Twi'Lek Headtail project WIP *Update*
- Thread starter Darth Mule
- Start date
Darth Mule
Sr Member
That is always a possibility. Let me see how this first cast turns out. If I do, it will likely be a very limited run. When I work, I tend to have a busier life than most, and that consumes most of my time. Right now I have alot of free time because I just closed one show (that got picked up for a Broadway run in the fall btw:love) and my next gig doesn't begin until mid may.
DavetheDane
New Member
Cool - I will keep my eyes open 
Darth Mule
Sr Member
I finally have a latex prototype! The whole thing is built up to about 1/8" thick latex.
After several weeks of patient waiting for the weather not to suck enough to play with substances that are adversely effected by humididty, I actually got a prototype pulled. The technique was pretty simple, though getting the cast clean is a little trickier.
All in all I think it worked out pretty well for a first pull. My plan is to trim off the flash and touch it up with some latex. Perhaps sponge the surface a bit for texture. For the next pull I will attempt to seal the seams inside the mold before pouring so I can get a cleaner cast. I also have some cold foam that I want to cast so that I have a rigid form to create a better negative mold in the near future.
After several weeks of patient waiting for the weather not to suck enough to play with substances that are adversely effected by humididty, I actually got a prototype pulled. The technique was pretty simple, though getting the cast clean is a little trickier.
All in all I think it worked out pretty well for a first pull. My plan is to trim off the flash and touch it up with some latex. Perhaps sponge the surface a bit for texture. For the next pull I will attempt to seal the seams inside the mold before pouring so I can get a cleaner cast. I also have some cold foam that I want to cast so that I have a rigid form to create a better negative mold in the near future.
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ItsThatGuy
Sr Member
That's all kinds of cool, Chris! :thumbsup Looks really nice for your first pull ever.
ROBOSTEVE 0671
Sr Member
Awesome work! Nicely done :thumbsup
Darth Mule
Sr Member
Just a small update. Got all the seams trimmed down, just waiting on it to dry after a nice wash. Going to clean it up some more and texture it a bit with some moer latex. I also have a second set coming out of the mold tonight or tomorrow. I'm not sure how many I'll get out of the latex I have, but there will be extras if anyone is interested.
ItsThatGuy
Sr Member
This thread is useless with out pictures!
Darth Mule
Sr Member
That's why its a "small" update. I should have some pics in the next couple of days.
Satxer
Sr Member
I may know someone interested pending what you seek...
Darth Mule
Sr Member
Another update:
After pretty much butchering this thing with a pair of scissors and an exacto knife whilst trying to get the seams trimmed up, I did the obvious and googled for better techniques. Sure enough, you can take the sanding drum on the trusty dremel to it. It chews it up a bit, bit not too bad that you can't layer over it with a little bit of latex. I did this with a natural sponge and the effect came out quite nicely. Gives it a very skinlike texture. I mixed some blue acrylic into some latex and Betsy went to work sponging the headtail. I'm going to let her handle the painting as she is far more qualified than I (scene painter). She want to layer a few different tones in to give it more depth.
Did a quick test fitting. The prosthetic fits well (the do-rag is to approximate her headwrap).
I do, however, have bad(ish) news. I boasted earlier about mayber doing a run of these. Sadly, I got one more pull out of it before I decided to try to make some adjustments to the mold to fix the problems I was having with it. Alas, I more or less destroyed it in the process, so there won't be a run of these in the near future. I still plan on tackling this again with my new and improved skillset, but it will be awhile before I have the time and space to do so. I'll probably try to offload the 2nd pull, but it does have some issues. I'll post more info on that when I have some time.
After pretty much butchering this thing with a pair of scissors and an exacto knife whilst trying to get the seams trimmed up, I did the obvious and googled for better techniques. Sure enough, you can take the sanding drum on the trusty dremel to it. It chews it up a bit, bit not too bad that you can't layer over it with a little bit of latex. I did this with a natural sponge and the effect came out quite nicely. Gives it a very skinlike texture. I mixed some blue acrylic into some latex and Betsy went to work sponging the headtail. I'm going to let her handle the painting as she is far more qualified than I (scene painter). She want to layer a few different tones in to give it more depth.
