Flynn Props

A blog for Aedan Flynn (Logan Colla) and his Prop Design business. Commissions are open based on time and ability to build it (dang physics...) Facebook: www.facebook.com/flynnprops Website: flynnprops.wordpress.com

[flynnprops]

Prop Analysis – Voltron Knight (Lance) Pt. 1

It’s been a while since I have been able to do a write up. But now with the lull in work, it’s now is the perfect time to do so! (WARNING: This is a very long write up. I wanted to try …

It’s been a while since I’ve released a bit of a write-up so I decided to change that. Now, this write-up is meant to serve as a sort of “mock” build plan. Meaning I didn’t actually build it. But if I DID build it, this write-up outlines some of the processes and ideas I would be doing. It’s meant to be an example of how one should look at a costume and plan to make it before even making it. This is part 1 of 2. Hope it is insightful!

[searincosplay]

Here is a quick tip for blending Thibra armor seams that I recently discovered while putting the final touches on my Genos armor!

Pictures are ordered left to right, top to bottom:

1.  Here is an unsightly gap that was created from joining two Thibra armor pieces together.  You could just leave a gap like this, but you could also fill it in so that it looks clean and pretty :D.

2.  Heat up some Thibra scraps, and roll them out into a skinny log the size of the gap.

3.  Working quickly, press the log into the gap.  Don’t worry about getting it smooth and flat since that will be fixed in the next step.

4.  You will need a metal spatula style sculpting tool for the next step.  These are sometimes called different names and come in slightly different styles, but the most important thing is that the tool is all metal.  Using your heat gun, heat up the edge of the tool until it is very hot.  I personally didn’t have any problems with the rest of the tool getting too hot to hold, but if you do, wrap the rest of the tool in a piece of cloth.

5.  Run the hot tool over the area where you pressed the Thibra scraps into the gap.  The hot tool will heat up the surface just enough to be able to smooth the Thibra.  Keep heating up the tool and smoothing out the Thibra until you are satisfied with how it looks.

6.  You will now have smooth, sharp edges on your armor instead of ugly gaps!  You can also use this method to fill in holes or fix other problem areas.  

The reason why heating up the tool works better than heating up the armor itself is that you can control where the heat is and can heat up the tiniest of areas.  Thibra has huge issues with bubbles forming after it has been reheated, so if you heated up the armor with your heat gun, the surface of your armor would bubble.  The effort of blending the edges would be pointless since the rest of the armor would look worse than before.

As usual, let me know if you have any questions!

I buy my Thibra from @ardawigs.

[flynnprops]

The Next "Tutorial"

So since I won’t be working on my next project over Thanksgiving, I am thinking of doing a write up for everyone documenting the thought process and planning that is taken when I plan out a prop build. So I’m leaving it up to YOU GUYS to decide what prop I plan out for the write up. It can be anything from a hand held prop to a full armor build. Whatever is the most popular option, I will take and plan out a build process for as if I was going to actually build it, including all the details, possible complications, budget constraints, differing materials, you name it.

So send me a reply or an ask on what you guys want to see!

[badgercostumeplay]

Cosplayer of the week! Oct. 10th

This week’s cosplayer of the week is none other than our club President, Logan!

Logan Colla, also known as Aedan Flynn is a senior at UW Madison in the Comp Sci department. In the summer of 2013, he stumbled onto the universe of cosplaying and prop building. Following from the expertise of builders like @volpin-props, he created his first major project, Guy Manuel’s Daft Punk helmet, and thus his business of @flynnprops was born. Since then he has cosplayed many different characters, each more complicated that the last, with the most recent ones being Arbiter from Halo 5 and Uncle Qrow from RWBY. 

He is currently working on a few projects but is honing his precision German engineering to prepare for his next cosplay Reinhardt from Overwatch. 

Photos by Brandon G Photography and @x-geek

Find Logan on Instagram | Facebook | WordPress | Etsy

[flynnprops]

Time to be Sentimental. So yesterday marked what is likely to be the last time that I will be wearing Arbiter. Sadly, He's getting a little worse for wear and its time to keep making bigger and better things. It was a lot of fun making and wearing him and was the first on the list of crazy costumes I never thought I'd be able to make.

Photos by @wandererlilacosplay

[flynnprops]

Etsy Store!

Even with the hectic beginnings of school again....My Etsy store is now up and running.

