Volpin Props Guide to Building

I have been following Volpin Props for a while now on Facebook and on Flickr, enjoying seeing what he is doing in his prop shop, but also learning new tips on what to do and pitfalls he has come across whilst building. Today I came across his Tested articles and thought I would share the links here.

The Volpin Project, Part 1: Introductions

The Volpin Project, Part 2: References and Blueprinting

The Volpin Project, Part 3: Selecting Materials

The Volpin Project, Part 4: Taking Shapes

The Volpin Project, Part 5: Bondo Strikes Back

The Volpin Project, Part 6: Details, Accents, Refinements, and Mockups

The Volpin Project, Part 7: Introduction to Moldmaking

The Volpin Project, Part 8: More Complex Moldmaking

The Volpin Project, Part 9: The Casting Process

The Volpin Project, Part 10: Illumination and Audio

The Volpin Project, Part 11: Prepping for Paint

The Volpin Project, Part 12: Finally Time to Paint

The Volpin Project, Part 13: Weathering The Needler

The Volpin Project, Part 14: Putting It All Together

The Volpin Project, Part 15: Lessons Learned

I also highly recommend Volpin's Painting and Weathering for Props ebook. I have been prop building for several years now, and I learned so much from it. Worth every cent of the small asking price of US$8!

Hogwarts Uniform – a History Pt 4

Hogwarts Uniform Late 1990’s

e.g. Harry's third to seventh years at Hogwarts - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2010/2011)

Shirt- Plain white buttoned shirt, same for boys and girls. The girls’ shirts are not fitted. They are the same shirts the guys are wearing, and even have the buttons on the right like guys shirts.

Tie- Darker trapped-bar style house tie

Skirt- Charcoal grey Kick-Pleat skirt, wrap-around, has the illusion of having two large inverted box-pleats in the front, with one of them being the opening. An A-Line Centre Pleat Skirt is worn by some students instead.

Trousers- Charcoal grey trousers, girls may wear trousers too.

Jumper- Charcoal grey jumper, cardigan or sleeveless jumper with house colored bands around the hemline and sleeve cuffs (a change from all previous styles which had plain cuffs and striped neckline).

Robe- Open black robe with house crest, pointed hood, and lined in the house color in the sleeves, hood, and partially down the front opening. pockets hidden in the side seam of the robes, a wand pocket inside the robe, on the left side.

Socks- Charcoal grey socks, charcoal grey tights or stockings for girls (with skirt)

Shoes- Black leather school shoes, lace up, loafers, or Mary Janes, good, sturdy sole, low heels or flats

Scarf- Darker trapped-bar style matching the tie

Cloak- Plain black with house crest

 

Source: http://www.therpf.com/f24/harry-potther-hogwarts-uniform-research-references-where-buy-160718

NB: PS = Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)

CoS = Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

PoA = Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Hogwarts Uniform – a History Pt 3

Hogwarts Uniform Early 1990’s

e.g. Harry's first and second years at Hogwarts - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Shirt- plain white buttoned shirt, same for boys and girls

Tie- bold, thick striped house tie

Skirt- grey knife-pleated skirt (for females)

Trousers- grey trousers (for males)

Jumper- medium grey jumper with brighter house colored bands around hem and neck-line

Robe- open robe with House crest, swag-style old robes, a plain Black School Robe with a Graduation-like or Oval Collar attached by 3 pleats at the collar. This Robe has a Wand Pocket and may also have Hidden Side Pockets, and closes with 2 Diamond Design Frog Closures. Robe length seems to be a few inches above ankle.

Ron’s robes are very faded and worn because his robes are hand-me-downs.

Socks- grey socks, knee high for girls

Shoes- Black leather school shoes, lace up, loafers, or Mary Janes, good, sturdy sole, low heels or flats

Scarf- thick stripes in house colours matching the tie

Cloak- plain black with house crest

Hat- Plain black pointed hat with hogwarts crest, no brim

New First Years: First year students on their first day in the castle before their sorting, wear no crest on their robes, a plain grey jumper, and a black tie with the Hogwarts crest.

 

Source: http://www.therpf.com/f24/harry-potther-hogwarts-uniform-research-references-where-buy-160718/

Hogwarts Uniform – a History Pt 2

Hogwarts uniform 1970’s

e.g Marauders (Sirius, James, Lupin, Pettigrew), Severus Snape and Lily Evans

Shirt- white button- up shirt, standard pointed collar for boys, Peter Pan (rounded) Collar for girls

Tie- dark colored trapped-bar style house tie

Skirt (for girls)- grey knife-pleated skirt (for females

Trousers (for boys) - grey trousers

Jumper - grey sweater with house colored bands around the hem and neck-line, The Color Bands going yellow-red-yellow.

Blazer- grey pocketed blazer with house crest, typical Tailored Men's Suit Coat style with 3 Buttons on the front.

Robe- open robe with House crest, swag-style old robes, a plain Black School Robe with a Graduation-like or Oval Collar attached by 3 pleats at the collar. This Robe may also have Hidden Side Pockets apart and a Wand Pocket, and closes with 2 Diamond Design Frog Closures. Robe length seems to be a few inches above ankle.

