Easy Hollow Horns

Our other instructable for hollow horns was very wordy.  So here's a different and easy method using Crayola Model Magic.  Although there are eleven steps, there is not much reading :-)

Cost: about $25.

This method results in horns that are just as light, but definitely not as strong as the ones in our previous 'able.  Painting these horns with foam glue, or a mix of foam glue and PVA glue, will make them a little stronger.  Keep them short; no longer than these.  If you want long horns with more than one curl, try our other instructable.  

We make our horns hollow all the way through, because we like messing about with installing lights into them.  Happy Halloween!

Step 1: Supplies

Crayola Model Magic - any colour.  Or mix colours for a marbled effect.  One 4oz bag makes one horn.
Twisted plant support (it's hollow).
Cheap plastic packaging tape.
Cooking/Baking paper.
Rolling pin.
a few small rubber bands.
a long piece of elastic, about 1cm or just under 1/2 an inch wide.
Foam glue.
Wirecutters or a hacksaw.

Comments

[KDS4444]

Maybe you should consider adding a step called "Removing the cores" which would come before this final stage. You only state that you removed the support cores by "twisting carefully." Is it really that simple? How many times have you done this and has it ever gone wrong or have the horns ever come apart while removing the cores? Are the cores reusable? Etc.

[IndyParrothead]

It looks like all of your horns twist the same direction, it seems like if you flipped the core wire piece before beginning you could get a pair that curled together in front...if that makes any sense at all :P

[Dimensionz]

Yes, they do all twist in the same direction unfortunately. Flip the core wire piece any way you like, and they still face in the same direction :( I'm sure there's some mathematical principle involved here that I don't understand!
The only way to create the illusion of them going in different directions is to cut the second piece so that the upper point ends up facing in the opposite direction to the first piece. That is, if the tip of the first piece is facing to the right, the tip of the second piece has to be facing to the left - and vice versa. It's one of those things that has to be done for real - you just can't picture it accurately in your head. Or maybe it's just me that can't picture it accurately :P

[Dimensionz]

Never having used model magic before, I sealed the horns before painting. I didn't know if the paint was going to (a) stick properly to the surface of the model magic, or (b) react in a bad way with the model magic (e.g. soften it, fall off it, etc). I guess I was being over-careful. Basically I sealed, painted, and sealed again over the paint.

[co-op]

is it suggested that you paint before or after sealing? i would think it's before, but i'd rather check first

[Lissote]

By plant support, what gauge wire do you mean? As thick as a coat hanger, maybe?

[Lissote]

Oh, I see from your other tutorial that they're pretty huge.

[Dimensionz]

yes, they're about 1cm or 5/8 of an inch thick. But they're hollow, and not too hard to cut. I found that a decent pair of wirecutters cut through them quite easily.

[scoochmaroo]

Stop changing your pictures! :D
The one with them on your head, or the last one on the last step make the most intriguing intro pictures (meaning more people will want to click on it!)

[Dimensionz]

OK! You're the boss.

[sn0manX]

how hard is it when it drys?

[Dimensionz]

Once dry, it feels like a cross between rubber and marshmallow - very very light, and a little springy. It doesn't seem to be super strong - but maybe I rolled it out too thinly. TBH this is my first time using it - I do like it though, as it seems to be cheaper than other modeling media.

[red-king]

do you think it's possible to make ram horns using this method?

[Dimensionz]

I would cautiously say yes, if the horns are not too long. Maybe make them thicker at the base. Or even give my other horn instructable a try - it might be better for rams' horns, if they're very curly and longish. This one, I think, is good for shorter horns. Hope you will post pics here, if you make them! :) would love to see them.

[red-king]

I don't know if/ when i will try it out, but I'll post some pictures if/when I do. I'm pretty busy these days.