LilYoSpeck
New Member
Hello there brothers and sisters. I've not been here long and so I don't know many of you yet, but I'm going to be here and updating this thread for the next year so I hope to get to know some of you a lot better. The main purpose for this WIP Journal is firstly in hope that I'll get a helping hand along the way while I'm making the suits, but also as a n00b to this whole thing I'm hoping it might be a decent guide for those who are also starting from scratch. Sometimes the most obvious information that veterans might see as second nature can often be a major stumbling block for us new folk, so hopefully I'll be able to pass on my practices/techniques as and when I learn them.
Also, before I get too far into rambling (and I can ramble so please forgive me in advance) I'd like to say much respect to the founders of the HL, it really is a magnificent treasure trove of information you guys have going here and looking back through the archives is just mind blowing looking at the stuff from people who were here before me. Secondly I'd also like to give a personal thanks to Usurper and MacGuyver. I've never spoken to either of them, but MacGuyvers 'Mr I' suit gave me the courage to think that this whole thing might actually be possible and worth a shot and Usurper's modelling of the Wolf Mask was such inspirational stuff and is the thread that I always show to people to show just why I've spent £90 on modelling clay and tools
A Little Bit About Me:
Figured a little introduction might help us all get acquainted. I'm Alex, I'm 25 and I live in Bolton in the UK (near Manchester if it helps at all). I graduated uni a couple of years ago with a degree in illustration and animation. I work a regular 9 - 5 selling paper (very The Office) and so most of my crafting time will be in the evenings, when my girlfriend who I live with lets me steal some time for myself, and at the weekends. I have never modelled, casted or used clay before in my life, so this next year should be interesting.
I've always been a big fan of Predator with it being one of my favourite films of all time (Predator 2 I thought blew chunks and I heard some bad reviews of AVP and so have watched neither it nor AVP:R, but I'm sure I'll be watching them all a few times this year for some inspiration). I think I first watched it when I was about 7 with my cousin, who was 8 at the time (I was a fan but he was OBSESSED with the film), who'd watched it so many times that he'd noticed himself the whole scorpion changing positions when its stood on mistake.. keen eye ). Anyway, rambling.
What's spurred on this sudden desire to make a pred suit? Every year on Boxing Day, it is tradition for people in the nearby town of Wigan to go out into town in fancy dress, and I mean EVERYONE. The only way to compare it would be to picture how much you would stand out if you went into town on a normal day dressed in a Predator suit, well on Boxing Day in Wigan this is how much you stand out if you aren't in costume. You get everything ther from hired costumes to hand made ones, Bananaman, Incredibles, Oompa Loompas, Papa Lazaroo, Soldiers, Thundercats.. everything. My friends and I go every year, but my best mate Phil and I try to turn it up a notch each year and really put an effort in and pretty much work together on our costumes. First year we didnt go in fancy dress, we'd heard about it being fancy dress but figured no one would notice if we were in normal clothes..... we never made that mistake again. We all headed straight to Flares 70's Disco Nightclub and bought a variety of afro's, cowboy hats and Elton John glasses to cover up our shame!
Year 2, Phil and I raided the charity shops and went as authentic looking pirates (will try and find a picture, not sure where they are at the mo). We dont believe in hiring costumes, part of the fun of Boxing Day for us is making something thats either original (ie. the person/character we're going as), or looks top notch. Accessories we had metal tankards for drinking out of, ornamental pistols and pouches with gold dabloons/chocolate money (our currency was not accepted when trying to use it to buy rum with...) (Phil is on the left, I'm on the right)
Year 3 we went as Ninja! We bought our karate suits and wooden doboks (wooden swords) and then made our own tabi shoes and ninja masks. Finished the ensemble with some studded gloves. Awesome night, our highlight was spending all night stealthing onto peoples pictures, haha!
(Cant find any pics of us as Ninja from the actual night)
Year 4 there was a few of us out. Pretty early on Phil had decided to go as Tobias Funke from Arrested Development (as that was one of the shows we were watching at the time), shaved his head, blued himself and got some jean cutoffs. Only one person recognized him that night, but that one person made it worth it (a lot of people thought he was a smurf...). I went as Vince Noir from Mighty Boosh from the 'Milky Joe' episode. We spent a lot of time making my bamboo drainpipes, which cut the **** out of my legs and stomach and by the end of the night I had destroyed them and was walking around town in my boxers and 'leaf' top, I just told people I had come as a tree...
And finally to Boxing Day 2007, the turning point in our costume making. We left it pretty last minute but managed to knock up some Red Dwarf costumes, I went as Kryten with my papier maché head, Phil went as the loveable rimmer. The highlight of the night for me was when this gorgeous young lass came over and started on about how much she loved Kryten and Red Dwarf, I was thinking 'sure, yeh right, you might have seen an episode or two, but beautiful girls don't watch Red Dwarf...'. She held up her camera and said 'Now say 'But where would all the calculators go?!'. Classic.
