Harry Potter Spine Candle Project

[Mxlplx]

Well folks, I've been toying with this idea in my head for quite some time. The Noble candles are quite pricey, if you can find them, but a bit idealized, in my opinion. I wanted to create one that still felt like a spine, more than just the shape of a spine. So, here is the actual replica spine base on an armature, being fleshed out with some sculpy. I know, I said fleshed out, LOL! More to come when the time permits.

 

[SchubroProductions]

I will be following this project closely.

 

[Nobby]

Ooh brilliant!
Where did you find your replica spine?
Will you be casting these up when finished?

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Looking forward to seeing more. You could make it so that the hole on top can support both tealight candles and regular candles.

 

[Mxlplx]

Nobby, I got the spine at an estate sale, part of a medical teaching skeleton I assume.And yes, I will more than likely be making copies when its finished.

TMG,The top portion of the spine is going to be small. The movie spine must have been scaled up a bit to include this. The Noble candles use a tea light candle on the top. Maybe that is why they look so wonky.

Here is a quick mock up with the models foam disks for shape. The shape is not bad, but I will remove the disks and be more true to the movie version. Here is a quick cap from my phone to show the size. I think I am going with 12 vertebrae, roughly, and ironically about 9 3/4 inches high.

 

[Nobby]

this is going to be awesome!

 

[ecl]

Very interested in this!! I'd love to get a copy someday if you decide to do that .

 

[Cuty Patooty]

Very nice indeed sir! I'll be following this thread too as your candle would be a great addition to my H.P. collection that I've just started :$

 

[Nobby]

And yes, I will more than likely be making copies when its finished.

I know it's early days yet, but any idea what this may end up costing?

 

[Mxlplx]

Here's a few more pics of the vertebrae on the armature. When I took out the foam cushion, the vertebrae didn't really line up great, so some artistic license will have to be taken. The natural form on the bent armature gives this thing a natural twist, I kinda like it.
It's gonna be a bugger to mold though.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

I think you'll be able to straighten it up by being clever in how you stable them. I recognize this from building block towers. Start from the bottom, then line up and glue the next piece onto the one below and repeat with the next one, while keeping things lined up all the way up. Only use a few drops of glue, so it will be possibly to pry the pieces apart again after molding if you want them to remain separate - or just glue them solid if you have no use for an individual parts vertebrae afterward.

Then, you simply and very delicately start to fill the undercuts between the pieces, while keeping the illusion that the separations between them are deep - the filling is only to ease molding, so the piece is a "solid" piece being molded and not with gabs between the pieces.

Hope this makes sense. But this was how I was planning on doing this, while searching for a proper looking vertebrae that wasn't too expensive, but I've not gotten beyond the planning stage so far.

Good luck.

 

[Hazelrah]

I started this idea awhile back and it got shelvee for the time being... May I suggest possibly using hot glue between the vertabrae to help hold shape as well as give you the spacing you are looking for? It would also be useful for filling undercuts as well. Hope it helps and can't wait to see your end result.

 

[Mxlplx]

TMG/Hazelrah, I am using Hot Glue to position the vertebrae, it is just the natural way they fit together that is the trick. Trying to get the movie look, with real world items, sometimes doesn't work as planned. Once I fill the gaps so we can mold it, it should turn out fine.

 

[Mxlplx]

Quick question for everyone, should I melt some candle wax on this so that it looks as if there is wax dripping on it? That way it will capture it in the mold.

 

[SchubroProductions]

Quick question for everyone, should I melt some candle wax on this so that it looks as if there is wax dripping on it? That way it will capture it in the mold.

I wouldn't. No need to add something that someone won't like or could add later themselves.

 

[sonicfreak04]

this is awesome can't wait till the finished results

 

[KevinBGoode]

This looks great! I cant believe I almost mist this. If you need pictures of the noble collection one let me know

 

[Mxlplx]

Sure, post some pics! I'm going for a more real world look than a replica, but reference is always good!

 

[KevinBGoode]

As promised

 

[troublemakermov]

that's amazing good job :$