What's the best way to shorten a mannequin?

[Raven1973]

I hope this is in the right place, if not, I am sorry Mods.

I have 3 mannequins now, one of which (my latest one) needs to be shortened from 6' 4" to 5' 10". As many of you guys buy mannequins for your costume displays, I was wondering if any of you have done this, and whats the best way?

So 6" has to be lost someplace. I was thinking leaving the body, and taking 3" off the calf and 3" off the thigh, to try and retain credible proportions.

My main question is how to firmly reattach the two cut parts, maybe a piece of tin, wrapped around the limb and screwed in on either side, or maybe a tube inside the hollow parts, then auto fiberglass smoothed over the cut area, or plaster of paris, the same stuff that hospitals use for fractures?

I then have to cut the head and parts of the mannequins shoulders away as I have a bust I want to attach.

Any info would be very much appreciated.

 

[mdb]

I am currently in the process of doing this very thing

My mannequin has no head (but will once I can get a cast of my headcast) and limbs that are wider and longer than her body should be.

The legs are going to be easiest. I have already worked out where to make the cuts and approximate size. I plan on cut through these and then filling the cavities with expanding foam (space filla- it's a one part air cure) and then cutting the extra foam off and using a dowel to put the leg back together- also squirt more of that foam in before strapping it down as it self adheres and so makes a stable bond.
And then I'll carve out the back of the knees and add extra to the sides of the thighs and give all the joins and new cut outs a nice layers of epoxy filler then epoxy resin and matting and finally tissue.
All surfaces will need to be prepped to adhere of course but I have already started and I have some photos of the torso in my Blood Dragon armour thread.

I probably actually need to do the legs asap to be able to make my armour- her calves are too straight at the back so are a bit useless at being able to sculpt closely fitting armour over (as can be seen in my Shae Vizla thread).
I had to put some matting away today as I was just out of funds but I may be able to get the calves cut and filled to show some progress anyway. Wll be working on it next week hopefully as the new resin and my skin get along a lot better

 

[Raven1973]

Wow, sounds like you have a plan there mate. I'm lucky with this project, as the mannequin is fully clothed, so it dosent matter too much about it being aesthetically pleasing to the eye, just need to make sure its stable, and none of the mods can be seen beneath the thick clothing.

 

[Raven1973]

Well I have started. I have taken out 3.5" from the the legs. 2" from the thighs and 1.5" from the calf and shins. Luckily the other 2.5" can be lost in the neck, as the head and neck are to be removed and replaced, the neck on this mannequin is exceptionally long.

I tried to cut the legs in the best places so the two ends will match up the best they can, its still a little out, but I can blend a lot of that in with car body filler (P38) so my next task is to acquire some thin tin to put inside the legs as a sleeve, then drill holes and add screws to both parts of the leg to hold it securely in place. I will then either use P40 car fiberglass, or plaster of paris bandages before skimming over with P38 filler, will then rub the areas down, and hopefully job done. Adding the bust to the top half of the body might be a little more tricky, but I'll get it sorted I'm sure. Pics to follow once done.

 

[Raven1973]

I have also taken out 1.5" from the body. It looks a lot better, these mannequin makers seem to stretch the proportions of these dummies, anyways, just gotta cut off the head, and put the new one on and then it just leaves the base. I have a great idea for that, dont know if it will work until I have the materials here. I have ordered an old large wooden tray, more will be revealed soon.