Socks- grey socks, knee high for girls

Shoes- Black leather school shoes, lace up, loafers, or Mary Janes, good, sturdy sole, low heels or flats

Source: http://www.therpf.com/f24/harry-potther-hogwarts-uniform-research-references-where-buy-160718

Hogwarts Uniform – a History Pt 1

I am just reposting Decat’s fine posts from the RPF. This is because many times things disappear from the web and I would hate for this to happen to these.

Source: http://www.therpf.com/f24/harry-potther-hogwarts-uniform-research-references-where-buy-160718

Hogwarts uniform 1940’s

e.g. Tom Riddle, Rubeus Hagrid, Myrtle, Minerva McGonagall

Shirt-white button- up shirt, standard pointed collar for boys, Peter Pan (rounded) Collar for girls

Tie- house colour stripes, darker, trapped-bar style tie

Gymslip (for girls) - grey gymslip with pleated skirt. A house colour sash is tied around the waist of the gymslip. Myrtle has a grey belt instead.

Trousers (for boys) - grey trousers

Jumper- Charcoal Grey sweater with house colors around the hem and neck-line.

Blazer-grey pocketed blazer with house crest, with 3 Buttons on the front.

Robe-open robe with the Hogwarts crest, swag-style old robes, a plain Black School Robe with a Graduation-like or Oval Collar attached by 3 pleats at the collar. This Robe may also have Hidden Side Pockets and a Wand Pocket, and closes with 2 Diamond Design Frog Closures. Robe length seems to be a few inches above ankle.

Head Boy or Prefect Badge, worn on Right Robe Collar.

Socks- grey socks, knee high for girls

Shoes- Black leather school shoes, lace up, loafers, or Mary Janes, good, sturdy sole, low heels or flats

 

NB: COS = Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

HBP = Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Licensed Hogwarts Range at JayJays

I was rather amazed when I was in the city the other day and walked past the clothes store JayJays. To my delight they had GIANT posters of their new Hogwarts range in the window. Not being much of wide neck or white t-shirt person (and the Quidditch t-shirt was not in my size), I went for a guys pullover with the Hogwarts crest. The quality is okay, and good for warmer autumn days in Tasmania, or under a jacket.

These are some of there other range. These images below are sourced from www.jayjays.com.au

Lego Distractions & Inspirations

Working the weekend on a large prop, I had a tea break and surfed the net, stumbling on a wonderful idea - a full-scale Lego helmet!

The instructions make it look pretty easy to make... So very tempting indeed to have for a bit of fun, especially as I LOVE Lego so much! Maybe, one day. :D

I also came across some other fun ideas, but beyond my time poor life at the moment. However they are too cool not to share.

A giant wooden Lego man.

And a giant Lego space man.

Harry Potter Costume – The Research

The internet can be a wonderful thing, but also can be very frustrating. As I have come late to making a Harry Potter costume, a lot of links are now broken, or images have gone. So here are few bits that I found useful. I will copy useful portions here on my blog with source links, just in case they disappear in the near future.

One very useful site was by Rebel Haven: http://www.rebelshaven.com/hogwarts.html

She constructed a wonderful Ravenclaw costume, and I am hoping to use the pattern for the robes that she made.

The RPF had some great information too. For the breakdown of costumes for each era:

http://www.therpf.com/f24/harry-potther-hogwarts-uniform-research-references-where-buy-160718

RPF reference to shoes: http://www.therpf.com/f24/help-finding-harry-potters-school-shoes-something-close-122467

Harry Potter Costume – a Start

For many years I was reluctant to try the Harry Potter novels. Partially because there was so much hype over the first movie, but when I saw it in the cinema, it was fun mainly from the wonderful cast, but I felt I was missing something. I was also reading through the Lord of the Rings trilogy and associated books.

Then last year a friend gave me the first book on audio format, read by Stephen Fry. As I just love what Stephen Fry does, and his voice, I could not help but try this audio book. At the time I was doing a lot of prop building and listening to audio books was a real pleasure, as I did not have a moment to read actual books. Within a short time, I was hooked. Over the summer and autumn I listened to all of the books, and simply loved them! I found myself wishing that I had read them sooner. I had been a fool to doubt the quality of the books!

Now that I had experienced the books, I thought it was time to give the movies a go too. I still think I prefer the books, but the movies made a lot more sense, and I could understand that they had to cut large sections just to tell the story.

The costumes in the films were great; I especially liked the later series ones. I thought I would get one together, and perhaps even teach one of my classes whilst wearing it. Well, maybe without the robes, but still it would be fun!

The first question, what house? A good friend of mine joked on several occasions that I am rather a Gryffindor. Looking at myself when I was a teen, I did relate rather a lot to Neville Longbottom. I use to be (and still am) a nerdy sort of person, clumsy, forgetful, but excellent in my class of interest.

I rather liked Neville’s vests, so I would model my costume roughly on his, but still try to look like I might be an old girl (past student) from Hogwarts.

As with all costumes and props I make, I start by doing a lot of research!