For many people, even within the theatre industry, prop making is
something of a 'dark art', practised by gifted individuals who manage to
produce intricate works battling against short deadlines. However, the
skills of prop making are relevant to many industries and contexts,
whether for art projects, carnival floats, live action role-play (LARP),
model railways or film and television. The options and applications are
endless, but the traditional skills remain the same. The Prop Maker's
Workshop Manual is a definitive guide to the materials and practices
used within the professional performing arts industries, covering both
traditional techniques and modern practices. Supported by original
hand-drawn illustrations and over 300 colour photographs, topics covered
include: paper mache and card construction; flexible canes and withies;
timber and steel frameworks; sculpting, moulding and casting processes;
texture and paint techniques; GRP and epoxy resins; thermoformable
plastics, including Plastazote and Wonderflex and finally, an
introduction to life casting.