Video Tag
Every video tagged “prop making” in the library — a focused slice of the Halloween archive.
233 videos
This short-form video showcases a hand-stitched leather pouch crafted as an accessory for a Warhammer 40K Cadian armor cosplay build. The creator shares a candid, reflective take on the leatherworking process, noting it was their first leather project. A full multi-part Cadian build series is available on the channel, along with free foam templates and STL files for those wanting to recreate the armor.
VanOaksProps walks through the complete build of a screen-accurate Galaxy's Edge-style wall light fixture, drawing inspiration from the Droid Depot and cast-member doors at Disneyland's Star Wars land. The project covers every stage from 3D-printing ABS parts and sanding them smooth, through priming, painting, and oil-paint weathering, to wiring a 24-LED NeoPixel ring driven by an ESP32 microcontroller with a free animated Arduino sketch. The result is a fully functional, prop-quality sci-fi light suitable for a themed room or display. A complimentary 3D model file and Arduino sketch are provided for viewers to replicate the build.
SKS Props walks through the painting and weathering process for a 3D-printed Menpo (oni) mask, designed to complement a previously built samurai armor set. The mask was modeled in Nomad Sculpt as a learning exercise and printed in grey PLA on a Bambu H2S. The creator shares the finished result alongside the matching armor and offers the STL file for free download on MyMiniFactory.
StiltbeastStudios walks through the process of crafting horns from EVA foam, covering pattern creation and shaping techniques suitable for a wide variety of Halloween and cosplay costumes. A highlight of the tutorial is the creator's signature coating method, which finishes and seals the foam for a polished, durable result. The approachable format makes this a solid starting point for anyone new to foam fabrication.
Ed Edmunds, founder of the legendary Halloween prop and animatronics company Distortions Unlimited, demonstrates gremlin monster sculpting in this short-form clip from the Monster Lab instructional series. The video offers a condensed glimpse into professional-level creature sculpting techniques developed over decades in the industry. It serves as a teaser for the full-length Monster Lab tutorials available on the channel, which cover the complete mask-making pipeline from sculpt to finished prop.
This behind-the-scenes clip from Distortions Unlimited follows sculptors Tom Cassidy and Ed Edmunds as they work on the Vampire Legend, one of the studio's 2021 Halloween prop releases. Tom puts finishing touches on the facial sculpt while Ed joins him to assess the piece and assist in carefully moving it to a new table for body work. The video offers a rare glimpse into the professional prop-making process at one of the Halloween industry's longest-running manufacturers. Distortions Unlimited has been crafting animatronics, masks, and props in the USA for over four decades.
This marathon compilation from VanOaksProps walks through the construction of six iconic movie props, including the Goonies Copper Bones, the Indiana Jones Holy Grail, Ghostbusters Ecto Goggles, Jack Torrance's axe from The Shining, Doc Brown's binoculars from Back to the Future Part II, and HAL9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Each build showcases practical fabrication techniques including 3D printing, painting, weathering, and finishing aimed at achieving screen-accurate results. The format is a compiled deep-dive suited for makers at multiple skill levels looking to tackle cinematic replicas from scratch.
SKS Props shares a behind-the-scenes look at their cosplay booth setup at SpaCon, displaying a collection of completed builds including Wolverine and Deadpool-inspired pieces. The video serves as a showcase rather than a step-by-step tutorial, highlighting the finished results of projects featured elsewhere on the channel. Free templates and full build videos for all displayed props are available through the creator's channel.
Veteran haunt builder Allen Hopps of Stiltbeast Studios dives into the everyday adhesive he relies on most: contact cement. The video walks through what makes this glue a go-to in a Halloween prop shop, covering its key strengths and demonstrating its bonding power across different applications. It's a practical, no-nonsense look at a material that shows up constantly in foam work, mask making, and costume fabrication.
VanOaksProps demonstrates three accessible weathering techniques that transform plain plastic or 3D-printed pieces into convincingly aged, battle-worn metal props. The methods — liquid latex chipping, salt weathering, and a hairspray masking technique for sun-bleached finishes — rely on common household or low-cost supplies rather than specialized equipment. Each approach is shown with layered paint steps that build realistic depth and character. The tutorial is equally applicable to sci-fi builds, armor, and general scenic prop work.
This short tutorial walks fans of the Apple TV+ series Severance through building a screen-accurate Lumon Industries employee ID badge from scratch. The creator covers designing and printing the badge graphic, applying it to a card substrate, laminating with contact paper for a polished finish, and threading it onto a lanyard. As a fun bonus segment, the finished badge is worn to MegaCon Orlando to gauge fan recognition in the wild.
