Foamy

[furtech]

One upside of the state of CF was that I went in to the shop and got a huge amount of work done. Weekends and evenings are great for getting stuff accomplished: no phones, no distractions.

I needed to run some more heads for the quickie masks I'm making for a test project. Unfortunately, I found out why I hadn't used two of these molds for nearly ten years: they were casualties of the Northridge Earthquake and had fallen and cracked. I started this on Friday, but didn't get far (though the problems led to me not even getting to CF that day). Lots of reconstruction and duct tape.

Today I finally got to run new masters for those molds (to have fibre glass molds made to replace the broken stone molds). Patched some of the cracks with bee's wax. I also tested three other molds and ended up running nearly a dozen heads, ranging from relatively small to huge (upper chest and head), as well as some more teeth and claws. I was on a roll! This would normally take a day or two, but I got most of it done in about 5 hours-- I was a blur! I was good and used my respirator and wore crappy clothes, but still managed to get foam all over me. And in my hair. This last made me think again about going back to my "nancy" cut (*bzzzzz*!). Long hair can be a pain in the shop!

One dogwalk and a long, -hot- shower later and I'm feeling MUCH better.

Comments

[diadexxus.livejournal.com]

I was kinda bummed I couldn't sit and chat with ya some more at CF. :) You were always talking with someone else and I didn't wanna bug ya. Thats why I just poked and smirked at you when I walked by. :)

I really would LOVE to see step by step how you are doing these quick and dirty masks (which I am STILL very interested in).. There are LARP things up here I have been interested in joining as another hobby, and I think a Gnoll/Hyena critter would just rock. Isn't that what you are still working on? :)

Glad you got a lot of work done, can't wait to see what you come up with next!
Hugs
-J

werk

[furtech.livejournal.com]

You're the only one I didn't get a chance to have a long chat with~ but I'm familiar with the problem: when you're doing a lot of 'suiting, you're either running back and forth between places, getting into or out of costumes, or in a costume. And during those few minutes when you're actually out in plain clothes, you're trying to see the dealer's room, artshow and everyone you haven't had a chance to talk with. I figure you and your posse will be back down and we can get together then like we did last time.

The quick/dirty masks aren't terribly fun to watch being made-- but at least they happen at a faster pace. Regular costume-creation is more elaborate, but sort of like watching paint dry. I pattern and make parts, which are then assembled. And there's a lot of re-making parts when they're not just right. I would hate to watch me construct...

The q/d masks are mostly foam-running: taking existing molds and running foam in them. Not terribly entertaining, except when a strap pops and things get exciting. After the foam is cast it's just a matter of cutting out the head cavity and trimming and washing. Then attaching the head to a wally, the painting and gluing of fur, etc. If you want to watch, be sure to drag safety goggles and an organically-rated respirator! (will post pics of the gnoll heads when I finish 'em!)

Re: werk

[diadexxus.livejournal.com]

Oh, so they ARE fur-able (is that a word?) Are these going to be airbrushed or furred up?

Yeah I guess the process is pretty similar to how I did fiberglassing... with the mold you have now, instead of foam latex, CAN you make a fiberglass head mask? That would be something I would LOVE to fur up as a 'partial suit' (with clothes/tail instead of a whole suit)

I look foward to seeing you again soon! HOpefully BEFORE AC when you have NO time to talk (laugh)
HUGS
-J