Hey, thanks for your intrest in Epic Arms.  A custom latex weapon or a new piece of armor can be a daunting process.  This introduction is here to help to guide you through the nervousness that accompanies the event of dropping a hundred dollars or so on something that has never existed before. 

The beginning:  It starts with your idea of a project, or a character that you need something designed for.  Take a while to really think about what you would like the weapon to look like, find examples of similar things, or write a description.  If you are having something created from an existing work, make sure you supply all the material I need.  Make sure you have the object from multiple angles if possible.

The negotiations:  Send your description over to me by the contact epic arms link, or send me an email.  At this point I will look over the material you have, come up with a few estimates based on your description.  Some customers want to get out the door as cheap as possible, others are unflinchingly demanding.   Some designs are feasible in fantasy, but in reality you run into some complications.  While my weapons are very light, aerodynamics, balancing and other problems might arise.  I offer sketches of what modifications would look like to avoid these issues, as well as compromise to avoid potential copyright issues. Here is an example of some sketches I provided for a recent dagger project.

The bid and payment:  Once all the details are hammered out and we agree on a price, I will send you an invoice.  This is a fancy email that enables you to pay for the item through Google Checkout. All orders under $250 are to be paid in full before construction.  For larger projects, such as shields and suits of armor, payments can be arranged but all money is due before delivery.

Construction:  Construction consists of assembly, sculpting and latexing. I commonly provide pictures during this stage, along with color checks.  In this case the color purple was to dark for the customer and needed to be lightened.

Delivery:  In some cases I hand deliver the items to customers in North Carolina and surrounding area.  Sometimes folks stop by as well. Usually its shipped via a shipping service, this cost can be included in the initial bid.

Well, thats it basicly.    This whole process usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks from beginning to end, with about a week before the start of construction.  If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me an email.

Sincerely,

Scott

--
Scott Rowe
Studio Director
Epic Arms

scott@epicarms.com
www.epicarms.com