Mannequin Question

[Brent M]

I didn't know where else to post this question so I thought I would ask it here. I am in the process of putting together a life-size Joker statue and the plan all along has been to use a foam flexible mannequin. However, recently a couple of questions have been raised.

First, will a foam flexible mannequin support a silicon bust? I don't know how much 1:1 silicon busts usually weigh, but I'm hoping they are not too heavy for this type of mannequin.

The other thing I'm wondering about is keeping it upright in a way other than using the rod that attaches to the back of the mannequin(as pictured below). The person I am looking to buy the mannequin from said some people use fishing line to keep mannequins like this upright and I'm just wondering if anyone else has ever heard of that method and if so, how does it work?

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated as I have all of the clothing and accessories either in hand or on order. Now I just need to get the mannequin situation squared away and I'll be on my way to completing this project. :cool

 

[benhs1898]

Silicone can be pretty heavy. I guess it depends on whether it is solid or hollow.

Also, if you dress that white rod correctly or paint it to blend into the environment it should be fine.

 

[Brent M]

Thanks for the response. I'll definitely need to find out how if the bust is solid or hollow and how much it's going to weigh. I wish there was a way to find out what kind of weight these mannequins support with regards to the head. Another question is how do you get the clothing on the mannequin without having to cut into it to attach the rod to the back?

 

[Brent M]

Anyone else heard about using fishing line to keep a foam flexible mannequin upright?

Also, any other opinions on whether this type of mannequin can support the weight of a silicon bust?

 

[Brent M]

Anyone else care to chime in? Help on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ave4uevoli]

The mannequin you have pictured where it has to be supported at the hip looks a bit flimsy.

The internal structure of the mannequin, the thickness of the "skeleton" is really what makes or breaks a mannequin for display.

Those poseable mannequins you see on ebay for around $300, (which this looks quite similar to) just doesn't cut it.

You will not be able to put clothes on it and pose it without the arms just flopping over.

If you want a poseable mannequin that looks just like this, you'll have to find one 2nd hand. Tom Spina offered these for sale for a while, and just had 2 of them up for sale (they are gone now). Those mannequins could hold a pose.

The other way to go is a da vinci poseable mannequin (google it) which works fairly well. The internal structure still is not as strong as i would like it to be (that's $600+)

fishing lines to hold it up doesn't seem like a viable solution unless you're going for a display that looks like Spiderman just shot him with a bunch of his webbing.

Plus we are talking about a good deal of weight here, The fishing line has to hold up the weight of the clothes, head, accessories, and the mannequin himself. It's not the weight of a whole person, but let's say it's even 30lbs. Imagine how much fishing line you'd need to use.

Fiberglass mannequins are the strongest, but of course the hardest to modify. My suggestion is to get a mannequin that has the leg pose that you want and then just modify the arms to where you want them. The legs are a real pain to change around, and if you don't do it right it affects that stability of the whole display.

 

[Brent M]

Thank you for that detailed and very helpful explanation, ave4uevoli. You basically confirmed my greatest fear about the foam flexible mannequin which is that it would not be strong enough to hold a silicon bust or a pose with the full Joker outfit on it. I may have to re-think this and go with a fiberglass mannequin after all. It will need some modifying to give it the hunched over look I want as well as modification to the arms and fingers so it can pose with accessories, but at least I know it will be sturdy. Thank you again very much for your help.

 

[Slave1]

I agree with ave4. Fishing line to hold up hundreds of dollars of collectibles? That would not work for me.

Modifying a fiberglass mannequin is a great option, and I've done it many times. It's simple to cut the arms at the shoulder and elbow and refiberglass in another position. Several people on the board, including myself, have built poseable hands, too, using heavy gauge wire, or doubled over coathanger wire, etc..

This is the best way to get your mannequin looking EXACTLY the way you want it. True you'll be limited to one pose, but it's the best option to me as far as reasonable price, getting it to look the way you want, and reasonable stability for your valuable costume and display.

 

[Brent M]

Thank you for the input, Slave1. I've decided that a fiberglass one is the way to go and thanks to you and ave4 I avoided a potential disaster with that foam mannequin. Great to have people on this board who know exactly what they're doing and can offer a helping hand. :cool