1 / 9
rpf-iron-man-armor
Summer movie season kicks off this weekend with the release of Iron Man 3, the perfect inspiration to build your own suit of power armor and recreate iconic superhero scenes.
If that sounds crazy, it's only because you haven't spent enough time at the Replica Prop Forum, aka The RPF, where makers transform foam mats, styrene sheets, and their passion for pop culture into miniature Millennium Falcons, oversized Autobots, and other box office bling.
The RPF began in 1995 when teenage prop maker Brandon Alinger was looking to talk shop with like-minded, crafty cinephiles. Inspired by Star Wars and the creative ways George Lucas turned everyday items into movie magic (e.g. using an old time camera flash as a light saber handle), Alinger wanted to make it easier for enthusiasts to find the parts to create their own props. He got busy coding and the site was born.
Today, the RPF hosts thousands of projects in its galleries and message boards. Some threads are just fans admiring new props and potential projects from movie trailers. Others feature experienced builders discussing the proper way to tailor Captain Picard's maroon uniform for a snug fit, and the hidden jewels of the site are conversations between pro prop makers and the fans paying homage to their work.
"For decades, the staple of the community was just a few franchises; Star Wars, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Aliens, etc.," says Art Andrews Jr, the owner of the site since 2009. "Fans were fiercely loyal to those franchises, building any and every prop and costume seen in them, no matter how insignificant and tiny."
Andrews notes that the dedication to a small group of movies and shows is beginning to change. More videogame-related projects have been popping up. The flow of projects has also become more fashionable — a huge spike of projects will coincide with the release of a new movie or game, but quickly change when a shiny new show or movie appears.
Andrews is thrilled to see a balancing of demographics as well. "This has been extremely exciting as female fans bring a new interests, approaches and projects that we would have been unlikely to see without them," he says.
Making copies of Star Trek costumes might sound a tad geeky, but Andrews is quick to dispel the stereotype that the members of his site are geeks living with their parents. The RPF counts doctors, lawyers, and even a Mythbuster among its members. "The single, unifying element that is seen in our membership is a passion for and appreciation of the powerful creative forces behind the art in movies, tv, video games and comics," says Andrews. "We have never stopped loving the things that thrilled and amazed us as children and those things continue to inspire and drive us as adults."
For many, sharing their fanboy designs serves as a stepping stone to the professional end of the market. An RPF member named Tom Spina had a passion for making Star Wars props, especially ones from the iconic cantina scene. He built up a side business selling his creations to clients who wanted their own memento from Mos Eisley. One day Volkswagon showed up and asked him to recreate the iconic hive of scum and villainy for their SuperBowl commercial.
Two other members teamed up and created a studio called Anovos and their work became so popular that they ended up buying licenses to Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek which allowed them to sell officially sanctioned props.
While the commercial rewards are nice, Andrews says it is not the primary reason people join the community. "Many of our members create props as a physical manifestation and reminder of the stories and characters that fire their imagination," he says. "Others create and collect them because of their appreciation for the artistry and creative talent behind those pieces or create because of the burning creative spirit within themselves. The thrill of the hunt and the challenge of it all is quite addictive and rewarding."
above
