The First Prop you ever made.

[Laffo]

Man, with your "Communicator" and my "Nemo Shoebox Underwater Breathing Apparatus" (two shoeboxes and 3 belts) we could have controlled all the school supplies on three blocks. I lived the country so there were no blocks, but, none the less.

I wish I could find pics of the bright blue, blow mold, Batman Cowl we had. It smelled like a Trick or Treat Candy Pumpkin, and was made of the same stuff. I think originally it was the top of a trash can, but we wore it as Batman instead of throwing trash through the face hole. I know the damn thing gave me at least 10 bloody noses cause the Joker - my Sister - would hit it and there was nowhere for your face to go. Blood wiped right off it.

He used the "Shoebox Underwater Breathing Apparatus" as well.

Laffo.

 

[Zombie_61]

I wish I could find pics of the bright blue, blow mold, Batman Cowl we had. It smelled like a Trick or Treat Candy Pumpkin, and was made of the same stuff. I think originally it was the top of a trash can, but we wore it as Batman instead of throwing trash through the face hole.

You've just described a Batman mask my nephew had back in the mid- 70s (his was a mask, not a trash can top). It was molded in a light blue plastic, the "faceplate" was painted black, and it had the stubby ears; very reminiscent of the way Batman was drawn in the 60s-era comics.

According to the site where I found this photo (no, it's not my nephew's) the mask was produced by Ideal in 1966.

 

[Laffo]

Thanks. I was sure it was a trashcan. My Mom will be happy because to this day she still laments that our favorite toy was, " A ******* trashcan lid."
Laffo.

 

[steveo]

Here's my first prop made about 15 years ago. My very first attempt at this helmet back in 1983 never made it very far as I didn't know squat about creating a replica, so I tried using paper mache and it just didn't turn out...I never finished or kept it. But here's my second-first prop made out of fiberglass and sculpted in clay.

 

[punisher]

Oh wow that brings back memories! this is an excellent book! I remember picking it up at the library and reading it way before I knew prop making was a hobby shared by so many!
thumbsup

This is that awesome book I was talking about in an earlier post. If you are even remotely interested in prop production you should pick this one up.

 

[Jaruemalak]

This is a great book, and I recomend it to ANYONE interested in prop building. Two others I have are his book on Mask Making and the one on Theater Props... both are a goldmine of information! All three should still be available through Amazon or a book store.

 

[misterfusion]

NOT the first prop I ever made, but I remember my Aunt buying me one of these at the Circus in 1967. Man, I LOVED that thing!

First prop I ever made was a desk mount intercom from TOS out of cardboard.

I took the guts out of a Radio Shack intercom system to mount inside to make it functional, and I got in a $#!+load of trouble for cutting a 4" X 6" square out of the mesh cover on our stereo console for the speaker. :unsure

Shortly thereafter, my mom brought home some black, glossy report folders which I promptly turned into a sweet Tricorder thanks to the Tech Manual!

Ah, how I fondly recall my dad telling me I shouldn't waste time making crap like that.

I REALLY wish I still had those, or at least a pic!

 

[sebmodio]

This is a great book, and I recomend it to ANYONE interested in prop building. Two others I have are his book on Mask Making and the one on Theater Props... both are a goldmine of information! All three should still be available through Amazon or a book store.

I ordered my copy of this book a few days ago. Should get here tomorrow! thumbsup

 

[nick_horror]

First prop I made was a cardboard proton pack. I was jealous of my nieghbor's real plastic one and so I cut and glued and stapled cereal boxes with a sawed-off broom stick covered in electrical tape for a partical thrower. Naturally, this piece of my childhood ended up in the trash when I got my plastic pack for Christmas.

 

[Zombie_61]

NOT the first prop I ever made, but I remember my Aunt buying me one of these at the Circus in 1967. Man, I LOVED that thing!

