Video Tag
Every video tagged “prop painting” in the library — a focused slice of the Halloween archive.
70 videos
VanOaksProps walks through a detailed, screen-accurate build of the Jedi Comlink seen in the hands of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi across two Star Wars prequel films. The foundation is a vintage Gillette Sensor Excel razor — the same found object used by the original prop department — enhanced with custom 3D-printed parts, laser-cut acrylic, and hard-to-find specialty hardware like Coughtrie screws and aerospace pins. The tutorial concludes with a full weathering sequence using primer, spray paint, and oil washes to achieve a convincingly worn, screen-matched finish. It's a masterclass in blending digital fabrication with traditional kit-bashing for obsessive prop accuracy.
StiltbeastStudios walks through how to correctly assemble the Harbor Freight Deluxe Airbrush, offering a clean and straightforward visual reference for first-time users. The short runtime makes it an efficient primer for anyone unfamiliar with the tool's components and how they fit together. The creator positions this airbrush as a solid budget-friendly option for haunt prop and mask work.
Allen Hopps of StiltbeastStudios delivers the third installment in his airbrush series, focusing on foundational airbrush skills for prop makers, set designers, and mask makers. The video walks viewers through a practical technique-refining drill and introduces the use of stencils as a versatile painting aid. Although released out of sequence — part three before part two — the content stands on its own as an accessible guide to improving airbrush control. The airbrush is framed as an essential tool across multiple disciplines within the haunted attraction world.
VanOaksProps takes on Luke Skywalker's electrobinoculars from The Empire Strikes Back, building a screen-accurate replica from a 3D-printed model with LED accents, detailed paintwork, and weathering. As a bonus, a custom fabric-lined flight case inspired by Disney's Galaxy's Edge is also constructed to house the finished prop. This entry in the creator's casual 'Let's Make' series focuses on personal passion builds rather than step-by-step instruction. The result is a polished Star Wars replica that bridges DIY prop-making and theme-park fandom.
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.
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.
VanOaks Props demonstrates a quick, budget-friendly technique for achieving an aged gold paint finish using food coloring, inspired by the look of C-3PO from Star Wars. The one-minute short walks viewers through how a common household ingredient can be used to create a convincing metallic weathered effect on props. It's a clever hack suited for costume pieces, replica props, or Halloween decorations on a tight budget.
This short takes you inside the Distortions Unlimited studio for a quick look at painting a giant alligator prop built from latex and foam. The clip highlights the finishing-paint stage of a large creature display from a veteran prop and animatronics maker. It's a brief behind-the-scenes glimpse rather than a step-by-step tutorial.
VanOaksProps walks through building a Han Solo Droid Caller prop replica and presenting it in custom retro-style action figure packaging that evokes vintage Kenner Star Wars card backs. The project blends prop painting techniques — including airbrushing, metallic finishes, and weathering washes — with graphic design and physical packaging assembly to produce a display-ready collectible. A vacuum former is used to create a blister shell, and a printed card back completes the nostalgic presentation. The result doubles as both a screen-accurate prop replica and a whimsical fan collectible display piece.
This build video walks through recreating the Pre-Mor Holoprojector from Episode 3 of the Andor TV series as a handheld replica prop. The creator kitbashes a vintage Bandai handheld game as the prop's base, integrates functional LED lighting, and adds a 3D-printed bezel for screen accuracy. Layered spray paint and acrylic washes are used to achieve a weathered, lived-in Star Wars aesthetic.
StiltbeastStudios' Allen Hopps walks through the process of airbrushing a creature-style latex mask using a budget-friendly Harbor Freight airbrush. He demonstrates a custom latex mask paint recipe blending casting latex, distilled water, and interior flat house paint, supplemented with Pinata alcohol-based inks for vibrant color and Liquitex high gloss medium for finishing effects. The video also covers practical airbrush maintenance, using a common automotive windshield fluid as a cleaning solution. It's a solid intermediate-level guide for anyone looking to achieve professional-quality paint on latex masks without high-end equipment.
This Distortions Unlimited livestream offers a candid behind-the-scenes tour of their production facility during the busy 2021 Halloween season. Viewers get to watch veteran artist Ed Edmunds share painting tips, observe mold-making as the new Monster Day mascot is poured, and check in with various team members across departments including welding and office operations. It's an engaging look at the full workflow of a professional Halloween prop company gearing up for the season.
