3D Printing a Fertility Idol

Although I really enjoy making things and the processes involved I’m not much of a collector and there aren’t many props I actually desire to own. One fairly major exception to this is the Golden Idol from Raiders of the Lost Ark. I’m still kicking myself for not buying the Idol money-box I saw in my local comic shop fifteen odd years ago. 

Given that I had some spare time at work recently I thought I’d model up an idol I could run out on my 3D printer. There are a few models already kicking around on the internet however I felt a better level of accuracy could be achieved. 

Revisiting the Crown of Bethmora

Five years ago I produced a copy of the Crown of Bethmora (from Hellboy 2). In fact, it was the first original project I'd produced using my 3D Printer. In the Autumn of last year I was contacted with a commission to produce another crown. Since my first attempt I've picked up a few tricks, (and also the Art of Hellboy 2 book) so I was pretty sure I could produce something really amazing this time around, but this particular project was not all plain sailing...

The Cross of Coronado

It belongs in a Museum!

Next on my hit list of Indiana Jones props was the Cross of Coronado, the crucifix seen at the beginning of the third Indie movie. I've seen some awesome recreations of this prop that are as wonderful as they are outside my budget so I thought I'd have a go at making one for myself.

Creating a pirate treasure map...

In one of my previous blog entries I looked at the many techniques used in ageing paper, in this one I will look at applying them in the production of a realistic looking treasure map. If you want some tips on how to create a convincing pirate treasure map then read on…

Copper Bones, Westward foams, triple stones...

Something that I'm sure I have in common with many of you is that Goonies holds a special place in my heart. The kids, the bad guys, pirates, traps, gadgets and eventually the treasure... it's the perfect adventure and certainly a movie that I keep coming back to. As a quick side project to test some techniques I thought I'd sculpt up a version of the Copperbones...

Cold Casting Pirate Coins...

...or How to Make Money

I've been involved in a pirate based project lately and I found myself needing a ready supply of Spanish Doubloons. It is possible to acquire replicas at a fairly reasonable price, but seeing as I didn't know how many I'd need I thought it might be fun to produce my own. I had to make them durable with a finish that wouldn't rub off so it seemed that cold casting was probably the best option...