Need help with a Polyurethane Foam Casting (Indiana Jones Temple Face)

[Stefan Jones]

Hi there,

hope this is the right place, otherwise please move !

I was able to acquire a Polyurethane Casting of a Temple Stone Face.

Front:

Back:

Side:

It is already primed and I wanna paint it but wanna do some copys of it first.
Since I have never done this before, I ask for help first for the casting and second for some tips in painting that face like a stone.

So, the material of the face seems to be a hard foam ( similar to the one that is used in the building sector ), it is very light in weight, but stable. What materials I have to use to make a mold and what I have to use to make a new mask.
Important for me would be, that I can get the materials here in germany, so a supplier at least here in europe would be nice, from U.S. only when the shipping costs wont beggar me :rolleyes
please, any tip is welcome.

thank you very much

~Stefan Jones

 

[rollerboi]

Is that an original prop, or did someone else make it?
You may want to ask permission from the creator before making copies.

Folks around here get pretty mad if their stuff gets copied without permission. It's called "recasting," and there are a number of threads about it here. Use the search feature.

That said, that "stone" looks pretty neat, I imagine it will look even better when it's painted.

 

[Stefan Jones]

I was told its a casting from an original prop from elstree studios. is a copy from that prop then a "recasting" ?

 

[Contec]

Im guessing he want to fill a wall with this stone face. Not recast for selling....But if he is then it's wrong.

 

[Stefan Jones]

okay, I really dont wanna do a recaster debate here. there are many items in the prop scene , that were taken from an original mold of a prop ( for example a very popular golden idol...., isnt it ? ). so, that said, I dont see what is wrong when I would replicate this face taken from an original mold ? But since I dont wanna do anything wrong, the copy wont be for selling.
I wanted to get started in the resin casting for a long time already ( since I bought a "Noisy Cricket" made out of resin, that was such a bad casting with many many bubbles, that I never finished it ). First, before I was able to get this face, I wanted to make an own stone face ( and will probably still do so ) as seen in the indy movie. So I wanna learn making such a casting so or so, because these stone faces are nice props. beside that I would like to try my non existent painting skills more on a copy of that face than on the "original" bought one

 

[rollerboi]

I look forward to seeing your wall when it is done!

You might want to order the book "The Prop Builder's Molding and Casting Handbook" by Thurston James, it's pretty much everything you need to know all in one place.

You can also find a bunch of moldmaking podcasts and stuff over here: http://www.bluerealmstudios.com/blog/

 

[Strofmos]

Smooth-on sells a variaty of Polyurethane foams, but it's a US based company
However, FormX (just Google it) is a company in Netherlands, who carry a large quantity of Smooth-On products
They ship (via DHL) almost everywhere in Europe, at a very fast rate for not that big shipping costs.

 

[Stefan Jones]

thanks rollerboi for the book tip. I have that book, but it is several years old ( still a reference book for sure ) and I hoped to get some actual tips from people here on the board having experience with this kind of prop and mold making.

thanks Strofmos for the tip with the Smooth-on and the company. When I see right I have to make a mould with silicone and then try to find the right pu foam to go with ? what polyurethan foam from smooth-on I should use then ? I need a foam, that is pretty hard after its finished

 

[Strofmos]

Smooth-On product is Foam-It (rigid foam)
Here's a link to the info page: http://www.smooth-on.com/Rigid-and-Flexible/c10_1122/index.html
Just make your choice depending on how light the casting has to be

Remember: Foam-It PU foam is always hard, but the greater the expansion, the lighter the foam structure is and the more fragile it will be.

For all the info you best check the Smooth-On page and then order via FormX
If they don't have what you need, just send them (FormX) an email
They'll propably be able to get the product for you; it's propably just going to take some more time to get it.