No Batman Halloween costume is complete without a grappling gun and hook. Parker put together this video to teach how to make this easy prop. You will need a fake plastic gun, two mini DVDs, cardboard, scissors, miscellaneous hardware, two checkers, duct tape, spray paint, and ...more
Portal, the popular game from Valve, has been critically acclaimed since its release in 2007. Its unique gameplay and humorous storyline is the reason for its popularity amongst nerds everywhere. This has also spawned a large community in cosplay and prop design. The most popu ...more
You may or may not have heard the term "greebles" or "kit-bashing" before, but if not, they may sound like nonsense. Particularly 'greebles', which sounds more like the name of a small, gremlin-like creature. However, I assure you that they are very important in prop-making, a ...more
It's funny how unevenly the real world keeps pace with science fiction. Smartphones have capabilities that Gene Roddenberry never imagine a portable device could have, but guns still use tiny powder cartridges to launch hunks of metal at things. The phasers, ray guns, and blas ...more
Superman and the X-Men all had really cool superpowers that were the basis for their superhero status. Batman, on the other hand, had no superpowers other than a genius intellect and a prizefighter's physique. When he wanted to fly, he had to use a grappling gun he made himsel ...more
One of the many reasons for the Fallout series enduring popularity is the wide variety of creative and retro-futuristic weapons available for the player to lay waste with. Most of them are not real, but by gumption this girl has made one of them so! This video will show you ho ...more
If you're making films on your own, good on you. Do you ever find yourself without the money or means to get the props that you need? Every day most likely. This video is here to both inspire and provide practical aide. It describes the construction of a really cool sci-fi gun ...more
One of the long-standing problems of guerilla and indie filmmakers is the quest for exactly what kind of prop gun to use in their films. To help guide you through this quest, Mat Nastos takes a look at all of the options open to filmmakers, including blank firing guns, Airsoft ...more
Check out this video from Chemical Reaction Tutorials (CRTutorials). If you love filmmaking, prop making, editing and everything else that goes along with making movies, then you'll want to see what Adam has to say about laser guns. Adam explains how to build a laser gun prop ...more
Feeling a bit like Bonnie or Clyde, without the reckless disregard for human life? This mini machine gun is a great prop for Halloween or a homemade action movie. You will need a joystick, pipe, cardboard, a small box, PVC pipe, a cylindrical box, a hot glue gun, a sharp knife ...more
The FN P90. Everybody wants one, but more than likely, you can't get your hands on one, especially if it's illegal in your area. Designed by FN Herstal back in the 80's, the P90 personal defense weapon is the cream of the crop. It's full name, Project 90, specifies a weapon sy ...more
If you're looking to give your Mafia movie a real, authentic, look, but don't have a ton of cash check out this great Indy Mogul Backyard FX video to learn how to build a Tommy Gun. It may not fire bullets, but this fifty dollar prop packs some real punch.
First of all, feel free to disregard the first 2:05 of this video, it is not a how-to but behind-the-scenes footage of this guy's short film. After 2:05, however, you will get a great tutorial on how to make a set of prop Wolverine claw quickly, easily, and cheaply. They are m ...more
Skulls. What spooky Halloween décor or staging of Hamlet is complete without a skull or two popping up? For ghoulish special effect and/or setting a dramatic scene, skulls are absolutely integral. Well, with some artistry, hardware supplies, and a good dose of patience, you ca ...more
Turning your abode into a haunted house of horror for Halloween takes a lot of time and work. Finding ways to build props on your own can save you some money that's better spent elsewhere. If you're looking to add some flare to your household decorations, try out this DIY bur ...more
Indy Mogul shows you how to build retro ray gun prop for your next sci-fi epic!
