Video Tag
Every video tagged “prop making” in the library — a focused slice of the Halloween archive.
233 videos
VanOaksProps walks through a full build of an Andor Season 2-inspired Star Wars holoprojector prop, combining vintage part sourcing and modification with 3D printing, laser cutting, and practical electronics. The build integrates an ESP32 microcontroller, Neopixel lighting, and a hologram fan to achieve an in-universe screen-accurate effect. Weathering is accomplished through airbrushing, oil paint washes, liquid latex, and Rub n Buff, giving the finished piece an authentic, battle-worn look. Downloadable files are available for creators who want to replicate the project.
VanOaksProps walks through a full build for realistic flickering candle props using compact low-voltage LED flame bulbs wired through a buck converter. The tutorial covers soldering the electrics, forming candle bodies from PVC pipe, and adding convincing wax-drip textures with hot glue and paint. The result is a brighter, more lifelike candle effect compared to standard flicker LEDs. The finished props suit home haunts, yard haunts, or any atmospheric Halloween display.
This behind-the-scenes video from Distortions Unlimited — a Halloween industry veteran with over 40 years in the business — pulls back the curtain on professional animatronic prop production. Viewers follow the team through multiple production stages, including the mechanical build of the Fartman and Demon Fury animatronics, sound selection, and a timed painting demonstration with Ed Edmunds and Tom. The roughly 30-minute runtime gives an unusually candid look at how a commercial Halloween prop company operates across its various departments.
This short tutorial from VanOaksProps demonstrates using UV resin as a faster, easier alternative to air-dry spot putty for smoothing layer lines on FDM 3D prints. The technique is demonstrated on a Boba Fett helmet and involves applying UV resin to fill surface imperfections, curing it quickly under a UV light, then sanding smooth. The result is a significantly cleaner surface with less effort than traditional methods.
This is the second installment in Stiltbeast Studios' series on building a silicone caulk mold intended for casting resin masks. The video continues the step-by-step mold-making process from where part one left off. It covers the practical techniques involved in working with silicone caulk as an accessible mold-making medium for prop and mask fabrication.
This tutorial from Monster Tutorials walks through converting an affordable Harbor Freight pressure paint bucket into a functional resin casting pressure pot using a handful of brass plumbing fittings and quick-connect air components. The build is designed to eliminate bubbles in clear resin pours — a common challenge for prop and jewelry makers. The video demonstrates how to assemble and adapt the lid fittings so the bucket can be pressurized with a standard air compressor. Alumilite Clear Slow Resin is shown as the casting material of choice for the finished setup.
Stiltbeast Studios walks through the creation of a Halloween spell book prop in this roughly 13-minute build video. The finished piece is designed to look like an aged, mystical tome suitable for witch, occult, or dark fantasy displays. Given the channel's reputation for detailed prop work, viewers can expect practical fabrication and finishing techniques throughout.
This installment in SKS Props' ongoing Warhammer 40K Cadian armor build series focuses on strapping the shoulder and forearm armor pieces and beginning the weathering process on the soft goods. The creator combines Dirty Down sprays with Liquitex heavy body acrylics to achieve a battle-worn, grimdark aesthetic. The series is designed to help viewers build a complete Cadian Imperial Guard cosplay in time for a group appearance at Dragon Con. Free foam templates and STL files for 3D-printed components are available via links in the description.
StiltbeastStudios walks through the process of building a DIY scarecrow hat suitable for haunted attractions or Halloween costuming. The tutorial covers prop fabrication techniques consistent with the channel's professional haunt-builder style. At roughly 19 minutes, it offers enough depth to guide intermediate builders through the full construction process.
VanOaks Props steps outside his usual cemetery style to build a pirate-themed treasure chest entirely from foam and hot glue. The build uses XPS insulation foam for the main structure and EVA craft foam for surface detail, finished with layered acrylic paints to achieve a weathered wood-and-metal look. It's a budget-friendly, beginner-accessible project suited for pirate haunts or Halloween parties. Note: the creator issued a correction that the plank color used is burnt sienna, not raw sienna as stated in the voiceover.
Distortions Unlimited takes viewers behind the scenes of their professional prop-making facility to showcase how the Pumpkin Witch is produced. The video walks through each stage of the manufacturing process, from original sculpture and molding through latex pouring, hand painting, and final finishing. Standing nearly six feet tall, the Pumpkin Witch is a life-size, foam-filled latex prop with poseable arms, a custom costume, and an LED-lit jack-o-lantern. It is designed for durability in home haunts, yard displays, and professional haunt environments.
The creator reverse-engineers the iconic sword from the Minecraft Movie — originally fabricated by Wētā Workshop — using only a blurry screenshot as reference. Working with laser-cut plywood layers and strategic paint techniques, he builds a screen-accurate-looking replica without any official plans. A free downloadable template and guide are offered on his website for viewers who want to replicate the build. The finished prop is revealed at the end of the video.
