Plastic make bones look more realistic
A plastic skeleton, or just some plastic bones, can be a fun addition to a LARP camp or a party. However, these bones generally do not look very realistic.
There are a few different ways to make plastic bones look more realistic.
Acrylic Paint
One method is to repaint them with acrylic paint. Acrylic paint dries relatively matte and you can easily mix colors. Start with a matte spray primer so the paint adheres better to the plastic. With this method, you have a lot of control over the effect you want to create. If you want the appearance of clean bones, you can mix the paint to the right shade of broken white. Once you have the base color right and applied, you can use different shades of brown and gray to add more depth to the bones and make them look truly realistic.
But if you want the bones to look old and dirty, you should start with a browner basic and add highlights and lowlights for a more realistic effect.
Wood Stain
Another method to create the old and dirty effect is by using wood stain. You can apply the wood stain directly to the bones, without primer. Use a cloth to apply the wood stain and let it dry. By using a cloth, you should already get an uneven finish, but you can always go over the bones with a brush to make specific spots even darker. Wood stain gives a glossier result than acrylic paint, so if this is not the desired effect, you can apply a layer of matte spray varnish over the wood stain once it is dry.
Watch the video for more detailed instructions on the wood stain method and on adding mummified skin.
You can find our fake bones and skeletons here .