As mentioned, this last Boxing Day was the turning point. Our costumes might not be perfect, but we put a lot of effort into them and it shows when we're out and we get quite a bit of attention. Last Boxing Day however we saw a man and women dressed in full Halo 'Master Chief' fibreglass armor, you know the type... I was awestruck. Stood next to them I felt like a fingerpainting next to the Mona Lisa. So together we agrees that for Boxing Day 2008 we'd start early, spend some time and hard earned cash and goes as something spectacular. We ummed and ahh'ed about a few different costumes... until I found the Lair And so here we are.
The Plan
We're both going as Predator, based more of P1 as its the film I'm most familiar with and I just prefer the bio. We're going to make every part ourselves (within reason) from clay, to cast to painting to detail. Sticking with the Mr Incredible MacGuyver suit as that is just fantastic, so big props to Mac. We're planning on getting some electrical componants within the suit and I'm currently working on another forum to try and get some advice from those more capable at electronics than I (I'll transfer over anything I make from that forum as a Huntorial).
It's a tall order, but we have time. All we lack is the modelling experience and the untapped wealth! However, I've already began and so I take you to the first part of the journey.
I figured that to start I have to start small. I don't have the money to just go and buy everything I need to make 2 full Predator suits and so I'm starting with clay. I figure it's probably going to take me a while to learn how to model this stuff, so there's no rush in buying gear for casting or making the mask itself.
After looking around and reading a few threads I opted to go with Tiranti for my initial clay purchases. Also, I'd have to pick up some tools as, like I said, I've never done any modelling, least of all in clay, and so I'm pretty much starting from scratch.
At this point I'd just like to say that I personally found it really confusing trying to work out how much clay I would need as its all described in weight. I couldn't visually work out how much I would need to do my clay work (gauntlets, bio, mask, cannon, body armor, etc.), though I wouldn't be casting each item at the same time and so I could re-use clay. As long as I had enough to do the biggest piece (I figure the mask or depenging on the size, torso or shoulder armor) then I can do all the other stuff as well. After reasing Usurper's thread about the Wolf Mask I decided I would work with Chavant Medium, I too am a clumsy oaf and don't want to bash the crap out of my creation, so want something a little sturdier.
So for anyone else who gets as confused as me here are are the dimensions of 2lbs (906g) of Chavant Medium:
I'd say 2 of these would be enough to do a cannon (maybe need a third block to do the stand). I wasn't sure how much I would need in total, but was looking at the Deluxe Latex Mask Making Kit from MonsterMakers.com, which came with 20lbs of Oil Based Clay, which I figured was enough to get anyone started, so I bought 10blocks. Also bought myself some plastic sculpting tools, some loop/ribbon tools, a steel dental tool and a garotte (clay cutter).
Full kit from Tiranti:
I've also bought a China Mannequin Head off Ebay (£18 inc. P&P) for an armature as the dimensions seemed pretty close to my head size, but I only just bought it so I don't know how good it is yet. It DOES have a Hairline crack, but shouldn't cause any problems. Wanted a porcaline one so I could clean clay off it easier and all the glass ones seemed to be undersized or weird shapes.
Day One
Well I only got the chance to play with this stuff tonight. I opened up one of the blocks and had a bash at it with my tools. Wanted to see how successfully I could make some basic shapes that I figure I will find myself making when modelling. I made three 'holes' in the clay, a large rectangle with flat edges and bottom, a large cylinder with smoothed edges and a flat bottom, and a small circular hole with a rounded bottom. Worked on cutting and smoothing over the clay with my hands. It gets reasonably easy to work with when you're playing about with it (I figure this will be near impossible to do when I'm actually modelling something as I wont be able to play with it to warm it up as I will wipe out previously added details). I spent a couple of hours just cutting into it and using the tools (I dont think im going to need half of them, and have already found my favourites).
I found it hard to make corners in the clay, but I think with practice that might come easier. With all the tools at hand I was at first ignoring the best two tools that I have at my disposal. My hands. Working the clay with your thumbs and then use the tools to shape seems the best approach. I have no DVDs or tutorials so I'm just winging it for now and seeing what feels right. Rounding off the clay with my thumbs then running a ribbon tool over it lightly seems to work quite well for smoothing. I believe the rake is used for smoothing as well, but dont see how this is used just yet.
Also, I read that rubbing alcohol can be used to smooth clay. I'm got some White Spirits and tried a bit of that on a small piece. Seemed to work reasonably well, but im hesitant to use it on a lot of the clay just yet. Any verdict on using White Spirits?
Thats pretty much where I'm at for now, not that far into it, but I'm looking forward to it all Once I've got the hang of working the clay I'm going to make either the gauntlets or the cannon my first task (figure mechanical is easier to do than biological). I'm working on the Gauntlet electronics on the other forum, but feel the shape of the cannon is much simpler so might be best to start with that.
