Just an update on the swords and axes I was making for the kids film. I decided to leave the two biggest swords unfinished, as they're too big for one thing and they will have enough with the five shorter ones. Plus I'm saving a bit of time. I had templates made for the two axe designs but decided not to make any more due to time constraints.

 

I got a bit carried away with the bigger sword handles, adding shaped MDF for a bulkier and more solid look. I'm going to work on them some more when I get time.

 



The five short swords

 

 

 

I had an Idea to wrap material around the handle shafts, similar to the grip used on hurley's. Obviously I wasn't going to stretch to that kind of expense for a non-paying gig, so I improvised with some faux leather strips cut from an old jacket. These were stuck on with PVA glue and taped at the end until the glue set.

 

 For the top of the handles I sprayed some plastic bottle tops and secured them with hot-glue

 

 

I learned the hard way that spray paint won't take to a varnished surface. I varnished two of the swords before spraying as the surfaces were rough and I thought a thick coat of varnish could be sanded to a smoother finish.  As you can see the paint cracked soon after spraying but it worked out o.k. though as the surface now has a beaten metal effect.

 

I might still have to put a coat of varnish on this axes wooden handle, so that it can be cleaned more easily - I'm assuming there will be loads of fake blood involved in the film - maybe I can add it in after effects?

 

So, that's the full set complete (although I did buy a pot of gold paint the other day). I hope they don't look for shields or helmets as well.

 

 

 

Finally I got the masks finished. All that was left to do at this stage to the 'Old man' mask was to add bushy eyebrows and a handle-bar moustache. I was using a technique that I'd learnt during my work placement to simulate hair, or in this case the whiskers and eyebrow hairs, by unravelling rope or cord into strands, that can be formed into shape and glued in place (or inserted as plugs).

 

To secure the moustache on the old man mask I used thin wire tied around the centre of the unravelled cord. This was then pushed through a tiny hole I'd made in the centre of the upper lip.

 

I decided to make plugs (of cord strands) for the eyebrows similar to what I'd done during my work placement on the mask for 'The Clockwork Doll'. I had to use a carpenters bradawl to create the holes as this mask is fairly strong.

 

 

I modified a wooden skewer by filing a groove into the sharp end of it, so I could push through several strands of cord together.

 

 

 

 

It looks painful I know

 

I had left gaps in the mask for the skewer to penetrate more easily on the inside.

 

 

 

The first plugs were easy enough to do, but as more were added it became difficult to find a space inside for new ones as I was working blind - that is, from the outside.

 

 

 

With all the plugs in place I added layer upon layer of hot glue to the inside. I'm determined that they won't fall out after all that work.

 

 

 

A reminder of the original design shows how close the end product turned out (the face on the left centre was obviously for a different design).

 

Although I varnished the masks to make them easier to clean I hadn't thought about cleaning the cord strands. I think they're nylon so they should be washable, it's just a pity that they're white. Now I just have to come up with a use for it.

 

 

For the Insect/ Alien mask I only had to add the antennae. I had wanted to make them removable - as they add a good bit to the overall dimensions. Anyway I couldn't think of anything apart from adding a threaded bolt to the bottom of the support wires, and a nut glued to the inside of the mask. This would mean drilling through the bolt shaft and gluing the support wire in the hole. As this is a personal project I decided against all the extra work as I've already spent a lot of time on these. Instead I made holes for the support wires in the mask and added pieces of card on the inside for extra security. I then added loads of hot-glue (not that easy to do in a tight space).

 

I'm happy with the end result. I might still add a mesh pattern to the eyes - like a lot of insects have - but this time ill be drawing it on with permanent marker. I might also try a thin wash in red or green acrylic but I'll try it out on a separate piece first in case it kills the reflectivity of the chrome paint.

 

Why? well.... because I can.

Y' never know, someone might want a prop like this some day. Hmmmm, that's got me thinking....