District 9 Bunraku

[Temperance]

Why can't I come up with sensible cosplays?
I am making a Bunraku of Christopher Johnson from District 9.
A Bunraku is a kind of life sized puppet used in Japanese theatre. Since The Prawns in District 9 are so skinny, they would be impossible to make into full costumes... but put me in a black zentai, and some kind of puppet harness, and I can control him from behind.
Here is a basic sketch of the idea:

I took my design and projected the front and side view to a piece of cardboard, taped the two pieces together with a pipe base to support them, then filled the empty spaces with good ole canned expanding foam.

Once filled, I carved out the basic shape of the Prawn with a knife for a relatively smooth surface to add clay to:

Now to add the clay.... so much clay! OMG I can't believe how much clay! I underestimated the amount of clay I needed my several boxes. Surprisingly, even a small layer of clay around the form turned out to be quite a lot!

I also couldn't always find the same color of clay, so I have a bizarre mixture of black grey and beige T_T

The torso is now fully covered, and I am on to sculpting the details!

 

[chimmera30]

very interesting design!!
cant wait to see more!

 

[burgerstrings]

Looks good. The proportions of the torso look spot on. If it might help for future build, i find that using WED clay cuts down cost and you get alot of it. Very easy to work with.

 

[EZBSVS]

Great job so far man, can't wait to see the rest of it!

 

[Temperance]

A not so exciting update... blocking out details in the clay:

Once I everything is blocked out and even I will sharpen details and texture.

 

[Temperance]

More sculpting...
Back blocked out and some of the face:

I will be sculpting and casting the face tentacles separately and adding them AFTER I cast the head/torso instead of trying to cast them directly on the face. This way I will get far better detail and articulation.

 

[Panzer]

Fook yeah! Keep up the great work. This is pretty cool. I'll have to eventually get around to creating my MNU 1st Reaction Battalion costume for an awesome photo op.

 

[indiefilmgeek]

Great work so far!!! It looks awesome - can't wait to see more!

 

[MooCriket]

This is awesome...that is allthumbsup

 

[Yarko]

The idea is awesome and I'm eager to see the sculpt finished. But be careful or you will look like this in the costume, lol!:

 

[clancampbell]

Fantastic! It's really taking shape!

Rich

 

[agliarept]

You idea is very interesting! I think it will look fantastic as a cosplay.
I can't wait to see what it looks like finished. very very impressed cheers!

 

[mrbungle]

freaking awesome!!!! great start and look forward to seeing this finished. sneaky fooking prawns!!!!

 

[Temperance]

The idea is awesome and I'm eager to see the sculpt finished. But be careful or you will look like this in the costume, lol!:

Haha! That WAS a concern, so I will be wearing a black zentai when puppetteering

 

[Batmansdog]

that looks like its going to be AWESOME cant wait to see more progress

 

[valdi]

Great build!

Oh man, my head just gets filled up with ideas every time I visit therpf.com I don't have the time nor the money to pursue every one of them. Darn it..

 

[BigJon]

This sounds like an awesome project! I'll be keeping an eye on it! I remember seeing something of similar nature with a General Grevious costume/puppet.

 

[Deekay]

that looks like the best prawn yet..!! LOL good work

 

[deluted22]

prawn looking good any updates?

 

[Temperance]

prawn looking good any updates?

Sorry I was on vacation an away from my studio for a few weeks... but I'm back now, and back to work. With luck, I will have the torso done and ready for casting by the end of the week *crosses fingers*