Neil Ellis - Props, Models and Costumes: June 2015

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2 (2009-2010)

Between June 2009 and May 2010, I worked for Pierre Bohanna’s prop manufacturing department on Parts 1 and 2 of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ at Leavesden Studios. I spent my time helping to make a full size pipe organ for Malfoy Manor, making many of the detail parts for the 4/5th scale replica of a Hangrid‘s Royal Enfield motorbike, injection moulding thousands of pieces of treasure for Gringott’s vault and I got to make a wand too.

Hagrid's 2/3 scale motorbike

Malfoy Manor pipe organ

A wand

20,000 rubber goblets

Casino Royale (2006)

In June and July 2006 I worked for Bill Pearson for the first time at Pinewood Studios on ‘Casino Royale’, my first movie. I was making 1/3 scale dressing props for the Venice miniature which was filmed in the paddock tank and 1/12 scale miniatures for the aircraft hanger scene.

1/3rd scale Venice set

1/3 scale dressing

1/12th aircraft hanger set with dressing

32" Millennium Falcon

Whilst working for props on 'Edge of Tomorrow' I built this replica of the 32" Millennium Falcon miniature from The Empire Strikes Back in my spare time. This model was eventually loaned to the 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' art department during my time working for them as a concept model maker. I sold the model to a member of the SFX department.

Work-in-progress photos

Laying the wiring into the aluminium and MDF frame.

Blocking out the structure.

Adding the correct kit parts to the completed styrene structure.

The completed model in primer.

For collectors and just for fun

Having been a member of the RPF since June 2000, I have built, sculpted, moulded, cast, customised and painted many replicas for both collectors or just for fun, including studio scale miniatures, helmets, weapons and statues. Here are a few.

Fibreglass Dredd helmet replica.

Fibreglass Leonidas helmet replica, with real horse hair plume.

Fibreglass Iron Man helmet replica.

Slush cast resin Boba Fett replica

Scratch-built, 38 inch Imperial Star Destroyer replica.

Fibreglass, timber, resin and aluminium R2-D2 replica.

Studio scale Imperial Probe Droid replica.

Full size, fibreglass Han Solo in Carbonite replicas.

MBS-9M 50 Cal. Replica

Just for fun I built a replica of my favourite of the guns designed for Avatar. It was made in mainly from chemiwood and ABS, with a steel and aluminium swivel mount. The ammunition belts were cast in black urethane rubber in moulds taken from my chemiwood patterns. The ammunition box was made from MDF and ABS with aluminium handles. All graphics were drawn up in Adobe Illustrator and produced as dry transfers.

Weapons

During spare time and lunch breaks, when I have had access to a workshop, I have scratch-built various action props, some of my own design and some that are replicas of iconic movie props. Pictured are an assault rifle that I designed and built for my Halo CQB armour project alongside various other full-sized, replica weapons.