decaturvader
Sr Member
Re: Hellboy Costume - Getting ready to make the first cast! - pg 4
I'm already saving my money for this one.... ;-)
I'm already saving my money for this one.... ;-)
Berserk
Well-Known Member
tonykch
Well-Known Member
Re: Hellboy Costume - Getting ready to make the first cast! - pg 4
Sadly, a 14 hour work day prevented me from getting anything done.
On the plus side, I think I found a solution to the cover of my vacuum chamber bowing in. Will do the modifications tomorrow. Will be casting the first mask before this weekend. Hopefully.
I think part of the reason it's taking so long to get past this point is because I want to be absolutely sure that everything will turn out properly. This is by far the most expensive part of the entire costume, and without it there really is no costume. But I'm finally getting to the point where I think I have all the kinks worked out and will be able to produce something awesome.
Sadly, a 14 hour work day prevented me from getting anything done.
On the plus side, I think I found a solution to the cover of my vacuum chamber bowing in. Will do the modifications tomorrow. Will be casting the first mask before this weekend. Hopefully.I think part of the reason it's taking so long to get past this point is because I want to be absolutely sure that everything will turn out properly. This is by far the most expensive part of the entire costume, and without it there really is no costume. But I'm finally getting to the point where I think I have all the kinks worked out and will be able to produce something awesome.
Berserk
Well-Known Member
Re: Hellboy Costume - Getting ready to make the first cast! - pg 4
The longer you take, the more money I can save :lol
Sadly, a 14 hour work day prevented me from getting anything done.
I think part of the reason it's taking so long to get past this point is because I want to be absolutely sure that everything will turn out properly. This is by far the most expensive part of the entire costume, and without it there really is no costume. But I'm finally getting to the point where I think I have all the kinks worked out and will be able to produce something awesome.
The longer you take, the more money I can save :lol
tonykch
Well-Known Member
Re: Hellboy Costume - Getting ready to make the first cast! - pg 4
LOL! I suppose that's one way of looking at it.:lol
LOL! I suppose that's one way of looking at it.:lol
tonykch
Well-Known Member
Re: Hellboy Costume - Getting ready to make the first cast! - pg 4
So today was the day. I've officially cast my first mask.
Here's what transpired:
I began by adding a brace to the top of the vacuum chamber. Since there wasn't enough room with the clamps to add a thicker top, I instead chose to bold a piece of angle iron across the top. That did the trick.
Next it was on to prepping the mold. I sprayed the core with mold release, then assembled it all. I built a box to hold the mold upside down.
Next, I mixed my silicone and added color. As you can tell by the color, I ran out. So that means when I demold, I'll be painting. Not a huge deal, but still frustrating. This won't happen in the future. The vacuum chamber worked like a charm!
Then it was time to cast. I filled up the injection gun, and promptly spilled a bunch on the floor. Need to come up with a better way to fill it. I mixed way too much silicone. It was frustrating to see about $50 worth of silicone left in the bucket and on the floor.
After it was full, I put the top on and began to squeeze it out of the gun...only to find it was so thick it didn't want to squeeze. After about 20 minutes of frustration, I managed to get most of it out of the gun. My vent holes worked perfectly.
The injection gun will be a loss, sadly. I doubt I'll be able to get all the silicone out of it. But as it was only $20 to build, I will just plan to build a gun for each mask I cast.
So here's what I learned:
1. Have extra of everything you think you'll need on hand.
2. Build a better way of holding the injection gun.
3. Make the right amount of silicone next time.
4. One tube of acrylic will not color the silicone. Expect to use a lot more.
5. Have 2 rolls of paper towels ready.
6. Don't take off your gloves to get a better grip on the injection gun.
Tomorrow I will demold, and see what I've got!
So today was the day. I've officially cast my first mask.
Here's what transpired:
I began by adding a brace to the top of the vacuum chamber. Since there wasn't enough room with the clamps to add a thicker top, I instead chose to bold a piece of angle iron across the top. That did the trick.
Next it was on to prepping the mold. I sprayed the core with mold release, then assembled it all. I built a box to hold the mold upside down.
