Following a conversation with a fellow member of the HP Lovecraft Historical Society, I decided to take a crack at creating a Mi-Go Brain Cylinder as a prop/display.
Having not done anything like this before, it was very much a trial and error process. While I’d probably do a couple of things differently if I had to do it again, I’m pleased with the end result. Here are some pics of the final prop and a brief overview of how this was created. Note that I have not worked with some of these materials in the past, so it wouldn’t be difficult to make a better version than mine.
If you get the urge to make a brain cylinder yourself, the first step is simple: Always begin with the brain.
I knew right away that I wanted to stick to the description in Whisperer in Darkness, which means a full-size brain. We don’t want anyone thinking it’s just a cat brain or something. So I got online and started looking a brain props and toys. Before long I found one on Amazon that specifically mentioned it was full size, and it included dimensions of about 6″ front to back, which I deemed large enough. Plus that gave me enough information to go shopping for a container.
Next stop was a Michael’s craft store near my house. Lots of browsing yielded a jar of the proper size, without any designs shaped into the glass (and it was on clearance), some varying wood stands and other round shapes, some EVA foam, a small cake pan to cap the top, some lights (also on sale), and assorted odds and ends. I used some Rustoleum Dark Bronze Hammered Finish spray paint I had on had, though I had to get more.
I removed the handle from the jar lid and glued the cake pan to the lid to get a more uniform cylindrical shape. Painted and layered wood and composite shapes to make the base, and glued that too the jar. My original plan was to have this be liquid-filled (and I may still do that later), so I didn’t want the lights inside the jar itself. That meant the lights has to be housed on the outside and shine through. Sprayed a little of the paint around the top and bottom of the jar to help diffuse the lights.
Cut a piece of foam to wrap around the jar as a casing, then cut it to form a window. Cut some grooves into the foam to hold the lights and painted it. Glued/stapled the lights into place and glued the foam to the jar. The glue holds well once set, but it’s slow to dry and needs to be well secured during that time. Had a couple of hose clamps that were large enough, so I used them and cocooned the thing in tap to hold everything in place. Had to get creative with the tap to avoid ripping the paint up, and forgot to do the same with the clamps. Ended up damaging the foam and ultimately decided to integrate the clamps into the design. Adds to the look and hides the damage.
Got some quick disconnect fittings for a sprinkler system to act as the ports that would connect the cylinder to the other Mi-Go machinery. Cut some foam to fit around them and did some more painting. Glued it together and attached it to the front (more tape to hold things while drying). Added a spot for the obligatory label of said brain. In case I use this as a prop in a game down the road, I want to be able to swap out the label.
A couple more coats of paint. Also applied a clear version of the same Hammered finish paint to the inside of the jar. This helps diffuse the light more and adds a nice effect to the window. Almost gives it a look of being liquid- or gas-filled without the need to actually fill it. I had some oddly shaped chipboard discs lying around from another project, so I stacked and glued them in a semi-random fashion to make a stand to hold the brain at the proper height. Painted that as well and secured it. Added some acrylic dry brushing to the outside, then applied another clear coat to everything.
Finally, I secured the brain in its new home and added a label.
And the other major thing I’ve been working on is a draft of a scenario to use with the system. Applying the system to actual situations while writing a scenario is a useful way to identify things that need more work prior to actual playtesting. Plus I am putting a lot of effort into how scenarios are written and presented to the Keeper. One key element of the game is the ability to play out any given situation using different methods, depending on the needs of the scenario and your table at that time. This isn’t just about giving the Keeper a couple of different options and saying “pick one,” but also about explaining why one option might be preferable over another.
