The Topknot Build. New photos of torso life cast build. 05/07/2015
- Thread starter AlphaTech686
- Start date
AlphaTech686
Active Member
I was wrong earlier it was 103 degrees. I had a good day. Here is the mold half ready for clay and silicone.
I learned a few things. 1- on the next hand I won't do clay damns down the fingers, I was trying to save silicone but it was hell fiberglassing. 2- I put the keys a
little to far out so the flange will be a little wide. 3- it was well worth watching the Youtube vidoe on working with fiberglass. I have done a ton of glassing over the years but I got some good tips. A- use fiber matte not woven matte. The woven matte is much more difficult to get it to form over things. B- presoak the matte in resin, it softens and is really nice to form. It was a good day.
After a good alcohol cleaning
I learned a few things. 1- on the next hand I won't do clay damns down the fingers, I was trying to save silicone but it was hell fiberglassing. 2- I put the keys a
little to far out so the flange will be a little wide. 3- it was well worth watching the Youtube vidoe on working with fiberglass. I have done a ton of glassing over the years but I got some good tips. A- use fiber matte not woven matte. The woven matte is much more difficult to get it to form over things. B- presoak the matte in resin, it softens and is really nice to form. It was a good day.
After a good alcohol cleaning
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Trying to keep the momentum going. I just finished getting the hand ready for the second half.
This side is taking a full 4 cups.
This side is taking a full 4 cups.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
I went a head a stayed up to pour this last night. Here are the pics from this morning. I am very happy so far with how the molding process is working. I have never spent this much time making a mold mostly because I used to hate this part. I wouldn't want to do it for a living but it isn't horrible. Buy the way I was wrong twice about Thursday when I fiberglassed this, it was a record high of 106. No wonder that fiberglass kicked so fast. Ha.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Got the second half fiberglassed yesterday. It looks hind of crazy. The first to pics are of the PVA mold release. I hope to trim this and drill the holes today. The next hand will be done differently. Probably more how it should have been done. I will put a nice 1/2 inch layer of clay around the hand then make the 2 piece fiberglass mother mold, then clean out the clay, put it all back together and pour in the silicone. I thought I was being smart, I was not.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
The right hand mold is finished. Everything went great. The PVA works awesomely. The mold halves practically fell apart. Now I need to start on cutting the
thumb and pointer off and building some keys on them. I will need to remold those too. Oh crap then I need to start on the other hand.
thumb and pointer off and building some keys on them. I will need to remold those too. Oh crap then I need to start on the other hand.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Thanks Steve. Well the thumb is ready to be molded. Here's what I did today.
First I cut it apart.
Then I marked where the key would be and placed a couple of screws to help hold the bondo in place.
I also drilled the holes for the first 2 magnets.
Shaped and sanded with the other 2 magnets in place.
I did a little spot puttying to finish it up.
Ready to mold.
First I cut it apart.
Then I marked where the key would be and placed a couple of screws to help hold the bondo in place.
I also drilled the holes for the first 2 magnets.
Shaped and sanded with the other 2 magnets in place.
I did a little spot puttying to finish it up.
Ready to mold.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Here are a few photos of what I got done yesterday. I'm a little embarrassed as to the quality of the 2 molds. I just wanted a couple of block molds. They look crappy but they will work. I now have one more mold to make. I still have to cut of the pointer from the thumb then mold just the thumb. I know it sounds like a lot of molding. Once done I will cast the thumb then then place the magnets and release and place it in the thumb/pointer mold and cast that so I will have the 2 piece fitting perfectly. Then I will cast the pinky. Then I will place the magnets and release on all the pieces and place them in the hand mold and finally cast the whole hand. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. So here are the photos.
If you look close at the bigger
mold you will see a piece of wire taped to the side. I forgot why I should have used
foam board not cardboard. The cardboard starts to bow from the weight of the silicone. Not to self "foamboard
not cardboard.
If you look close at the bigger
mold you will see a piece of wire taped to the side. I forgot why I should have used
foam board not cardboard. The cardboard starts to bow from the weight of the silicone. Not to self "foamboard
not cardboard.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Here are the first pulls straight out of the molds. I'm hoping to cut the thumb off and get that molded today as well as maybe starting
the whole process over again on the left hand.
the whole process over again on the left hand.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Alright I had to do this before I went to workout. The magnets are set. This just needs a release and it is ready to be placed back in
the hand mold for the final pour.
the hand mold for the final pour.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
The final mold for this hand is done. Here is the thumb and mold. I measured with water again so I have no waste and never come up short.
Arhimedes really new his stuff.
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Arhimedes really new his stuff.
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AlphaTech686
Active Member
I'm having pretty good success with this pouring stuff. I poured these in TC1630 per a suggestion by George (ptgreek). This stuff is suppose to be very tough.
I probably won't be driving over it with my car but it's always good to try new things.
Here is the little finger and thumb pulls.
Here it is with the magnets in place. I actually screwed up a little as the
only magnet to be glued in should have been the one to the pointer finger.
It fit back into the mold ok. I was a little worried but it worked out.
And here it is after the pour of the pointer. Next I will release all of these and place them back into the hand
mold for the final pour. It's a heck of a nice fit.
I probably won't be driving over it with my car but it's always good to try new things.
Here is the little finger and thumb pulls.
Here it is with the magnets in place. I actually screwed up a little as the
only magnet to be glued in should have been the one to the pointer finger.
It fit back into the mold ok. I was a little worried but it worked out.
And here it is after the pour of the pointer. Next I will release all of these and place them back into the hand
mold for the final pour. It's a heck of a nice fit.
TK-4140
Well-Known Member
Hello Jeff,
sorry to take your time but I would like to ask you are you planing to make these absolutly fantastic hands available at a later time also to others?
I ask that because it´s exactly what I´m looking for also for all my Batman displays as the normal mannequein hands are allmoost hard or unimpossible to get into the gloves.
Greetings Guido
sorry to take your time but I would like to ask you are you planing to make these absolutly fantastic hands available at a later time also to others?
I ask that because it´s exactly what I´m looking for also for all my Batman displays as the normal mannequein hands are allmoost hard or unimpossible to get into the gloves.
Greetings Guido
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Thanks guys. I'm gettin ready to pour the whole thing here in a minute. Wish me luck that this works out like it is suppose to.
