Wreav
Sr Member
One of the most common questions is what does it take to create Predator movie suit. With the cosplay world becoming a life style for some people, prop making too has a life of its own. For those who buy professional suits you aren’t just buying a suit but you are purchasing a lifestyle that not only opens up a variety of different opportunities but it also allows you to integrate with vast amounts of people who love the fandom just like you. Let’s break down each section of the suit and see how much it truly costs to make such a suit.
Important note: Proceed at your own financial risk; these projects can cost thousands of dollars. You may not only fail the sculpt but you may risk your finances, health and mentality as a result. Many opt to purchase a suit and for all the right reasons.
I will take you through the general price tags of each stage.
THE PREDATOR HEAD
Predator Head (professional): To sculpt: (2 weeks) (Time spent 140-200 hours)
Cost of Materials: $140-250 (Oil Based Clay) Tools: $65-100+ (Personal preference)
Cost of Time spent (Sculpting the head): (priceless/minimum wage $7.15 USD an hour X 140 hours = $1001 USD) (Note: This is based off the minimum wage and doesn’t incorporate a professionals fee which is usually greater than the minimum wage)
Molding materials/sealer/silicone: $20 (Wed Clay) Cheap general purpose fx silicone $240+ (2 gallons of silicone. Brand preference/ Smooth-on/BJB… Etc) Fibreglass mother mold $50-75. Time spent molding the head/prep included 4+ hours (Minimum wage $7.15 x 4 = $28.6) (Does not include wait time)
Casting materials: (Preferably RD-407 Monster Makers latex) – 40$ worth of latex. 30$ Worth of Flex Foam … (Actual Hands on Casting time/trimming/reworking any air bubbles) (not including the wait time): 3 hours +)
Dreads: (Materials, Broom stick, PVC Pipe (varies, research required) 1000$ worth of general purpose silicone. 120$ dollars worth of resin to make duplicate dreads. Time spent molding/making duplicates 34 hours (does not include wait times)
Casting materials to make a set of dreads: Release agent (15-20$) $80-130 worth of foam. Time spent casting 60 dreads/demolding/trimming/reworking any air bubbles - 25 hours.
Painting (based on artists skillset: Professional. Air Brush (Iwata) Compressor etc: $300+) (Paints being used, Silicone Inks/Fw Inks.) Cost: $100+
Painting ability: $450+
Time spent painting the head 20 hours+: Minimum wage cost: 143$
Total time spent: 226 hours = $1615.9 USD
Cost of all Materials used: $2205 USD
Total cost from start to finish: $3820.9 USD (on just the Head and Dreads) + 200$ - $450 painters fee (depending on whether or not you choose to have it professionally painted by an artist or if you spend time painting your creation yourself)
(These prices have been calculated via research where multiple members have contributed towards.)
The next section will focus on the other areas of the suit. (More sections will be added in due time)
Important note: Proceed at your own financial risk; these projects can cost thousands of dollars. You may not only fail the sculpt but you may risk your finances, health and mentality as a result. Many opt to purchase a suit and for all the right reasons.
I will take you through the general price tags of each stage.
THE PREDATOR HEAD
Predator Head (professional): To sculpt: (2 weeks) (Time spent 140-200 hours)
Cost of Materials: $140-250 (Oil Based Clay) Tools: $65-100+ (Personal preference)
Cost of Time spent (Sculpting the head): (priceless/minimum wage $7.15 USD an hour X 140 hours = $1001 USD) (Note: This is based off the minimum wage and doesn’t incorporate a professionals fee which is usually greater than the minimum wage)
Molding materials/sealer/silicone: $20 (Wed Clay) Cheap general purpose fx silicone $240+ (2 gallons of silicone. Brand preference/ Smooth-on/BJB… Etc) Fibreglass mother mold $50-75. Time spent molding the head/prep included 4+ hours (Minimum wage $7.15 x 4 = $28.6) (Does not include wait time)
Casting materials: (Preferably RD-407 Monster Makers latex) – 40$ worth of latex. 30$ Worth of Flex Foam … (Actual Hands on Casting time/trimming/reworking any air bubbles) (not including the wait time): 3 hours +)
Dreads: (Materials, Broom stick, PVC Pipe (varies, research required) 1000$ worth of general purpose silicone. 120$ dollars worth of resin to make duplicate dreads. Time spent molding/making duplicates 34 hours (does not include wait times)
Casting materials to make a set of dreads: Release agent (15-20$) $80-130 worth of foam. Time spent casting 60 dreads/demolding/trimming/reworking any air bubbles - 25 hours.
Painting (based on artists skillset: Professional. Air Brush (Iwata) Compressor etc: $300+) (Paints being used, Silicone Inks/Fw Inks.) Cost: $100+
Painting ability: $450+
Time spent painting the head 20 hours+: Minimum wage cost: 143$
Total time spent: 226 hours = $1615.9 USD
Cost of all Materials used: $2205 USD
Total cost from start to finish: $3820.9 USD (on just the Head and Dreads) + 200$ - $450 painters fee (depending on whether or not you choose to have it professionally painted by an artist or if you spend time painting your creation yourself)
(These prices have been calculated via research where multiple members have contributed towards.)
The next section will focus on the other areas of the suit. (More sections will be added in due time)
