Complete beginner to prop building requesting assistance

CzarAlex

CzarAlex

New Member
Folks..I have no problem admitting when I need help..when something baffles me or I don't know where to start.

This is one of those situations.

I am a complete beginner to anything related to this forum. Really..Anything. I have a TON of ideas in my head of things I'd like to make (mostly Star Trek related) but absolutly no clue where to begin or how to achieve it. I understand Styrene is used a lot for plastic work and I've seen places online to buy it.

But are there some tutorials out there for beginners like me who want to learn how to many some of the beautiful stuff there or to begin to experiement with scratch building my own props that I haven't seen others showcase on here? A forum search showed several tutorials for specific projects but even some of the terms used in them are foreign to me. I would be interested in finding definitions for some of the terms I've seen here regarding materials and processes. ABS, Vacuum forming, pep, how to cast plastic, that kind of stuff. As Denzel Washington's character said in the movie Philadelphia: "Now, explain it to me like I'm a four-year-old."

What tools do I use, what materials are best for what? What should I avoid?

If there is a complete n00bie tutorial out there, please direct me to it. If I get responses such as "Lurk more" or "OMG did you even search?!" I`ll respect that :) Heh

Thanks for taking the time to read my drivel! :thumbsup
 
Just my 2p worth ......

Go and have a look on HERE and do a search for props, there are good and bad tutorials on there but you should be able to pick up a few pointers. It may also help you to do a search on there for vac forming, casting etc.

If you can find a copy of any of the books by Shepard Paine (try Amazon) then get those. Shep wrote these the best part of 30 years ago, with lots of step by steps and pictures. he was (and remains) one the best master modellers I know of. I bought two of his books years ago and still use them as a reference.

Francois Verlinden also produced a couple of useful books years ago. Mostly aimed at military vehicles but the techniques are the same. Unfortunately his later books are just advertising crap.
 
Omg did you even search???

;)

Seriously, I think the best way to get into it and begin learning is just to start making something. Just gather some materials and give it a bash, experiential learning is great in prop and model making.

YouTube is a good resource for tutorials and techniques, worth looking there and searching the terms you mentioned.
 
Start with simple props you can complete with materials and tools on hand. I’m looking at doing a small voyager padd with some left over plastic sheeting and silver spray paint from my ghost trap. heck my first prop was the TOD parchment piece using pencils and cloth snagged from the wife’s scrap sewing pile, Keep it simple as you build your skills. Be sure to share!
 
Start by giving yourself a project and a deadline. I agree with wince 33, try making use of any tools or materials that you have lying around the house or limiting yourself to 20 bucks to spend at homedepot. you said you like Star Trek. Try and make a simple phaser but not one that already exists on the show. Design it yourself on paper first. By doing this you will acomplish two key things. 1. you'll take the pressure off of yourself to make it look exactly like an original 2. as YOUR design takes shape on paper you can start to imagine it coming to life. Try and incorporate wood, plastic metal and paint and go for it. By the end of your project you should have sanded, cut, painted,maybe resanded and repainted and finaly finished a new phaser that will fall under no criticism for not looking like the original. Then you'll be ready to ask yourself what all new model makers ask. What could I have done to make it turn out better than it did? And, What tool should I buy that would ahve made it easier of faster. (don't buy tools that you DONT need) good luck, you are officialy a model or prop maker!
 
Hmm. My materials on hand are rather lacking but I can certainly limit myself to around $20 for the build. I have a dremel with several attachments and I assume I can use that for a majority of the build. I found a local toy train shop that has styrene in stock and will go down Saturday to grab some. Michaels and AC Moore both carry balsa wood pieces.

Two things I need to overcome.

1) I need to work on my patience. I get an idea in my head and want it completed immediately. I need to take a chill pill and not half-arse the job just to see a completed piece of some kind.

