Thread: no monster mud in the UK

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Hiya all over the pond,

ever since my first HHN experience a few years back i have been big on celebrating Halloween over here at home. Unfortunately not many people share my enthusism and I still have to come over to Universal studios, orlando for my fix.
Last year I made my first "haunt" and it all went quite well and even got a few minutes on the local TV station. This time around I want to be more ambitious and was looking at making some "monster mud" creations, but over here in the UK just try and get your hands on Latex Paint and Drywall Joint Compound !!! I went into my local hardware store and they looked at me with blank faces when i asked for those products. The closest I got to Latex Paint was errrrrr Latex Body Paint which they sell in the xxx adult stores.
If anyone has any pointers or help they might be able to share to enable me to make my own "monster mud" i wold be very grateful ..... or its ebay and lots of £££ on pre made props


thanx for any help you might have ......... a desperate UK halloween haunter !

John

I found a cpl websites here in the UK which might have the "compound", but is it the one (or similar) to that used over in the US ?

EVERYTHING ABOUT DRYWALL JOINT COMPOUND (MUD)

LAFARGE RAPID SAND LIGHTWEIGHT JOINT COMPOUND 22.5KG - H01268

As for the latex paint ......... that could be the end of my dream to make my own props if its unavailable over here !



John

you could try plasterboard adhesive get it from wickes only thing that might work its for use with plasterboard joints and the joint tape come in 25kg bags and its cheap as for the paint i would try flexible exterior house paint and just experiment im going to try it soon for a project tombstone im designing hope it helps

Check art supply stores as well. Latex paint is also pretty much identical to acrylic paint, which is used for fine art painting. Art stores around the US sell large gallon jugs of it for students. It would be a much more expensive than if you could find house paint.
Acrylic Paints

It might help to ask at a paint supplier for "acrylic latex" - it is the technically correct name for the paint - they contain a plastic resin made of acrylics or polyvinyls rather than rubber (the "latex" fetish paint).

Product Finder - Acrylic Paints

Most any house paint that is water clean up should have some form of latex base to it, but you should definitely look for exterior paint for monster mud, not a requirement, just makes sense for the weather that you all get over there

Yep, like everyone said, the word 'Latex' is a bit of a misnomer. I've found the the word 'Latex' is used interchangeably with 'acrylic latex' paint or just 'acrylic' paint. When I buy 'latex paint', I'm just grabbing the cheapest gallon of exterior water-based paint at Home Depot. Here's a picture of a cheap one at Sherwin-Williams:



Here's a picture of drywall compound. I use the all-purpose:

hey, thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.
Frankies Girl, those sites have lots of info for me to check out, Iam sure I will find something there !

Zerot, are you in the UK ? it was Wickes where i asked about the latex paint ..... LOL.

Partsman, hey we have just had four whole days of nothing but sun !!!!!! thats probably our summer over though

Terra, Thanks for those two images. they could come in useful if I have to go back to my local hardware store ..... but after the looks they gave me when I asked for the paint, they might call security when they see me enter the store !

hopefully I may have found what iam looking for (now where have I heard that line before)
If you have time could you you please take a look at these two sites and confirm/advise if these are what I need to make the UK version of the infamous Monster Mud:

Wickes *–*Building Materials*–*Plaster*–*Ready Mixed*–*Jointing Compound

Windsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic Paint 500ml Black on eBay, also Acrylic Paints, Painting Supplies, Painting, Drawing Art, Crafts (end time 24-Jun-09 22:27:03 BST)

That jointing compound looks like the right stuff. While I was at your Wikes store, I looked for a paint that you can use. This looks to me to be the right stuff: Wickes *–*Paint & Decorating*–*Trade*–*Masonry Paint*–*Trade Exterior Smooth Masonry Paint



This is called a vinyl-based paint and it is basically the same as latex paint and should do nicely. It will be a lot cheaper than using artist's type paints.

thanks for the time you have taken to help me out Terra, I will check that paint out ! It will be a one stop shop as they have the quick mix drill attachment to whip it all together too !!!!