[Scottv42]

I have a few static props from zombies to a new clown I made last night. My issue is they always look like they are from 2D land, they look good from the front but if you look at them from the side they always look flat. What do you all use to add bulk to your props? I use pool noodles on the arms and legs but they still look very thin.

Like I said I made a new clown prop last night and from the side he looks like he was run over by a steam roller in a cartoon. He is wearing a one piece costume I bought and I want him to have some depth. I thought about balling up some newspaper and duct taping it to the structure but getting enough newspaper is problematic. Any other thoughts or suggestions?

 

[slash]

you could use chicken wire mesh found at home depot to give them shape its really easy to form into a body just be careful if you cut into it the edges are sharp wear gloves.

 

[FearingtonHouse]

I think some folks also use shopping bags to pump up their props. If that doesn't work, there's always this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-GLO_PydqU

 

[CarrieMca]

I have struggled with the same thing and have come up with a few things that worked well. I used an old pillow for the chest/stomach area (gives me an excuse to buy a new pillow since I needed one anyway ) Then I got stuffing that you would use for stuffed animals in the craft section at walmart to fill in the arms and legs. It looks realistic since you can manipulate it. Can get a little pricey though. Good Luck!

 

[lateadopter]

Depending on the application I may use extruded foam, but for something like this I will start with either pipe insulation or a pool noodle. Then I put on a little spray adhesive on it and start loosely rolling 0.07 mm plastic dropsheet over it (got the idea from corpsing, but works well here too). Nice thing about it is you can have a lot of control over how bulky you want it in specific areas so you can define muscles or other areas of the body that have more bulk.

 

[Screaming Demons]

Tomato cages are also a good starting point for the body itself.

 

[TheMonsterSquad]

I like to save bubble wrap I get in packages during the year and use that to bulk out figures. Many of the other solutions I've tried end up adding not a small amount of weight in addition to the bulk, which can be hard to manage sometimes. Bubble wrap is nice and lightweight. I've also used newspaper and plastic shopping bags

 

[darthrott]

pool noodles, 1" thick craft foam roll from wal mart 14.99 a roll, I was even thinking of looking into some used shoulder pads from a resell sporting goods store, either football or lacrosse. Just a few ideas.

 

[xxScorpion64xx]

I use different stuff, plastic grocery bags, if I have time, I'll take two old t shirts, put one inside the other and sew the hems on sleeves, neckline and bottom hem but I leave a temporary opening somewhere to be able to stuff it with whatever filler in between the shirts then sew it back up

 

[ZombieTim]

I use chicken wire for the torso (be careful to tuck in sharp edges after) and pool noodles usually on sale this time of year to bulk up the arms and legs. Cheap, easy and fairly quick.

 

[Terra]

I like chicken wire as well. In addition you can use poly stuffing for arms, legs, hands etc.

If you FF this video to about halfway you can see the werewolf being fleshed out:

Link to full tutorial and some more pictures: http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/terra/1361-chained-werewolf-pneumatic-tutorial.html

 

[Blarghity]

you could use chicken wire mesh found at home depot to give them shape its really easy to form into a body just be careful if you cut into it the edges are sharp wear gloves.

Invest in a decent pair of heavy leather gloves. I've had chicken wire, hardware cloth, and wire fencing of various types slice through everything from dollar store neoprene coated gloves to cloth garden gloves to mechanics gloves and thin leather garden gloves. There's a reason why cowboys and farm hands on TV are always shown wearing awkward, heavy leather gloves when doing wire fence work

 

[Terra]

Invest in a decent pair of heavy leather gloves. I've had chicken wire, hardware cloth, and wire fencing of various types slice through everything from dollar store neoprene coated gloves to cloth garden gloves to mechanics gloves and thin leather garden gloves. There's a reason why cowboys and farm hands on TV are always shown wearing awkward, heavy leather gloves when doing wire fence work

Great idea. My normal procedure is to go, "ouch, OUCH, yip, ow!"

 

[DoctorGrim]

All good ideas, but I keep thinking of 'BEEFCAKE'

Sorry, I know this doesn't help you.