Next, I mixed my silicone and added color. As you can tell by the color, I ran out. So that means when I demold, I'll be painting. Not a huge deal, but still frustrating. This won't happen in the future. The vacuum chamber worked like a charm!
Then it was time to cast. I filled up the injection gun, and promptly spilled a bunch on the floor. Need to come up with a better way to fill it. I mixed way too much silicone. It was frustrating to see about $50 worth of silicone left in the bucket and on the floor.
After it was full, I put the top on and began to squeeze it out of the gun...only to find it was so thick it didn't want to squeeze. After about 20 minutes of frustration, I managed to get most of it out of the gun. My vent holes worked perfectly.
The injection gun will be a loss, sadly. I doubt I'll be able to get all the silicone out of it. But as it was only $20 to build, I will just plan to build a gun for each mask I cast.
So here's what I learned:
1. Have extra of everything you think you'll need on hand.
2. Build a better way of holding the injection gun.
3. Make the right amount of silicone next time.
4. One tube of acrylic will not color the silicone. Expect to use a lot more.
5. Have 2 rolls of paper towels ready.
6. Don't take off your gloves to get a better grip on the injection gun.
Tomorrow I will demold, and see what I've got!
tonykch
Well-Known Member
Re: Hellboy Costume - Casting in progress! Pg 4
Just demolded. Not happy with the results, and I know why. I didn't use a lifecast to make this, and as a result it doesn't conform to my face at all. The nose is too small, which causes the front of the mask to puff out. Plus it is way too thin in areas, caused by not making the sculpt thick enough.
I think the obvious solution is to scrap this mold and armature, get a life cast done, and re-sculpt. If I do this, I will mold in fiberglass. I don't like the rubber inner mold. While it captured the detail beautifully, it's a PITA to demold.
On the plus side, I made a successful casting. My casting method works well. It filled the entire area it was supposed to. It's just not the casting that I wanted it to be. Time to think about this, and do some research.
Just demolded. Not happy with the results, and I know why. I didn't use a lifecast to make this, and as a result it doesn't conform to my face at all. The nose is too small, which causes the front of the mask to puff out. Plus it is way too thin in areas, caused by not making the sculpt thick enough.
I think the obvious solution is to scrap this mold and armature, get a life cast done, and re-sculpt. If I do this, I will mold in fiberglass. I don't like the rubber inner mold. While it captured the detail beautifully, it's a PITA to demold.
On the plus side, I made a successful casting. My casting method works well. It filled the entire area it was supposed to. It's just not the casting that I wanted it to be. Time to think about this, and do some research.
Re: Hellboy Costume - Casting in progress! Pg 4
Well its good that you pick up on the positive things! Here are a couple tips and trick I learned along the way:
1. You can check your thickness of your mask with a normal needle. Cut a little piece of paper, poke the needle through the paper, let the paper be on the beginning of the needle, poke your sculpture.
2. If you use Acrylic paint to color you Dragon skin dont cross the 6% line! The silicone doesn't cure that well after that.
3. Try to mix some blue and brown with the red, its give it a deeper color.
4. If you want to wear it as a mask try dragon skin and mixing it with slacker, it really comfortable and does breath a tiny bit better in my experience.
5. The normal way to cast thing is:
Hard material = soft mold.
Soft material - hard mold.
But i wouldn't take the fiberglass route, its a b!tch to do it on your own
Other then that great job! Looks like your really getting the hang of it
Well its good that you pick up on the positive things! Here are a couple tips and trick I learned along the way:
1. You can check your thickness of your mask with a normal needle. Cut a little piece of paper, poke the needle through the paper, let the paper be on the beginning of the needle, poke your sculpture.
2. If you use Acrylic paint to color you Dragon skin dont cross the 6% line! The silicone doesn't cure that well after that.
3. Try to mix some blue and brown with the red, its give it a deeper color.
4. If you want to wear it as a mask try dragon skin and mixing it with slacker, it really comfortable and does breath a tiny bit better in my experience.
5. The normal way to cast thing is:
Hard material = soft mold.
Soft material - hard mold.
