Elvira Mistress of the Dark Dagger

[merfeldma]

I'm in the process of working on an Elvira costume. Unfortuntely there isn't much information out there. I'd like to get started making the dagger. Once I make the clay version how would I go about casting the dagger handle in metal? I was planning on making an alginate mold of the clay version and then making a wax investment with the alginate mold.
I'll post the progress of the project as I'm working on it.

 

[JANDERS10]

I'm in the process of working on an Elvira costume. Unfortuntely there isn't much information out there. I'd like to get started making the dagger. Once I make the clay version how would I go about casting the dagger handle in metal? I was planning on making an alginate mold of the clay version and then making a wax investment with the alginate mold.
I'll post the progress of the project as I'm working on it.

Can't say the dagger was the first thing that caught my eye about Elvira's costume, nor the second, come to think of it.

 

[Megamicrofish]

Can't say the dagger was the first thing that caught my eye about Elvira's costume, nor the second, come to think of it.

I would have to agree. There was a dagger ?

 

[allosaur176]

this thread is useless without pics!!!

 

[jasonw2112]

From what I remember from the movie it was just one of those plastic modeled knifes's with a spring blade. She stabs a guy with it, then makes a joke about it being fake. I just went to a convention a couple months ago and met her in her full costume. I wil see if I got any photo's with a pic of the knife.

 

[ONEYE]

 

[allosaur176]

I still dont see any dagger

 

[Droidboy]

I think those are plastic.

 

[merfeldma]

Is there an easy/cheap way to make plastic look metallic? Once I get the chance I'll take pictures of the plastic dagger I have. I'd love to get one like she had with the retractable blade.

I think those are plastic.

 

[merfeldma]

I've met her too at both Horror Hounds in Nov and this March. I only got a few pictures of her standing where I could see the dagger well, I'll have to check those later. The dagger looked like it was real metal, or that the plastic was metallicized.

From what I remember from the movie it was just one of those plastic modeled knifes's with a spring blade. She stabs a guy with it, then makes a joke about it being fake. I just went to a convention a couple months ago and met her in her full costume. I wil see if I got any photo's with a pic of the knife.

 

[Riceball]

Is there an easy/cheap way to make plastic look metallic? Once I get the chance I'll take pictures of the plastic dagger I have. I'd love to get one like she had with the retractable blade.

If you're making it from scratch you can add things to resin to give it a metallic look, I don't know exactly the names of the products but I'm sure that the more knowledgeable folks out here will.

Now if you're talking about an existing item there are a couple of way of doing it. One is painting it, but it's hard to find a good spray paint that will look like real metal. Testors makes, don't know if they still do, a really good silver enamel paint but it only comes in little bottles for painting models & miniatures; I don't know if they make a spray version of the same paint or not.

If you can't find a good spray paint then there metallizing/metallicizing kits out there that you can buy at places like Michael's and I believe that some of the people here have used them with good to excellent results.

 

[merfeldma]

Thanks for the tip. I plan on using the one I have as a reference. There are still some things that aren't quite right. Plus I would really like to add the spring function if that's possible and all the jewels to the handle.

If you're making it from scratch you can add things to resin to give it a metallic look, I don't know exactly the names of the products but I'm sure that the more knowledgeable folks out here will.

Now if you're talking about an existing item there are a couple of way of doing it. One is painting it, but it's hard to find a good spray paint that will look like real metal. Testors makes, don't know if they still do, a really good silver enamel paint but it only comes in little bottles for painting models & miniatures; I don't know if they make a spray version of the same paint or not.

If you can't find a good spray paint then there metallizing/metallicizing kits out there that you can buy at places like Michael's and I believe that some of the people here have used them with good to excellent results.

 

[jasonw2112]

Well here's a pic at the Horror Hound Convention in November of last year. I know it's not the greatest, but it gives you a little peek...at the knife that is!

 

[Mojo_Turbo]

I still don't see a dagger.....more um... pictures please

 

[ONEYE]

I still don't see a dagger.....more um... pictures please

Here you go.

 

[defstartrooper]

Is the handle supposed to be gold or brass ?
I'd do a coldcast brass one, cheap and easy just some casting resin and a bag of brass filler powder.

 

[merfeldma]

It has the look of gold or very shiny brass. Can you achieve that kind of shiny metallic look with coldcast resin with brass filler powder in it? I really like the resin method since it would be easy to make the blade retractable like in the movie.

Is the handle supposed to be gold or brass ?
I'd do a coldcast brass one, cheap and easy just some casting resin and a bag of brass filler powder.

 

[tain669]

You can get these at any Halloween store. Thats where I have seen them...And put yer eyes back in yer head..!!!!!....Ya Wackos....Now maybe I can get a peek...$:love

 

[ONEYE]

You can get these at any Halloween store

I would not want a cheap, plastic POS. I want one that is "RPF" quality.

 

[allosaur176]

more reference pics, but I still dont see a dagger