Final details (Posted 11th May 2013)

Added the final gear to the gun holster belt, including the pouches and climbing rope.

Flame torch (Posted 9th May 2013)

For a location shoot. This thing refuses to light by itself, so using the kevlar wick torch I had, I combined the two. The perspective doesn't look too bad depending on the angle you hold at and using the wick behind it means it doesn't give off any nasty smoke, only used a drop of oil for the test so will use more for a bigger flame.

Shotgun progress (Posted 5th May 2013)

Airsoft shotgun was painted, added a piece of foam with holes roughly cut into it then fixed to a cardboard tube that fit's around the barrel. Aged and weathered it, adding the fabric around the stock.
I had to make the holder for it on the sling a little wider - but this will only hold for photo's - it's only an airsoft weapon but the weight eventually makes it slip.

Vintage shotgun (Posted 5th May 2013)

Clearer photo.

Zippo lighter (Posted 5th May 2013)

I had one engraved, aged it and made the little badge out of Milliput. I was going to resin cast it but the badge is so tiny I feared the detail would be lost.

Pouches and detail (Posted 27th April 2013)

Weathered two utility pouches that will be worn on the trouser belt around the back and added the lettering to the quiver harness strap. Still need to buy some more accessories including the climbing rope and zippo lighter.

Climbing axe (Posted 19th April 2013)

Needed to be light and con safe so commissioned from Raider Cosplay - very happy with it.

Flame torch (Posted 10th April 2013)

Lit torch for a location shoot, going to try and disguise it somehow to make it look more organic whilst still being able to hold it safely.

Holster complete (Posted 10th April 2013)

Weathered the holster using sand paper and added dirt and grime.

Official amulet (Posted 7th April 2013)

Someone kindly sent me their necklace, unsure if I should change the cord or not.

Holster & pistol progress (Posted 7th April 2013)

I created paper templates first before making the pieces from foam which was covered in faux leather. I added seam detail before fixing the pieces together, adding three D rings/loops on the main belt, a D ring near where the belt attaches to the main holster piece and stud detail.
The front piece that holds the pistol was also reinforced with foam before being sewn to the main piece with a faux pocket to the front. The waist belt was cut and the ends sewn back into place to the main piece either side. The slightly thinner belt needs to be trimmed to fasten around the thigh.
Will finish it off with weathering/dirt & grime. The pistol was painted and will also be aged.

Weathered clothes and final details (Posted 30th March 2013)

For the makeshift bandages I used scrap pieces of fabric, stained with tea/ weathered with the the various dirt and grime. I weathered the bow and added a scrap piece of burnt fabric to one of the quivers.
The trousers were covered in brown dirt powder/spray/crayons and blood stains and tears were added to the top and trouser leg. More make up will be used on the arms on the day.

Quiver and arrows complete (Posted 18th March 2013)

Completed quiver and arrows, made two small straps with press studs that attach the quiver to the shoulder strap, I can swap between that and the leather holder for the shotgun. Also added some details and metal ring to the shoulder strap.
The clothing has been aged and weather worn, a more detail entry to follow. I will probably hide my tattoo with make up but I think the ponytail will hide it anyway.

Quick make up test (Posted 16th March 2013)

The lighting washes it out a lot but a first try at getting messy :)

Arrow fletching progress (Posted 16th March 2013)

I halved the long turkey feathers, wrapping fine cord around the end of the dowling before gluing three feathers to it, allowing room to grip the end with my fingers. I then use a slightly thicker cord around the base and top end of the feathers before trimming them down. Added some markers with red tape and darkened the ends with the notches already filed in.
Finished adding the cord around the quiver, ready to attach to the shoulder strap.

Arrow and quiver progress (Posted 13th March 2013)

Painted the arrow heads and will be darkening the dowling before adding the turkey feathers I have for the fletching. I used foam covered with suede fabric for the quiver, darkening with fabric spray and stippling with white paint to match the effect in the reference. It will be finished with the cord wrapped around it before connecting it to the shoulder strap via a D ring.

Arrow heads (Posted 10th March 2013)

Used worbla to make the arrow heads, made a paper template first and heat formed the two pieces together with a piece of foam inside around the end of the dowling then wrapped a strip of worbla around the base to secure it. Scratched some detail into it once cooled and its ready for painting.
I've ordered some stripey turkey feathers for the fletching.

Dirt, grime and blood make up (Posted 7th March 2013)

Ingredients to become a survivor! All the stuff I've collected over the months to make a mess with :)

Bamboo bow/arrow progress (Posted 3rd March 2013)

Using a hot air gun I softened and bent seven pieces of garden cane. Making a small groove in the end of the first stick I used a piece of string to keep the curve whilst I added the other sticks to the first, using metal wire to roughly hold them together that was later cut away.
Once all of the pieces had been bent, I used more string to wrap them tightly together at the ends, adding a hand grip in the centre. I cut away the first piece of string I used in the beginning that helped hold the shape, all of the canes were now bent and bunched tight together.
I could now add the final string, making a small knot half way down and adding small grooves in the bamboo near the ends to help hold the loops and keep the string reasonably taut. Dirt and grime will be added later.
I already had cheap dowling arrows, the ends were sawn off as they were a little long to work well with the bow. I plan to add feathers to the dowling and removable arrow heads that will comply with con prop rules.

Walkie talkie/watch (Posted 3rd March 2013)

Found a more accurate watch and a walkie talkie and added some dirt and grime.

Shoulder holster (Posted 16th February 2013)

I used faux leather to make the strap and holster piece that will hold the shotgun - which is a short tube of thick leather covered with the brown fabric. I used a buckle from a utility belt and added stitch detail before weathering everything including the boots. I used sandpaper and leather paint with a dirty down costume crayon rubbed into it to age the fabric.

Clothing - pre weathering (Posted 9th February 2013)

I dyed the top a darker blue than it was and also darkened the edges and straps using blue fabric paint. I found some green denim combats and the tops are adjustable so that they could lay against each other better. Using leather I added the buckle and strap to the back of the boots and found a cheap sports watch.
Now for the fun part - the weathering and aging process!

Make shift axe (Posted 13th December 2012)

Axe detail.

Make shift axe (Posted 9th December 2012)

I removed most of the bark from a small branch, cut away the smaller branches on the ends and made a hole. I used milliput for the nail, connecting the two pieces within the hole of the branch. I used a piece of bandage wrapped into place with cord on the handle, adding some wear and dirt and wrapped strips of thin bark around the nail in the wood.

Pendant complete (Posted 2nd December 2012)

Painted and detail added, attached to a double corded necklace made from scratch using brown plaited cord and lobster clasp.

Contact and ponytail test (Posted 14th November 2012)

Hazel contacts and clip on ponytail, which was trimmed slightly and had some choppy layers cut into it. Luckily my own style is short at the back and long at the front so I can easily pin sections back.

Hazel contact lenses (Posted 14th November 2012)

Went for a subtle hazel colour.

Pendant progress (Posted 11th November 2012)

Using references I created the pendant from milliput, made a silicone mould and used resin as I wanted a semi transparent effect. Will be attached to plaited brown cord.

Necklace and earrings (Posted 24th January 2012)

Two cord necklaces, may attach the pendent at a later date depending on its relevance in the game and two pairs of loop earrings.

Prop torch (Posted 2nd January 2012)

A substitute for when I can't use the lit torch. I gave it a base coat of paint and added some texture with a glue gun, added moss and some cobwebs to age it. I swapped the original fabric flame with organza voile in various colours.