The Topknot Build. New photos of torso life cast build. 05/07/2015
- Thread starter AlphaTech686
- Start date
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Hey Troggs about securing the mask, I will be making a plug from the contraption you see above so the silicone will be made to fit around the brow bar so hopefully it won't need to be secured. Of course this is all just theory and conjecture right now. I have high hopes. Thanks for checkin in dude.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Thanks everyone. Hey Andrew it's good to hear from ya. The good Lord willing I will be walking around in this thing someday. I finished all the moving stuff today but this crazy sight won't let me post any videos or photos. Anyone else having this issue?
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Hey Jose, I agree with the Greek, neutral on latex. I have to add this I would not attempt to do a jaw actuated
mechanism with a latex mask. The latex is just to stiff to get good movement with jaw power.
So I got the bug out of the computer and here are some updates.
First off is the movement video with the finished mechanism.
http://s3.photobucket.com/user/alphapredator686/media/001_zps6b5f25a5.mp4.html
Next are the photos of the finished piece.
That's all for now. I need to download some other photos of what I did yesterday.
mechanism with a latex mask. The latex is just to stiff to get good movement with jaw power.
So I got the bug out of the computer and here are some updates.
First off is the movement video with the finished mechanism.
http://s3.photobucket.com/user/alphapredator686/media/001_zps6b5f25a5.mp4.html
Next are the photos of the finished piece.
That's all for now. I need to download some other photos of what I did yesterday.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Hey thanks everyone for keepin up with the build. Here are a few updates.
I started to build up the skull cap to get the skull shape. I used Free Form Air epoxy putty.
I know it looks weird. I'm sort of figuring this out as I go. I almost wasn't going to post this because it
looks so goofy.
Ok so here is what I am doing with the skull. This is a quick maquette I did to see
exactly the shape I wanted. Don't judge my sculpting I just wanted something rought to
go by. I want the topknot to not just look like a ponytail.
So once I had the maquette I started building the wire armature onto the skull.
That's all for now. This is all no-mans land for me so I would appreciate any comments. I got the fiberglass on this yesterday
but I didn't download the photos yet. I will get them up tomorrow. My plan is to mount the fans then prepare this to be molded
then cast as a plug to sculpt the head on. Once the head is molded I will then bolt the plug inside and pour in the silicone. I should
have a mask that fits the mechanism like a glove. That is my hope.
I started to build up the skull cap to get the skull shape. I used Free Form Air epoxy putty.
I know it looks weird. I'm sort of figuring this out as I go. I almost wasn't going to post this because it
looks so goofy.
Ok so here is what I am doing with the skull. This is a quick maquette I did to see
exactly the shape I wanted. Don't judge my sculpting I just wanted something rought to
go by. I want the topknot to not just look like a ponytail.
So once I had the maquette I started building the wire armature onto the skull.
That's all for now. This is all no-mans land for me so I would appreciate any comments. I got the fiberglass on this yesterday
but I didn't download the photos yet. I will get them up tomorrow. My plan is to mount the fans then prepare this to be molded
then cast as a plug to sculpt the head on. Once the head is molded I will then bolt the plug inside and pour in the silicone. I should
have a mask that fits the mechanism like a glove. That is my hope.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Here is the latest.
I started putting fiberglass on the the mesh but weirdly it would not stick so I covered it with duct tape and all was good.
Here it is cleaned up with the wire mesh and duct tape pulled out. I decided to mount 2 fans in it since
I had the room. Air flow is my friend.
Obviously the dreads will hide these.
I can't believe it but the head is actually pretty symmetrical.
Getting it ready to mold. Duct tape went over all the mechanical stuff.
Then I started filling in with Klean Clay. I have never used this stuff before but it seams ok to work with.
I am filling in where I think I need the silicone to be thinner ie; above the eye brows. I also place clay around the nose
and mouth as I want air space in there for circulation.
First coat of silicone. I have never used cabosil to thicken silicone before. I bought a small container off Ebay and later a larger
one form Smooth On when I bought the silicone. I used the small container first and then the Smooth On brand. The point
here is not all cabosil is the same. The stuff from Smooth on worked 10 times better than the other stuff. Don't ask me why.
We live and learn.
Nice thick coat this morning.
That's it for now. Enjoy!
