How to Make a Pumpkin Prop

The method below examines how we went about the task.

There is a full list of materials used, all are available from our website www.modelshop.co.uk

500mm polystyrene sphere (SB91028)
UHU Por Styrofoam adhesive 40g (AP00022)
Retractable craft knife (TK10039)
Sandpaper (60/70 grit) (TA10000)
Foamcoat 500ml (FT03005)

plus an orange emulsion/acrylic paint of your choice.

Glue the two halves of the sphere using UHU Por Styrofoam adhesive.

Draw on the segments of the pumpkin, dividing in half, then quarters, then eighths, then sixteenths.

Flatten the sphere on the top by applying gentle pressure.

Using a craft knife cut grooves into the pumpkin following the drawn lines.

Gently sand the grooves to smooth them using a course sand paper.

Seal the pumpkin using watered down PVA glue (AP00037) , Foam Armour (FT03006) or Rosco foam coat (FT03005).

When dry, sand the surface to smooth out the larger imperfections.

Using a filler fill the joint. When dry sand and then seal.

Apply an undercoat to the pumpkin preferably using an emulsion type paint.

When painted fill any areas that are not smooth then sand, seal and paint.

Apply a coat of Acrylic paint to give solid satin finish.

Using the acrylic orange darkened with a small amount of black paint to use as shading in the grooves.

A shaded pumpkin.

Dress the pumpkin with a stork, leaves and tendrils.