Topic: Handmade 8-bit Legend of Zelda weapons and accessories

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Updated: 5/28/11 with Link's 8 bit "wooden sword".

Besides customizing and repairing video game systems, I also frequently build crazy things... So for a special upcoming live action Legend of Zelda tribute Youtube video, I decided to be the props guy

I'm basically making "real world" interpretations based off what the items looked like both in game and also in the manual/general artwork. To get my mind wrapped around the designs I'm first making several of the items in their pixel per pixel "8-bit" versions first too.

So, I thought I'd upload some progress shots and see what people think...

(Please bear in mind that all of these items are from the original "The Legend of Zelda" and none of the later titles.)

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Weighing in at 6 1/2 pounds of wood and metal...my first prop was Link's shield:

I looked at a LOT of images that I found online, in the old manual, on the map, in the hints and strategies guide, and more to try and come up with what a real life version of the shield would look like. I decided that given Link's background, other equipment, and what the items eventually became in later Zelda games, to make the shield from wood with metal reinforcements. I kept finding images where the front of the shield was reflective...which had to mean metal, and the shield was always brown and later became the "wooden" shield, thus the wood. I especially liked an image where you could see a small amount of detail, like metal rivets around the front edges, so I decided to build it with these thoughts in mind.

I'm also trying to make all these items for as little money as possible, so I used all scrap materials for the shield.

I started out with a sheet of scrap chipboard and drew out the basics:

After cutting out the basic shape, I added some aluminum flashing to represent the metal reinforcement. Furniture tacks became the "metal rivets" I wanted to represent, and in reality they're both functional and aesthetic.

Then I carefully drew and masked out the cross with newspaper and painters tape. (Only later did I step back and decide I should have made the cross slightly higher on the shield, sigh)

Unwrapping the newspaper to see the results:

Painting the wood brown was the final major step:

Here's a shot showing the two main art samples I ended up basing my design off, and my final result:

(Not shown here) The enarmes are two leather straps, held to the shield using some short screws.

And that's the shield! More to come soon!

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I did a few 8-bit props next. For some reason, having a "full sized" version to hold in my hands helps me wrap my brain around how I want to create my own versions.

So, here we have the 8 bit Wooden Sword!

I started out by drawing the basic outline of the sword onto a square of scrap plywood:

Using a jigsaw, I cut out the outline, and the sword started to take shape:

After it was cut out, I sanded everything down to get a nice smooth finish:

For the heck of it, I decided to go ahead and prime it. Here it is drying out in the sun:0

After the primer was dry, I masked off the hilt and painted the "blade":

I then drew the segments on the grip:

Then it was time for lots of masking and painting:

Then it was ready for action!

I never realized how fat the grip was until trying to make a scale model. I had to base the whole size of the sword off what width dimension worked for actually holding in my hand. The entire sword is 16 inches long, with the blade being 11 inches.

And that's the 8 bit Wooden Sword

Thanks for looking, and more to come soon!