This detailed build video walks through the full process of recreating Han Solo's Hoth Scanner prop from The Empire Strikes Back, combining FDM printing, resin printing, and real metal hardware for a screen-inspired replica. The creator covers prop research, surface preparation, and achieving convincing chrome and metallic finishes using accessible paints and buffing compounds. Assembly tips address structural durability, making the finished piece suitable for display or cosplay use.
Stiltbeast Studios shares a quick, practical tip for getting more mileage out of UV-reactive paint without overdoing the effect. The technique keeps blacklight glow looking intentional and polished rather than garish. Even a short runtime delivers a genuinely useful workflow adjustment for painters and prop makers working under blacklight conditions.
Stiltbeast Studios returns for the third installment of their Baby Yoda build series, this time focusing on the painting phase of their haunted-attraction-ready prop or mask. The episode walks through the process of bringing the character to life with color and detail work. Given the series context and channel's professional background in haunt props and masks, this is likely a detailed, technique-driven painting session aimed at a high-quality finish.
Allen Hopps of StiltbeastStudios walks viewers through his personal approach to transforming ordinary turkey figures into monstrous Halloween-themed props. The tutorial focuses on decoration and detailing techniques that give seasonal items a frightening, haunted-attraction aesthetic. It's a fun creative exercise that blends holiday themes with classic monster styling.
VanOaksProps demonstrates a straightforward faux metal painting technique using MDF, modeling paste, and layered acrylic paints to replicate the look of weathered cast iron. Inspired by the industrial sci-fi aesthetic of Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland, the build recreates a themed sewer cover prop. The workflow covers surface texturing, base coating, and applying dark washes to build realistic depth and age. The result is a convincing metallic finish achievable with budget-friendly materials.
This behind-the-scenes feature takes viewers into the Distortions Unlimited paint room, showing three sped-up sequences of animatronics and props being painted from start to finish, all set to music. Featured pieces include Colossus, Scare Wolf, Mutant, Alien Parasite, and Zombie Podium among others. Rather than a step-by-step tutorial, it's a stylized montage highlighting the finishing process at a professional Halloween prop company.
VanOaksProps takes a research field trip to Charlotte's historic Elmwood & Pinewood Cemetery to study real tombstones, monuments, and statues as direct inspiration for Halloween yard haunt builds. The creator analyzes architectural details, weathering patterns, moss and lichen growth, and stone textures, then explains how each element could be recreated using accessible, budget-friendly prop-making methods. The video serves as both a design inspiration tour and a practical breakdown of techniques including XPS foam carving, Monster Mud, and fabric draping. It's an unusually grounded approach to Halloween prop design, rooted in real-world observation rather than guesswork.
This short-form video showcases the creation of a saber-toothed tiger skull prop built from EVA foam and foam clay. The creator demonstrates a clever texturing technique: applying foam clay and allowing it to partially dry before attacking the surface with a wire brush to produce natural-looking striations and organic cracks. The piece is then finished with primer and paint to sell the bone-like appearance.
Distortions Unlimited hosts a live behind-the-scenes session from their paint rooms, where staff members Ed and Tom each work on finishing monster props and animatronics. For the first time, both paint rooms run simultaneously, and the stream checks in on each artist's progress throughout. It offers a candid look at the studio's professional prop-making workflow rather than a step-by-step tutorial.
Ed Edmunds, founder of Distortions Unlimited, walks through the painting process for Fang, a latex Monster Buddy prop and 2020 mascot for the Monster Day festival in Greeley, Colorado. The demo highlights airbrush techniques used to bring Fang's character to life, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how professional-grade Halloween props are finished at Distortions Unlimited. The video also briefly introduces other characters in the Monster Buddies lineup, including the Greeley Gremlin and Chewbe. Fang and the other Monster Buddies are available for purchase through the Distortions Unlimited website.
The Distortions Unlimited production team walks viewers through a real-time timed paint run on their Pumpkin Witch prop, one of their standout releases from 2023. The video reveals the layered steps professional painters use to bring a commercial Halloween prop to life. As a studio with over four decades of monster-making experience, Distortions offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at factory-level prop finishing.
VanOaksProps walks through a screen-accurate recreation of Rey's scavenged Star Destroyer capacitor bearing from The Force Awakens, starting from a common screwdriver cap and custom 3D-modeled parts. The build covers digital redesign of the prop's distinctive fin and collet details, followed by resin printing and assembly. A thorough painting and weathering sequence—using primer, matte black, Rub n Buff, acrylic washes, and Fuller's Earth—delivers a convincingly gritty, battle-worn metallic finish. A free 3D model file is provided for viewers to replicate the build themselves.
