Toktorill
04-30-2010, 11:25 PM
The King of Wraiths
Upon the night that never dies,
in a lair where phantoms cry for blood
thee shall find at last thy final ties
thine walk of death is such fortold:
In a dismal dirt crypt
at his Majesty's reach
a patrol ne'er ending
ye must tread
for to lose thine life
for such to teach
the discipline jet black
of the rotted dead
My first foray into the Hauntforum $20 Prop Challenge (and large-scale paper mache) is the "King of Wraiths", a floating skeletal figure with armor and a freaking huge sword. The figure, with stand, reaches from my floor to ceiling and spans an obtrusive portion of my dining room. (7.5' x 5' x 3.5') As many know, I have a mental complex that demands every prop I build is larger than me. I began this project March 23rd, and finished in the wee hours of the morning of April 30th.
Price Breakdown:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n22/Toktorill/PropChallenge2010/prices.jpg
Free Materials:
1 large fridge box (taken out of a bin at the recycling depot)
Newspaper
Method:
The Wraith took form as several parts, which never came together as a whole until the first few hours of April 30th. I created the shapes out of cardboard, using regular staples to attach where the pieces met end to end, larger staples from a pliers-style stapler for overlapping. In parts where the cardboard was in a tubular shape I wrapped sections with small pieces of packing tape. For some parts (ex. the spikes on the shoulder plates) the pieces were designed as tabs and slots, and needed no help staying in place. A piece of bamboo was fastened in the center of the sword for strength.
The cardboard was covered with torn strip paper mache (1c. flour, 1.25c. water, 1 tbsp bleach). I used a paintbrush to spread the paste and push paper against model. Only a few layers were used. In areas with "dead skin", the last layer was put on "wet and loose", creating uneven folds. Wads of newspaper with an outer layer of mache were used to make organ-like shapes for inside the ribcage.
A base coat of flat black spray paint was used. Once dry, I colored with acrylic paint, dry-brushed on. I usually let one coat dry before changing colors, to prevent smearing.
To get closer to the $20 mark, I added a few additional details. For a flicking flame effect, I mounted a bicycle light in the skull, covering the inside of the head with crumpled tinfoil to scatter the light. I also bought a loud magnet-tripped door alarm, using cardboard and wire to pull the magnet away on cue. A steel scouring pad was formed into a chainmail coif, and plastic gutter guard into a vest.
The stand was made of scrap lumber (already black from use in a Vortex Tunnel). It was comprised of a T shape on the floor, a central vertical shaft and an arm on top of that angling forward. A few nails tacked the pieces together, which were then wrapped with packing tape in areas, wire in others. The structure was held rigid tent-peg style with nails in the corners and taut pieces of wire.
And now what you've all been waiting for,
The Pics:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n22/Toktorill/PropChallenge2010/kow1.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n22/Toktorill/PropChallenge2010/kow2.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n22/Toktorill/PropChallenge2010/kow3.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n22/Toktorill/PropChallenge2010/kow4.jpg
Upon the night that never dies,
in a lair where phantoms cry for blood
thee shall find at last thy final ties
thine walk of death is such fortold:
In a dismal dirt crypt
at his Majesty's reach
a patrol ne'er ending
ye must tread
for to lose thine life
for such to teach
the discipline jet black
of the rotted dead
My first foray into the Hauntforum $20 Prop Challenge (and large-scale paper mache) is the "King of Wraiths", a floating skeletal figure with armor and a freaking huge sword. The figure, with stand, reaches from my floor to ceiling and spans an obtrusive portion of my dining room. (7.5' x 5' x 3.5') As many know, I have a mental complex that demands every prop I build is larger than me. I began this project March 23rd, and finished in the wee hours of the morning of April 30th.
Price Breakdown:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n22/Toktorill/PropChallenge2010/prices.jpg
Free Materials:
1 large fridge box (taken out of a bin at the recycling depot)
Newspaper
Method:
The Wraith took form as several parts, which never came together as a whole until the first few hours of April 30th. I created the shapes out of cardboard, using regular staples to attach where the pieces met end to end, larger staples from a pliers-style stapler for overlapping. In parts where the cardboard was in a tubular shape I wrapped sections with small pieces of packing tape. For some parts (ex. the spikes on the shoulder plates) the pieces were designed as tabs and slots, and needed no help staying in place. A piece of bamboo was fastened in the center of the sword for strength.
The cardboard was covered with torn strip paper mache (1c. flour, 1.25c. water, 1 tbsp bleach). I used a paintbrush to spread the paste and push paper against model. Only a few layers were used. In areas with "dead skin", the last layer was put on "wet and loose", creating uneven folds. Wads of newspaper with an outer layer of mache were used to make organ-like shapes for inside the ribcage.
A base coat of flat black spray paint was used. Once dry, I colored with acrylic paint, dry-brushed on. I usually let one coat dry before changing colors, to prevent smearing.
To get closer to the $20 mark, I added a few additional details. For a flicking flame effect, I mounted a bicycle light in the skull, covering the inside of the head with crumpled tinfoil to scatter the light. I also bought a loud magnet-tripped door alarm, using cardboard and wire to pull the magnet away on cue. A steel scouring pad was formed into a chainmail coif, and plastic gutter guard into a vest.
The stand was made of scrap lumber (already black from use in a Vortex Tunnel). It was comprised of a T shape on the floor, a central vertical shaft and an arm on top of that angling forward. A few nails tacked the pieces together, which were then wrapped with packing tape in areas, wire in others. The structure was held rigid tent-peg style with nails in the corners and taut pieces of wire.
And now what you've all been waiting for,
The Pics:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n22/Toktorill/PropChallenge2010/kow1.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n22/Toktorill/PropChallenge2010/kow2.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n22/Toktorill/PropChallenge2010/kow3.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n22/Toktorill/PropChallenge2010/kow4.jpg