But i wouldn't take the fiberglass route, its a b!tch to do it on your own
Other then that great job! Looks like your really getting the hang of it
tonykch
Well-Known Member
Re: Hellboy Costume - Casting in progress! Pg 4
I've done fiberglass before, just nothing this large. I'm leaning away from using a rubber mold because as I was demolding, the rubber began tearing on top of the head. The silicone locked in there pretty darn tight. But it was what was suggested to me. I'm not necessarily unhappy with it. I just think it's another thing in the process to go wrong.
I was checking my thickness as I was sculpting. I just didn't know how thick it really needed to be. Lesson learned.
I've done fiberglass before, just nothing this large. I'm leaning away from using a rubber mold because as I was demolding, the rubber began tearing on top of the head. The silicone locked in there pretty darn tight. But it was what was suggested to me. I'm not necessarily unhappy with it. I just think it's another thing in the process to go wrong.
I was checking my thickness as I was sculpting. I just didn't know how thick it really needed to be. Lesson learned.
PhoenixTrooper
New Member
Re: Hellboy Costume - Casting in progress! Pg 4
I find I learn more from a mistake than I do from a success.
Keep up the great work mate. I'm in the process of building a Hellboy myself and your thread has been an inspiration for me. I already got a pair of those pants you posted.
I find I learn more from a mistake than I do from a success.
Keep up the great work mate. I'm in the process of building a Hellboy myself and your thread has been an inspiration for me. I already got a pair of those pants you posted.
Re: Hellboy Costume - Casting in progress! Pg 4
Yes you learn far more from mistakes than anything and it's very minor points at that. Your casting method worked perrfect and your mold worked just fine just a few tweaks and you have it. :thumbsup
BTW I wouldn't trash this mold you can always do a slush cast of silicone and foam back it for display just so it's not a total loss.
Yes you learn far more from mistakes than anything and it's very minor points at that. Your casting method worked perrfect and your mold worked just fine just a few tweaks and you have it. :thumbsup
BTW I wouldn't trash this mold you can always do a slush cast of silicone and foam back it for display just so it's not a total loss.
tonykch
Well-Known Member
Re: Hellboy Costume - Casting in progress! Pg 4
So Friday night, I was reading this thread, and Finhead mentioned salvaging the mold by doing a slush cast and filling it with foam. I started thinking...
Why couldn't I slush cast a mask?
So I worked it out in my head, and the biggest obstacle I was seeing was that if I slush cast, I wouldn't have the required indents inside the mask for my face. So my next job was to figure out a way to remedy that.
Why not a life cast?
So I ran to the local theatre supply store, bought some alginate, some plaster bandages, and a bald cap. By this afternoon, I had a mold of my face, which I immediately cast in resin.
With that in hand, it was just a matter of "painting" the inside of the coreless mold. Once I had a good layer of silicone all around, I inserted my life cast and filled the face area with silicone. A few extra layers of silicone all around, and it was time to demold.
And with that, I have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat!
The entire casting process took about 7 hours, as opposed to about an hour via the injection method. I still have some trimming to do on the eyes and the mouth, and then I'll get rid of the slight seam on the back of the head, and begin painting!
I'm so happy to have gotten past this hurdle!
So Friday night, I was reading this thread, and Finhead mentioned salvaging the mold by doing a slush cast and filling it with foam. I started thinking...
Why couldn't I slush cast a mask?
So I worked it out in my head, and the biggest obstacle I was seeing was that if I slush cast, I wouldn't have the required indents inside the mask for my face. So my next job was to figure out a way to remedy that.
Why not a life cast?
So I ran to the local theatre supply store, bought some alginate, some plaster bandages, and a bald cap. By this afternoon, I had a mold of my face, which I immediately cast in resin.
With that in hand, it was just a matter of "painting" the inside of the coreless mold. Once I had a good layer of silicone all around, I inserted my life cast and filled the face area with silicone. A few extra layers of silicone all around, and it was time to demold.
And with that, I have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat!
The entire casting process took about 7 hours, as opposed to about an hour via the injection method. I still have some trimming to do on the eyes and the mouth, and then I'll get rid of the slight seam on the back of the head, and begin painting!
I'm so happy to have gotten past this hurdle!
