Life Size Hulk Statue - Help

[Bradester]

For 11 years I've helped a local Halloween haunted house. It's just a residential event, but we now get 1800-3000 trick-or-treaters within 5.5 hours. That number does not include parents or college kids, it's just the candy getters. It's a big enough event that we have made it into a people and pet canned food drive in attempt to also do a little good.

Each year has a different theme, but the popular themes get re-used if the props I build can withstand the outdoor elements. Previous year's projects can be seen on my website Monkey 5 Studios , but for this year the theme is "The Avengers"!

I want to build a 9+ foot tall Hulk statue. I've built big things, but nothing so "round". I'm also down a helper due to an allergic reaction to poison oak, and I'm 3 weeks behind schedule on starting.

So, PLEASE list the best ways you can think of to help me build a non-moving Hulk, as fast and as good looking as possible. If he has to have some shirt shreds on him to hide arm/body seams, Im ok with that. Ok with his arms being more down too.

Thanks!

 

[imnotahero]

Simple wood armature, wrap it in Chicken wire, paper mache on top.

 

[Darth Ronnow]

Howdy,
I agree with imnotahero. Don't over think it.. just do it. You'll know pretty fast if your on track. You don't have much time on this.

 

[Bradester]

Hmmm what would one seal paper mâché with so it's outdoor worthy?

 

[fettster]

A good coat of pva glue should do it

 

[Bradester]

A good coat of pva glue should do it

As in plain ole Elmers glue?

 

[TheShinyOne]

Ambitious build! And for a good cause I read, if I were anything near you, I'd help you out.
Best of luck!

 

[Nobby]

As in plain ole Elmers glue?

That should do it.

But looking at your previous builds, I'm sure you'll have no problem!
I'm lovin' the Galileo and Megatron :thumbsup

And don't even get me started on the awesomeness of that Batmobile!!!!!!!

 

[Darth Ronnow]

That batmobile is pretty darn CooooooooooooL.:cool Bradester how about a huge pepakura file transfered to cardboard, then chicken wire and spray foam followed by a ton of shaping and sanding, sealing, painting. I've seen your other builds you should be able to just shake this one out of your sleeve. But again time just isn't your friend on this one. Not your fault.

 

[Bradester]

Thanks guys!

I think my main concerns are being down my helper, the weather cooling off a lot very quick because I build everything outside since I don't have a garage/shop, and the time. Pretty much all those combined.

I've been thinking lots of the chicken wire and paper mache'. Could be fun. I haven't done paper mache' since 3rd grade. But I do love me some spray foam. I'm just not sure which way to go that is most cost effective. I do think the spray foam would be less mess. I've dried the 2-part foam many a times and it just doesn't work for some reason, just won't expand.

If I did the spray foam, I think I could build a wood stick figure for support, surround it with chicken wire, fill that mostly with newspapers, then use the spray foam for the skin?

 

[Bradester]

OR, build the thing laying down. Build a wood stick figure for support, make a general outline shape/frame from cardboard lined with wax paper, fill that with expanding foam, stand it up, Trim/shape the foam, then maybe seal it with Elmers glue, paint and done?

 

[Loki1913]

Wow, do us a favor and post images, would you kindly? Ambitious stuff, I can't wait to see the results!

 

[Bradester]

Wow, do us a favor and post images, would you kindly? Ambitious stuff, I can't wait to see the results!

I'm hoping once it gets going, it should be easy. I don't have to worry of it fitting 15 people inside like my Shuttlecraft, falling over and killing somebody like Prime, or how road worthy it is like Batmobile/Mystery Machine/Ecto. It just has to stand there and look pretty for photos .

 

[MaddMaxx82]

I have a friend that builds life sized comic character statues, out of normal architectural building supplies, wire mesh used in concrete forms, rebar, and paint sticks for frame work/ form, and green lid joint compound for the sculpting medium.

Cheap and easy to use. Then you can mold and cast, if you want to.

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2

 

[Bradester]

I have a friend that builds life sized comic character statues, out of normal architectural building supplies, wire mesh used in concrete forms, rebar, and paint sticks for frame work/ form, and green lid joint compound for the sculpting medium.

Cheap and easy to use. Then you can mold and cast, if you want to.

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2

I think due to weather and time, it's gonna have to be a straight build from frame to skin, no time to sculpt and cast and polish again. Plus at 9' I think I need him as light as possible.

 

[Darth Ronnow]

Now your thinkin' work that build. And your dead on about the weight. I would keep the arms as lite and airy as possible from the beginning. And not sure how your doing the upper body but I would make sure the shoulders have a lot of support. Yes please pictures.

 

[Tastyburger]

Ok...
Life-sized Optimus from space is about the coolest thing I've ever seen!

 

[Bradester]

Ok...
Life-sized Optimus from space is about the coolest thing I've ever seen!

Yeah it was the highlight of the day when I came across it on Google. Just a fun surprise!

 

[Mostly Fantasy]

I had to do a quick build up once- I used balloons, as they were more organic, covered them with masking tape, and fiberglassed right on top- no problems.

 

[Bradester]

I had to do a quick build up once- I used balloons, as they were more organic, covered them with masking tape, and fiberglassed right on top- no problems.

Hmmm very interesting. I kinda promised myself I would never do fiberglassing again though after the Batmobile ordeal. I have no shop, everything is built outside, and the fiberglass stunk up the neighborhood upto 5 blocks away. Plus my helper seems allergic to something in it. Have a fiberglass alternative idea that could still involve balloons maybe?