Sculpting a Predator Bio from Pink Foam Insulation?

[cayman shen]

I saw the praises of pink foam sung in a few other threads lately (Duck's Chewie, for instance), and I was wondering if it would be possible to laminate a few chunks together for thickness, carve a bio, then bondo it or something. I ask because I can't afford proper sculpting/casting materials, but pink foam can be dug out of a dumpster! :lol

 

[jackdoud]

Depends how intricate you want to get. Bondo isn't the greatest of sculpting mediums and does mildly react to foam. Once you get a few coats on it's not a problem though. If you're going to sculpt over foam I'd recommend stucco over bondo, it'd be brittle but should hold up long enough to pull a single cast off for a mold.

 

[cayman shen]

How about using green foam floral blocks? I saw somebody here do some clone helms that way.

I'm gonna want pretty good detail. I wonder if the foam can be sealed before bondoing?

 

[jackdoud]

If you're set on using bondo you don't have to worry about sealing the foam, just don't expect to get a smooth finish with the first and second coat.

 

[cayman shen]

Oh I'm not set on bondo per se, I'm just not sure what the options are.

 

[mdb]

I wish I could find pink foam so easily I get blank looks when I try ot explain I don't want white styrofoam sheets...Then again I've also been told that there is no such thing as acrylic spray paint (and told it's be special order from the US when I said that's not true...) and more... the joys of ignorant staff or being female in "boys" stores.

Anyway.. how about using it as a base to fibreglass over? Now if I can get both polyester and epoxy fibreglass in my little neck of the west anyone can Sort of use it the way pepakura is used. I understant all you'd need is some sort of barrier between the FG and foam.

Oh yeah, I've been thinking similar thoughts to get my own Bio sorted
http://costumes.glittersweet.com/other/hunter.htm
Was also thinking of cuir boille with matching leather but this stuff doesn't want to cooperate so I need to be able to texturise the surface too.

 

[cayman shen]

Yeah, I guess glassing it could be an option...

Speaking of pepakura, I've never been able to download the one bio pep. that I know exists. You wouldn't happen to have one you could email, would you?

 

[Heatshock]

have you thought abt pepakura?
there was a nice posting on the 405th - drop me a pm if u want it; its on my home PC somewhere

 

[dropshipbob]

Once you get the rough shape from the insulation, you could cover it with Celluclay. It's paper mache, but it's so fine it acts like clay. You can sculpt into it and once it's dry, you could use a dremel to further detail it. Sand it down to the desired finish and there you go. And it has minimal shrinkage, although the more water you use to thin it down, the more it will crack as it dries.

 

[cayman shen]

PM sent Heatshock, and thanks for the tip dropshipbob!

 

[Sith Prop Lord]

While pink foam is great for carving, make sure you wear the proper facemask when working with it specially if sanding. The dust particles that you breathe in from this is dangerous, it sticks to your lungs and is there to stay since it does not decompose.

 

[Heatshock]

hey Caymen - email sent
for those interested its a pdo file by Spartan857 fd on teh 405th HALO forums

 

[Prop-Builder]

Can't wait to see the progress on this. I need to find out more on foam sculpting & carving as I'm sure it will benefit my model-making big time! :cool

 

[cayman shen]

Well, my first two attempts at the pepakura have been a bust. You read it right people...I can't even fold paper right.

All joking aside, the hot glue I was using was too chunky and made it hard to fold the last few pieces, so I had to throw in the towel. I'll give it another go in a few days...

 

[cayman shen]

So, trying this again with a Fett helmet. If I have the steps right, you lightly resin the outside, then cut some fiberglass strips, and apply them one by one to the inside with more resin? Can you do two layers to make it bombproof? Then you slather bondo or rondo or resin jelly to the outside in the basic shape, then sand to perfection?

Am I missing anything? Steps reversed? Idiocies?

 

[Laffo]

So, trying this again with a Fett helmet. If I have the steps right, you lightly resin the outside, then cut some fiberglass strips, and apply them one by one to the inside with more resin? Can you do two layers to make it bombproof? Then you slather bondo or rondo or resin jelly to the outside in the basic shape, then sand to perfection?

Am I missing anything? Steps reversed? Idiocies?

For what? Foam or Paper?
Laffo.