Large Scale Prop Design.

[Frightguy1]

Hi all,

I am working on some large scale props this year for my charity haunt, nothing overly huge but around 12ft in height.

I loved what Eric Lowther does at Haunted Overload but does anyone have any tips for what materials to use to created the faces/hands of these props.

What have you found works best and is lightweight? Plaster, foam, clays?

I have a few ideas in mind but other suggestions would be helpful!

Thanks!

Jay.

[Allen H]

Jay,
here is a materials list of things I have found useful in the past.
Pipe insulation
Pool noodles (both of the above can be shaped with hot foam tools)
ceiling hanger wire (found in most hardware stores)
Monster mud (lots of decent recipes online)
I love to skin things with 3mil black plastic that I hit with a heat gun, it gives great organic textures, then drybrush and it looks awesome
Burlap painted with fiberglass resin is pretty indestructible
Flying concrete (awesome stuff google it, If you need suppliers of pumice I have a list)
CPVC pipe (I normally skip the fittings and heat bend it, much cheaper that way)
Plastic roofing sheets shaped with a blowtorch
You can mix ground up polystyrene or peat moss into concrete or plaster for a lighter weight but still strong material

If this thread stays active, and I hope it does, I will post more as I think of them, best of luck in your endeavors,
Allen H

[Frightguy1]

Allen, thanks for those suggestions. I actually ran out yesterday to the hardware store and started picking up supplies and so far I have a 12ft Grim Reaper started. Right now I am framing him out in PVC Plumbing pipe, using the blow torch to bend the angles has been helpful!

I will try to post some pictures as I make progress on my reaper and keep some tabs on the materials and processes I use just to keep this thread active. Hopefully it will inspire some more posts on projects such as these.

Best,

J.

[Allen H]

Try wrapping the hands in plastic and heat gunning it, it gives a great look.
Allen H

[Frightguy1]

It's been awhile since I posted to this thread but we have some photos of some of our designs. One oldy but goody is a large scale wooden casket. We are fabricating multiple sets of these in 6 1/2 Ft sizes and half sizes that can be made to look as if they were shoved straight into the ground.

We are also mass producing skull tiles that can be used in a number of ways, either for your home office or as part of the scenes you may build for your haunt. The tiles will be cast in both a ridged foam and resin.

We are using these in our haunt this year but will also be selling these on our website.

Check out the pictures on our blog and be sure to let us know what you think!
http://grimlockmanor.blogspot.com/

Jason.
http://www.grimlockmanor.com/

[Jim Warfield]

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall!"
Holler "Timber!"(or Tim Burton?)
October winds can be cruel.

[Frightguy1]

Haha! That is true Jim. Hopefully I will find some bodies to weigh those caskets down!

Jason.
http://www.grimlockmanor.com/
http://grimlockmanor.blogspot.com/