If building something for yourself is wrong (am I'm not saying it is or isn't), then why does Paul Osborne sell plans?

Because Paul Osborne doesn't care about ethics and when he's asked about it he just says his plans of illusions that are not in public domain like Spiker, Bamboozed ( = Bo-staff), Mini Cube Zag & Tri Section,... are for reference only!

On this plan he states---To make just the Tri-Section illusion do not include the small fire box and lid, Substitute the torch for a wand clipped to the door of the middle box.

Sure sound like he think it is OK to build, not just for reference.

3 coats of white primer

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w221/......c1e4.jpg

First magician:
"I built a box!"

Second magician:
"Better patent that, have Porper make your hinges, sell it for $3000... plus lock in your performance and residual rights."

First magician:
"But... it's... a... box."

Second magician:
"Yeah, but it's a MAGIC box."

Boxes done
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w221/......d5b1.jpg
I am working on what is left white next week.

I Faux wood grained the middle box.

I used Cherrywood Gel Stain (leftover from my Tip Trunk project)
1. 3 coats of gloss white paint. ( the surface need to be very slick)
2. I marked out the planks in black marker.
3. I put on a very very very thin coat of gel stain (work very fast)(it does not have to be perfect)use brush, brush in line with what you want the grain to go, any brush strokes that see through will just look like wood grain.( this will be your base color).
4. When your base color is dry--work on one fake plank at a time (I like foam brush for this)--Put on a thick coat of gel stain and pull and rock the graining tool through the Gel Stain.
5. wipe off all excess stain from the graining tool (after every pull).
6. move to next fake plank and repeat steps 4 and 5

I will try to get some pictures up this weekend.

Faux wood grain
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w221/......9a40.jpg

The wood grain looks great!

That looks really good!

I cut the trap for this plastic sign I got at the Dollar Store.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w221/......a37b.jpg
I cut it out then took a black magic marker and blacked it all over then I misted it with flat black spray paint.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w221/......5b3b.jpg

I am starting the blades next week.
I am cutting the blades from the BEWARE part of two of these metal signs.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w221/......5aaa.jpg
I like these signs because I wanted a graphic look to the blades. I plan to cut them from the BEWARE part of the signs, and leave the BEWARE on the blade. Also they are cheap $3 for 2 and I can cut them with tin snips.

The project is coming along beautifully, and the wood grain just... superb. If I didn't know it was faux, I never would have guessed.

Thought I would give a break down of what I have spent so far (budget)
plans $35
plastic sigh $1.00 (for trap)
2 metal signs $3.00 (for blades)
cutting tool $3.50
that is it so far I had everything else left over from other projects.

Blades done.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w221/......aeea.jpg
and
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w221/......2dfa.jpg

The "beware" part is wonderfully clever!

Taking a week or 2 to learn to cut the material for the gimmick (watch You tube videos). I will be twicking the gimmicks--- this has great sight lines if you are up on stage and aud lower than you -- not so much if the they above eye line of the door that opens (I will be twicking gimmicks to improve the sight lines.

I'm sure the care you put into the gimmick will, uh, reflect the time you put into it!

Did you get the gimmicks into place yet? Would love to see it finished. Looks great so far!

Very cool project. How much time have you spend so far?