Prop Idol

The Most Incredible Thing, Sadlers wells, Petshop boys

2011-03-28T01:58:00.000-07:00

Quite an interesting and challenging prop make for TMIT Directed by Javier De Frutas and music written by the Petshop boys. Thirty watches were cast for a scene in which a pocket watch crumble in to dust. To make it easy for the performer to crush the watches they were cast in hollow plaster from a 2 part silicone mould, filled with chalk and painted. The end result was pretty effective.

COMPANY Film trailer. Dir: Ross Neil

2011-03-28T01:44:00.000-07:00

I was comissioned to make some body part props for a Sci-Fi trailer for the feature COMPANY written and directed by Ross Neil. The genesis is that the body parts are the components of a "prefab" humanoid that the protagonist Dan wishes to construct in space to keep him company.

The props were cast in latex rubber and flexible PU foam, painted up and had wires inserted to make the construction to look as confusing as possible. Think Ikea furniture on a sedated Sunday afternoon!

Peppa Pig the Musical

2011-03-28T01:38:00.000-07:00

Just a quick job for the touring production. Soft foam and latex cake ingredients and the finished cake for the cake making scene. Enjoy!

Copper/resin replica head

2011-01-17T04:32:00.000-08:00

I was approached by a private client who is currently undergoing dramatic facial reconstuction as part of a sex change. The client wanted to have an exact copper/resin copy of her head before the surgery and cosequently after she had undergone the surgery.

Here is the copper head before the surgery. I will be casting the clients head again soon after the surgery so will update you when I have. The 2 togerther will be very striking so I am looking forward to having the comparison.

The Nutcracker 2010, The Coliseum, Wayne Eagling

2011-01-17T03:50:00.000-08:00

I was brought in by the English National Ballet to make 12 swords and a prop cannon to be fired in the show!

Here are 2 of the 6 Chinese swords I made for the show. They were sculpted in Chavant, moulded in silicone/fibreglass and then cast in resin/iron filler. The handle was wrapped with brown leather thonging.

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The 2 part silicone and fibreglass mould.

A pre and post polished and handled sword.

6 Hazaar swords cast in brass and alluminium resin for the cavalry scene in the show.

The mould with the 2 halves cast inside.

Before and after the polishing with wire wool.

The cannon is a (mis)firing cannon which is operated by one of the dancers. There is also a plume of smoke from a smoke machine which is concealed within the barrel.

The barrel was poly scuplted in 2 halves so the mechanism could be fitted. The back of thr barrel is removeable to house the smoke machine and the wick acts as the opearating cord to fire the ball and reset the paddle to it's firing position.

It was then coated with glass fibre and plaster polymer and coloured with iron paste.

Severed Head

2010-10-06T01:18:00.000-07:00

I have recently doing a comission to produce a copy of a performers head. The process included a full head cast in chevant, re-sculpt and re-mould and ultimate cast in latex and PU foam. Here are some images documenting the job.

Chevant cast of the models head. The oil based clay is melted and poured/slushed around the alginate and plaster mould of the model.

PU foam & latex is cast in to the 2 part plaster mould of the chevant cast/sculpt.

Finished paint job using acrylics mixed with latex and cut with a very small amount of water in order to be airbrushed.

Heart

2010-10-05T01:43:00.000-07:00

I built this heart for 2 friends wedding. It measured about 1.8m x 1.5m and had golf ball light bulbs wired up throught. The effect was quite impressive as night drew in.

The Green Man

2010-10-04T01:59:00.000-07:00

Here are a few step-by-step images of a latex mask made as a demo for a workshop.

Latex filled plaster mould.

The removed latex mask. The first layer of latex had a green pigment added to make the paint job easier.

The finished painted mask.

VOTE please!!!

2010-06-12T08:12:00.001-07:00

Please vot for this if you have a sec :-) x

Kylie - Aphrodite

2010-06-03T00:45:00.001-07:00

A preview image of Kylie's new album cover. Worked on the shoot polycarving the set. More images to follow.

The Sun Grand National app for iPhone

2010-04-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Sun sweepstake application for iPhone. I created the horse hooves and legs in conjunction with WCRS in 1 day due to a crazy deadline. It came out well and is available to download now from the app store..

HMV roll out the ad campaign.

2010-03-29T04:38:00.001-07:00

Here is an example of the adverts. There are a few variations which I will try to get my hands on and publish as soon as I do. Spotted on the the metro this morning, in store and in various web marketing publications. Watch this space for less egg related prop makes coming soon....!

HMV concluded!!

2010-03-25T05:36:00.000-07:00

Just a couple more images of Gaga now residing in the Bond st store. She was being papped as we were installing so hopefully she will be a hit for the time being!

Apologies for the poor quality of the photos so if you want a closer look pop down and check her out.

HMV Ox st & Bond st

2010-03-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

I cycled down to the 2 shops today and got a couple of photos of the fronts. They are re-jigging the eggs but Mario is still there and the other 2 will be up soon, Gaga possibly in the shop on the stage which may be a reason to stop downloading and go buy your favorite single on tape.

There is also a shot of the polycarved Boom! that we put up in Bond street.

HMV Easter eggs (BIGGUNS)

2010-03-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

After I had completed the actual size eggs HMV asked for 3 large ones to be created for the Oxford st shop front. The 3 were Lady Gaga, Mario and Alvin. So basically it was a case of scaling up the original 3 and boom! there you have it, 3, 4 foot easter eggs complete with egg cups and accessories! The eggs are now in the store so go and check them out! In the mean time here are a few work in progress shots to wet your whistle...

Mario's hat

Here is an image of the poly carved hat before the red felt was streched over.

The felt is then pain stakingly streched and glued into place and adjusted with a couple of discreet darts at the back.

Alvin's Fur coat

Alvin in the process of being furred

Gaga's Hair

The first process was to poly carve the basic shape for her hair. As her hair is fairly reminiscent of a hat shaped helmet this was fairly easy to get right. It was then covered in a platinum blonde fur and hair was added over the top later.

And here are the finished eggs, sat in there egg cups ready to be installed

HMV Easter eggs

2010-03-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

So for the last 3-4 weeks I have been working on HMV's central London Easter campaign. In an egg shell this has meant making 19 egg sized models of current celebs, computer game characters and animated favorites. These have ranged from Mario to Lady Gaga to the Gorillaz! Here are a few taster shots but keep checking my website for the final images which will be up very soon.

Dumbo

Alvin the Chipmunk

Ice Age Scrat

The Gorillaz

Welcome all.

2010-03-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

Dearest prop fans,

I welcome you to my first post and to the beginnig of what promises to be an insight in to the heady heights of the life and work of one of London town's prop makers. I will be posting regular updates and images of projects that I am working on and in those rare (ahem) quieter times I will entertain with musings, interests and general waffle that keeps me and YOU amused! Thanks and watch out for images being uploaded very soon.