2) I have this idea that a prop/model (what's the difference?) should also FEEL like it looks..sturdy/solid. I know this doesn't have to be the case but need to keep that in mind.
 
Rocker said:
(don't buy tools that you DONT need)
Click to expand...
Don't listen to this crack monkey. Everybody needs more tools! All tools!

Another suggestion is to keep an eye out for building contests here. If there isn't one going on now, there will be soon. These tend to have limits that level the playing field and have the added bonus of prize potentials. Good luck! :)
 
Try pepakura or paper models. There are paper models of space ships / weapons / props / limitless possibilities. Example ; There is a great paper model of the M40 pulse rifle from the movie Aliens. Then you can customize / add lights and sound etc.....
 
mikey123mushukl said:
Try pepakura or paper models. There are paper models of space ships / weapons / props / limitless possibilities. Example ; There is a great paper model of the M40 pulse rifle from the movie Aliens. Then you can customize / add lights and sound etc.....
Click to expand...


What is pepakura? And where can i find this m40 model. Big Aliens fan here :) Dreams of a power loader suit some decade. Heh.
 
Pepakura is paper cutting, folding, and gluing. See also: how to rid yourself of OCD folks for at least a week solid.
 
So once I have my design down for a custom ST styled phaser or tool (I may go with a medical device as I'm in the medical field myself), what would be a sane way to construct it? My thought right now is to use some kinda dense foam that I can cut with a hobby knife/electric carving knife (without telling wifey..) and then adhere styrene to the outside using model putty to fill in the seems/joints. Sand, paint, decorate.

Is that kinda the right way? ... is there a right way..wrong way? Or just so long as it looks as intended in the end?
 
Wood's an excellent medium to work with. It's cheap, machines well (if it's good quality wood - no pine, for instance), forgiving of mistakes, and stands up well to abuse. I think that you'd be unhappy with a foam prop - they're fairly delicate. Try working with a good hunk of wood with your dremel.
 
My advice to anyone who's ever asked this question is: just start tinkering with things. Grab some random junk from around the house. Got any old, broken electronic devices? Dismantle them and harvest things like switches, knobs, LEDs, etc. Spare plumbing fittings are always useful. Handles from worn out kitchen utensils, flat pieces of rigid plastic from whatever you can get them from, little leftover widgets from things you can't even remember. You'd be very, very surprised at what you can build when you start looking at things as potential prop parts instead of "crap in a drawer." :lol

Get yourself some glue and just start...creating. It doesn't have to be a perfect replica of anything. Heck, it doesn't even have to be a replica of anything to begin with. Just make it up as you go along. Be creative and educate yourself at the same time - you'll learn what sticks to what with which type of glue, what's easy to cut by hand and what requires power tools, etc...make it into a learning adventure. Even if you do something wrong and accidentally ruin a part, you've still learned something!

Above all, have fun with it. If you're not having fun you're not doing it right. :)
 
You can download Pepakura program at tamasoft.com. There is also a star treck tricorder paper model on the internet. Try papercraftmuseum.com to download several models, including the Aliens pulse rife.
 
Welcome to the forum! I'm a HUGE Star Trek fan, and I look forward to seeing your work! Remember, we all started somewhere. Dont be afraid to fail. You learn from your mistakes.

Good luck, can't wait to see your photos!
 
I agree with Jm419 in using wood for a beginner, it's the material I started with long ago when I began this hobby. Unfortunately, I did use pine when I started out. I found out much later that basswood would have been the way to begin. It's an easy wood to work with and you really can't argue with all the wood carvers out there who create some wonderful art with this material.
 
BAK55 said:
I agree with Jm419 in using wood for a beginner, it's the material I started with long ago when I began this hobby. Unfortunately, I did use pine when I started out. I found out much later that basswood would have been the way to begin. It's an easy wood to work with and you really can't argue with all the wood carvers out there who create some wonderful art with this material.
Click to expand...

So..wood for the core and then adhere styrene to it?
 
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