Legend of Zelda - Deku shield... suggestions??

[Jet Beetle]

My son is a Zelda nut - he plays the games over asking for items they simply do not sell in the stores - Lon Lon Milk, Bomb bag, Rupees --- but one item of all has been on his x-mas list for 2 years now - the Deku shield. so, what's a dad to do - I've seen some shields on ebay but most of them are the Hyrule shield. the Deku Shield, for those who may not know is the first defence weapon Link picks up in Ocarina of Time - The thing looks like it was made from a tree or a fence and is cut in an odd shape. I've managed to cut out the main shape out of plywood and I've started sanding the edges but I know my limited knowledge of working with wood is coming to an end especially when it comes to replicating this piece - I'd seek advice on how some of you masters would tackle this - maybe I can get it passable before Santa arrives with it -
thanks a billion

 

[tubachris85x]

Hmmm...other then trying to make it straight from actual wood, this probably would be best sculpted and cast in fiberglass or something. It looks as if there is something backing the wood, so it looks as if someone cut this directly out of a tree. It looks as if the bark is comming off on those spots.

The biggest thing is more replicating the textur of the tree. Hmmm...I honestly don't know what else to suggest. Maybe carve the texture out of that pink foam? It's not that I wouldn't actually make it from a real tree, its the fact that it's for your son and I'd be afraid to see some nasty splinters come off of that..

Good luck!

 

[propologist]

yeah pink foam would be good . I bid a cabin for our VBS similar like that and it cuts very easy. you could skim coat it with something to make it more durable, like 2-part( thinner bondo) paint in black and dry brush the rest with various browns. good luck with it.

 

[Mcillig29]

One style i saw a friend of mine did he took some ply wood and formed it to the shape of the sheild and used a dremel to make the plank like lines in the wood and he took some tree bark and hot glued it and then he painted the symbol on it but thats how he did it (he's really good with tools)