Help, how to make simple large props

EVA

I believe this thing has been mentioned in many prop tutorials... It is a very common material now. The biggest advantage of this thing is that it is very convenient to shape. The first step in making a prop is to create the basic shape. If the original shape is not right, no matter how well the rest is done, it will not be the original. Therefore, many producers now like to use this material.

Including armor (which is the most used), large weapons for stage use, monster skins, etc.

EVA is a material used for shoe soles, which is the foam sole of flip-flops that you usually wear (really oTL), so you can find it in the shoe material market. The price is not expensive, considering the materials, it is relatively cheap. The thickness ranges from 3 mm to various thicknesses, and you can buy them directly according to your needs. However, since it is used for shoe soles, the thicker EVA rarely has the same thickness throughout the sheet, and all have bevels, that is, some parts are thicker and some are thinner. You need to estimate the amount you will use when buying. Saves you from going several times... In addition, there are various hardnesses. Generally, the thicker, the harder, but... it is not much harder...

It can be shaped after heating.

I usually use an alcohol lamp (because the area to be made is quite small...), but one thing to note is that the temperature of the alcohol lamp is higher than that of ordinary lighters, candles, etc. EVA The melting speed is very fast, so the time must be controlled when heating. The same goes for other heating appliances. Because the temperatures of various fires are different, it is best to try some materials first and master the heating time. If you have a large area...you can try the gas stove at home...but...pay attention to safety...remember.

It is best to cool down quickly after heating, so that a more accurate and beautiful shape can be produced. Therefore, if you have a refrigerator or electric fan at home, you should make good use of it (note that when using an electric fan, remember not to be too close to the alcohol lamp, and the alcohol lamp cannot be blown...)

EVA cannot be polished, but Can be painted. Since the density of EVA is very low and the pores are large, it is not possible to paint directly. The secret is to always apply a thin layer of latex when painting, and apply it evenly. After it dries, you can paint smoothly. You can also consider covering the small armor with a layer of cloth based on EVA (leather, coated cloth, soft leather, etc. are all acceptable. This can be done when making leather armor or non-metal soft armor)

In addition, 502 glue is not very useful for EVA. Using 502 will also make EVA hard and the bonding area will become obvious. It is best to use U glue. Of course, if you want to create an effect specifically, you can first apply a layer of latex to the interface, and then apply 502 after it dries, which will make it stronger.

PVC

This is the most commonly used material in certain industries, although it seems that the industry does not use this kind of thing very much...

PVC is actually a kind of plastic , those white water pipes you usually see are a type of PVC. PVC also has various hardnesses, but unlike EVA, the hardness of PVC is not measured by thickness. Since it is a mixed plastic, it is measured by density. The harder it is, the more expensive it is. When buying, you can feel it by pinching the boards with the same thickness and different prices. Of course, for boards of the same density, the thicker they are, the harder they are...

PVC is generally more expensive... but its hardness is relatively "something that can be cut by hand" One of the hardest things in the world. So Mouli likes to use it as the main body.

As mentioned before, PVC can be cut with a paper knife, but it is only limited to thicknesses below 3MM (including 3MM). For boards above 3MM, you can basically despise the utility knife. Therefore, if it is not hard enough, Mouli will usually use 3MM boards to stack them up. It is no problem to make small-scale props; but when making large-scale things, this method is not feasible, and you must consider adding a "skeleton". It can be wire, wood, etc. There are also special methods when necessary. We will talk about this when we have the opportunity. If you find it too troublesome, you can also consider taking it to a store and asking a master to cut it. Shops that make light box billboards often use PVC boards, so just take them there. But because the boards used in this kind of store are low-density, it is best to choose the board yourself, draw the shape and bring it to the store. There are two types of cutting machines. One is controlled by computer graphics. The shape produced will be quite accurate, but the price is definitely not cheap. The other is pushed by human hands, which is a bit like the most old-fashioned ones. As for the hand-pushed cutting machine, it depends on the skill of the master...but...anyway, it won't be cheap to cut it out, so you should work harder on your own...

There are special ones for PVC PVC glue, but 502 is enough to deal with it (you have to buy the kind that comes in a box, which costs about 4 yuan, the kind that costs 2 yuan a piece is unreliable...), you can also use U glue. , it just works slower. (To put it simply, PVC is Wan "Shou" Body La Wakaka)

PVC can also be polished. A board with a certain thickness can be polished to create a bevel, but the polished PVC will not be too smooth. It needs Apply a coat of lime-latex mixture and sand smooth before painting. You can understand this by trying to polish it yourself.

PVC is actually heat-set, and the method is the same as EVA.

However, the plasticity is not as strong as EVA. If you make a simple arc, you can still get a great shape. (You can refer to A Guo’s headdress)

Wood

I don’t need to say more about this...a raw material used in a wide range of applications. Can be carved with high hardness. It can be said to be the most ideal material. But the prerequisite is that you must be able to do carpentry.