Anyway, thanks for reading this far and I hope I didn't bore you all too much!
(Also, apologies for any types, it IS 3am...)
Alex
Also, before I get too far into rambling (and I can ramble so please forgive me in advance) I'd like to say much respect to the founders of the HL, it really is a magnificent treasure trove of information you guys have going here and looking back through the archives is just mind blowing looking at the stuff from people who were here before me. Secondly I'd also like to give a personal thanks to Usurper and MacGuyver. I've never spoken to either of them, but MacGuyvers 'Mr I' suit gave me the courage to think that this whole thing might actually be possible and worth a shot and Usurper's modelling of the Wolf Mask was such inspirational stuff and is the thread that I always show to people to show just why I've spent £90 on modelling clay and tools
A Little Bit About Me:
Figured a little introduction might help us all get acquainted. I'm Alex, I'm 25 and I live in Bolton in the UK (near Manchester if it helps at all). I graduated uni a couple of years ago with a degree in illustration and animation. I work a regular 9 - 5 selling paper (very The Office) and so most of my crafting time will be in the evenings, when my girlfriend who I live with lets me steal some time for myself, and at the weekends. I have never modelled, casted or used clay before in my life, so this next year should be interesting.
I've always been a big fan of Predator with it being one of my favourite films of all time (Predator 2 I thought blew chunks and I heard some bad reviews of AVP and so have watched neither it nor AVP:R, but I'm sure I'll be watching them all a few times this year for some inspiration). I think I first watched it when I was about 7 with my cousin, who was 8 at the time (I was a fan but he was OBSESSED with the film), who'd watched it so many times that he'd noticed himself the whole scorpion changing positions when its stood on mistake.. keen eye ). Anyway, rambling.
What's spurred on this sudden desire to make a pred suit? Every year on Boxing Day, it is tradition for people in the nearby town of Wigan to go out into town in fancy dress, and I mean EVERYONE. The only way to compare it would be to picture how much you would stand out if you went into town on a normal day dressed in a Predator suit, well on Boxing Day in Wigan this is how much you stand out if you aren't in costume. You get everything ther from hired costumes to hand made ones, Bananaman, Incredibles, Oompa Loompas, Papa Lazaroo, Soldiers, Thundercats.. everything. My friends and I go every year, but my best mate Phil and I try to turn it up a notch each year and really put an effort in and pretty much work together on our costumes. First year we didnt go in fancy dress, we'd heard about it being fancy dress but figured no one would notice if we were in normal clothes..... we never made that mistake again. We all headed straight to Flares 70's Disco Nightclub and bought a variety of afro's, cowboy hats and Elton John glasses to cover up our shame!
Year 2, Phil and I raided the charity shops and went as authentic looking pirates (will try and find a picture, not sure where they are at the mo). We dont believe in hiring costumes, part of the fun of Boxing Day for us is making something thats either original (ie. the person/character we're going as), or looks top notch. Accessories we had metal tankards for drinking out of, ornamental pistols and pouches with gold dabloons/chocolate money (our currency was not accepted when trying to use it to buy rum with...) (Phil is on the left, I'm on the right)
Year 3 we went as Ninja! We bought our karate suits and wooden doboks (wooden swords) and then made our own tabi shoes and ninja masks. Finished the ensemble with some studded gloves. Awesome night, our highlight was spending all night stealthing onto peoples pictures, haha!
(Cant find any pics of us as Ninja from the actual night)
Year 4 there was a few of us out. Pretty early on Phil had decided to go as Tobias Funke from Arrested Development (as that was one of the shows we were watching at the time), shaved his head, blued himself and got some jean cutoffs. Only one person recognized him that night, but that one person made it worth it (a lot of people thought he was a smurf...). I went as Vince Noir from Mighty Boosh from the 'Milky Joe' episode. We spent a lot of time making my bamboo drainpipes, which cut the **** out of my legs and stomach and by the end of the night I had destroyed them and was walking around town in my boxers and 'leaf' top, I just told people I had come as a tree...
And finally to Boxing Day 2007, the turning point in our costume making. We left it pretty last minute but managed to knock up some Red Dwarf costumes, I went as Kryten with my papier maché head, Phil went as the loveable rimmer. The highlight of the night for me was when this gorgeous young lass came over and started on about how much she loved Kryten and Red Dwarf, I was thinking 'sure, yeh right, you might have seen an episode or two, but beautiful girls don't watch Red Dwarf...'. She held up her camera and said 'Now say 'But where would all the calculators go?!'. Classic.
