Shenga Props

Ever since I took 3D art in college I've had a love of building prop art pieces. I started out by making Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, out of concrete and I never looked back. I hope you enjoy looking around at some of my older, and current projects.

[shengaprops]

"I wanted you to have this. It belonged to Gallus, but given the circumstances I think he'd approve."

I feel incredibly productive with these last few entries.  Although far from finished(the back is still a matte grey) here is the first look at the painted Nightingale sword.  This beauty has been in the works for a while and finishing it will be a great weight off my shoulders.  For the longest time I was trying to devise a way to craft the bird icon out of clay, only to be met with frustration.  I eventually realised that it was a waste of time and switched to foam sheets and a more realistic paint job.  I am very pleased with the results.

Keep an eye out for this on the store, it'll be up as soon as I get the chance to paint the other side.

[shengaprops]

"The grass sword will be part of you for all eternity!"  

"You know what? I think I'm cool with that"

So I've recently had less time to watch adventure time, and as a result less insight into the awesome props I could have been making(I'm looking at you lightning sword!).  I managed to hear about the grass sword the day before the episode aired.  I gotta say I am liking both the design, and the implications of this new weapon.  I whipped up mark 1 here ASAP.  I went away from my usual reliance on the outline from the show on this design, as I felt it looked thinner without one.  It was getting too cluttered with all the perpendicular line work, so I only kept what I felt was essential to the design: the lines that show it is one long blade of grass.  

This little guy will be available on the etsy store by weeks end.  First I need to make a sleeve/wristband/gauntlet to go with it.

[shengaprops]

Ahh!  NO!  That is why I'm royal, and you are servile!

After a long holiday hiatus I am BACK in business. Debuting today is Lemongrab's sound sword from adventure time.  I've had a handful of swords halfway done for almost a year and the sound sword was one of them.  Seeing it finished has motivated me to try and wrap up the rest(including the nightingale blade, 4d sword, and now the Grass Sword).  This guy is available on my etsy store and not checking it out would be UNACCEPTABLE! 

[shengaprops]

I hope you're hungry because my newest(and first completed) dagger is a mouthful.  Introducing the bacon dagger.  This blade was a fun little side project that I made for a friend, although It is still going to be put on the store for shits and giggles.  It was designed by my fiancee' and it was a good time making it.  I am thinking of an eventual full sized Breakfast Sword that incorporates some of the same design features.

The etsy store has been getting a lot of attention lately.  Luckily I have also been getting some help making the ever popular crystal swords.  In the long run this just means that a lot of exciting new designs are coming down the pipe.  I don't want to jump the gun, but lets just say that I've got some new things and some things so old they they will seem new.

[shengaprops]

So here is River Song's alpha meson blaster.  Finally finished.  This thing has been floating around my head, and then my workshop, for almost 6 months.

I made this one with a Nerf Maverick, which is the wrong kind of gun, but it turned out just fine.  And as a prototype piece this thing has a lot of room for improvement, but the wooden attachments and foam paneling worked out really well too.

It is available at the store, so check it out there. This also opens up a bigger world of nerf gun alterations to me.  I've excited to dive in with a reboot of my fallout 3 plasma pistol, but it will have to wait.  I have a nightingale sword almost ready for painting first.

[talkingcurtain]

[shengaprops]

“Hello sweetie”

I’ve busy lately, but let me make it up to everyone. Here’s a sneak peak at river song’s alpha meson blaster. Stay tuned for some progress pics of the root and 4d swords.  This pretty lady is actually in the last stages of being painted and prepped for the store, but this is a good progress pic.  It shows off the Maverick Nerf gun I used(wrong model, future blasters will use the proper toy) and the wooden components.

 I used sticker foam to form the white sheathing on the top of the gun and the barrels.  In the future I want it to be heat formed plastic, so hopefully I can pick up a cheap heat gun soon.

[shengaprops]

"I pay attention to things I see you being all about"

I haven't been very active here in the tumblrverse as of late, and this beauty is one of the reasons why.  I recieved 4 orders on the etsy store 2 weeks ago for a couple of crystal swords, the enchiridion and a demon sword.  I've been busying myself away in the meantime to get them out on time.  The Mk II here has an improved guard and pommel design.  The pommel actually sticks out now(like I had originally planned).  I also bought proper paint for each color so no more mixing!

The demon sword ships on monday, so after that I am back in innovation mode.  The 4d sword is looking fine and I'm going to post the WIP root sword guard/handle soon.

[shengaprops]

"JOSHUA, Give me back my blood or by demon law I will cut off your love handles!!"

So I finally finished the Demon's Blood sword.  This baby taught me a lot about woodworking, and I will be able to make a much better one next time.  All in all though, it turned out just fine.  Head on over to the etsy store to get a break down on how it was made, or check out some older posts during the build.  

If I can figure out the sewing machine I'll have beemo's arms and legs attached by tonight.  He'll be the next thing I post.

[shengaprops]

The Enchiridion is Finished!