When using wood, you need to know more about various types of wood. Fir white plywood and so on. Different woods will have different properties. For example, fir wood is relatively light but has low density, so it is not suitable for carving or making large arc shapes; plywood cannot be used to make edged weapons directly, and it is relatively heavy. Since what I heard from different carpenters seems to be different, it would be better for you to find an experienced carpenter to understand, so I won’t go into random details here.

In fact, softwoods like fir are also paper tigers that can be dealt with with a paper knife. As long as you have patience, a paper knife, sandpaper and a simple wood carving knife can handle the carving of small parts (of course it also requires a bit of manual skills... you will get started after you carve more)

Do it directly from wood When the material, that is, there is no cover on the outside, needs to be painted directly on the wood, it must be polished very smooth, then apply a layer of varnish, and then paint after it dries, the effect will be better.

To put it simply, wood is a material that tests strength and endurance...because sawing wood is really laborious OTL

It is best to use UHU to attach things to EVA Glue reinforcement, even if the back of the advertising paper is sticky, you must add glue, otherwise it will be like crying if it comes off after the completion.

And when making things with EVA, you often have to make them into various shapes, so you must Make a prototype, determine the shape and then attach things

It is difficult to use plywood to even plan out a bevel like a sword blade. The density of the material in the middle is very different from that of the two sides, so it cannot be polished. It's very flat, and it's very heavy if it has a certain thickness. If it's just a flat thing, it's fine, but in general it's not easy to use.

Wood is indeed quite expensive, but things made of better materials are also good. Can be more precise

About paint coloring

Speaking of spray painting, it is a convenient and economical coloring method for props, but its biggest shortcoming is, as LS said, the air The pollution is very serious, and there are no very effective preventive measures. We can only try to find a well-ventilated place and wear a mask, but we still have to be careful about the toxic gas disturbing the people. I made things at home and spray-painted in the safety stairs. My parents thought about it for a week.

There are many brands of spray paint. Different brands of the same color will have subtle differences. Poor quality spray paint will also be easier to discolor. The good quality brands we have used include Segabo and the ones on the bottle. There are two types of Botsli with a big "B". Take NO. 35 gold, these two brands are brighter and have a more metallic texture. Most of the other brands are matte, and of course there are also special mattes. Gold

As for spraying, pay attention to the same as MH coloring. Pay attention to the distance and don't spray too thickly. It is best to apply 3 layers of paint, the first two layers of color, and finally a layer of varnish for protection (if it is to be matte) For light effects, we will omit this step). After each layer is sprayed, it is best to dry it in the shade for a day without touching it, otherwise it may leave fingerprints

The blade of the sword that needs to be put into the scabbard is colored. If the knife The sheath is relatively tight, so just try to use one layer. The paint also has a certain thickness and can easily fall off due to friction.

The smoother the material, the easier it is for the paint to fall off. Steel pipes are a typical example. They will be damaged when they touch something hard. Rub it out, we haven’t found any solution to this problem, we can only try to be careful=v=?

The EVA painting method has been mentioned above, so I won’t write about it anymore. You can basically rest assured about other things. Painting

What is better than spray painting is hand painting. This is a craft for making wooden furniture. The process is complicated and requires skills. However, because the quality of the paint used is incomparable to spray paint, so there is craftsmanship. The effect will be much better than spray paint, and it will not fade easily. We have no technology, no space, and no tools, so we have only seen it before, and we are amazed by the effect. I would like to briefly mention here

Sometimes it is necessary to touch up the color. But if the parts have been assembled, you need to block the parts that cannot be contaminated. If the area is small, it is recommended to apply it by hand. After applying it with acrylic color, the top layer of varnish should not be too thick, otherwise it may crack. For large areas, if necessary Use tape, paper-based art tape is a good thing, never use double-sided tape

By the way, transporting painted objects

If you want to transport newly painted objects Generally, for protection and to cover up others' eyes and ears (hey), we will find something to wrap. Our hard experience shows that it is best not to use newspapers, especially for things that require long-distance transportation, insufficient drying time, smooth surfaces (such as steel pipes), etc., etc., etc., it will happen I don’t need to say more about it, so in order to prevent your hard work from being ruined, it is best to use a cloth bag

☆About glue

Generally, the ones we commonly use are 502, UHU, Latex, hot melt glue

502 I think there is no need to say more, then UHU, this thing is said to be used for making architectural models. I didn’t know this thing at all before I started making props. It was basically like when I was a child. The packaging is like a small toothpaste that can be used to blow bubbles. It is almost all-purpose for soft materials. It is also much better for some parts that may be stressed than 502, which becomes brittle after drying. No. It will harden when it dries like 502, because the opening of its packaging tube is smaller and can be glued more finely than hot melt glue. Now I love this glue~

To be precise, we don’t use latex. When you use it to stick things, it is used as a blending agent. Mixing it with lime or paper clay has the same effect as filling soil when making figures. If you make it thinner, it can also be used as a paint to improve the uniformity and hardness of the surface. After it dries, Then use fine sandpaper to polish and paint. The effect is good. The quality of plastic cans in the decoration market is good, but there are too many

Material properties and uses

PVC

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Advantages: cheap, simple to process (compared to fiberglass)

Disadvantages: affecting movement, dull shape, difficult to process complex objects (compared to ordinary materials) and troublesome to color

Fiberglass

Advantages: The shape can be made very well (depending on the handwork). If the sturdy and durable type is well made, it will basically not affect the stage action

Disadvantages: It is difficult to process. The weight is a bit heavy, but should be within acceptable limits.

