Appreciation post: Found a perfect prop at a yard sale for a dollar

I was driving around my neighborhood last Saturday and saw a yard sale sign. I almost didn't stop, but I'm glad I did. I found this old, weird looking brass lamp base. It was dusty and had a chip in it, but I saw it and immediately thought 'that's the exact shape for the communicator device from my favorite sci-fi show.' The lady running the sale just wanted a dollar for it. I took it home, cleaned it up, and spray painted it with some metallic silver paint I had left over from another project. I glued on some buttons made from bottle caps and now it looks spot on. It's crazy how something someone else sees as junk can be the perfect piece for a costume. What's the best random find you've ever turned into a cosplay prop?

2 comments

2 Comments

lisak1420d ago

My buddy Dave found a broken vacuum cleaner hose at a dumpster behind his apartment. It was that old, ribbed kind. He cut a piece off, painted it black, and strapped it to his arm with some belts. It looked exactly like a space marine's power fist tubing from that game he loves. He spent maybe two bucks on spray paint and the rest was trash. The costume won a small prize at a local con, which was hilarious. He still has it in his closet.

the_ray20d ago

Man, that reminds me of the time I found a busted plastic salad bowl at a thrift store. It was this awful pea green color, but the shape was just right. I cut a hole in the bottom, glued in some cheap bike light lenses, and strapped it to my chest with bungee cords. It became the main power unit for a really janky robot costume. The whole thing cost less than a fast food meal and people at the party loved it. There's something special about building from pure junk.