1) Crafting the blade with Worbla (classic resin cast would not fit a convention security rules).
2) Finishing the prop in less than a week (it finally took us less than 5 days, tss too easy ^^).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/630728-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Vorpal-model3D-3-728x1000.png\")
<\/a>In-game 3D model <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Vorpal_Blade_poster-728x1000.png\")
<\/a>\u00abThe Vorpal Blade\u00bb – Goes snicker-snack! <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n MDF Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
First step: creating a solid structure.
We choosed MDF (particleboard made from composite wood), quite easy to work with. As we already had a 3mm-board, we cut the shape twice, and glued the two parts with contact adhesive to get the right thickness.
Now, let\u2019s sand!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"medium](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2822.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"medium](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2824.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"blade](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2853.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTests:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"test](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/tumblr_mzhehfQwrD1rzghvto1_500.gif\")
<\/a>Test. Test test test. TEEEEEEEEEEEST!!!!!!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n Before I can work on the proper blade, I prefered making some tests to know which method I should use to craft floral patterns.
1st m\u00e9thod: digging Worbla with a pyrographer… result was a bit, hmm, let\u2019s say it was not so great.
2nd method: \u00abembossing\u00bb – I flattened the surface by hand thanks to sculpture metallic tools (this method was already used on my Warsong Commander\u2019s axe for instance), result was nice, but it gives a too \u00abrustic\u00bb look.
3rd method: cutting pattern in a Worbla sheet and gluing it on a second one, this is the most relevant result to my eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2786-835x553.jpg\")
<\/a>Tools<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2790-835x553.jpg\")
<\/a>3rd method: cutting <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2792-835x553.jpg\")
<\/a>From left to right: pyrographing, embossing, cutting (rough Worbla) <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2797-835x553.jpg\")
<\/a>From left to right: pyrographing, embossing, cutting (Worbla + primer) <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Blade details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
After having re-drawned the blade and its pattern on two Worbla sheets, I began to hollow out the pattern with a precision knife… as it was a bit too long when only heating up the Worbla sheet (and as the sheet got a little distorted), I tried a different way: heating up the knife blade instead of Worbla. First, it became really much easier, the knife blade cut like if the Worbla was butter, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the result was rather clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Downside: as you need to heat up the blade really often, the heat gun turns continuously next to you, so fun during summer when it\u2019s already 30\u00b0C outside \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2804-835x553.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2814-835x553.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2810-835x553.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2828-835x553.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOnce the pattern is done, I returned it (beware, it needs to be fully \u00abcold\u00bb). Every piece of the pattern needed to be as its right place, nothing distorted, so I could heat it up. Beside, I heated a second Worbla sheet, and applied it on my pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We normally use to stick details ON back surfaces. But, there, by doing the contrary, we avoid distorting the pattern by lifting it while it\u2019s warm \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2843.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2844.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2851.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2858.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe sticked Worbla on the MDF basis. The blade was reworked by applying several layers of bondo, and sanding it each time. To soften Worbla texture on the pattern part, we applied primer and water sanded it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2874-835x553.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2876-835x553.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHandle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The handle was sculpted in EVA foam, then covered with Black Worbla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those who are not familiar with this material, this is to mention that Black Worbla is composed of thiner particles than classic Worbla. It\u2019s texture is therefore softer, and you can craft smaller and more accurate details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I first made some little Black Worbla sausages, and used them to create handle patterns. It\u2019s the first time I\u2019m working on so tiny Worbla details, and I\u2019m really proud with how it turned out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"carved](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2882.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2878.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2887.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2903.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"vorpal](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2909.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2920.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2915.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2927.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"worbla](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2947-663x1000.jpg\")
<\/a>So shiiiiiiny \ud83d\ude42 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n \u00abBloody Mary\u00bb<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
And here comes my favourite part!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BLOOOOOOOOOOD!!! \ud83d\ude00
Beware : if you\u2019re doing this at home, be sure to cover the walls, furnitures, ground… and wear cloths you don\u2019t fear to stain.
Take some red paint (I mixed Cadmium Red Deep Hue, Alizarin Crimson Hue and a bit of Burnt Umber), add some water to liquefy, take a brush and have fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\nTip n\u00b01: better test your \u00abthrow\u00bb before doing it on your final piece \ud83d\ude09
Top n\u00b02: to create tiny droplets, pass the hair of your brush under your finger next to the piece you want to paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"vorpal](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2952.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"blood](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2954.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"vorpal](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2956-663x1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"handle](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2957-663x1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"vorpal](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2958-663x1000.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nFinished Vorpal Blade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There you go, mission accomplished! A beautiful blade and a sculpted handle, all in Worbla, finished in less than 5 days. And as a bonus: this prop is super-light!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, here are some pics of the finished Vorpal Blade.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed this \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"glaive](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2959.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"glaive](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2981.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"alice](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2978.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"vorpal](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2965.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"vorpal](\"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_2986.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I reaaaally love Alice: Madness Returns, the story and the atmosphere of this game makes it one of my favorites. Vorpal Blade is Alice Liddell\u2019s main weapon, we find it on Jabberwock\u2019s skeleton at the beginning of the game. I like its \u00abbutcher knife\u00bb look, engraved with tiny flowers, subtle but sharp-edged \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14530,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-process-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2831","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2831"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2831\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13835,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2831\/revisions\/13835"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2831"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blackowlstudio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}