Golden Snitch – Sometimes Starting Again Is the Best Option

Not every build goes according to plan, and the Golden Snitch was a perfect example of that.

My first attempt just wasn't living up to the vision I had in my head. The finish wasn't as smooth as I wanted, and after spending more time trying to fix it, I realised I was heading down a path where I was putting more effort into repairing mistakes than actually building the prop. As frustrating as it was, I made the decision to start again from scratch.

Looking back, it was definitely the right call.

The second build also became the perfect opportunity to experiment with a few new techniques. Instead of relying on endless sanding, I tried using several thin coats of UV resin to fill the layer lines while keeping all the fine details. It worked far better than I expected and saved a huge amount of preparation time.

Another highlight was trying SMS HyperChrome for the very first time. I'd heard good things about it, but seeing that mirror finish appear over the gloss black base was one of those workshop moments where you just stop and smile. After sealing it with Aqua Gloss and finishing it with transparent gold, the Snitch really started to look like polished metal instead of painted plastic.

Even the wings became a little experiment of their own. By carefully heating and reshaping them, they developed a much more natural curve that made the finished prop look far more alive.

This build reminded me that sometimes the hardest decision—starting over—is actually the quickest way to achieve the result you're aiming for. More importantly, it introduced a painting workflow that I'll definitely be using again on future metallic builds.

In the end, what started as one of my most frustrating projects turned into one of my favourite finished props.