Zira, Planet of the Apes

[Wes R]

What made you choose kleen clay over sculpty?

 

[Jessica]

Super Sculpey is more expensive, and I didn't want to waste it.

 

[Wes R]

Good point. How much is it there? 10 lbs is like 50.00 here.

 

[Jessica]

Probably around $25...it's about $2.50 per pound at the art store, vs. $12.00/pound for Super Sculpey.

I didn't realize it came in various firmnesses. I would probably do better with a firmer clay but that's all they had at the store where I tried to get UC30 from.

I just learn on the fly, so next time I'll do better.

 

[Apollo]

Looks awesome!

Johnny would be proud!

 

[Jessica]

Here are two more photos I took this morning. The foam latex is from Apemania. I keep studying this. I hope I can make a good strong mold, especially in the mouth area. I just won a vintage 10-speed stand mixer, and will need to find bowls for it. I also need to purchase a hygrometer, stopwatch (or just find a watch/clock with a second hand), an oven thermometer and a temperature gauge and I think I'm all set.

 

[Hatter76]

Here are two more photos I took this morning. The foam latex is from Apemania. I keep studying this. I hope I can make a good strong mold, especially in the mouth area. I just won a vintage 10-speed stand mixer, and will need to find bowls for it. I also need to purchase a hygrometer, stopwatch (or just find a watch/clock with a second hand), an oven thermometer and a temperature gauge and I think I'm all set.

Your doing a remarkable job:thumbsup

 

[Tony Hardy]

Your sculpt is spot on. You really nailed it!

 

[Jessica]

I was so ready to pour the gypsum, and then I remembered I still had to prep the sculpt. So many steps to get this done!

 

[Jessica]

Oh the agony of anticipation!

 

[ManDrawsPicture]

Excellent work! I'm waiting for further updates with great anticipation.

 

[Jessica]

Big trouble in paradise! I had no strength to pull apart the two molds, so I forced one off with a dull steak knife. I should have stopped to do some damage control when I heard the first crack, but curiosity got the best of me. Perhaps I should have added extra ears to the negative mold. Anyway, live and learn.

Here it is in all its ugliness.

 

[Wes R]

ouch. Did you spray it with mold release before you poured? I tmay have helped a little. not sure about it though.

 

[Jessica]

I swabbed all exposed gypsum with vaseline. The clay sculpt was sprayed down with a gloss varnish. I just didn't have the strength to pry the mold apart, so I used a dull knife to force them apart. I'll fix it though.

 

[Wes R]

better hit them weights lol. i actually saw them have this problem on mythbusters, it took 2 people to break the mold apart.

 

[Jessica]

I'm thinking I need to build in extra ears as leverage, so I could step on it with my feet while pulling the top one off. Hopefully I won't accidentally knock myself out. That would not be a pretty sight.

 

[Wes R]

I'm thinking I need to build in extra ears as leverage, so I could step on it with my feet while pulling the top one off. Hopefully I won't accidentally knock myself out. That would not be a pretty sight.

Your family'll put you on youtube lol.

 

[Jessica]

LOL!

The edges are structurally sound now. Wondering if the fit is ok when the positive and negative molds are placed together. At least this way I'll have a place to wedge them open.

 

[Jessica]

Here's Dylan helping mommy out. I like to work several projects concurrently, and while Zira is not yet ready for foam latex (she's drying out in the sun), I want to get another positive going to sculpt on. If the weather cooperates this Saturday, I'm planning to run some foam latex.

 

[Jessica]

At the Retro Dome in San Jose, California:

August 11-15
Planet of the Apes Double Feature

Planet of The Apes
Wed Aug 11 – 7pm
Fri Aug 13 – 7pm
Sat Aug 14 – 7pm
Sun Aug 15 – 1pm

I'm so going to be there Sunday in full ape regalia. I'm still busy prepping my Apemania appliance. I think I look too pasty and need to add more color.