As I said in this earlier post, there's no easy way to explain or define the Steampunk aesthetic. There are a large number of Steampunk tropes or "cues", as I call them, that bring to mind the feeling of Steampunk. These cues combine to push past the "not-Steampunk" threshold ...more
We see Steampunk props all the time and wonder where the maker found all their pieces. In fact, for some people it's almost like a game to examine each prop and see if they can name all of the original parts. However, for a newcomer (or a novice at prop-making), it may be rea ...more
As if Captain America: The First Avenger wasn't awesome enough, Marvel hit us with Captain America: The Winter Soldier this year, and it was even more spectacular than its predecessor. Grossing nearly $260 million in domestic sales, it's safe to say America loves Captain Ameri ...more
There was recently a case that came to national attention where a gentleman was arrested at an airport for having a watch that looked like a bomb, among other things. As it came out, the watch was, in fact, not a bomb, and the man was just an artist who was probably trying to ...more
Say whatever you want, but Steampunk is primarily a maker culture. Consider that Steampunk has existed since the 1960s and yet more or less languished in obscurity until approximately 2005, which is when it made the leap to costuming. That costuming was what provided the leap ...more
I know, "Steamdown" conjures images of a hoedown, but "Steampunk prop breakdown" is a bit of a mouthful, I thought. Anyway, I'm going to show you how I made my very first Steampunk prop! It doesn't require any tools at all, just some glue and some parts from the hardware stor ...more
Using guns in your independent films is risky business, and expensive to boot. Since you probably don't need to actually shoot anything, you can probably get by with a replica prop gun. If you're gonna do that, why not make it yourself? This video will show you how to make a r ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to build your own prop shotgun. To make this, you will need: one 2x6 that is 2 feet long, one 1x3 eight inches long, two 8" diameter PVC piping 2 feet long, two one inch PVC end caps, picture hangers, assorted nuts, bolts, and crews. First, draw ...more
The Ancient Paper shows you how to make a paper Colt 1911 slide mechanism for his paper gun. Check out his Colt 1911 paper gun. His cool replica Colt paper gun is easy to figure out, but to get it working, this video will help you through the difficult task of the slide mechan ...more
(S.E.P) ShootingEggs Productions shows you how to make a magic coin like David Blaine to be used as currency! We show you how. You need a jeweler's saw, a vice, small rubber bands and a coin of your choice. This coin can be used for the coin bite trick or the coin in the bottl ...more
Flash paper is used by magicians however it is very expensive to buy, here's how to make it the easy way! This is a perfect prop DIY for making magical paper that ignites easily. Normally you need sulphiric acid. This uses toilet paper, a crushed emergency flare and a camping ...more
Using guns in low-budget films is tough. You probably can't afford a real gun or a replica can you? Especially for more specialized guns. Fortunately, this video has the solution. It will show you how to make a really realistic sawed-off shotgun prop for cheap. You will need s ...more
The human body is full of different kinds of fluids, most of which are either gross or dangerous to remove from a person for use in one of your films. Fortunately, most of them are pretty easy to replicate using household materials. This video will show you how to make edible ...more
How to inflate soap bubbles using helium and pressurized air: inexpensive and easy to do.
Grace Bonney shows us an easy way to create an upholstered headboard for your bed. Using a low-end easy budget, you will be able to create a elegant looking headboard using wood, foam, batting, fabric, scissors, a utility knife, a staple gun, and flush mounts. After cutting ou ...more
Create your own head turning magic by creating the easy to make paper toy in this how-to video. Make two paper dunce caps, cut out face holes, and stick the prop onto an assistant for this trick. Spinning the paper hats around creates a creepy illusion that the assistant's hea ...more
Need some cool sound effects for your next film? Kipkay's got an idea… the "Rumble Pipe". This noisemaking pipe creates a rumbling sound perfect for any drone SFX. Try it out. It's just a little sounds effects gizmo. Cheap and easy! Materials: * 2" SCH 40 PVC * Hacksaw * Rul ...more
Most of the guns that people make out of Legos or Knex are pistols. Small, easy to build, low maintenance. Those are all fine qualities. But if you want a powerful, destructive Lego gun that will blow all others out of the water, check this video out. It features step-by-step ...more
What more to say? It's a light saber! You will need need 1 1/4 inch PVC pipe, a dremel, a drill, a hot glue gun, a riveter, some rivets, a 12 inch metal pipe, a brass nut, a beveled rubber washer, a one inch thumb screw, a rubber door sealer and some hardware. Construct a real ...more
If you're in the mood to make a horror movie, complete with creepy creatures and all, then you could make your dreams come true. Just check out this video tutorial on how to make a creature puppet that bites and wags when held. You can make this mechanism using string, craft w ...more
This is an easy and fun project that will add a little light to any night time celebration. Take a few LEDs in any color you want, some basic electronics gear and a hot glue gun. This will be more vibrant than any glowstick you can find in the store, and will last much longer
Sure, you can buy one, but making an Advent calendar is a nice family project—and you can use better treats! You will need: a large piece of cardboard or poster board 24 small containers such as cardboard boxes and envelopes art supplies to decorate your calender (markers, pa ...more
This is a really easy arts and craft project that's a great way for the whole family to get together. Because this craft project calls for the use of a glue gun, kids should only do this project along with their parents. You'll use items you already have around your house, and ...more
Custom picture frames can be a fun and thoughtful way to display pictures in your home, but they can also cost a lot of money. Here's how you can create unique picture frames without spending a lot. What You Need Picture frame (The frame should be larger than the photo, as y ...more
Introduction Halo: Reach is Bungie's latest and final addition to the franchise. Microsoft has claimed the title and from now on 343 Industries will be working on the Halo franchise. In my opinion, Bungie's last game is the best out of all of them. These are some tactics and ...more
Learn how to make a simple and easy paper gun that fires paper bullets. To make this paper gun, just watch the video. Grab some paper, tape, and some scissors and get to folding and cutting a cool paper handgun that shoots paper! See how to make the paper bullets, too.
