep work makes it a lot easier.makes it a lot easier.

So, what you gonna make it So, what you gonna make it out of?out of?

Craft foamCraft foam Plastazote foamPlastazote foam Other foamOther foam WoodWood PlasticPlastic CardboardCardboard Fibre GlassFibre Glass Mould makingMould making OtherOther

Craft Craft FoamFoam

Craft FoamCraft Foam

Pros-Pros- It’s cheapIt’s cheap It won’t injure peopleIt won’t injure people It’s lightIt’s light It’s easy to cutIt’s easy to cut

Cons-Cons- It’s prone to crackingIt’s prone to cracking You have to seal it wellYou have to seal it well

Plastazote Foam Plastazote Foam

(my preferred method!)(my preferred method!)

PlastazotePlastazote

Pros-Pros- It’s cheap and comes in big sheetsIt’s cheap and comes in big sheets It won’t hurt peopleIt won’t hurt people It can be crushed in transport and will re-shape It can be crushed in transport and will re-shape

itselfitself It’s easy to cutIt’s easy to cut It can be heat formedIt can be heat formed

Cons-Cons- It’s sealed with latex and roofing sealant so you It’s sealed with latex and roofing sealant so you

need protective gearneed protective gear

Other FoamOther Foam

Other FoamOther Foam

ProsPros It’s lightIt’s light You can sculpt itYou can sculpt it It won’t hurt peopleIt won’t hurt people

ConsCons It can be hard to get a hold ofIt can be hard to get a hold of It absorbs paintIt absorbs paint It’s very hot to wearIt’s very hot to wear

WoodWood

WoodWood

Pros-Pros- You can buy it from a local storeYou can buy it from a local store It’s sturdy It’s sturdy

Cons-Cons- It’s difficult to cut (needs saws/electric It’s difficult to cut (needs saws/electric

tools)tools) It’s banned at most conventionsIt’s banned at most conventions It’s hard to make it not look like woodIt’s hard to make it not look like wood It’s brittleIt’s brittle

PlasticPlastic

PlasticPlastic

ProsPros It’s sturdyIt’s sturdy It’s lightIt’s light It can be heat formedIt can be heat formed

ConsCons It needs a lot of research and specialist It needs a lot of research and specialist

toolstools It’s not cheapIt’s not cheap It’s hard to paintIt’s hard to paint It’s rigid so can injure othersIt’s rigid so can injure others

CardboardCardboard

CardboardCardboardNote: Corrugated card just sucks, I’m talking about using Note: Corrugated card just sucks, I’m talking about using

mount board.mount board.

Pros-Pros- It’s lightIt’s light It’s cheapIt’s cheap You can get it from most art storesYou can get it from most art stores It takes paint wellIt takes paint well Good for small applicationsGood for small applications

Cons-Cons- It tearsIt tears It’s not waterproofIt’s not waterproof Very hard to transportVery hard to transport

Fibre GlassFibre Glass

There is no picture because I’ve never There is no picture because I’ve never seen anyone pull this off well. seen anyone pull this off well.

Fibre GlassFibre Glass

Pros-Pros- It’s strongIt’s strong

Cons-Cons- The fumes can kill youThe fumes can kill you It’s expensiveIt’s expensive You can get shards of glass in your handsYou can get shards of glass in your hands The insides are roughThe insides are rough Requires A LOT of sanding to get smoothRequires A LOT of sanding to get smooth If you drop resin on the floor it ain’t coming offIf you drop resin on the floor it ain’t coming off Generally leads to rage quitting.Generally leads to rage quitting.

MouldingMoulding

MouldingMoulding

Pros-Pros- You get good detail You get good detail You can make more from the same mouldYou can make more from the same mould

Cons-Cons- The detail is dependent on how good you The detail is dependent on how good you

are at sculptingare at sculpting The materials can be costly to set upThe materials can be costly to set up The insides of the final product can be not The insides of the final product can be not

nice to human heads.nice to human heads.

