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Vayne Crossbow Tutorial - PART 1
By NastyLady
85 Favourites17 Comments5K Views
Look, I have made a tutorial! I got a lot of questions about my crossbow and how I made it, so I decided to share. Wow, doing tutorials is so much fun!
It's the firs part, I think they will be three more. Oh, and it will NOT cover the painting, if anyone waits for that.
PART 2
PART 3
Also, I made myself a fanpage. It's pretty fresh and doesn't have much content or anything, but you should check it out anyway.
www.facebook.com/CosplayArtRor…
It's the firs part, I think they will be three more. Oh, and it will NOT cover the painting, if anyone waits for that.
PART 2
PART 3
Also, I made myself a fanpage. It's pretty fresh and doesn't have much content or anything, but you should check it out anyway.
www.facebook.com/CosplayArtRor…
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© 2014 - 2021 NastyLady
Comments17
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This is great! I've not used expanding foam for sculpting before; only for reinforcing pre-constructed card cavities. Seems like a great way of scratch building props.
I don't suppose you use Instructables? I'd love to see more like this on something like Instructables, where it's easier to show the steps that went into it than it is on dA. The regular contests for props and costumes are a bonus too!
I don't suppose you use Instructables? I'd love to see more like this on something like Instructables, where it's easier to show the steps that went into it than it is on dA. The regular contests for props and costumes are a bonus too!

Thanks! Expanding foam is wonderful for big lightweight props and is available almost everywhere. Details and finishing can be a bit tricky though.
No, I don't and don't really want to either. Another site to manage... too much. I think it looks pretty clear in this form, as long as there are pictures.
Love your avatar, btw!
No, I don't and don't really want to either. Another site to manage... too much. I think it looks pretty clear in this form, as long as there are pictures.
Love your avatar, btw!

Fair enough... I too find that I don't have time to keep up to date with all the sites I use, and you're right, this is a very clear way to present the tutorial.
And thanks, that means a lot to me coming from you! Digital typography art and logo design is something I'd like to do more of if time permits it.
And thanks, that means a lot to me coming from you! Digital typography art and logo design is something I'd like to do more of if time permits it.

Upholstery foam works really well too if you know how to cut it, (and it doesn't take forever to dry, and can be glued directly to the backing), it's lightweight and stiff enough to hold a shape really well with a thin backing, but I usually use plywood for the backing anyway.
Then again, my 'Costume' props can generally be used for Full Contact LARPing, so a crossbow that I can genuinely smack someone with is better for me than one made of cardboard and foam.
Yours looks amazing though (even uncompleted).
Then again, my 'Costume' props can generally be used for Full Contact LARPing, so a crossbow that I can genuinely smack someone with is better for me than one made of cardboard and foam.
Yours looks amazing though (even uncompleted).

Maybe it does, but I prefer to work with stuff I can handle in my room without the use of any technology more complicated than a simple knife.
Oh, believe me, this crossbow definitely won't fall apart from smacking someone. And the foam is thick enough to make it quite painful as well. Not that I tried it of course.
Oh, believe me, this crossbow definitely won't fall apart from smacking someone. And the foam is thick enough to make it quite painful as well. Not that I tried it of course.

So, spray glue and a steak knife. (That's what I use for the upholstery foam). It's actually soft enough that I don't hurt the person I'm hitting. The weapon generally will break before it leaves a bruise.
Your foam is probably less susceptible to being eaten by spray paint though. I have to hand paint mine with Latex house-paint, or the foam dissolves under the aerosol.
Your foam is probably less susceptible to being eaten by spray paint though. I have to hand paint mine with Latex house-paint, or the foam dissolves under the aerosol.

Well, I don't have to worry about making my weapons useful nor safe. They just have to look good. But I guess that if you used this spray foam technique for something with less pointy edges... it could be used for hitting people.
Spray foam does not dissolve but looks terrible spray painted. I spray painted it anyway though. More about it I explain in next part of the tutorial.
Spray foam does not dissolve but looks terrible spray painted. I spray painted it anyway though. More about it I explain in next part of the tutorial.

Upholstery foam works really well too if you know how to cut it, (and it doesn't take forever to dry, and can be glued directly to the backing), it's lightweight and stiff enough to hold a shape really well with a thin backing, but I usually use plywood for the backing anyway.
Then again, my 'Costume' props can generally be used for Full Contact LARPing, so a crossbow that I can genuinely smack someone with is better for me than one made of cardboard and foam.
Yours looks amazing though (even uncompleted).
Then again, my 'Costume' props can generally be used for Full Contact LARPing, so a crossbow that I can genuinely smack someone with is better for me than one made of cardboard and foam.
Yours looks amazing though (even uncompleted).
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