How to Make a DIY Prop Handgun out of Styrofoam (& then Cast It in Solid Aluminum)
Making props is many times a necessity on an indie production, and if you're in the mood for a big DIY project, this one will allow you to make pretty much any small-scale prop you'll ever need.
These tutorials come from The King of Random himself, Grant Thompson. He shows you how make a prop handgun of out styrofoam, a "styro-slicer" to make the cuts easier and cleaner, and a mini-foundry to turn the prop gun into solid aluminum — if you want. Let's start with the gun tutorial so you can see just how cool it looks. And once you're ready to get going, you can download the template for the prop gun here on Thompson's website for free.
Now, you can use other tools to cut styrofoam, but again, if you like to DIY, the "styro-slicer" is a pretty fun build, and it will most likely give you better results than scissors or X-Acto knives. So, first the intro and then the tutorial:
If in the end you're really digging your new styrofoam prop gun, but want to cast it in metal for whatever reason (styrofoam is pretty difficult to paint and texture to give it a realistic look), Thompson shows you in this next video how to create a mini-foundry using a couple of buckets and a few inexpensive ingredients you can find at any hardware store.
This video walks you through the steps of casting your styrofoam prop gun into solid aluminum using the mini-foundry.
Are you completely DIYed out yet?
Now, remember everybody — even though they're not real and can't harm anyone, prop guns are not toys. So, be sure to take proper precautions before you start waving these things around in public during a shoot. Let the authorities know and be sure you have permission.