Did a quick test fitting. The prosthetic fits well (the do-rag is to approximate her headwrap).
I do, however, have bad(ish) news. I boasted earlier about mayber doing a run of these. Sadly, I got one more pull out of it before I decided to try to make some adjustments to the mold to fix the problems I was having with it. Alas, I more or less destroyed it in the process, so there won't be a run of these in the near future. I still plan on tackling this again with my new and improved skillset, but it will be awhile before I have the time and space to do so. I'll probably try to offload the 2nd pull, but it does have some issues. I'll post more info on that when I have some time.
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Darth Mule
Sr Member
Well. Got the costume done in time for Dragon Con. Due to the craziness that is my life, I didn't get to have all the pieces together until the Convention, so that was the test run (as it was with my Obi Wan). Definitely have some kinks to work out. Mostly rethinking the way this thing sits on her head. It kept pulling back and giving her a weird posture. I think I have it all worked out in my head. Just need time to play with it.
There are better pics floating around somewhere.
There are better pics floating around somewhere.
Smurffykins
New Member
I want to know what you made that out of exactly Dx
izabel
Sr Member
Re: Twi'Lek Headtail project WIP
:thumbsup yeah. Darth Talon FTW. I hope I can pull it off. I'm planning to but I think i'll start with aayla. I'll be watching this as I am still figuring out those lekku. :rolleyes
:thumbsup yeah. Darth Talon FTW. I hope I can pull it off. I'm planning to but I think i'll start with aayla. I'll be watching this as I am still figuring out those lekku. :rolleyes
Darth Mule
Sr Member
Made out of latex. I had started sculpting a V 2.0 when she cheated on me, so I promptly reacquisitioned the lightsaber I built her and locked the lekku sculpt away in a storage shed.
The technique starts with a clay sculpt that you cast in Ultra Cal or Hydro Cal (really strong plasters). When you have a clean negative mold, you fill the whole thing with latex and let it sit for a couple hours. The plaster absorbs moisture from the latex causing it to form a skin closest to the inner surface of the mold. Pour off the latex back into the bucket and let what remains on the inside of the mold cure.
The technique starts with a clay sculpt that you cast in Ultra Cal or Hydro Cal (really strong plasters). When you have a clean negative mold, you fill the whole thing with latex and let it sit for a couple hours. The plaster absorbs moisture from the latex causing it to form a skin closest to the inner surface of the mold. Pour off the latex back into the bucket and let what remains on the inside of the mold cure.
Avalon
New Member
This is an awesome scuplt, i love your lekkus, very nice blue color. I have been on many other costume sites before this one and havent found too many who make them. Very impressed!! I am excited to see others making these!
I started sculpting my own lekkus a few months ago, and im getting ready to mold them. I am doing mine the same way, i do have a question, how heavy were they on your head? i wanted to just glue it to my forehead to skip the strap around my neck.. thanks for any feedback.. Great costume!
I started sculpting my own lekkus a few months ago, and im getting ready to mold them. I am doing mine the same way, i do have a question, how heavy were they on your head? i wanted to just glue it to my forehead to skip the strap around my neck.. thanks for any feedback.. Great costume!
Darth Mule
Sr Member
I'm not sure how possible gluing them to your head would be. They do have some weight to them, but it could feasibly be possible to spirit gum and latex them to one's head. I think something could be built up to make a hidden chin strap out of latex that could be blended with makeup though.
Harmonic_Distortion
Well-Known Member
This would be great for a Saint Walker headtail too.
He's a Blue Lantern within the DC Universe. If there's ever a run when you do the new mold, count me in.
He's a Blue Lantern within the DC Universe. If there's ever a run when you do the new mold, count me in.
