First Predator Suit Build From Scratch *painted*

[Rmyers]

First I would like to say that this forum has been a true inspiration. Have always wanted to build up a predator or similar suit but had no idea how or were to start, friend directed me to this site and after a lot of browsing through various builds and tutorials, the process doesn't seem so daunting.

Decided to give it a go for an upcoming costume party, my deadline in the 20th of October so hopefully I can get it ready by then (if not then I always have the Mr Incredible costume I bought to do the body suit lol)

About a month ago I bought a few tubs of modelling clay. Started off by making a mould of my face using Algaenate, which I then stuck to a foam armeture (the only one I could find was very small) which I then could use as my base.

Next week was spent making the basic shape, spent a few hours after work everyday.

Following week was spent adding some detail, using build threads as a reference point (Usurper's P2 closed mouth thread was a great help thankyou)

Week after that I started a 2 part cast out of Ultracal 30. In hindsight should have maybe done a few test runs using this stuff as it caught me by surprise at how it sets all of a sudden, lost a fair bit because of this.

After 2 days started pulling the mould out. Freaked out for a while as I could not seperate the two halves of the cast, although a few whacks with a chisel loosend it up. For the mould I was using Monster Makers clay although I found removing it from the cast being incredibly difficult. Anybody have any tips or tricks to make this process easier?

Had to also fix up a few airbubbles as you can see in the below photo, but overall turned out pretty good.

Added the Latex, peeled it out after two days and let out a sigh of relief that it worked lol

Atm am waiting for an airbrush to come in so I can paint it, haven't decided on any particular colour scheme yet. In the meantime will be attempting some dread locks, will be making a cast for these and using some tinted polyurethane foam, fingers crossed it works

 

[carss66]

Looks great so far mate.keep posting

 

[xdmray]

Huge props to you for just jumping right into the deep end. you did a bang up job on the sculpt and mold. is this your first ever?

 

[Rmyers]

Huge props to you for just jumping right into the deep end. you did a bang up job on the sculpt and mold. is this your first ever?

Cheers yes first time round. Always had sculpting in the back of my mind as something I'd like to get into, I guess this build has given me the motivation and excuse to give it a go. I found when you do it once and see results your mind starts to wonder bout all the other possibilites you could do.

 

[Rmyers]

Started on the dreads, made a two part cast and used HR-50 polyurethane foam. Stuck to the cast a bit in some spots so not perfect but they look ok, fairly soft to so they droop pretty well. Will clean up the cast and seal it better next attempt (will probably use the first attemps on the lower dreads were there not as visible, no use wasting them!).

 

[predatorelite]

good work there, very deitaild and so realistic. well done. it will look good when its been painted.

 

[Usurper]

Great to see another pred join the ranks, and awesome to see another person loving the creative/sculpting side of the hobby.

congrats

 

[Makimon]

What are your dreads made out of?
Or, where did you get them?

 

[Rmyers]

Cheers all! With every dread I seem to be getting better, hopefully by the 34th I should have it nailed lol. Same thing with casting, first attempt was all over the place, incorrect mixtures, the clay kept springing leaks etc but second time around went a lot smoother. Definately a learning curve!

 

[Rmyers]

What are your dreads made out of?
Or, where did you get them?

I made a mould from clay, cast with ultracal 30 then used HR-50 polyurethane foam with black pigment. Pour it in one side of the cast, let it foam up a bit then placed the other side of the cast to enclosed it. Open the cast after 20-30minutes, carefully pull the dread out and just trim off the flares

 

[Double H]

Nice work for your first attempt! Congrats, keep it up

 

[Biggdaddy]

First I would like to say that this forum has been a true inspiration. Have always wanted to build up a predator or similar suit but had no idea how or were to start, friend directed me to this site and after a lot of browsing through various builds and tutorials, the process doesn't seem so daunting.

Decided to give it a go for an upcoming costume party, my deadline in the 20th of October so hopefully I can get it ready by then (if not then I always have the Mr Incredible costume I bought to do the body suit lol)

About a month ago I bought a few tubs of modelling clay. Started off by making a mould of my face using Algaenate, which I then stuck to a foam armeture (the only one I could find was very small) which I then could use as my base.


Next week was spent making the basic shape, spent a few hours after work everyday.


Following week was spent adding some detail, using build threads as a reference point (Usurper's P2 closed mouth thread was a great help thankyou)


Week after that I started a 2 part cast out of Ultracal 30. In hindsight should have maybe done a few test runs using this stuff as it caught me by surprise at how it sets all of a sudden, lost a fair bit because of this.

After 2 days started pulling the mould out. Freaked out for a while as I could not seperate the two halves of the cast, although a few whacks with a chisel loosend it up. For the mould I was using Monster Makers clay although I found removing it from the cast being incredibly difficult. Anybody have any tips or tricks to make this process easier?

Had to also fix up a few airbubbles as you can see in the below photo, but overall turned out pretty good.


Added the Latex, peeled it out after two days and let out a sigh of relief that it worked lol


Atm am waiting for an airbrush to come in so I can paint it, haven't decided on any particular colour scheme yet. In the meantime will be attempting some dread locks, will be making a cast for these and using some tinted polyurethane foam, fingers crossed it works

spray your sculpt with clear coat gloss let it stand 24 hours then add you mold compound. The clay will pull out much easier....

 

[Rmyers]

Cheers I was told not to use anything on the clay as it gets mixed into it when I use it next time?

 

[the eldest]

Loving this thread. Excellent work for a first attempt. Nothing like jumping in, feet first. Wish I had the spare time to try something like this. Very well done and keep updating

 

[Double H]

Loving this thread. Excellent work for a first attempt. Nothing like jumping in, feet first. Wish I had the spare time to try something like this. Very well done and keep updating

Alas you will - I command it lol

Dude this thread is awesome, great work. Nothing like hanging your neck out there

 

[Rmyers]

Thanks all I find my motivation comes in waves, you have heaps when modelling the clay, it starts to drop when you start the casting and comes back up when you get your finished product lol

 

[Philby]

Cheers I was told not to use anything on the clay as it gets mixed into it when I use it next time?

the clear coat puta a barrier betwen the clay and the ultracal ,....true it mucks up the clay but,....
if you're like i am i use cheap clay for that very reason ,.....why re-use ??....
makes cleaning the mold out WAY WAY easier so ,....i'd rather just buy more clay than spend an hour under the water trying to scrub and prod your mold clean ,.....

 

[rossi]

awesome sculpt..must try this come winter..keep it coming and keep it updated.

 

[Rmyers]

Dreadlocks are done, haven't attached all the back ones and adjusted lengths yet, just dummied some up to see how they would look. Also start casting and dummying up the mandibles and teeth. It's a mission trying to get it all to sit right, might try some soft expanding foam in the mandibles and perhaps some wire running through it so it sits right. Teeth are made of fibreglass that were poured into a silicon mould.

Also started experimenting with the dread rings. I used an old alien toy and some small skulls I had. Cast them in algaenate then poured hot clay into the cast. A little bit chunky so I will only make a few, the rest will be plain.

 

[Toska]

Damn those dread rings are fantastic, I'm loving the look of the mask as well. Well done