The Topknot Build. New photos of torso life cast build. 05/07/2015
- Thread starter AlphaTech686
- Start date
Eaglewood
Sr Member
Jeff, WHEN this bad boy is done, how many times are you going to wear it? My friend Bobby spent 10 years and $$$$$ making a full size running Batmobile so it could sit in his garage turned theater room and people could drool over it when they came by. One day we were sitting there discussing it and I said to him-- "Bobby, you know what you did here, what are you gonna do with it now? You should just sell it." He thought about it for like 30 seconds and said that , yep, it wasnt doing him any good just sitting there. Well, long story short, he made enough to move to Florida and buy a house. I guess the moral of the story is here, we spend numerous amounts of time , effort, money to create these pieces , only to do what with them-- Have them sit on display in our man caves, or possibly wear them every now and then. I so much applaud the talent and dedication that goes into everything that we do, especially when it is the level that Jeff is doing here-- Completely off the scale Jeff, Congrats. You Rock!!
But at the end of the day, we have a bunch of latex, silicone, plastic, resin, electronics that we shaped into something awesome to do what with? Sit on our man cave so everyone can look at them? Wear them in the Halloween parade?
I know there are those who use their suits a lot, but for what-- go to a con so everyone can stand next to us, pull our dreads, stop us after we have walked 2 feet, pull on our suits so they can get a selfie, keep us with their friends to take a pic when we are sweating our butts off, have to piss and want to just sit down and get outta the thing? Sometimes I wonder if its worth it.
Guess Im just looking for something more out of things. Keep on doing what you do everyone-- Be proud of what you accomplish . But expand your horizons-- Dont get stuck in a rut if you create something that sells, dont stop there-- go on to bigger and better things.
Again, Jeff, this is one awesome build my friend. Great work.
But at the end of the day, we have a bunch of latex, silicone, plastic, resin, electronics that we shaped into something awesome to do what with? Sit on our man cave so everyone can look at them? Wear them in the Halloween parade?
I know there are those who use their suits a lot, but for what-- go to a con so everyone can stand next to us, pull our dreads, stop us after we have walked 2 feet, pull on our suits so they can get a selfie, keep us with their friends to take a pic when we are sweating our butts off, have to piss and want to just sit down and get outta the thing? Sometimes I wonder if its worth it.
Guess Im just looking for something more out of things. Keep on doing what you do everyone-- Be proud of what you accomplish . But expand your horizons-- Dont get stuck in a rut if you create something that sells, dont stop there-- go on to bigger and better things.
Again, Jeff, this is one awesome build my friend. Great work.
Predatoj
Well-Known Member
That's precisley the reason I stopped buying model kits, DVD's and lots of other useless things. I got sick of things that just sat on the shelf. You can only look at them or watch them so much, eventually they're just stealing usable space. I got into this hobby because I had a long standing love of special effects, since the age of 15 I always wanted to make a pred head, after 25 years I've finally just finished my P1 head (photos coming soon).
I got into this to experience the whole process of sculpting, moulding, casting and painting. I don't do it for money but I probably wouldn't do it if I didn't feel I could sell a few peices and get all my money back, it's so expensive. When your young it's exciting creating this stuff, lost in your own sci-fi world, but when you get older you question, "why am I doing this"???
It's also the reason why I devote myself professionally to work in sound for film because I know something will be done with my work, it will go out to film festivals and be seen (or heard) and be appreciated - The point is I'm not just doing it for myself.
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AlphaTech686
Active Member
Hey everyone I have not quit. I did get the new plug made. I need to down load a couple of photos. In the mean time I decided to set that project down and regroup a bit so I decided to get at finishing my torso lifecast. Here it is. My wife helped me and it worked out well although it was sort of hilarious, at least my wife thought so.
Here I am with the plaster bandages on. I did the arms separate from the torso.
That "bonnet" is my bald cap. I didn't have one laying around and the beauty supply place was close and this is all they had. It's ok you can laugh. I decided to include my head for placement issues later.
Once I had the cast off I layed in 1/8 inch of clay. I happened to see a Steve Wang video on suits where he mentioned shaving down lifecast so the suit would fit tighter. I figured he knew what he was talking about.
I had these materials laying around so I put them to good use. This is the inside structure to hold the arms and give the neck some strength.
These are after I poured in the rigid expanding foam and peeled off the plaster and clay.
See the shim on the bottom. I fixed that later. (the last photo)
After a good cleaning.
This is the structure for the arm.
This will only let me post 20 photos at a time so I will get the rest up later.
Here I am with the plaster bandages on. I did the arms separate from the torso.
That "bonnet" is my bald cap. I didn't have one laying around and the beauty supply place was close and this is all they had. It's ok you can laugh. I decided to include my head for placement issues later.
Once I had the cast off I layed in 1/8 inch of clay. I happened to see a Steve Wang video on suits where he mentioned shaving down lifecast so the suit would fit tighter. I figured he knew what he was talking about.
I had these materials laying around so I put them to good use. This is the inside structure to hold the arms and give the neck some strength.
These are after I poured in the rigid expanding foam and peeled off the plaster and clay.
See the shim on the bottom. I fixed that later. (the last photo)
After a good cleaning.
This is the structure for the arm.
This will only let me post 20 photos at a time so I will get the rest up later.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Here is part 2. Laying up the clay in the arm.
Peeling off the plaster and clay.
The finished arm.
Of course the other arm.
The pour.
These next few photos are the mechanism I designed to hold the arms in place. They fit nice and snug but I figured when they start getting clay on them they could be under some tension. It's probably overkill but here it is.
And finally the 2 coats of Epoxacoat to give it a nice shell.
I almost forgot, I mentioned this in the previous post. I did not get the torso pour plum on the base so I eventually cut it off and shimmed it to a new base. I knew later when I was sculpting in symmetry the off angle would screw me up.
That is all for now. See I told you I haven't just been sitting around.
Peeling off the plaster and clay.
The finished arm.
Of course the other arm.
The pour.
These next few photos are the mechanism I designed to hold the arms in place. They fit nice and snug but I figured when they start getting clay on them they could be under some tension. It's probably overkill but here it is.
And finally the 2 coats of Epoxacoat to give it a nice shell.
I almost forgot, I mentioned this in the previous post. I did not get the torso pour plum on the base so I eventually cut it off and shimmed it to a new base. I knew later when I was sculpting in symmetry the off angle would screw me up.
That is all for now. See I told you I haven't just been sitting around.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Thanks Dude.
Unforgiven Hunter
New Member
This has been such an awesome thread to read, and then re-read a bunch of times. I really can't wait to see what you come up with for the torso design.
-Chris
-Chris
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Hey thanks all. I have set the pred down for a bit. I am working on something else for a while and I don't really know where to post the pics. I don't think we have an off topic section anymore.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Hey there is an "Off Topic" section. Incase anyone wants to know I am working on Grommash Hellscream. I ran across a build Steve Wang showed on his Facebook and decided I needed to do a costume of it. It was very inspirational. I will post some pics soon on Off Topics. I haven't given up on Topknot just setting him to the side for now.
LunaticNic
Sr Member
Have there been any updates on gromash or the pred? I would love to see either!
Couldn't find anything about gromash in the off topic section either.
Couldn't find anything about gromash in the off topic section either.
AlphaTech686
Active Member
Hey Man I've been posting a few things on Grommash on my facebook page. Jeff Shimek austin tx. You need to check him out
AlphaTech686
Active Member
In case anyone is interested I just started posting the Grommash build on Off Topics
Mortal Immortal
New Member
whooop whooop
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