Astyanax's Makes, Builds and Acquisitions: 2022 & Earlier

[Astyanax]

Hi all:

Having logged my prop collection for 2023 and 2024, there are a handful of early props that got me started and motivated in this hobby.
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Welcome to my prop inventory! The vast majority of these replicas are NOT my own design, so I'll be sure to try to credit where I can! I count 38 prop replicas I've had the chance to work or purchase for the years leading up through 2022. As you can see, I'm still new at this! I hope you enjoy!

In case there's any doubt, THESE PROP REPLICAS ARE NOT FOR SALE.

Please let me know if you find this interesting, and feel free to ask questions, make suggestions, or drive-by with insults!

Here's a view of the entire collection (as of April 2024):

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Sometime in 2016

So the very first prop I can remember acquiring is this Voldemort's Wand from the franchise. I purchased this at Universal Studios Hollywood.



The wand is cast in resin, painted and weathered. Really excellent quality, although I wish it had the slight curvature of Voldemort's wand in the movies!



(I wonder how many of us got started in this hobby thanks to Harry Potter!)

 

[Astyanax]

April 8, 2016

I received this Stormtrooper Stunt Helmet from Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) as part of a full stunt armor kit, from Anovos (now Denuo Novo). I had it in my head I'd like to join the 501st at some point, and never got very far!



The armor is made out of ABS plastic, and came untrimmed (except for the helmet). The helmet came with lens, black rubber trim, and paint all applied, as well as inner plastic straps. Not bad to get started!



I also trimmed and fitted one forearm, which I was very happy with.



(I never did finish the kit--sort of "outgrew" it--but I love the helmet and forearm so much, and they inspired me further to start making!)

 

[Astyanax]

Sometime in 2017

I picked up this Harry's Second Wand from the Harry Potter franchise, from another visit to Universal Studios Hollywood.



The wand is cast in resin, painted and weathered very nicely. The colors are more accurate than what was being offered in The Noble Collection.



(Harry's wand in the first two movies is different, more polished. But from Prisoner of Azkaban onward, this more rustic style became his trademark wand.)

 

[Astyanax]

May 17, 2018

I received these Han Solo Sabacc Dice on Chain from the Star Wars franchise, from a seller on Amazon.



The dice came too shiny, so I weathered them (my first weathering attempt!) with a black acrylic wash. I was happy with the results, and so I got more into making props as a result!




(Yes, the chain is too short to be the ANH or Solo versions, but just right for The Last Jedi version.)

 

[Astyanax]

October 2019

I made this Camp Half-Blood Necklace from the Percy Jackson novels, for my son as a Halloween costume.



Since the necklace is described in the novels, there was some leeway in interpretation. Those are wooden beads on a leather cord, which I hand-painted. I also used a fine Sharpie for some of the thin black lines.



(Came out great for the costume!)

 

[Astyanax]

August 22, 2021

I received this "Youth Jailed" USA Today Newspaper from Back to the Future Part II (1989), from a seller on eBay.



This is a real published USA Today special edition, released on October 15, 2015. It was sponsored by Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's Disease foundation. I'm displaying it in a glass floating photo frame.



(The articles on the front page are hilarious, and nearly perfect to the movie!)

 

[Astyanax]

October 23, 2021

I finished building this Belt Gizmo from Ghostbusters (1984), 3D printed in PLA (filament) from files downloaded on Thingiverse and some found parts.



After 3D printing the parts and assembling them, I sourced calculator nixie tubes, cords, alligator clip, and stickers from various sources online. It was entirely hand-painted.



(I feel it's kind of crude early work, but I love that it's my first 3D-printed hand-made prop, and it looks great in a holster on the costume!)

 

[Astyanax]

June 4, 2022

I finished this Arc Reactor from Iron Man (2010), as a build-your-own kit from one of those online shops in China.



It wasn't too hard to build (3-4 hours), as the individual copper squares "transformers" were already pre-wired. The materials are plastic, acrylic, metal hardware, copper wire, and some LEDs and power connectors.

The stand was 3D printed in PLA from files found on Thingiverse. I painted and weathered it, added some screws, and used it to hide the real power cord. It was my first and last attempt at an elaborate style of stand. I prefer simpler stands these days, so as not to draw too much attention from the prop itself.



(After a couple months on a display shelf, it was at this point I decided to start collecting more!)

 

[Astyanax]

July 2, 2022

I finished this Beskar Ingot from The Mandalorian (TV), purchased from The Saber Armory as raw aluminum and then finished it according to Adam Savage's instructions on Tested.



I followed Adam's instructions the the letter, first soaking the slab in Aluminum Black for about a minute, and then lightly sanding it over a hard and very flat surface in exactly the manner that Adam demonstrated. I then gave it a light gloss clear-coat to add to the shine, and it was done, very easy!



