Stormtrooper rubber handguard project

Mr. No Stripes

Sr Member
I was going to buy "Stormtrooper's" (aka John) handguards a while back, but never did... and missed my chance to get in on his run... so... I descided to sculpts my own.

I have one problem... I made the handplates out of urethane rubber, and I'm not really sure how Im going to get the urethane to stick to the rubber gloves. I'm not even sure if anything will make it stick :).

I tried a glue from Lowes called "Contact Cement" said on the back it was good for rubber... but it didnt work as I would have hoped... it came off after about 1 minute of wear.

Can anyone help me out?
 
I know that when I was in the "Biz" we used a cement called "Barge".
It is used in all aspects of costume construction.
It is also used in the clothing industry to assemble things like wallets and such.
My rubber hand guards on my Necromonger gloves are attached with it and they stay on after much abuse.

Might give it a try:
http://www.filmtools.com/bace1qshgron.html

It is also in smaller quntitys at places like Lowes and Ace Hardware.
Just do a search.


I was going to buy "Stormtrooper's" (aka John) handguards a while back, but never did... and missed my chance to get in on his run... so... I descided to sculpts my own.

I have one problem... I made the handplates out of urethane rubber, and I'm not really sure how Im going to get the urethane to stick to the rubber gloves. I'm not even sure if anything will make it stick :).

I tried a glue from Lowes called "Contact Cement" said on the back it was good for rubber... but it didnt work as I would have hoped... it came off after about 1 minute of wear.

Can anyone help me out?
 
The next milestone is finding accurate chemical gloves (with the correct texture and such). Been looking at a few hardware stores with no success. Anyone know where to get some?
 
Went to ACE! Thanks for the advice. Found what I needed. Looks like the perfect texture, and the insides are made out of cotten... they are actually pretty comfortable :)

Should have um completed soon... :thumbsup
 
ok, so I've tried out my handguards for a while, and they really aren't staying on as well as I would have hoped. I think they are just too think. I was thinking about resculpting them, but I think maybe I can just modify them...

I was thinking about making a resin copy, and just sanding the resin copy down to perfection, but would there be a more economical way of doing this?
 
ok, so I've tried out my handguards for a while, and they really aren't staying on as well as I would have hoped. I think they are just too think. I was thinking about resculpting them, but I think maybe I can just modify them...

I was thinking about making a resin copy, and just sanding the resin copy down to perfection, but would there be a more economical way of doing this?

Mr. No Stripes,

The simple solution if you want thinner handguards, is to put less latex into your handguard moulds (assuming that you're using open-backed moulds)

Cheers,
John
 
Mr. No Stripes,

The simple solution if you want thinner handguards, is to put less latex into your handguard moulds (assuming that you're using open-backed moulds)

Cheers,
John

well, unfortunatly since the plate is somewhat slanted on one side a little section of the handplate will be missing if I do that. I need to thin out one side, and leave the other the way it is, or possibly add to it. I'm pretty set on making new molds, because I'd like to get all of the imperfections out...

I'm just wondering if there is a better material to use other than resin, that would make this easier, or more cost effective...

I'd also like to know where I can get such material.
 
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I'm just wondering if there is a better material to use other than resin, that would make this easier, or more cost effective...

IMO using a rigid material such as vac-formed plastic or resin defeats the purpose of having accurate (ie flexible rubber) handguards.

Latex has been working well for me, and is probably what they used in the original movie. It's also more flexible than polyurethane rubber, so you can go thicker and still have it conform to the back of your hand, without it coming unstuck :)

Cheers,
John
troopergloves@yahoo.com
 
IMO using a rigid material such as vac-formed plastic or resin defeats the purpose of having accurate (ie flexible rubber) handguards.

Latex has been working well for me, and is probably what they used in the original movie. It's also more flexible than polyurethane rubber, so you can go thicker and still have it conform to the back of your hand, without it coming unstuck :)

Cheers,
John
troopergloves@yahoo.com

no no no... :) I won't be using the resin as a handplate, I'll use it as a model when I cast my mold. My plates will still be made of rubber. I wan't something I can sand down to get out all the imperfections, then make a rubber copy of it. :thumbsup
 
no no no... :) I won't be using the resin as a handplate, I'll use it as a model when I cast my mold. My plates will still be made of rubber. I wan't something I can sand down to get out all the imperfections, then make a rubber copy of it. :thumbsup

Sounds like waaaay too much hassle (been there, done that :rolleyes)

Just send me a bundle of money and I'll send you a plaster mould that you can make latex handguards from :p

Cheers,
John
troopergloves@yahoo.com

PS - hehe, just kidding of course.... to make a mould from plaster you will need a master from a *flexible* material. When I first sculpted my handplate masters in air-dry clay, I cast the negative moulds in plaster.... and they got completely locked-in and despite damaging the masters the moulds were unusable. :cry
So you gotta go from rigid to flexible to rigid female moulds (ie. plaster, for casting latex in)
So I have a workbench covered in silicone female moulds, polyurethane male positive moulds, and countless 'trial and error' combo's!
Good Luck! :)
 
Sounds like waaaay too much hassle (been there, done that :rolleyes)

Just send me a bundle of money and I'll send you a plaster mould that you can make latex handguards from :p

Cheers,
John
troopergloves@yahoo.com

PS - hehe, just kidding of course.... to make a mould from plaster you will need a master from a *flexible* material. When I first sculpted my handplate masters in air-dry clay, I cast the negative moulds in plaster.... and they got completely locked-in and despite damaging the masters the moulds were unusable. :cry
So you gotta go from rigid to flexible to rigid female moulds (ie. plaster, for casting latex in)
So I have a workbench covered in silicone female moulds, polyurethane male positive moulds, and countless 'trial and error' combo's!
Good Luck! :)

thanks man... I'll figure something out I guess... :thumbsup
 
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You could try making a two part mould to cast the hand plates. You could fill the mould with latex from the top/wrist and keep a uniform thickness that way.

Just how thick are your hand plates anyway?

I've made my own too and just experimenting with various paints at the moment:)
 
You could try making a two part mould to cast the hand plates. You could fill the mould with latex from the top/wrist and keep a uniform thickness that way.

Just how thick are your hand plates anyway?

I've made my own too and just experimenting with various paints at the moment:)

they vary in thickness depending on the side of the plate, but the tickest part is a little over a CM... like 1 1/4 CM
 
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