OtherOther

OtherOther

This is found objects like plumbing tubes, toy guns, This is found objects like plumbing tubes, toy guns, random bits that look rightrandom bits that look right

Pros-Pros- Great thing for making gunsGreat thing for making guns Can be bought locallyCan be bought locally Saves you from making a gun butt from scratchSaves you from making a gun butt from scratch

Cons-Cons- Can be hard to find things which are accurateCan be hard to find things which are accurate Can be hard to paintCan be hard to paint Can be heavyCan be heavy

So, you’ve got an idea of what So, you’ve got an idea of what you’ll make it with now?you’ll make it with now?

Test it. Buy a little bit of the material Test it. Buy a little bit of the material and see if it works for you. No point and see if it works for you. No point buying a crate of foam if you find out buying a crate of foam if you find out that you just can’t work with it!that you just can’t work with it!

Make a mock up with Make a mock up with paper/fabric/other before you cut the paper/fabric/other before you cut the actual shape out of your material. It actual shape out of your material. It means you waste less.means you waste less.

Using Construction Using Construction materialsmaterials

CardCard Craft foamCraft foam PlastazotePlastazote Thin plasticsThin plastics Thick plasticsThick plastics

Working with CardWorking with Card

Use wood glue/PVA and slowly bend Use wood glue/PVA and slowly bend the object to shape.the object to shape.

Coat with glue to waterproof itCoat with glue to waterproof it Don’t put strain on it as it will ripDon’t put strain on it as it will rip

Working with Craft foamWorking with Craft foam

Use a glue gun to glue into shapeUse a glue gun to glue into shape Cut using a knife or scissorsCut using a knife or scissors You can heat mould it with a heat You can heat mould it with a heat

gun or by holding it over the hobgun or by holding it over the hob Seal with PVA glue or paint will rub Seal with PVA glue or paint will rub

offoff

Working with PlastazoteWorking with Plastazote

Use a glue gun or impact adheasive to glue Use a glue gun or impact adheasive to glue into shapeinto shape

Cut using a knife or scissorsCut using a knife or scissors For weapons make supports with fibreglass For weapons make supports with fibreglass

rodrod You can heat mould it with a heat gun or by You can heat mould it with a heat gun or by

holding it over the hobholding it over the hob Seal with at least 3 layers of latex Seal with at least 3 layers of latex Paint with colours of your choicePaint with colours of your choice Final seal with isoflexFinal seal with isoflex

Working with Thin PlasticsWorking with Thin Plastics

Cut into shape with scissors or knifeCut into shape with scissors or knife Bend like card as it creasesBend like card as it creases Heat mould but keep in mind that it Heat mould but keep in mind that it

may curlmay curl Spray with primer so the paint stays Spray with primer so the paint stays

onon Paint in colour of your choicePaint in colour of your choice WeatherWeather Seal with clear acrylic spraySeal with clear acrylic spray

Working with Thick PlasticsWorking with Thick Plastics

Cut into shape with knife or sawCut into shape with knife or saw Sand rough edgesSand rough edges Will only bend if you heat mould it. Will only bend if you heat mould it. Spray with primer so the paint stays Spray with primer so the paint stays

onon Paint in colour of your choicePaint in colour of your choice WeatherWeather Seal with clear acrylic spraySeal with clear acrylic spray

Using Mould materialsUsing Mould materials

For Casting:For Casting: LatexLatex PlasterPlaster SiliconeSilicone

For MouldingFor Moulding Hot glueHot glue Polyurethane resinPolyurethane resin LatexLatex

Making a sculptMaking a sculpt

Use oil based clay as it doesn’t dry Use oil based clay as it doesn’t dry outout

Build on a flat surface that it can be Build on a flat surface that it can be movedmoved

Using tools makes it much easier to Using tools makes it much easier to get a smooth surfaceget a smooth surface

Think about how you will get the Think about how you will get the mould offmould off

Casting in LatexCasting in Latex

Use a soft paint brush to spread latex Use a soft paint brush to spread latex over the sculpt and avoid air bubblesover the sculpt and avoid air bubbles

Apply several layers until the mould Apply several layers until the mould is thickis thick

Make a support mould from plaster Make a support mould from plaster or plaster bandage. You can also use or plaster bandage. You can also use fibreglass… if you want to make it fibreglass… if you want to make it more difficult for yourself.more difficult for yourself.

