Newbie seeking advice on skyrim prop materials

Anomalocaris

New Member
Hello all,

New to the community. I am moving out of my apartment and will be setting up a beginner's woodworking shop in my new garage. Mostly just handtools and dremel at this point. Along with my new journey into woodworking I have caught the prop making bug, in particular skyrim weapons. Looking for advice on good building materials and techniques to use. Not interested in diving into resin casting yet, mostly considering doing the body out of wood and coating it with something to look metalic. I have come across aluminum tape, spray foam sanded down and painted, and also rub n buff. Have also thought about getting a heat gun and working with pvc for armor. Complete newbie so any opinions and recommendations are greatly appreciated.
 
MDF seem's to be favored here. I use It. easy to work with. and If you don't have one. I would invest In a jig saw...
 
Two members made this good video about aluminium tape swords: One Day Builds: Customizing Adam's Hero Sword.

You could also look at how LARP:ers boffer swords are made: Fibreglass rod core, soft dense foam body, covered in layers of tinted latex. Somewhat soft in the features perhaps, but the are light and you can fight with them and they won't break - and they won't break people.
 
Sintra or styrene is plastc, it is also very easy to work with. 1mm thick you can cut with an exacto. Glue it with plumber's glue. Aluminum strips can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes as well. Just be careful, thin aluminum, when slid down your hand can cut you.
 
Painting techniques. Check out dry brushed metallics, sealed properly. Also, if you're working with wood, a filler primer pass might be in order to knock down the wood grain. Good luck.
 
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