(I was SUPER excited that this came out so well, and adding this to my tiny collection as a starting point made me feel like I was gaining some skills and motivated to do for more! I have also adopted this sanding technique in other projects.)

 

[Astyanax]

July 9-October 23, 2022

I received these various forms of Galactic Currency from the Star Wars franchise, purchased from multiple vendors across the internet.



From left to right, top row:

• Imperial Credits - Cast metal (Hyperspace Props)
• Outer Rim Credits - Cast metal (Hyperspace Props)
• Republic Credit Chips - Yellow acrylic & gold foil (Esty seller)
• Calamari Flan - Cast silicone (Etsy seller)
• New Republic Credits - Cast metal (Hyperspace Props)
• New Republic Credits - Cast metal (Hyperspace Props)
• New Republic Credits - Cast metal (Hyperspace Props)
• New Republic Credits - Cast metal (Hyperspace Props)
• Huttese Wupiupi, Trugut, Peggat - Cast metal (Hyperspace Props)

(I 3D printed a box in resin from a file found on Patreon that I altered some, and show them all together as a single prop display)

 

[Astyanax]

July 18, 2022

I received this Dogtag from X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and Logan (2017). It was included in a pack of cheap plastic toy Wolverine claws I was using for another project. Wow, surprise!



For something that's offered as a toy, that is some nice quality! The tag and chain are stamped metal, and the tag is painted, weathered, and clear-coated in gloss. From an accuracy standpoint, it's close! How did this sneak in under the radar?

 

[Astyanax]

July 26, 2022

I received this Crystal Shard from The Dark Crystal (1982), purchased from RPF user RelicMaker.



I'm suspending the crystal using clear Gundam model-stand parts, and illuminating it from below with a purple LED.

And because I don't want to take it down from my own display, here's RelicMaker's own pic.



In person it looks even better! The glass is flawless.

 

[Astyanax]

August 1, 2022

I received this Continental Hotel Room Key Card from John Wick (2014), from a seller on Etsy.



The card is of excellent quality, and the embedded chip looks quite real.

(I couldn't find any screenshots of the card used in the movie itself, so I have to call it "homage" instead of a real prop replica. I was sure it's a real thing...)

 

[Astyanax]

August 15, 2022

I received these Continental Gold Coins from John Wick (2014), from a seller on Amazon. The brand is "Learplay", I believe.



These are heavy coins that are gold plated. I'd seen many versions, but these appeared to be of higher quality and authenticity.

 

[Astyanax]

August 25, 2022

I converted this bottle into Ratwater Whiskey from Preacher (TV). It's a real, sealed bottle of "Samuel Grant Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey".

originally:

After removing the label, I simply printed and cut out a picture of the Ratwater label I had found online.

Kinda crude and basic, but I was watching Preacher at the time and thought I was clever.



(I left the bottle fully sealed, and so the label on the neck may or may not be accurate. We never see a sealed bottle in the show, but it's attractive, so I kept it! Also, the bottle in the show is plastic, so I consider this all a little upgrade.)

 

[Astyanax]

September 3, 2022

Okay, so I have to confess that this Two-Face Coin, purchased from AliExpress, is NOT a prop replica. At best, it's homage to the DC comics. But I was still starting out my collection, and it looked cool, what can I say!



It's nice heavy solid metal, and is heavily scratched on the reverse.

 

[Astyanax]

September 3, 2022

I received this Blood Oath Marker from John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), purchased from AliExpress. Not the most accurate, but I was on a John Wick kick at the time, and hadn't yet learned to take the time to research more!



It's nice heavy metal; engraved on the front, the back, and the hinged door that opens just far enough. Nicely weathered as well, so I still love it.

 

[Astyanax]

September 3, 2022

I received this Moroccan Blood Oath Marker from John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum (2019), purchased from AliExpress. Again, not the most accurate, but I plead ignorance!



It's nice heavy metal; engraved on the front, the back, and the hinged door that opens just far enough. It's gold plated, shiny, and the color appears to be poured resin.

 

[Astyanax]

September 28, 2022

I received these Blood Test Petri Dishes & Thing from The Thing (1982), purchased from a seller here on the RPF.



The dishes are individually labeled, and appear to have a shallow layer of red resin that has been swished around in them a little. The Thing's, uh, "manifestation" is cast resin.

 

[Astyanax]

September 30, 2022

I received this Spanish Doubloon from The Goonies (1985), purchased from a seller on eBay.



(RECAST ALERT!!! I've just been notified that this is a RelicMaker recast...chasing down a real replica ASAP!)

UPDATE: I have acquired RelicMaker's original!