Casting in PlasterCasting in Plaster

Make a wall of clay or lego around the Make a wall of clay or lego around the item you want to castitem you want to cast

Mix the plaster up adding plaster to water Mix the plaster up adding plaster to water until it is thickuntil it is thick

Pour over the sculpt in a thin stream to get Pour over the sculpt in a thin stream to get rid of bubblesrid of bubbles

Tap the base to vibrate it so the bubbles Tap the base to vibrate it so the bubbles go to the top of the plastergo to the top of the plaster

Be prepared to pick your item out of the Be prepared to pick your item out of the plaster once it’s setplaster once it’s set

Casting in siliconeCasting in silicone

This is about halfway between This is about halfway between plaster and latex.plaster and latex.

You can paint it on or pour it onYou can paint it on or pour it on It gets the best results, but is the It gets the best results, but is the

most expensivemost expensive You can buy it either in the cheaper You can buy it either in the cheaper

form of window sealer or as a 2 part form of window sealer or as a 2 part mix from mould suppliersmix from mould suppliers

Moulding in Hot GlueMoulding in Hot Glue

Hot glue can be moulded in all of the Hot glue can be moulded in all of the mould optionsmould options

Let your hot glue gun heat up until it’s Let your hot glue gun heat up until it’s easy to push the triggereasy to push the trigger

Pour glue into the mould. Keep close to it Pour glue into the mould. Keep close to it so the glue hits the entire surfaceso the glue hits the entire surface

Repeat until the entire inside of the mould Repeat until the entire inside of the mould is covered. Be aware that it can still be hotis covered. Be aware that it can still be hot

If you have a really large flat area you can If you have a really large flat area you can heat hot glue up in the oven in a glass jugheat hot glue up in the oven in a glass jug

Moulding in Polyurethane resinMoulding in Polyurethane resin

Polyurethane resin! NOT POLYESTER. Polyurethane resin! NOT POLYESTER. POLYESTER HATES YOU.POLYESTER HATES YOU.

Can be moulded in latex and silicone. Can be moulded in latex and silicone. Mix up the parts according to the Mix up the parts according to the

instructionsinstructions Pour resin in a thin stream to avoid bubblesPour resin in a thin stream to avoid bubbles Ensure you have good ventilationEnsure you have good ventilation The mould will get hot as the resin curesThe mould will get hot as the resin cures Watch out for flies in the roomWatch out for flies in the room

Moulding in LatexMoulding in Latex

Can be moulded in plaster. Can be moulded in plaster. Everything else distortsEverything else distorts

Pour a bit of latex in the mould and Pour a bit of latex in the mould and slush it about to cover the mouldslush it about to cover the mould

Repeat until you have the thickness Repeat until you have the thickness you desireyou desire

Some things to consider when Some things to consider when making propsmaking props

How will you get it there?How will you get it there? Work out the length of things by Work out the length of things by

taking a picture of you compared to taking a picture of you compared to the character. If it comes to their the character. If it comes to their knee, make it so it comes to yours.knee, make it so it comes to yours.

Some things to consider when Some things to consider when making armourmaking armour

The hardest bit with armour is The hardest bit with armour is figuring out how to make it stay on figuring out how to make it stay on you. Look into how medieval armour you. Look into how medieval armour actually works to get some ideas.actually works to get some ideas.

Make it so you can go to the loo Make it so you can go to the loo easily. Seriously.easily. Seriously.

Now ask questions!Now ask questions!(if we have enough time)(if we have enough time)

Helpful links:

www.flints.co.uk – Great place for materials, especially plastazote

www.tomps.com – Great place to by materials, especially latex and casting materials if you’re trying something complicated

www.ebay.co.uk – Absolute best place to buy random prop stuff from. Sounds obvious, but it’s true.