As mentioned, this last Boxing Day was the turning point. Our costumes might not be perfect, but we put a lot of effort into them and it shows when we're out and we get quite a bit of attention. Last Boxing Day however we saw a man and women dressed in full Halo 'Master Chief' fibreglass armor, you know the type... I was awestruck. Stood next to them I felt like a fingerpainting next to the Mona Lisa. So together we agrees that for Boxing Day 2008 we'd start early, spend some time and hard earned cash and goes as something spectacular. We ummed and ahh'ed about a few different costumes... until I found the Lair
And so here we are.The Plan
We're both going as Predator, based more of P1 as its the film I'm most familiar with and I just prefer the bio. We're going to make every part ourselves (within reason) from clay, to cast to painting to detail. Sticking with the Mr Incredible MacGuyver suit as that is just fantastic, so big props to Mac. We're planning on getting some electrical componants within the suit and I'm currently working on another forum to try and get some advice from those more capable at electronics than I (I'll transfer over anything I make from that forum as a Huntorial).
It's a tall order, but we have time. All we lack is the modelling experience and the untapped wealth! However, I've already began and so I take you to the first part of the journey.
I figured that to start I have to start small. I don't have the money to just go and buy everything I need to make 2 full Predator suits and so I'm starting with clay. I figure it's probably going to take me a while to learn how to model this stuff, so there's no rush in buying gear for casting or making the mask itself.
After looking around and reading a few threads I opted to go with Tiranti for my initial clay purchases. Also, I'd have to pick up some tools as, like I said, I've never done any modelling, least of all in clay, and so I'm pretty much starting from scratch.
At this point I'd just like to say that I personally found it really confusing trying to work out how much clay I would need as its all described in weight. I couldn't visually work out how much I would need to do my clay work (gauntlets, bio, mask, cannon, body armor, etc.), though I wouldn't be casting each item at the same time and so I could re-use clay. As long as I had enough to do the biggest piece (I figure the mask or depenging on the size, torso or shoulder armor) then I can do all the other stuff as well. After reasing Usurper's thread about the Wolf Mask I decided I would work with Chavant Medium, I too am a clumsy oaf and don't want to bash the crap out of my creation, so want something a little sturdier.
So for anyone else who gets as confused as me here are are the dimensions of 2lbs (906g) of Chavant Medium:
I'd say 2 of these would be enough to do a cannon (maybe need a third block to do the stand). I wasn't sure how much I would need in total, but was looking at the Deluxe Latex Mask Making Kit from MonsterMakers.com, which came with 20lbs of Oil Based Clay, which I figured was enough to get anyone started, so I bought 10blocks. Also bought myself some plastic sculpting tools, some loop/ribbon tools, a steel dental tool and a garotte (clay cutter)
.Full kit from Tiranti:
I've also bought a China Mannequin Head off Ebay (£18 inc. P&P) for an armature as the dimensions seemed pretty close to my head size, but I only just bought it so I don't know how good it is yet. It DOES have a Hairline crack, but shouldn't cause any problems. Wanted a porcaline one so I could clean clay off it easier and all the glass ones seemed to be undersized or weird shapes.
Day One
Well I only got the chance to play with this stuff tonight. I opened up one of the blocks and had a bash at it with my tools. Wanted to see how successfully I could make some basic shapes that I figure I will find myself making when modelling. I made three 'holes' in the clay, a large rectangle with flat edges and bottom, a large cylinder with smoothed edges and a flat bottom, and a small circular hole with a rounded bottom. Worked on cutting and smoothing over the clay with my hands. It gets reasonably easy to work with when you're playing about with it (I figure this will be near impossible to do when I'm actually modelling something as I wont be able to play with it to warm it up as I will wipe out previously added details). I spent a couple of hours just cutting into it and using the tools (I dont think im going to need half of them, and have already found my favourites).
I found it hard to make corners in the clay, but I think with practice that might come easier. With all the tools at hand I was at first ignoring the best two tools that I have at my disposal. My hands. Working the clay with your thumbs and then use the tools to shape seems the best approach. I have no DVDs or tutorials so I'm just winging it for now and seeing what feels right. Rounding off the clay with my thumbs then running a ribbon tool over it lightly seems to work quite well for smoothing. I believe the rake is used for smoothing as well, but dont see how this is used just yet.
Also, I read that rubbing alcohol can be used to smooth clay. I'm got some White Spirits and tried a bit of that on a small piece. Seemed to work reasonably well, but im hesitant to use it on a lot of the clay just yet. Any verdict on using White Spirits?
Thats pretty much where I'm at for now, not that far into it, but I'm looking forward to it all
Once I've got the hang of working the clay I'm going to make either the gauntlets or the cannon my first task (figure mechanical is easier to do than biological). I'm working on the Gauntlet electronics on the other forum, but feel the shape of the cannon is much simpler so might be best to start with that.Anyway, thanks for reading this far and I hope I didn't bore you all too much!
(Also, apologies for any types, it IS 3am...)
Alex
