The Making of Noctis' Sword - Final Fantasy XIII

Another time-lapse video of a prop project. I hope you can follow it. (I had to jump-cut here and there since it's nearly impossible to squeeze 20 hours worth of video into under ten minutes and still have it come out looking coherent.)

My design for the sword is based on a variety of official and fan-made reference pictures. Since no two pictures of the sword seemed to be alike, I had to muddle through as best I could. I printed out my pattern to what I felt were the best length and proportions.

I used foamcore board, posterboard and PVC pipe for the core. I coated the outside with .020" styrene plastic. I also vacuum-formed part of the section at the top of the sword using a home-made machine. (You can build one yourself using the same instructions I did. Unfortunately, Youtube shreds the tutorial URL whenever I try to copy/paste it so you'll just have to search for it yourself on www.instructables.com)

You can find my online cosplay webpage here: http://www.amethyst-angel.com/cosplay.html
Here is my prop and armormaking blog: http://proplady.livejournal.com/
My DeviantArt page: http://amethystarmor.deviantart.com/
And for good measure, my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/amethystscloset

Thanks for looking!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• final
• fantasy
• noctis
• xiii
• prop
• sword
• armor
• costuming
• soatume
• arts
• crafts
• cosplay
• anime
• video
• games

[meechemad]

Amazing work i dont know how you did it I'm working on a dagger right now made with a cardboard core and the styrene is not sticking when i try to layer the styrenes. I must be doing something wrong i was thinking about adding a layer of craft foam sheet and see if that will work but not sure what do you suggested?

[theproplady]

@meechemad Which glue are you using? (I'm assuming hotglue.) Certain hotglues might not stick as well as others. All purpose hotglues seem to do well. You'll have to experiment and see what works.

[luckydude424]

Your sword is so amazing!!!!!

may i ask what the length of it is?

Thanks =D

[theproplady]

@luckydude424 It's about 45" long. I made the pattern by blowing up a picture of the sword in Photoshop and making it 45" long before printing it out.

[FlamedIdea]

wow so awesome! can i ask if a foam board is a sort of styro coated with board or paper? is that what you used?, also is the white materila you used a rubber sheet? or just cardboard? thanks!!!

[stuart666young]

So much respect for that, so much

[harute1061]

HOLY CRAP, dude can you make me one? seriously, if you sell these anywhere I want to know.

[FlamedIdea]

hi can i ask is that foam board or styrene you were cutting in 0:30?

or is rubber sheet ok??

thanks a lot.l im trying to make this also! ^^

[SKETCHYGINGER48]

My thoughts went from meh to sucky to ok to amazing

[RoniD1000]

Amazing! 

[meechemad]

@theproplady lol nvm i figured out what i did wrong i feel dumb because of it T_T

[FlamedIdea]

do you have any videos for making squalls gunblade? even a time lapse will surely help ^_^

cheers~!

[KrayolaKayy]

how much did this cost you?