Prop help

[Xel]

So, I'm cosplaying as Laxus from Fairy Tail for anime expo this year, and I was thinking of making a lightning based prop, but I have no idea where to even start

any ideas? No weapons of any kind allowed

[Rainbow Crash]

The oldest yet easiest trick in the book of cosplay props son...

Tin foil + paper machete.. You can find a paper machete recipe online, but use tin foil bunch it up/flatten it and get it into the shape you want (aka lightening bolt). You can make it however long you want (or can afford to tinfoil) and so it's really a good option. So you get it to the desired shape, at least a few inches thick so that it'll be sturdy when you put machete on it and the machete will make it even sturdier. When you're done just paint it and maybe add detail.

If you need help just let me know and I'll tinfoil and machete with you :3 I can make a heart or something, already made a snake, giant gorilla hand, and a few mask >.>

-Source
Took a class on stage craft (aka building sets and props, and stage management class)
Worked at an anime con long enough.

[Xel]

is the paper machete mallable at all? One thing I was thinking was getting two long strands and wrapping them around my arms, then being able to actually move my arms

[Rainbow Crash]

I ment to say mache*

Anyways, paper mache looks like this: http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/20...SinnedWolf.jpg

It's slightly durable but to mount it to your arm you'd probably need plaster and plaster tape or something to just tie it with... :/

[Albear]

I'd look into craft foam. But paper mache like blueangel said would work too.

[GameGeeks]

You could take some rather stiff wire, cover it in a fabric with the texture you want. Would grant you flexibility but sacrifice being sturdy. Or combine that and the other two and and use the wire as a sort of joint. Though I'd recommend the foam over the mache. Though foam is much harder to sculpt and get looking nice. A pick of what you want would help generate ideas.

[Xel]

The wire option seems pretty solid for what I need, though I would need lots of back up wire and fabric. I am well acquainted with how badly wire keeps shape after being bent a few times

I could also use the mache to create a "glove" like item with lightning like protrusions

Those two seem like my best options, thanks all around

[Albear]

Remember to cover up the wire if you use it! Protrusions for your lightning is important, but so is not harming people around you by accident. People seem to ignore this rule by putting up alot of spikes and whatnot around their cosplay.

[dawm123]

Less able to understand you need the props.But perhaps you can go to smalltao.com look around.