Allen Hopps of Stiltbeast Studios walks viewers through the full latex mask-making process in a single consolidated overview, condensing material that is otherwise spread across many hours of separate videos. Rather than a step-by-step hands-on tutorial, this is a high-level talk-through designed to give beginners and intermediate makers a clear mental map of the entire workflow before they dive deeper. The goal is to help viewers ask smarter, more targeted questions as they pursue the craft further.
This behind-the-scenes video takes viewers inside Distortions Unlimited's Colorado workshop as the team races to fulfill Halloween 2022 orders for props and animatronics. The footage showcases the hands-on craftsmanship involved in producing pieces like a dragon head, an electric chair animatronic, and other creature-based props. Distortions Unlimited has over 40 years of experience creating professional-grade monsters, masks, and animatronics for haunted attractions, events, and home decorators. The video offers an energetic, fast-paced look at what goes into bringing high-impact Halloween creations to life at a commercial scale.
Distortions Unlimited founder Ed Edmunds demonstrates the airbrush painting process used to achieve ultra-realistic detail on a massive 12-foot alligator prop. The creature is constructed from latex and foam and manufactured in the USA. Designed for versatility, the finished prop is deployed across haunted attractions, theme parks, animal parks, and live events.
SKS Props tackles a speed build of Dante's iconic Devil Sword from Devil May Cry, crafted in time for DragonCon. The build is showcase-style rather than a full step-by-step tutorial, giving viewers a quick look at the finished oversized prop. A detailed build video and free templates are noted as coming soon, making this a teaser for fans eager to replicate the sword.
VanOaksProps walks through building a Grim Reaper scythe using readily available materials — EVA foam floor mats, PVC pipe, and hot glue — making this an accessible project for beginners and cosplayers alike. The blade is shaped from foam with a heat gun, mounted to a PVC handle, and finished with a Plasti-Dip base coat followed by layered acrylic paints for a realistic, weathered look. The build is designed to be completable in a few hours with minimal tools. Surebonder sponsored the video by providing their Cosplay Stik hot glue and glue gun.
In this episode of Distortions Unlimited's Monster Lab series, professional prop maker Ed Edmunds delivers a comprehensive step-by-step walkthrough for creating a two-piece plaster mold intended for casting latex monster hand gloves. Ed covers every stage of the process — building the clay dam, mixing and applying plaster, reinforcing with hemp fiber, and finally separating and cleaning the finished mold. The tutorial is part of a larger multi-episode arc, following a previous episode focused on sculpting the original hand forms. Distortions Unlimited notes that home hobbyists should create two separate molds (one per hand) rather than a combined mold, which the studio uses for high-volume production.
Stiltbeast Studios walks through the creation of a vampire killing kit prop, sharing the same process used to produce pieces sold at the creator's HuntMonsters museum. The build results in a display-quality prop with a gothic, antique aesthetic suited for haunted attractions, home haunts, or collector display. At roughly 24 minutes, the tutorial covers the full construction workflow from start to finished kit.
In this interview recorded at MegaCon Orlando, the Creative Geekery channel sits down with Weta Workshop luminaries Sir Richard Taylor, Tania Rodger, and Daniel Falconer to explore the philosophy behind one of Hollywood's most celebrated practical effects studios. The trio reflects on how Weta grew from humble bedroom builds to Oscar-winning productions, crediting a willingness to dive in without a roadmap as a core driver of their success. Key topics include how Weta evaluates creative talent, the importance of weathering and contextual storytelling in prop work, and why embracing failure is essential to any maker's growth. The conversation serves as an inspirational masterclass for anyone hesitant to start a creative project.
VanOaksProps presents a compilation of five pirate-themed DIY Halloween props, each originally covered in its own dedicated video and condensed here into a single 36-minute step-by-step guide. The five builds — a rum bottle, a haunt lantern, handcuff shackles, a treasure chest, and a junk-sourced oil lamp — are designed to be affordable and accessible for home haunters and party decorators alike. Each segment is timestamped, and links to the individual source videos (with full material lists) are provided in the description. Together the props create a cohesive high-seas atmosphere suitable for yard haunts, home haunts, or Halloween parties.
This video from SKS Props covers the construction of Fallout NCR Ranger chest armor using HD foam, with a focus on adding realistic battle damage and weathering effects. The lightweight foam construction makes the finished piece comfortable to wear and move in. The creator also references a companion 3D-printed helmet and offers free PDF templates on their website for viewers who want to build their own version.
VanOaksProps walks through the complete process of making silicone molds and casting resin duplicates in this beginner-friendly tutorial. The workflow covers mixing and pouring silicone, applying mold release, and achieving clean resin casts suitable for small prop components. The channel's own Star Wars-inspired resin rocker switches serve as a real-world example of what the technique can produce. At under ten minutes, the guide is concise and practical for anyone looking to start replicating small prop parts at home.
This video documents the in-progress build of a foam dog skull mask with a movable jaw mechanism, showcasing how foam clay and a heat tool are used to add realistic bone texture. The creator previews the finished design before directing viewers to a full build video and free downloadable PDF templates. The mask is designed to function equally well as a cosplay prop, fursuit head base, or Halloween decoration. SKS Props emphasizes accessible foamsmithing techniques suitable for costume fabricators at various skill levels.
