Trumpet Prop

While I’m learning about photographic chemistry and shooting a tintype independently , I continue to sculpt and make props and scenes for upcoming tintypes. This miniature trumpet was created by combining turned aluminum and sculpted elements.

I began by roughing out the bell of the trumpet from aluminum stock on my metal lathe.

The finished trumpet bell.

The finished turned aluminum pieces next to the work drawing.

The sculpted elements were added using epoxy clay and resin, after which they were primed using an airbrush.

The primed sculpted bones were then guilded with silver leaf and sealed. I always prefer guilding, as opposed to painting with metallic paint, as nothing reflects light like real metal.

I used my micro drill press to add holes to the underside of the trumpet for the flag rings.

The finished miniature trumpet prop next to the work drawing.

Birdcage Helmet Prop

A collar with a head-surrounding birdcage helmet prop for an upcoming tintype. Resin, epoxy, clay, brass, acrylic, silver leaf. 2024.

The collar began as a section of plumbing pipe, turned on my metal lathe.

After shaping and heat flaring the collar, added resin-casted finger bones and began sculpting in details with epoxy clay. You may note the finger bones have two tiny pins helping hold each piece to the collar.

The birds and all the collar ornament were sculpted by hand with epoxy clay.

The top portion of the birdcage helmet was made from resin copies of a bird’s skull I found and made a mold of. After molding the thin bones, wires were added into the following castings for strength. Further sculpting was done with epoxy clay.

For the bending of the brass upright bars of the cage, a jig was made to ensure the uniformity of the bars.

A second jig was made to align the top portion of the helmet with the lower collar.

The rough fit of the birdcage bars.

The assembled birdcage helmet was primed black using an airbrush before guilding.

The slow work of silver leaf guilding.

The finished birdcage helmet prop for an upcoming tintype. Resin, epoxy, clay, brass, acrylic, silver leaf. 2024.

Bellows Prop

Miniature bellows prop for an upcoming tintype. Wood, leather, turned aluminum, epoxy clay, silver leaf, miniature brass nails. It didn’t need to be functional but I couldn’t help myself. The air intake is through the little primitive skull’s eyes and mouth, which was sculpted and guilded in silver leaf.

The woodwork was made by gluing veneer to basswood, then distressed and weathered.

The bellow’s nozzle was turned on my metal lathe and given a metal patina for aging.

The finished bellows. Miniature brass nails hold the thin leather to the edges of the wooden sections of the bellows.

Rattlescepter Prop

A miniature prop for an upcoming tintype. Is it a baby rattle or a scepter? Perhaps both?

Shaped aluminum, resin, epoxy clay, silver leaf, rattlesnake’s tail.

Shaping the top aluminum part on the metal lathe.

Using the metal lathe’s steady rest to help shape the thin aluminum staff portion of the scepter.

The main shape of the end staff ornament was formed on the metal lathe, while the rest of the geometry was filed by hand.

The finished end staff ornament.

The finished miniature baby rattle scepter.