Help me with this challange all you mold makers!!

[Dark Shadow]

Im making my 5 year old son a flash costume. Im planning on making a face undershell covered with spandes similiar to the spidey costumes. The challange is..... How do I get a life cast off a 5 year old chids face? Im thinking of alginate or body double. The challange is the fact that a 5 year old has a short attention span to stay still for the required amount of time needed to complete this job. Im sure you all know what the flashes cowel looks like (kind of like batman) im ordering a scaled down version of the print with the muscle pattern from hells kitchen so im expecting this to be one hell of a cool costume for the little one once its finished! Im open to all opinions.

 

[clonesix]

I don't think you will get a 5 yr old to sit for a lifecasting. I also don't think he is too concerned over accuracy. A red spandex cowl over a halloween mask would be fine for the little tyke.

 

[defstartrooper]

Yeah short of slipping a micky in his milk don't think there is much you can do to keep a 5 year old still.

 

[sparrowfan]

have you tried sillicone ?

"dries" in about 5 mins, and just peel it off like a rubber mask

 

[propsculptor]

I've been doing Special Make-up Effects since 1987 and I've even done life casts of Children, some have no problem sitting for a Lifecast but I think many would not...

Start with assurance, letting anyone know whose face you are about to cover in plaster bandages that you know what you are doing and are going to make sure that they are okay, I've even done lifecasts on people who are claustrophobic and still got a great lifecast from them!

For your Child I suggest that you simply put a small Baldcap on his head to cover the hair, a layer of Vaseline on the skin (So the Hair doesn't stick) and just use Plaster Bandages to make the face-form you will get more than enough details to create "The Flash" Mask you wanted to create.

The benefit of using Plaster Bandages is that they dry Fast! Just enough time to get the details of your child and then you can carefully take it off.

NOTE: Just remember, make sure that the Plaster Bandages are completely dry and that you have enough layers of the Bandages to hold the shape of the details after it is removed.

I hope this info helps, if you have any questions feel free to PM me...

 

[Funky]

First, start with giving him a double dose of Nyquil...



I keed, I keed! :lol

 

[Darth Mule]

How bout a foam wighead? We use them to sculpt masks around in theatre all the time when we can't cast the actors (They're about as difficult to get to sit still as children). The cheap female foam heads are small enough to be child sized. Just a suggestion.

 

[HAL9000]

Bribery.

 

[Ghost Host]

I'm gonna have to agree with Propsculptor... If you must use the child's actual face, bandages are fairly quick; and if you work your material properly you can get a fairly good casting without the bandage texture and airpockets.

 

[Dark Shadow]

I'm gonna have to agree with Propsculptor... If you must use the child's actual face, bandages are fairly quick; and if you work your material properly you can get a fairly good casting without the bandage texture and airpockets.

Assuming I go the plaster bandage route. What is the best material to pour into the male plaster mold. I was thinking of using foam or hydrocal but only before putting a good release agent in the male mold. (like vasoline)
Thanks for everyones input. I COULD use bribery. Perhaps give him some M&Ms before the sitting??? :lol

 

[propsculptor]

You can use Hydrocal, I personally prefer Ultracal-30 it doesn't set too fast and it's easy for beginners to get used to quickly...and Yes use Vasaline to release the Plaster Bandages from the Ultracal-30, after you get a good detail coat of Ultracal-30 on the inside you can use either Hemp or Burlap (Potato Sack material, CHEAP TOO!) dipped into the Ultracal-30 for strength, then carefully clean up the piece of any bubbles or excess Ultracal-30 that may have dripped on the face details...

Assuming I go the plaster bandage route. What is the best material to pour into the male plaster mold. I was thinking of using foam or hydrocal but only before putting a good release agent in the male mold. (like vasoline)
Thanks for everyones input. I COULD use bribery. Perhaps give him some M&Ms before the sitting??? :lol

 

[Dark Shadow]

You can use Hydrocal, I personally prefer Ultracal-30 it doesn't set too fast and it's easy for beginners to get used to quickly...and Yes use Vasaline to release the Plaster Bandages from the Ultracal-30, after you get a good detail coat of Ultracal-30 on the inside you can use either Hemp or Burlap (Potato Sack material, CHEAP TOO!) dipped into the Ultracal-30 for strength, then carefully clean up the piece of any bubbles or excess Ultracal-30 that may have dripped on the face details...

Thanks for your help with this. I have used Ultracal-30 alot in the past and I have made many molds using that with the burlap process. Im glad were on the same page! Its looking like this is going to go nicely!

 

[gonk27]

Maybe if you don't absolutely, positively have to have all the finer detail of the child's eyelids on the lifecast you could just apply the plaster bandages close around the eyes without actually covering them?

.. that way if the child is at all nervous about having his or her face covered (or is likely to just get bored) they can watch what you're doing in a mirror, or watch tv while you work?

(Obviously you'll need to cover over the eye holes on the final plaster mould before making your cast!)




Jeremy

 

[RICHIES ARMOR]

Why not try one of the vacuformed face masks available at hobby or costume shops. VERY cheap and already have the face details. Just cut it to the shape you want,,just a thought!!

 

[Dark Shadow]

Why not try one of the vacuformed face masks available at hobby or costume shops. VERY cheap and already have the face details. Just cut it to the shape you want,,just a thought!!

Im looking for a skin tight fit on the face and head. Spandes only (especially on a flash cowel) wouldnt wear right in my opinion. If there werer a plactic shell underneath and the spandex is glued to that shell, it would make it look nicer.

 

[drcrash]

dough face molds (Re: Help me with this challange)

I wish I could remember the details, or had a link, but...

I've seen something about making very quick crude face molds by having people hold their breath and mash their faces into a pan of something like bread dough. Then you pour plaster in that to make a positive, and that's it. Making the face mold itself only takes a few seconds.

There are several details I don't remember, like how to get the right dough consistency, and how to ensure that the dough releases from the face. (It might have just been dusting the surface with flour...?) Oh, yeah... and what mold release to use on the dough so that the plaster doesn't stick.

 

[Dark Shadow]

Re: dough face molds (Re: Help me with this challange)

I wish I could remember the details, or had a link, but...

I've seen something about making very quick crude face molds by having people hold their breath and mash their faces into a pan of something like bread dough. Then you pour plaster in that to make a positive, and that's it. Making the face mold itself only takes a few seconds.

There are several details I don't remember, like how to get the right dough consistency, and how to ensure that the dough releases from the face. (It might have just been dusting the surface with flour...?) Oh, yeah... and what mold release to use on the dough so that the plaster doesn't stick.

Sounds interesting.