I started putting fiberglass on the the mesh but weirdly it would not stick so I covered it with duct tape and all was good.
Here it is cleaned up with the wire mesh and duct tape pulled out. I decided to mount 2 fans in it since
I had the room. Air flow is my friend.
Obviously the dreads will hide these.
I can't believe it but the head is actually pretty symmetrical.
Getting it ready to mold. Duct tape went over all the mechanical stuff.
Then I started filling in with Klean Clay. I have never used this stuff before but it seams ok to work with.
I am filling in where I think I need the silicone to be thinner ie; above the eye brows. I also place clay around the nose
and mouth as I want air space in there for circulation.
First coat of silicone. I have never used cabosil to thicken silicone before. I bought a small container off Ebay and later a larger
one form Smooth On when I bought the silicone. I used the small container first and then the Smooth On brand. The point
here is not all cabosil is the same. The stuff from Smooth on worked 10 times better than the other stuff. Don't ask me why.
We live and learn.
Nice thick coat this morning.
That's it for now. Enjoy!
Predasaurus
New Member
That's nice work so far. I can't wait to see the finished piece!
Eli
Eli
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Got some good work done this weekend. I was trying to use as little material as possible on the mother mold so here is how it turned out.
I used strips of Free Form Air putty first.
Then I layed up fiberglass into that form.
I did a stip of Free Form under the chin also but forgot to snap a shot. I used plaster bandages for the side.
Then I drilled holes to bolt the pieces together.
Here is the top piece pulled off.
And the silicone pulled off.
Here it is bolted back together ready to slush cast some resin.
Started by casting the mandible area first.
Once I had the resin as thick as I needed I took it to the garage, which was about 33 degrees, and filled it with Hydrocal.
I filled the back half with plastic bags first to take up space. I had to use hot water to mix the hydocal. It went ok except my fingers got cold.
Here it is with the mother mold off.
And here is the pull. I started cleaning up the areas that need to be removed where I had placed tape to help
give the resin a better path into the little mandibles.
As I said before this will be to sculpt on and also used as the plug to bolt back into the finished head mold to
pour silicone around. If all goes like I plan the mask should fit around the mechanism perfectly. So far so good.
Actually I decided I need to add a couple of inches of resin to the bottom of the neck so I will have something easier than
cement to screw the head mold to. Now all I have to do is sculpt a head. It's been a few years, like 15 since did a head. I'm pretty
excited.
Here are a couple of updates on the hand. I'm still monkeying around with skin ideas.
That's all for today.
I used strips of Free Form Air putty first.
Then I layed up fiberglass into that form.
I did a stip of Free Form under the chin also but forgot to snap a shot. I used plaster bandages for the side.
Then I drilled holes to bolt the pieces together.
Here is the top piece pulled off.
And the silicone pulled off.
Here it is bolted back together ready to slush cast some resin.
Started by casting the mandible area first.
Once I had the resin as thick as I needed I took it to the garage, which was about 33 degrees, and filled it with Hydrocal.
I filled the back half with plastic bags first to take up space. I had to use hot water to mix the hydocal. It went ok except my fingers got cold.
Here it is with the mother mold off.
And here is the pull. I started cleaning up the areas that need to be removed where I had placed tape to help
give the resin a better path into the little mandibles.
As I said before this will be to sculpt on and also used as the plug to bolt back into the finished head mold to
pour silicone around. If all goes like I plan the mask should fit around the mechanism perfectly. So far so good.
Actually I decided I need to add a couple of inches of resin to the bottom of the neck so I will have something easier than
cement to screw the head mold to. Now all I have to do is sculpt a head. It's been a few years, like 15 since did a head. I'm pretty
excited.
Here are a couple of updates on the hand. I'm still monkeying around with skin ideas.
That's all for today.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Hey Dude, nice to hear from you. I am sculpting a knew Topknot over this armature. The cables can be bought at radio control airplane hobby shops. I use the cover but put in a lighter cable as the ones that come with them are pretty stiff. I just checked out your Bumble Bee bio earlier. Very unique and cool not to mention well executed.
Predasaurus
New Member
This is gonna be great! I was wondering, are you going to be using an electronic system for your mandibles or is it going to mainly be pulleys and other mechanisms?
Eli
Eli
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