Mold making and props panel

[macaulayman]

I'm doing one on Sunday; ( James Currie , Macaulay Foundry)
I'll be cobering latex, urathane and silicone.
Glove , Blanket and 2 part molds.
Ssome tech stuff and what you can you around the house.
I'll have a great handout.
What would you like to see or learn about?

[Knightfire]

I recently just made a mold for a forearm for a Zaku II and casted it yesterday using a sheet of styrene and a Vacuum Thermaformer. However, my mold didn't come out as planned so I would like tips for smoothing it out and carving details. If it helps, the frame of the mold is made of MDF, filled in with blocks of Styrofoam, then coated with Hydrocal (plaster like material).

[macaulayman]

Like so many things, I need more info. I wont be covering vacuform unless they have me a armor panel( they might) and I don't know what the piece is you're talking about. If you can log onto youtube and send me a bit if video, that would help/ Or you could send some pics to my regular email addy
[email protected]
Or bring it with you and I'd be happy to make suggestions.

[Knightfire]

Email would be easier. I'll have some shots for you soon.

[Sunara Ishi]

Any idea of time on sunday?

I'm interested in going to this panel. It would be an awesome skill to learn and I could make clothing for my Pinky Street figures, new bases, etc. XD

Will you be covering what types of objects can be made with these techniques? Is there a limit on how big or small the object can be?

I'm also interested in learning shoe making; could these techniques be used to create larger objects like shoe bases? Or parts for props?

[BunofGovt]

In some of the CosMode magazines are pics of armor making using urathene.  I can't translate it yet but it looks like a foam base with some stretchy shiny material being stretched over it.  Is that the urathene being stretched?  If so, would you cover how to work with that urathene, cutting, shaping, stretching, etc. over a base, and how did they make it stick on the base?  Glue?  Thanks.

[macaulayman]

Great questions!
The Body casting is at 10 and the props is at 4 ( both on sunday).
I'll be talking about Latex, urithane and silicone as standard materials as well and some things you may have a round the house. I'll talk about glove molds, blanket molds and multipart molds. Casting resin, polyester acrylic and wax, fillers, aggregates and releases.
What would you like to see?
As for the the bases with the streched urithane, I don't think thta's what they did. email me a pic and I'll see what I can tell you, as for size... until 2003 we did casting up to 60 tons so there is no size limit to what you can do , only what what you can afford.
More questions please!

[Sunara Ishi]

Thanks for the times.

I'll be fine with basic techniques so I can understand the process.

[macaulayman]

That's also something we c ould talk about at my armor panel.

[BunofGovt]

In these images from Cosmode issue 006, the pieces to be covered are layed out on the material in question, a rough outline is made, then the material is cut up.  Glue of some kind is applied to the pieces, and the material is applied to cover.





Here the material is heated up before applying.



I'm pretty sure I can make the 10am panel on Sunday. Not sure about the later one since I might have a gathering at that time, although if the panel is at least an hour, I should be able to get to part of it!  Looking forward to this!

[macaulayman]

This is part of a group of materials called thermoplastics. I can't tell you which one. They're available in sheets of various thicknesses and have different heat requirements. Douglas and Sturgess if SF carries these.
Does that help?

[macaulayman]

Thnaks to all the people that came to my panels. Remember to tell the con if you liked it.
James Currie
www.themacaulayfoundry.com