For example, parts that need shaping such as shoulder armor and helmets are generally made of fiberglass and other parts are made of PVC boards.

Roughly, the ratio of fiberglass, PVC, and fabric is 3:3:4.

Large-scale weapons must not be made of wood. The reason is very simple. We are playing COS, not doing physical work. Children are weak and weak. If someone can’t lift it halfway, it will fall. What to do if you hit someone.

KT board

Advantages: simple processing, cheap cost

Disadvantages: not durable, easy to break

Steel wire frame skin

Advantages: easy to shape, low cost

Disadvantages: easy to deform, easy to break

Foamed polyethylene

Better than sponge (urethane foam) is slightly hard, and bathroom non-slip mats are made of it. It is widely used, but the surface is rough and difficult to attach paint, so it is usually processed by pasting a sheet. The adhesive used is a rubber adhesive (can or tube ), among which G10 has the best performance.

Foamed polyolefin board

A type of foamed polyethylene. The texture is quite delicate but has excellent practicality and strength. Most COSER This material is used to create shapes. It is a material with excellent impact resistance and heat resistance. It can be easily processed with a paper knife or scissors. It is lightweight.

Applicable: From armor to small props, it can be used in a wide range of applications .

Polystyrene foam

Generally used as insulation and buffer material for swimming practice boards. It is harder than polyolefin boards and is easier to process. It is lightweight and has a fine surface texture. .

Applicable to: hard and sturdy armor, weapons, props, etc.

Styrene board

Make polystyrene foam into a plate shape. Ordinary hard And lightweight, but very thin so it is not suitable for making thick things.

Applicable: Thin weapons and props such as swords.

Styrene rod

Hand Polystyrene foam is made into a rod shape. It is lightweight and has low softness, so it is not suitable for making ring-shaped things.

Suitable for: thin stick-shaped props such as cigarettes and decoration of clothes.

Foamed styrene (board)

It is relatively easy to buy and cheap. It can be processed with a paper knife, but the surface is rough and easy to break.

Applicable: Don’t mind the roughness and In terms of durability, it can be used in a wide range of applications.

Foamed styrene (block)

In addition to cubes, there are also shapes like barriers, and some colors are like clay products.

Applicable: not only can be used for weapons and props, but also suitable for use in photography background props, etc.

Foamed styrene (ball)

Available in various sizes, Lightweight. In addition to spherical shapes, there are also oval and semicircular shapes, which can be used in a wide range of applications.

Application: Most suitable for hair accessories, earrings, clothing decoration, etc.

Larissa

< p>A hard, shiny, strong sheet with lining. It looks metallic and can be used to make mechanical armor. It is glued to the molded foamed polyethylene using a rubber adhesive. A cloth plastic film is attached to the bottom. The lining can be bonded to curved surfaces by peeling off and can be thermally processed.

Applicable: pasted on foamed polyolefin boards to make armor and other objects.

Water-based spray agent

< p>It is water-soluble before drying, but becomes water-resistant after drying and can be applied.

Applicable: used for coating foamed styrene plastics, etc.

Oil-based spray agent

Quickly drying and not easy to drip. Please note that it will dissolve foamed styrene and other substances.

Applicable: coating of iron products, wood products, etc.

Resin clay

Clay made of plastic resin. It can be softened and easily shaped with hot water. It can also be reused after cooling.

Applicable: plastic parts and other shapes.

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Lightweight paper clay

Ultra-lightweight paper clay. It is easy to find and the shape is very simple. It can be colored with a painting tool and is the most suitable material for beginners. However, its durability is low. .

Application: Can be used for weapons, small props and parts according to the coating

GRP hollow casting mold

Advantages: perfect plasticity, light weight, strong and durable, disadvantages: More expensive, difficult to process, and not suitable for beginners

PS. Regarding fiberglass, because it is relatively difficult to process, it seems that it has not yet appeared in the COS industry in Hangzhou. However, there have been many sets of successful cases in Guangzhou. This year in Hangzhou Most of the props of TB, the COS champion of the Animation Festival, are made of fiberglass, and everyone has seen how gorgeous it is. However, this material is still 99% under technical development. The main difficulty is that there are not many shapers (the production process is to use 1 :1 ratio: Make the clay mold of the prop first and then turn it into a mold), so the materials are very cheap. The biggest problem is that you have to be good at handwork and have a foundation in sculpture. Someone from the props department is needed to make clay molds out of clay, and the molding can be left to the shop to be made.

About the coloring of materials is related to the audience’s first impression. No matter how beautifully the shape of a prop is made, poor color or poor material will greatly affect the audience’s credibility. The problem with the color of the props seems to be It doesn't receive much attention in our community or in the entire COS community, but in fact this is a very important link that is often missed.