The Herioc Handbook of Righteousness is officially good to go.  I finally finished the inside pages and got them prepped and glued into the inside cover/bottom.  The Metal locks are all silver-gray foam and the rest is a nice subtley textured cardstock paper.  I painted the cardstock with watercolor paint before glueing them into place.

I drew the princess in photoshop and then printed her out before adding the text, it looks pretty nice with the paper texture.

I'm starting to get very excited about the etsy store, and I hope to have Beemo and the Demon sword up there(and therefore here) in the next few days.

[shengaprops]

First sale at the etsy store!

So this morning i woke to a pretty cool surprise. The crystal sword has sold and another was comissioned. It seems that conventiom season is soon upon us. Im very happy to actually make a sale, and it’s lit a fire under my butt to work even harder to put new stuff both here and on the store.

As an update ive included a picture of the nearly completed demon sword. All it needs is its leather handle wrap and a paint clean up. Im also drawing up plans for a 4d sword and root sword. Fun times ahead.

[shengaprops]

So first up is The Enchiridion.  It's a fake cardboard book you can buy at micheal's for 8 bucks that I've coated in paint, paper, and foam to look like the famed manual of heroism.  I have to glue in the inside pages and touch up some paint and it is finished.

Beemo/BMO is coming along nicely.  The body still needs a couple more layers of aquamarine but the buttons, screen, and battery pack hatch are ready to go.  My fiancee is crafting me some felt arms/legs with articulating wire sometime soon.

The Demon sword was surprisingly easy to paint so far.  With all the trouble I had with the crystal sword I was expecting issues, but it turns out buying almost every kind of red paint that micheal's offers was a good idea.  All I need to do is paint on the detailing on the guard and outlines and this guy is as good as on the etsy store.

[shengaprops]

Fionna's Crystal sword from the adventure time episode "Fionna and Cake"!  It took me long enough to finish!  So this gal, like the gold sword, is a piece of 3/4" wood with some 1/4" bits glued onto the guard.  She was particularly a pain in the butt because I didn't have the right colors(paint in the butt?).  This meant I had to mix them every time I needed them, which let me tell you is not fun when you are doing touch ups.  I'm glad it is finished though because now the gold sword isn't so lonely on my etsy store.

I'm going to update my progress on Beemo, The Enchiridion and The Demon Sword later on tonight, they are starting to look good!

[shengaprops]

So while the wood filler and paint is drying on the sword projects, I got down to some paper art and planning on some other things bopping around my head.

The Enchiridion is one of those fake book boxes from Micheal's that I've disguised as the hero's manual from everybody's favorite adventure centric cartoon(although I have plans to do a sketch book version as well)  I've used some nice quality paper and foam sheets to cut out the various shapes needed.  With a little watercolor and glue it'll be ready for the etsy store.

Beemo/BMO had been a challenge so far.  I've cut out the insulation foam sheets I'm going to use as the body of the figurine and the glue holding them together is currently drying.  While that was going on I decided to formalize the design and make myself a template for future beemo crafting.  I used multiple in-show references to make beemo as accurate as possible.  He should be a straightforward project from here on out.  The only question mark at the moment is how to secure the clear plastic panel I'd like to have as his display screen.  Any glue will be visible and that's no good.

Updates to follow later this weekend.  The crystal sword is half painted and on its way to completion. While the demon and daedric sword have a few sculpting hiccups that will be overcome in due time.

[shengaprops]

The pommel for the daedric sword.  It's not perfect but the sculpt is as finished as it's going to get.

Casting this guy is going to be a major pain in my butt.  I've laid out some of my plans to do it, but I'm not sure if it is the best method yet. I'm going with a 2-part mold using a paint on rubber and plaster to reinforce.

If you know anything about plaster casting I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Everything is a learning experience.

[shengaprops]

Status Update 2: Electric Boogaloo

The crystal sword is finished with the exception of a few small diamonds I'm going to put on the end to finish up the pommel.  My edge beveling skills are getting better, as I'm very proud of the blade on this guy(girl?). She'll be ready for painting this week.

The Demon Sword gave me some problems with the cross guard and circle.  In the future I'm going to try and cut it full tang with the circle included.  As it is now I ended up cutting 2 circles from 1/4" poplar.  This left a gap that I filled with 4 precisely cut 3/4" pieces.  I put it together like a puzzle and used wood filler to keep it looking nice.  It was definitely a round about way.  The end result looks good though, and after I bevel the edges of the blade it will be good to go.

[shengaprops]

Status Update:  The form of the Daedric sword is complete.  I layered the guard up and then again into a nice looking shape.  I need to sand down the edges as they are very thick, and they need to come to a point.

The pommel is coming along nicely.  After I get my hands on some baby oil and smooth out the surface of the NSP clay it will be ready for casting.  It's my first resin cast, so I'm sure I'll mess it up the first time, but I'll get it by the end of the week.

[shengaprops]

I might as well keep this gravy train running.  I got a new blade for the scroll saw today and it is a godsend. I've been cutting through the wood like butter and it shows.  While the Daedric sword has its glue drying I cut out the basic forms of the Crystal Sword and Demon Sword respectfully.