After finally working up to getting a table at a convention (and afterwards, realizing I have a lot of extra finished products laying around my shop), I have finally decided to open up and Etsy shop to display and sell any extra or multiples that I make, ranging from Props themselves or Art prints that I make.

You can follow the link, head over and see some of the things I have left in my shop that you could have!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/FlynnProps

[volantedesign]

Team Instinct is in the 2nd Place!

Perhaps Valor has become complacent following it’s early successes?

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http://www.volantedesign.us/vests/go-trainer-vest

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The first 40 orders will be numbered special editions, and will ship by the end of August. Further orders will ship by the end of September.

[flynnprops]

It's official. I will be at Geek Kon as an artist in the Artist Alley. I will be selling various small props, such as my Mana and Health potions, as well as some art pieces and commissions. This is a bit of a trial experience for the business so we will see if it goes well or if it flops. But either way, see you at Geek Kon!

[ohicosplay]

Foam Fabrication Tip: Foam Ruler

When you’re making costumes out of foam, you might have noticed that when making a pattern that wraps around, like bracers, the thicker the foam, the more length you have to add to compensate for the thickness.  You could always guess how much, but that can be risky if you under measure, and more work if you over measure.

A great tip from WM Armory that shows you how to make a ruler that takes the thickness of EVA foam into consideration and gives you accurate measurements.

[cosplaytutorial]

Gems with Plastic and Iridescent Flakes (+LEDs)

Tutorial by: Eric Browning Cosplay Tutorial Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=830N7LWODDI

[cosplaytutorial]

EVA Foam Armor: Strapping/Securing

Tutorial by: DemonWeasel1990 Tutorial Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K0ZwdAXdqo

[flynnprops]

Master Chief and The Arbiter at Anime Milwaukee 2016

It was an awesome experience to get these pictures taken and see the famous duo come to life.

Master Chief - MarcTronGuy

Arbiter - @flynnprops

Photographer - Brandon Groth

[flynnprops]

Ahead of schedule, I got my Genos contacts in today! And after hours of getting the technique down and numerous breaks from failure, I think I got the hang of it. Man, sceleras are not easy. If anyone plans to get any, get them early and practice with 'em! Here's a short test video of me wearing them!

[flynnprops]

Cosplay Facial Hair Foray

This post is for FACIAL HAIR SCIENCE!

As many of you know, I've had a beard for a long while (mostly cause I was too lazy to shave it), but with AMKE rolling up I needed to shave. And I thought what better way than to shave, going down the line demonstrating various facial hair style that represent different characters.

From the top, FULL BEARD:

I chose Joel to go with the full beard look and I thought I hit it spot on. pretty common style for grizzled characters either in post apocalyptic worlds or gritty action games. Conclusion: Looks good, would do again.

BEARD WITH....EXAGGERATIONS:

Seneca Crane from Hunger games is next. With my puny little razor I have, I think I was able to get the style down decently but a bit of the hair details need a hardcore precise razor. Similar to the full beard but much cleaner. Conclusion: Also pretty good but need a better razor.

GOAT-TEE:

The Dude from The Big Lebowski is next. Goat-tee is a pretty simple facial hair to pull off and The Dude has his pretty unkempt so even easier. And what better way to finish it off than with a drink. Conclusion: Really good as well, easy to do.

MUSTACHE AND ANCHOR:

Will Turner is up next and this one was also pretty simple. However, without Long slicked back hair, this one makes me look super douche-y. Conclusion: Probably wont do again, unless a character makes it look good.

THE 'STACHE:

Lando Calrissian sports the next one. But dear god no. This one just looks awful. Some people can pull off the mustache.....I can not. Conclusion: This picture is testament for why I will never do this again.

CLEAN SHAVEN:

Now I'm back to being that cliche Shonen Protagonist ready to go back to school and become savior of the world.

This has been my delving into the world of Facial Hair for cosplay. And for SCIENCE!

[flynnprops]

AMKE is coming up and work on Edward Elric's Automail keeps going! (Don't mind shirtless me, he's not what you should be looking at)

[suspicioustumble]

Wrote some stuff you might want to know about Black Worbla before using it for certain things. Hope you can learn something. =] FB: https://www.facebook.com/DingusCosplay/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/suspicious_tumbleweed/

[1nyazone]

Qrow’s weapon transformation concept.

@skiretehfox @snowymaki @snowyyazawa

[chickycherrycola]

@flynnprops

[flynnprops]

Going to attempt to make it at some point. But to hell with making that transformation possible much less actually stable....