The closest I had as a kid was a cap my parents bought for me during a trip to Knott's Berry Farm. It was a basic black felt cap, like the Mickey Mouse Ears hats, except it had bat ears and a felt "mask" that hung over your eyes and nose. One of my mother's friends made me a cape to wear with it, and the local toy store sold a plastic/vinyl Batman Utility Belt that looked something like this, but with a metal buckle:

I was 5 years old when the show debuted in January of 1966, and I thought it was the greatest thing ever, so to be able to dress up like Batman was pure fun. To this day Batman is still my favorite comic book character.

Anyway, back on topic...

 

[Jaruemalak]

OK, when I looked at this thread, I figured that it would be impossible to post a photo of my "first" prop, as I was probably 8 or 9 when I made it and I don't think camera's were invented then. But I DO have a photo of the first prop made out of the same materials and the exact same way as the original, screen used props. Back in 1973, Roger Sorensen and I made several Tribbles exactly the way they were described in David Gerold's book.

Roger, who saves everything, managed to find a copy of a picture he took way back then.

I have no idea which tribbles were made by Roger and which were made by me, but I know some of mine are there. The "gold" tribbles were not made of gold fur; that is just how the film in his 110 camera recorded the color... kind of like what happened to Captain Kirk's shirt!

Oh, and by the way, the cat's name REALLY is "Trouble", and therefore, this is a picture of Trouble, with Tribbles! (Hey, don't blame me, I didn't name the thing!)

 

[TK-2067]

A jawa blaster....

 

[madrobot]

It's in progress, but this will be my first.

 

[00MrNotWrong00]

OK, when I looked at this thread, I figured that it would be impossible to post a photo of my "first" prop, as I was probably 8 or 9 when I made it and I don't think camera's were invented then. But I DO have a photo of the first prop made out of the same materials and the exact same way as the original, screen used props. Back in 1973, Roger Sorensen and I made several Tribbles exactly the way they were described in David Gerold's book.

Roger, who saves everything, managed to find a copy of a picture he took way back then.

I have no idea which tribbles were made by Roger and which were made by me, but I know some of mine are there. The "gold" tribbles were not made of gold fur; that is just how the film in his 110 camera recorded the color... kind of like what happened to Captain Kirk's shirt!

Oh, and by the way, the cat's name REALLY is "Trouble", and therefore, this is a picture of Trouble, with Tribbles! (Hey, don't blame me, I didn't name the thing!)

That is very cool, thank you for sharing.

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

Man I have been making costumes forever but never a prop. It wasn't until I saw Dead Man's Chest when I decided it was prop making time! Haven't stopped since!

 

[00MrNotWrong00]

A jawa blaster....

Is that a half a grand ? :lol

 

[Jack Bauer]

I don't know if anyone remembers "Captain Power" back in the late 80's but I was obsessed with it. Just about the time I was obsessed with Shourt Circuit's Johnny 5, Back to the Futurre (my all time favorite movie by far), and Knight Rider re-runs..

Anyway my first prop replica was a Captain Power costume. A friend adn I would drees up like characters from CP and walk around our apartment complex in regular clothes solving crimes and then yell "Power ON!" and change into our Soldiers of the Future costumes and walk around all cool.

I used cardboard, spray paint, batteries glued to belts, some futuristic military helmet from Pic 'N Save, and any kind of gadget or futuristic look tool I could find.

I completely forgot about that until I saw this thread.

 

[Trooper_trent]

By far not the first one I've owned, but the first one I "built" was this custom lightsaber. At one point I was going to do some kind of Original Trilogy mercenary type Jedi costume. I never finished it. just the saber, which was a kit bash of left over parts and greeblies. OgibenDogy supervised and helped me with the belt.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

I don't know if anyone remembers "Captain Power" back in the late 80's but I was obsessed with it.

Oh

My

God.

I had blocked out that horrible, horrible show.

I had prayed that once it was gone I would never see it again.

Thanks. :lol

BTW, which one are you in that pic ?

 

[G17RDY]

My First Prop / Replica Build...