LotR Nazgul Question

[EPalpatine]

I’m 3D printing the pieces for Nazgul gauntlets and possibly a Witch King helmet... in case I wanted to go extra fancy with it and have more options.

My question is...the gauntlets are made up of many tiny pieces. I have enough scales for about 2 fingers worth...and it takes my 2 hours to print a fingers worth of pieces.

Would it be advisable to make a mold of the pieces I have now and just make more with the casts/molds?

I’ve attached the pieces I’ve printed thus far.

 

[funboy1013xx]

making mold's and casting each piece will take alot longer then 2 hour's. plus if you have never made mold's and cast pieces your running/sprinting into a whole different ball park.. I have no idea what your skill's are but i would just print them out and learn from there. Funboy's 2 cent's.

 

[DiggsBarklightr]

Yeah, you could play around with your layer heights etc and increase your print speed. Casting could prove to be a hassle, especially if you have air pockets/bubbles etc. You could easily spend a lot more time redoing them if it doesn’t work the first time around. I’d stick with the print and play around with the settings to speed up some time.

 

[Duncanator]

Those would be quick to do a bunch of sets on a vacuformer. (If you have one)

I agree that you would be better off just printing more, unless you are experienced in mold making. They look rather thin, which can be troublesome when casting. Not impossible, but time consuming and tricky if this is your first go.

 

[Duncanator]

Time wise, you are probably just as fast with the 3D printer. 2 hours each times 10 fingers = 20 hours

Sprueing up, pouring the mold and cure time is around 10-12 hours, unless you use some faster curing silicone.
After that, casting up each set would be half an hour to an hour to pour, cure and de-mold the parts.

So - Mold 10-12 hours + 8 to 10 hours of casting = 20-ish hours as well.

 

[JOATRASH FX]

Those plates will be a LOT weaker if you cast them. And as others have already mentioned, it will take longer too- as well as costing more money. (Added bonus=not having to deal with carcinogenic materials.) Stick with the printer in this case.

 

[bookface]

Plus you will spend time actually casting them as opposed to (I assume) just setting the printer going and leaving it to it while you do something else.

 

[EPalpatine]

I'm looking around and trying to find information on various parts of the costume. Adam Savage's build will definitely help me when it comes to the forearms; however, is there a resource that really explains how to make the hooded robes, boot armor, and what gloves to use for the gauntlets? I'm thinking something with the profile of dishwashing gloves, kind of like the screen accurate stormtrooper gloves that I own...but maybe a cloth so that I can sew the pieces on and then add greebles to look like rivets.

Any help would be great, thanks!

 

[Nibenon]

For any LOTR costumes, your absolute best starting point is AlleyCatScratch. Some of the reference links have long ago expired, but for a database of breakdown photos and design notes, that's your place. It's been invaluable for my Aragorn and Faramir builds!

And you're in luck, the Nazgul page is a dense one:

Ring Wraiths

 

[Hatefrost]

I'm looking around and trying to find information on various parts of the costume. Adam Savage's build will definitely help me when it comes to the forearms; however, is there a resource that really explains how to make the hooded robes, boot armor, and what gloves to use for the gauntlets? I'm thinking something with the profile of dishwashing gloves, kind of like the screen accurate stormtrooper gloves that I own...but maybe a cloth so that I can sew the pieces on and then add greebles to look like rivets.

Any help would be great, thanks!

New Punished Props video he makes a Ring Wraith robe, very helpful

 

[PropsToHistory]

My robes were free hand, but the boots/leg armor were patterns I found online. If you want em I'll send em to you.

 

[Hatefrost]

Yea I’ll take Em
Did you find the crown pattern online too?

 

[PropsToHistory]

ln a way. I modified an existing STL to fit my printer