- 1). Gather reference pictures of the movie prop you want to make, finding as many views as possible. If you are not making a reproduction, sketch your original design from all views.
- 2). Sketch each part of the design in rough detail, marking the dimensions as you go.
- 3). Draw a life-sized outline of the prop and cut it from the paper like a stencil, leaving the cut-out hole. You will use the hole to double-check the size and shape of your prop.
- 4). Construct a sturdy armature, or skeleton, for your movie prop using oven-safe materials like steel wire. Bend and shape the wire with needle-nosed pliers and glue it in place with polyvinyl glue. Check the shape with your cutout.
- 5). Add bulk to the armature with tinfoil. This will make the prop lighter and stronger than if you use mostly clay. Check the shape. Glue tinfoil in place and let it dry.
- 6). Cover the armature with Sculpey. Make sure you have a thick enough layer of clay to sculpt details with.
- 7). Sculpt the clay, following your design diagram. Follow all measurements and check the shape with the cutout. Make sure that all sculpting is clean and smooth.
- 1). Place the prop sculpture into a Pyrex oven-safe pan, or lay it on a spare baking sheet.
- 2). Bake the sculpture at 275 degrees F for no more than 30 minutes, or as directed on the Sculpey package. Remove from oven. The prop will become firm and darker in color, and should cool quickly.
- 3). Refer back to your reference pictures. Choose and mix acrylic paint colors that match your design.
- 4). Paint Sculpey to your satisfaction. Let your movie prop dry before use.
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