Cosplay Prop - Riddler's Cane Construction

Cosplay Prop - Riddler's Cane Construction (from Batman - Arkham City game).

Finished prop - [link]

I built this for to go with her Riddler costume. Photos of the finished cosplay are on her profile.

Because of all the downloads I've had of the finished prop photo I thought I'd upload this construction "how to".
I hope it helps anyone who wants to make their own cane.

Please leave me a comment with a link to your cane if you make one from these instructions.

If you have any questions about the construction please ask, I'm sure I've left something out!

Please be careful, tools can be dangerous. I am not responsible for any accidents you may have, such as drilling a part of your own body! (Get someone who is familiar with construction tools to help you if you need to).


Materials:
23 inches of 1 inch diameter broom stick
29 inches of 1x1 inch softwood
9 inches of 5/8ths inch diameter wooden rod
1 inch length of 1 inch diameter plastic tubing
4 timber nails 2 inches long
5 wooden dowels 2 inches long
1 side of a cardboard cereal box
End piece for the cane (I used a diamond-shaped curtain pole end from Homebase)
Black, green, silver, gold and brown acrylic paint
Acrylic paint varnish
Strong glue (such as No More Nails)
General purpose glue.


Tools:
Hammer
Wood saw
Mitre box
Sandpaper (use to get rid of any rough edges)
Electric drill
Workbench with clamps.
Scissors/scalpel


Construction:
Let me start by saying I had to make do with the tools I had at hand. I would have liked to lathe the handle in one piece (rather than five) for strength. Also the drilling would have been easier and more accurate (and safer!) with a pillar bench drill rather than an electric drill.

1. Cut the wood, use the mitre box to get straight cuts and the 45 degree cuts that you will need on the question mark pieces.

Cut 2 lengths of the broom handle.
One 14 inches long for the bottom of the shaft - This is piece B1.
One 9 inches long for the top of the shaft - This is piece B2.

Cut 3 lengths of the 5/8ths inch wooden rod.
One 2 inches long for the end of the shaft - This is piece R1.
One 5 inches long for the handle - This is piece R2.
One 2 inches long for the top of the shaft - This is piece R3.

Cut 6 lengths of the 1x1 inch softwood.
One 3 inches long on it's longest edge with a straight cut at the bottom and a 45 degree cut at the top - This is piece (Q1).
Two 7 inches long on their longest edges with 45 degree cuts at each end. The cuts must be facing away from each other - These are pieces (Q2 and Q3).
One 5 inches long along both edges with 45 degree cuts at each end. The cuts must be parallel to each other - This is piece (Q4).
One 5 inches long on it's longest edge with a straight cut at the bottom and a 45 degree cut at the top - This is piece (Q5).
One 1x1x1.5 inchs for the point of the question mark - This is piece (Q6).

Glue pieces Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5 together with the strong glue.
Glue the plastic tubing, piece PT, over the end of piece B1.
Drill a hole through the long side of piece Q6. Push piece R3 through so that it goes all the way to the bottom with about an inch sticking out of the top. Glue this also.
Drill a hole in the bottom of piece R1 and glue the end piece in it.
Leave overnight to dry.
Carefully hammer a nail into pieces Q1 and Q2, Q2 and Q3, Q3 and Q4, Q4 and Q5 where shown.

2. Fix all the pieces together with the wooden dowels.

Drill a hole in the top of piece R1 and the bottom of piece B1. Fix together with a wooden dowel and strong glue.
Drill a hole in the top of piece B1 and the bottom of piece R2. Fix together with a wooden dowel and strong glue.
Drill a hole in the top of piece R2 and the bottom of piece B2. Fix together with a wooden dowel and strong glue.
Drill a hole in the top of piece B2 and the bottom of piece R3 (which now includes piece Q6). Fix together with a wooden dowel and strong glue.
Drill a hole in the top of piece R3 and the bottom of piece Q5. Fix together with a wooden dowel and strong glue.
Leave overnight to dry.

3. Glue the cardboard "metal edges" on.

Cut thin strips of the cardboard to go around the edge of the question mark and glue on with the general purpose glue.
Cut a square shape with the center cut out to go on the question mark's point.
Don't forget to do both sides of the cane!


Painting: It may be easier to paint the handle after the rest of the cane is dry so you have a way of holding it!

4. Undercoat the cane in black. Leave to dry. Paint over the wooden rod pieces and the cardboard edging in silver as shown.

5. Paint all the black undercoated parts with your green paint. It doesn't matter if the coverage is patchy as this will add to the weathered effect. Paint a black spiral line on the silver rod parts then paint a thin gold line inside the black. Leave to dry.

6. Now to give the cane a weathered look. Thin some black paint with water and dab/brush randomly over the whole cane. Do the same with the brown paint but be more sparing with it. Put it only in the ridges or anywhere you want to suggest rust.

Give the cane at least a day to dry properly and then give it a few coats of varnish to protect the paint.