Today's post is a flashback to an amazing project we previously missed. Back in March, Remedy's Instagram page shared a breathtaking personal project, which saw CONTROL Resonant's Aberrant recreated in impressive detail. Senior VFX Artist, Walt Reunamo is the creator behind the styrofoam stunner, piecing together the life-size prop in his spare time over several days.
The studio shared two photographs of Aberrant, showing how carefully sculpted and painted the prop is. A perfect screen copy of the weapon in CONTROL Resonant! Accompanying the photographs, the studio writes, "This was Walt's first time making this kind of prop. The Aberrant was made from a big piece of styrofoam and crafted over the course of several days. A fun and messy learning experience according to Walt - who knows, maybe a full Dylan Faden cosplay is in the cards?" Leave it to a VFX Artist to get it right on the first attempt.
Styrofoam is a strong favourite (and at times, a major frustration) for cosplayers when making large or potentially threatening-looking props. Turns out that events and transportation are less than thrilled for people carrying something like a Pyramid Head blade through their gates. Who knew?! The material has some major benefits, including being convention-friendly, versatile, fairly inexpensive* and formable with a heated wire, though it can also be precarious, and a single wrong bend can suddenly ruin hours of work. Fortunately for Dylan, no more chest stabbing.**
Though the main shape is deceiving in its simplicity, the detail between the blade and handle is especially impressive. Especially when paired with the polished and rusted areas of the tool. Though tutorials for weathering (and in this case, de-weathering***) are available online, it can take a few attempts to get right. Given this was their first time making a prop like this, it's really impressive. Plus, it makes a wholesome nerdy story to share online.
*Unless you're purchasing panels to line and winterproof a cat shelter.
*This one time, my Dad woke me up for school with an air horn. Being stabbed in the chest with an Aberrant is first in "Terrible Ways to Wake Up" but the air horn is a close section.
*** Definitely a word.
