By the time the cosplay craze reached my radar, I rushed over by car after seeing a post in a neighboring city, only to find the event wrapping up. Surprisingly, it turned out I was missing the sword for Dusk - Jasper Inkstone, giving me the perfect reason to reshoot the whole set.
When I first got it, it was in the state shown in photo one: two long red and black pieces loaded in the car. The geometric contours on the crimson blade and the solid heft of the black-and-gold base looked great, though somewhat bare overall. When I tried testing a few swings, I realized the hilt was missing, making the weight balance toward the tip rather unwieldy. Left with no choice, I took matters into my own hands, downloading 3D modeling software to design a proper hilt. I compared material strengths to find an optimal balance point that allows fluid swings on camera without slipping during extended holds.
Photo two details the hilt components, where the red sections have sharp, distinct facets. Since modeling and printing take time, I temporarily mocked it up using available pieces; the surface still needs putty filler and sanding to hold up under close-up shots where tactile texture matters. Photo three was a sweet surprise: a kind fellow cosplayer gifted me a Shu bubble-tea novelty keycap. It's a crisp white 3D-printed piece now mounted on my keyboard, adding a fun little touch to my daily typing.
The lacquered edges along the sword and the seam lines still need refinement, and the glossy crimson blade reflections must be planned with the photographer in advance. Once the 3D-printed hilt arrives, I'll handle hand-painting, weathering, and final assembly before booking the studio session. Handcrafting Cosplay props can be a hassle, but it solves so many custom problems to bring character poses to life in these Arknights creations. That wraps up this progress check until all components are ready for final fitting.