Need Help...Great White Shark Prop? !!!

**tahenytouchup** · 08-05-2011,07:11 AM

Hey all,

Need some help big time! Putting in a huge 35'x35' pirate ship playset in the yard and want to add lifesize great white shark heads and fins. Any ideas on how to do this so it will hold up to Indiana weather but mostly crazy kids climbing and jumping all over them? Was thinking carving them out of foam and then covering them in fiberglass and bondo...but was not sure if this would work as I have never built anything like this before! Looking for something like you would have in a mini/put-put golf place. Any ideas or tutorial would be even better...any help would be greatly appreciated as the $2500-$5000 sharks on ebay are out of the question lol....Thanks!

Frank

**TK421** · 08-05-2011,07:53 AM

I think several layers of fiberglass would work for a toy, as long as it's smooth for the kids. You can build a sub-structure, or you can get a giant inflatable, like this 16 foot long shark and use it as a mold:

You could also build something more iconic, but stil a shark. I don't know what coating these climbing toys are made of, but this would definitely be the way to go if it's not too expensive. Of course, it almost certainly is.

**The_Caretaker** · 08-05-2011,08:03 AM

foam, fiberglass and bondo would be the best way to go for toys/displays. the only other thing that come s to mind would be to gel coat them

**TK421** · 08-05-2011,08:11 AM

Originally Posted by The_Caretaker

foam, fiberglass and bondo would be the best way to go for toys/displays. the only other thing that come s to mind would be to gel coat them

How expensive is it to gel coat something? What's the process?

**tahenytouchup** · 08-05-2011,08:51 AM

Hey thanks for the reply guys. That one in the second pic is the kind of thing I'm going for...but just need to figure out how? As for gel coat, heard of it, just don't know anything about it...where to get it or how to use it?

Why do props need to be sooo damn expensive lol....I know it's not as fun or rewarding as building it yourself...but it's sure easier and less headache just buying a finished piece...I'm always up for that lol.

**beggars alley** · 08-05-2011,01:45 PM

Very basic overview here. The outer visable part of something that is fiberglass is the gel coat. It would be the smooth finished(painted) looking side on something such as a boat. When you are building something using a mold you would put a release agent in first then the gel coat and then put in the fiberglass mat saturated in the resin and build up layers until it is thick and strong enough for your project. Gel coat requires a catalyst to harden like most automotive quality paints and fiberglass.

It can be applyed by spraying, rolling or brushing it into a mold.

Hope this helps a little. Also this is not an inexpensive process IMO.

**TNBrad** · 08-05-2011,05:03 PM

here is an idea:
I work for HGTV and they had a show called Look What I Did. and the man made a great white shower. hanging from a post on the dock. You walk up and open the side, by one fins, and all you see is your feet sticking out the feet as you shower. It was made from a rebar frame, and covered in great foam and the fiber glass.