Flexible resin?

[ArkRaider]

I'm currently working on a costume for a lady friend. Parts of it have armor that needs to be flexible. Back in the day I had some Jaffa armor from SG-1 that was made of a flexible resin and took regular paint very well. Does anyone have a product they would recommend or would I be better just going with latex?

 

[Risu]

I've got some smooth on stuff like that. I've never tried painting it, but it's very flexible. I can't remember the name off the top of my head, but it was something like low rigidity resin.

 

[WarpedScale]

I've used smooth-on C-1509 but they changed it to TASK 11:

TASK® Series Liquid Plastics - Performance Casting Resins | Smooth-On, Inc.

Great stuff but I had to paint it with acrylics because it gave more than the lacquers I'm use to. However, you can use the smooth-on casting powders and also so-strong tints with it.

Ryu

Ryu

 

[VersionUp]

I've been in Smooth-On's site, but never checked out the TASK series. I think I'm going to use that for my Iron man boots.

 

[WarpedScale]

It's pretty good stuff but the thicker you cast it the more rigid it becomes. At about 1/8" thickness or even 1/4", it's still pretty flexible but at 1/2" or greater not so much depending on the area of the part cast. I think I explained that right. >.<

Ryu

 

[ArkRaider]

Thanks! I knew Smooth-On had something, but wasn't finding anything. I'll order a trial kit and see how she likes it.

 

[SupermanLegends]

smooth on, PMC780 is the best, i use this for making my belts

 

[weaponx82]

Oh, nice. I'm glad someone brought this up. I'll have to take a look at this stuff for the armor I'm making.

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Smooth-On Flex Foam 25 is great too... I use it for hard parts that need to flex. Case and point, when I start my Iron Man build, I'm using it for the mid section and cod, as well as the joint armor; and it takes various paints very, very well.

 

[Rhett J Martin]

plus one on the Flex Foam 25

 

[coofunkcurly]

Can you slush cast Flex Foam 25?

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Yes you can... Just be sure to pour it in "coats" if that makes sense. The expansion rate isn't all that much, so after it tacks up, if you think you need it, just drop in another batch... the stuff is awesome.

ALSO -

Flex foam 17 is great too - has a LOT more flex and is a TON softer, and is still a skinning foam - all the pieces in my MMPR Movie suit, I ran in flex 17 in a slush.

 

[coofunkcurly]

Thanks for the info! How is the tear strength? I should really get a kit and play around with it.

 

[WarPig]

Can Flex Foam be used on pep?

Yep, I'm a noob. But a noob willing to learn. Can any of you point me towards some tuts or books that I can absorb to learn the finer points of using resins? And how does one determine the economy and practicality in deciding whether to sculpt a part (in clay, pep, etc.) and make the final from a cast, or (in the case of pep) use resin, bondo, etc. to make the final?

I know it makes sense if multiple identical items are needed, but what about something like an IM codpiece or abs?

Again, apologies if I'm redundant in asking, or posting this in the wrong forum.

Thanks!

 

[ArkRaider]

Thanks everyone for the input, it has been very helpful!

Yes you can... Just be sure to pour it in "coats" if that makes sense. The expansion rate isn't all that much, so after it tacks up, if you think you need it, just drop in another batch... the stuff is awesome.

ALSO -

Flex foam 17 is great too - has a LOT more flex and is a TON softer, and is still a skinning foam - all the pieces in my MMPR Movie suit, I ran in flex 17 in a slush.

Could you post some pictures of things you've used Flex Foam 17 on? I'd love to see some of it in action!

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Here ya go - these are just junk pulls... I used them to get the junk out of the mold, and you can see that they still pulled pretty damn well, and the pieces are 1/4" - 3/4"... the chest is 1" thick is the deep areas, and still moves like there is nothing there.

 

[ArkRaider]

That looks great! Is it easy to paint/pigment?

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

extremely... takes adhesive also - these pieces are going to be vac-bagged with fabric and then wrapped.

 

[coofunkcurly]

Thanks for sharing, CPSG! I always dismissed this product because I thought I needed a mold with a core to use it.
So how long do you have to slush it around the mold before it gels? And does it have good tear strength?

 

[CustomPropSculptorGuy]

Usually just a few minutes, if you get more advanced, you can spread it with a brush and "punch" it - but you may need to PM me for that info - that can be a little tricky