In this recorded presentation from Greeley, Colorado's Do Tell series, Ed Edmunds of Distortions Unlimited reflects on a career spent making masks, monsters, and animatronics that scare people. He traces the story of the company he co-founded with his wife Marsha in 1978, which has supplied props and costumes to haunted houses and themed events nationwide. The talk centers on lessons learned and the craft of the haunt industry rather than a hands-on build.
This short video from Stiltbeast Studios offers a focused look at detailing a sculpt using Monster Clay, a popular oil-based clay known for its low softening and melting temperature. The clip serves as a quick practical demonstration of clay detailing techniques rather than a full step-by-step tutorial. Monster Clay is noted as being available through specialist suppliers catering to prop and mask makers.
Allen Hopps of Stiltbeast Studios demonstrates how to produce skull-shaped wall sconce light fixtures using a silicone mold and fiberglass for The Castle attraction at SCREAMS Halloween park. The video walks through a professional-grade prop fabrication workflow suited for haunted attraction production environments. The result is durable, repeatable decorative fixtures that serve both a functional lighting role and a strong thematic aesthetic.
VanOaksProps revives a long-shelved project to complete a screen-accurate set of Ghostbusters Ecto Goggles, using a free Thingiverse 3D model as the foundation. The build focuses on hardware assembly — sourcing specific screws, snaps, and olive-colored belting straps — followed by a multi-layer paint and weathering process using acrylics and oil paint washes. The result is a wearable, movie-faithful replica suitable for cosplay or display. This video kicks off a new series dedicated to finishing abandoned prop builds.
This video from Stiltbeast Studios covers the Midwest Haunters Convention 2023, offering a look at one of the haunt industry's major annual gatherings. The footage likely showcases props, masks, and the broader haunted attraction community coming together. Stiltbeast Studios, known for high-end creature and prop fabrication, brings their perspective to the convention floor.
This tutorial walks viewers through building a replica steering wheel inspired by the Mad Max Furiosa films, using everyday household items. The build is presented as an accessible, step-by-step project covering both construction and weathering to achieve that signature road-warrior aesthetic. The approachable tone makes it suitable for first-time prop makers and cosplayers alike.
VanOaksProps recreates the control panel from the newly added storage lockers at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge as a functional prop for a real locker. The build centers on a custom 3D-printed panel that is primed, layered with multiple spray paint colors, and finished with oil paint washes and Rub n Buff to achieve an authentic, weathered sci-fi look. Final assembly uses button-head screws and VHB tape to mount the panel cleanly. The result is a screen-accurate-style replica suitable for Star Wars-themed spaces or Halloween haunt set dressing.
VanOaksProps walks through building a weathered vintage-style 'For Sale' sign out of MDF as a narrative prop for a cemetery yard haunt. The build covers sealing, stenciling with a vinyl cutter, hand-painting lettering, and applying distressing and aging techniques to achieve a convincingly decrepit look. The sign doubles as a tongue-in-cheek story element marking the haunt's final season at its current home. The paint tricks demonstrated are transferable to a wide range of Halloween prop projects.
A prop maker shares a work-in-progress knight helmet inspired by Brother Matthias from the video game Crimson Desert, modeled in Nomad Sculpt and printed on a Bambu Lab H2S. The video documents the early build stages, with painting planned as the next step. Wet sanding and spray painting are noted as finishing techniques to be applied. This is a short-form progress update rather than a full step-by-step tutorial.
SKS Props walks through the fabrication of a Chainsaw Man / Denji cosplay helmet built almost entirely from EVA HD foam, resulting in a lightweight wearable prop. Free PDF templates are available on the creator's site so viewers can build along step by step. The design draws from both the manga and anime PV trailer, with the creator noting that some details — particularly on the back of the head — involve creative interpretation where source material is inconsistent. Painting, weathering, and epoxy gore are reserved for a follow-up Part 2 video.
Allen Hopps of Stiltbeast Studios walks through the process of creating custom paint specifically formulated for latex masks. The tutorial covers how to mix and prepare the paint so it adheres properly to latex surfaces without cracking or peeling. This is a practical technique for haunted attraction performers and prop makers looking to customize or refresh their latex masks.
VanOaksProps shares a personal top-5 list of tools that meaningfully improved their prop-making workflow in 2023. The roundup spans precision measurement, finishing, painting, electronics, and 3D printing. Each pick is framed around real-world maker use, making the list practical rather than purely aspirational. Affiliate links are provided for all featured items.
This short behind-the-scenes video offers a glimpse into the prop-making process at Distortions Unlimited, a professional Halloween prop fabrication studio. Viewers get a look at how commercial-grade haunt props are created for use in spooky haunt scenes. Despite its brief runtime, it showcases the craftsmanship and production environment behind one of the industry's known prop manufacturers.