Adam from Chemical Reaction wants to show you a little movie magic. This video tutorial will show you how to fake shooting a person with a gun for your homemade film. If you really want to make it look real, get the most real prop gun you can get, but don't use a real handgun. ...more
Every day of the week, WonderHowTo curators are hard at work, scouring the web for the greatest and most inspiring how-to videos. Every Friday, we'll highlight our favorite finds. Farm achievements in Halo: Reach Can't wait for Halo: Reach to come out next week? We've got an ...more
This video begins by showing the necessary tools needed to make a prop tommy gun out of a cardboard base. The first step is to trace a simple handle shape on the cardboard and repeat eight more times until you have eight exact copies of the handle. Then using an image of a tom ...more
Don't spend the money or suffer the embarrassment of going out to buy adult diapers. Prop diapers are easy to make using just a towel or some white trash bags. Watch this video costume design tutorial and learn how to make a folded prop towel or trash bag adult diaper. Make a ...more
An easy to do prop trick that you can do at any bar. Use this trick for free drinks or just a laugh as the toothpick comes out just fine after they break it.
You can use this easy glitch to get unlimited ammo for your Gatling gun/death machine gun in Call of Duty: Black Ops. Make sure a teammate revives you in a particular way, and then avoid getting any more powerups for your gun.
Want to do something cool for Halloween or your next horror flick? Learn how to make fake blood splatter just like the professionals. Here is a cheap and easy way to make gun shots look real. Make blood splatter effects. Click through to watch this video on tricklife.com
Texas based photographer Adam Voorhes takes four objects (telephone, frog, gun, etch-a-sketch) and dissects them for his photo essay entitled Exploded. The frog in particular looks like an illustration, but is indeed a photograph. Voorhes explains his process (via It's Nice T ...more
This video teaches you how to make a paper gun sniper rifle. You'll be amazed how quick and easy it is to make a proper paper gun that shoots just like a sniper rifle. This video is perfect for anyone looking to have fun with some paper guns. Make sure you reuse, reduce, and r ...more
Learn to make this easy mini paper Uzi gun for gaming with your friends! Supplies: Scissors, Scotch tape (Note: DO NOT USE MASKING TAPE OR DUCT TAPE; IT WILL NOT TURN OUT WELL), lots of paper. 1. Take one piece of paper and roll it up from top to bottom to make a short tube. T ...more
In this DIY guide from the folks at the eReplacementParts, we learn how to disassemble a Porter 4630 cable drywall gun and replace the armature. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview of the technique in about two minutes. For all of the de ...more
This do it yourself video demo shows how to create a scarecrow prop with wearable mask. With Batman bigger than ever, any of the characters from the movies are sure to be a hit costume. This scarecrow costume mask is easy to make, and can be used as just a Halloween prop decor ...more
This is a tutorial on Halloween costumes prop construction. Follow these easy Star Trek Phaser construction directions. Spocks costume needs a phaser. The phaser laser beam is simulated by a pen flashlight.
The ATG gun is an essential tool for scrapbooking projects. The adhesive is strong, and it's easy to apply. Loading more adhesive tape into the ATG gun can be complicated. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to load an ATG double-sided tape gun.
If you're looking to shoot a hideous looking creature that has no where to run, this achievement tutorial is just what you need! In the post-apocalyptic video game, Metro 2033, you can get a sweet 30 gamer points by making sure you shoot a bunch of creatures known as Nosalises ...more
Making an AK-47 gun out of paper is quite easy as shown in this video. You will need: scissors, tape and pieces of paper. ; Make four tubes by rolling each piece of paper and taping them beside each other. ; Take another piece of paper, roll it and tape it including the end si ...more
To keep a paintball gun in top shape, it's important to perform routine maintenance. An easy way to check for broken parts or things that need repair is by taking the gun apart. This video tutorial shows the process of disassembling and performing maintenance on an Angel A1 pa ...more
ARGs have taken the concept of video games to some odd and wonderful real-world places. Socks, Inc. might not be the first ARG, and LittleBigPlanet might have defined the sock-puppet-based game archetype, but it is the first game to combine ARG and sock puppet elements into on ...more