I made the original Ice Shard for Blizzard. Things to keep in mind; the Frostmourn weighs 16 lbs. And, is top heavy. So whatever you make, you’ll need to get above the tipping point (google Ice Shard, and check out the white lighted ones with a deeper space between the ‘ice’ and the ‘fingers’; your example ain’t the original. It’s a knock off,) and see where the top ‘finger’ stops. Also, make the footprint fairly wide. You need that stability. Don’t want it tipping over on top of toddlers when they try to climb it.
Ok, how I made it. I borrowed a Frostmourn from Blizzard (well, EPIC Weapons,) and worked it down (stabbed it, lol,) into a 24” x 24” by 24” block of 2lb expanded polystyrene foam, (beer cooler foam) till the tip reached the floor. That actually held it up nicely. Then I started sculpting foam away. For inspo I looked at how the ice curled in leading towards the throne, and how the landscape looked. And kept everything to scale. After getting the shape I wanted I took it to a rapid prototyper and had them use my form to make a mold, then pour it using Crystal Clear resin from Rynolds. I had them make the walls at least 3/8” thick. Which also made the fingers solid. And more sturdy. I also had them mix a purple-to-teal flip flop fine glitter into the final prototype. That’s the one Blizzard approved, and for a while stood with the Frostmourn on display in their lobby. Each prototype cost about $50, and took days to cure. This was in 2009, so Lordt knows what it would cost now. Or what resin is available.
If you don’t care about the translucency, start with the 24” x 24” x 24” block of foam, stab your sword into it, and sculpt away. When you get to what you want, take at least 1/4” off all over, (you’ll lose the fingers, just replace with short lengths of curved coat hanger wire,) and glass it. Maybe buy surfboard repair kits or something off Amazon, and remember aromatics eat foam. May need to brush a layer of house paint over the foam first. But just lay that **** on. Let it kick off, and lay more. You can googs how to lay fiberglass if you need to. Rinse repeat till you’ve built the walls back out to the original look you want, and make them at least 1/4” deep. Before you sand anything with fiberglass in it, buy a cheap tyvak painter’s jumper, put on snug dr gloves, tape that to your suit, put on another pair, tape that on. Bandana your neck and lower face, stuff the bottom of your bandanas into your suit, and tape that down. Baby powder the crap out of everything; inside your suit, your joints, your neck, your face; and wear tight mask and close fitting safety glasses. Last time I had a job that included sanding fiberglass was in 2001. And I can still feel encapsulated glass fibers under the skin on the back of my hands. Like little BBs.
Once you get the surface to your liking, prime it with Veraprime or Kilz, and paint whatever color you want. I’m partial to the iridescents and flip-flops, and as mentioned, the real Shards were translucent with purple to teal shifts. I’d lay down a base of palest purple blue and top coat with a clear that has the color shift added. Basically, match the Litch King’s environment’s colors.
While laying down glass consider also laying in wires and LEDs for some subtle lighting. In the original Ice Shard it had a soft glow in the bottom with two lights pointing up the shaft. And the Ice Shard was made to be viewed in a 360° setting. No bad sides.
If you do decide to go with the clear resin, take it to a pro; a huge sign company, or a rapid prototyper, or, heck, a large format 3D printer. It might not cost as much as the store bought Shard, lol Good luck and I would love to see what you make!
