Polystyrene Carving

  • Giant polystyrene carved tiger in workshop.
  • A giant polystyrene relief sculpture for MuMu's restaurant.
  • Side view of the almost finished polystyrene duck sculpture.

Introduction to Polystyrene Carving

Polystyrene carving gives us the chance to produce stunning polystyrene props that can create a striking first impression when used as part of a retail or event display.

Polystyrene carving is ideal for the sculpting and manufacture of large-scale and giant props. One of the materials most suited to large scale prop displays is polystyrene. We use only fire-retardant polystyrene, as regulations dictate that props need to conform to health and safety restrictions if they are going into areas visited by the general public.

Our prop makers use high density polystyrene and typically sculpt by hand; this gives the client more scope for alterations and changes throughout the overall process.Since polystyrene is a more delicate material, we apply a hard coat to improve its durability. And we do this for two reasons:

  • To improve the overall durability of the prop
  • To give it the necessary protection, prior to any painting effects which may be required, be it marble, wood grain or concrete, for instance.

Polystyrene carving is especially popular for theatre props and retail display due to its lightweight properties and our prop makers will be happy to discuss ideas with you and help to create props from a basic concept, or your own finalised 3D Auto Cad drawings. Polystyrene props offer a range of benefits, chiefly that they are easy to carry and easily transportable.

Examples of our polystyrene props include a life size Trafalgar Square lion on a plinth for an event, an 8-foot-high Nelson’s column, giant mushrooms for Lapland UK, two 8 foot high sculptures of cartoon characters used to promote the movie premiere of Cartoon Network’s Ben 10, giant sunglasses for Fenwick’s retail window display, life size elephants for a private party. In fact, polystyrene is so versatile that we have sculpted many different things too numerous to list here.

Prop process images

  1. Giant head prop after it had been carved out of polystyrene.
  2. Horse and roman sculpture carved out of polystyrene.
  3. Giant unicorn carved out of polystyrene.