Large-scale props, oversized builds & sculptural pieces
An oversized prop has to do two things at once: read as the thing it's pretending to be from twenty feet away, and survive being carried through a fire door by four people at midnight. Most fail at the second one. We build large-scale props in our Leith workshop for theatre, film, retail windows and brand activations — designed around how they'll be handled, not just how they'll be photographed.
What counts as large-scale
- Giant everyday objects — food, packaging and products blown up to hero size
- Sculptural and character pieces, from carved foam to fabricated shells
- Window and retail centrepieces built to a display schedule
- Photocall and photo-op pieces that still read properly in close-up
- Practical props that move, open, light up or take weight
- Scale models and replicas of vehicles, machinery and architecture
How we build them
Heavy where it has to be, light everywhere else. A large prop usually starts as a timber or steel armature that carries the load, wrapped in foam, ply or panels that carry the shape, then finished so the joins disappear. CNC and laser-cut formers keep curves consistent across a piece; 3D printing handles the fiddly repeated detail that would otherwise take days by hand.
Finishing
- Hard-coating and skinning so foam survives being handled
- Scenic paint, texture and ageing, matched to the lighting it sits under
- Faux finishes — metal, stone, timber, rust, patina
- Vinyl, print and laser-engraved graphics applied in-house
- Integrated LED where the piece needs to glow — see bespoke light fittings and illuminated signage
Moving it, storing it, touring it
We ask three questions early: how does it get out of here, how does it get in there, and where does it live between shows? The answers change the build. Sectional construction, keyed joints, lifting points, dollies and cases are far cheaper designed in at the start than retrofitted in a loading bay.
Timescales and budget
You'll get a costed estimate inside 48 hours of a clear brief. Most hero props run in weeks rather than days. Rush work is possible — we'll tell you honestly what it costs and what it compromises rather than promising a date we'll miss.
Related
Part of our prop making and large-scale fabrication work. See also set design fabrication.
Get a quote
Email enquiries@cobblestonecreative.co.uk with reference images, rough dimensions and your date. Bad sketches are fine — they're usually clearer than a description.