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meanlilkitty — Night Elf Hunter Bow Tutorial
Published: 2011-05-07 04:31:07 +0000 UTC; Views: 13026; Favourites: 292; Downloads: 228
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For any and all who wonder how I do what I do, here you go! I don't see too many people doing bows, I mean, they can be intimidating, but this project was surprisingly simple with very few pickups, so I hope this can be of some help to people. Good luck and keep cosplaying!Related content
Comments: 41
I love this tutorial. I hope to make this for a costume and I have some questions if you are able to answer.
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Shoot me any question you've got
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If someone posed the option of making that bow for a wood elf, what designs would you change? The step with the handle and the leather cording, what is given the varnish; the leather cording or the handle? Do you take commissions?
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Well, I may suggest the feathers be different colors than the purple, either creams, browns, and/or greens, maybe do more leather on the handle maybe using a dark brown and green strap. Oo, maybe have some predator teeth handing from a strap on the handle, and some beading on the string with the feathers on it...
If I remember correctly, I put varnish on the whole bow before I put the linen wraps on, that way there was some interesting coloration next to the leather wrap. And I'm always up for commissions
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Another question I thought of; how long does that bow measure from top to bottom? Any and all measurements you can give me will help. If I can't manage to make this on my own, I may seek a commission with you and discuss pricing and all considering I don't make a lot of money; I'm just a student.
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It's been a while, but I think it's some like 35 inches long, three inches wide at the widest part, and maybe three inches thick. Make sure to put more foam down than you want to have in the end, because you have to carve it all down to be rounded. If you have trouble, I'm always happy to answer more questions or take on a commission. I do offer payment plans to help make things more affordable, I just need a down payment and for the piece to be paid for before I ship. Hope you're having a great day!
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Great. This information will be helpful. I will consider a commission if I can't do it myself. I also had a thought; rather than feathers, im gonna have the top and bottom have moss on it for a wood elf. I know of this spongy foam stuff that can be glued to the bow and look like moss growing from the tips. Also considering to paint the carvings green to make it look like it glows from within.
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Sounds like a great idea! Share the pics with me when you finish
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I certainly will. I have had to put it off for a short time because I've been sick. Once I heal, I will consider starting up again.
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This deserves a Daily Deviantion. This helps sooo much. Now I just need to find the mats! Lol!
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It's been a while, but I think it was about three and a half feet long
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A great tutorial, thank you! But I have one question: is it possible to bend such a bow, so that the string would be tight?
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Actually nowadays I tend to use elastic string that you find in the jewelry section of Joannes so the bow can be drawn back and the string will always be taunt
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I'm afraid, that I won't find such a shop in Russia, but thanks for the advice, for I haven't even thought of such an option!
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woots ! Layers of foam paper oh yes. thank you XD !
I hope i'm able to make the bow for : [link]
I would appreciate XD if you could give me some tips too .
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The tutorial should be very useful to you here. Basically do everything I said in the tutorial, but after you get the shape the way you'd like it after sanding, coat the entire bow with a air dry clay like Dolfie or Paper Clay, let it dry, then sand to smooth. That way you can get that nice solid smoothness that's happening with your bow, and you can use the clay to make that layered portion near the handle. The vines....well you could try making them by hand with more clay or craft foam, silk leaves, etc. Otherwise there's something called "jungle vines" at pet stores that is a brown, moveable fake vine that you could try using or see if there isn't a appropriate silk vine at Michaels or Joannes. You'll have to prune some leaves off and repaint the vine, but it could work.
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ooo thank you ! i showed my brother this.
he was like.. good luck sanding it D8
^ i panic with his statement. lol
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Haha, it won't be that bad, I promise. Wrapping low grit sand paper, something like 80 grit, around a sanding sponge will help. Otherwise if you have access to a power sander, it'll make things go a lot faster.
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i will try my best T^T but one more question.
the .. type of ..the insulation foam that you're talking about is those rough rough type?
will smooth condense foam paper works ? okay.. i not sure what i have on hand .__.
and and ! is it possible if i don't D8 have that wood in between the two foam ?
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[link] This is my recommended foam. It can be a pain to find at Home Depot or Lowes, but you can buy it directly from the website or call in. If you can't find this, you can also use flower-grade styrofoam [link] which you can find at any Michaels or Joannes in small sheets. By ratio it's more expensive than the pink foam, but you have to work with what you can find. Um, I don't think the foam paper will really work, unless you are substituting it for the wood, just use a few layers to make it as strong as possible. You'll have to have something inside the foam no matter what, it help keeps the structure so it doesn't immediately break if you accidentally hit a wall or something.
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what do you call the foam ?
i @_@ don't see them in Singapore. so .. i think i would have difficulty trying to find.
any ideas if i am able to make the bow into 2 parts or something ?
sorry for asking a lot D8
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Its pink insulation foam, but if you can't find it, styrofoam from the silk flower area in any craft store will do. You'll just have to coat it with stone clay when you've sanded the final shape. Let it dry and sand it smooth. Making it come apart is easy, just glue the handle in only one end and make the hole fairly snug on the other end so it'll stay in place when you put it on the dowel. Also use elastic thread fir the bow string so the bow can be strung, but it won't be super hard to take the bow apart
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Thank you ! XD
if .. if i encounter any problems, may i ask you again 
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No problem, you're always welcome to advice
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amazing work! definitely using this concept for my sylvanas bow~
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Omgishness. This is absolutely stunning. I'm sure it's lightweight too with only that foam. Lol to your kitty checking the bow out. But outstanding tutorial! I will also have to save this for future propmaking.
And btw.... XD
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It was very light weight. Barely felt like it was three pounds, I didn't have to put it down at all during the con. Only handed it to my boyfriend for bathroom breaks xD
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I think I'll hold onto this. I'll use it for a Fairy Bow I want to make from Ocarina of Time.
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this is such a cool idea. i may have to use this technique in future prop making
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Jeepers, it looks like real wood! Awesome job!
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I don't think I've seen you do a tutorial before! Gonna have to save this for when I can do propmaking.
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