Microsoft Rare Battletoad Hover Bike Prop

Battletoad Hover Bike Prop

The brief

For the fifth year in a row Microsoft-Rare asked us to make some amazing Battletoad sculptures that they could promote at gaming expo’s around the world. One of them was to build a hoverbike prop with their character Rash riding it.

Project Details

The bike is amazing!!! I can’t wait to see the fans reactions to it!! Smashed it!

David Sanderberg – Head of Facilities Management Rare – Microsoft Studios

Prop process images

  1. Battletoad hover bike prop sculpted out of polystyrene and moulded and cast in fibreglass.
  2. Battletoad hover bike prop completed in the Spur creative workshop.
  3. Battletoad hover bike prop from the front.
  4. The hover bike prop from the back at the games expo.

The Process

We only had 2-D cartoon drawings as a reference which aren’t easy to work from but because we sculpt in clay and have the skills, we were able to realise their drawings into 3-D forms. Once Microsoft-Rare were happy that we’d captured the essence of their character we were free to make a fibreglass mould with silicone sections to capture the detail in the face.

Prior to sculpting, we tend to make a quick maquette to work out the basic shape and form that the sculpt will take. Here is one we made for Rash on his hover-bike. We sculpted the hover-bike in polystyrene and moulded and cast it in fibreglass. Before we moulded the figure we had to make sure he was positioned correctly to ensure he fit the bike exactly. The hover-bike had to be crudely set up so that we could set the balance and fit the exhaust and pipes underneath.

The padded seat of the hover-bike with a section left out would be fixed to the figure so that he could come off the bike to easily fit into the flight case that would see him travel the globe safely. Once this was completed he was painted and ready to go.

Project Image

A man standing on the back of the Rash hover bike prop at a games expo.

The Result

The hover-bike had lights that flashed and music that played when a button was pressed. The button to start the motor, flashing lights and music, tucked neatly into the figures belt. Here is Rash on his hover-bike at GamesCom in Germany. This hover bike prop got a lot of attention at the gaming expo. We loved making this one and Microsoft-Rare loved it too!