[Old Man Bakke]

I would like to make something like this. I have a few skeles laying around and would like to make some static props. Something like a body that has been put on a stake and left to decompose.

My question is, I want some medium that will adhere to the plastic skele. My concern is that if I use paper mache it will just roll/slide (over time) on the smooth surface of the bones.

Any thoughts or experiences?

 

[Rumsfield]

I had looked for an alternative myself having the pleasure of living in a wet climate. I had found a thread that pointed to Stiltbeast Studios

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69p2EyS-5qk

I gave it a try and it worked rather well, so well I made three more. This was my first attempt using the plastic drop cloth







The nice thing about it - if you dont like the results take your razor knife and skin it ! Hey I might be on to something there

 

[Old Man Bakke]

Yeah I have seen that video and it super cool....however I was looking to get a bit more texture and depth to the flesh.

For how inexpensive it is I may give it a go.

 

[Corpsesnight]

Ive done the plastic first and then paper mache. Its tough to get it to stick. And if water gets in it holds under the mache because of the plastic. Plastic wrap seems to be taking over whwn it comes to corpseing

 

[Old Man Bakke]

I was also thinking about what may adhere to the plastic in a chemical way...like the way model glue works on plastic models. I wonder if a diluted solution of caulk and like ammonia would work. Or would it be financially restrictive?

Maybe dip different types of cloth into said mixture and apply it like mache...idk...just spit balling here.

I am all about doing stuff on the cheap...but I am really trying to gear up the realism.

 

[Old Man Bakke]

For instance, how do you think this was created?

 

[Rumsfield]

I am all about doing stuff on the cheap...but I am really trying to gear up the realism.

To get the texture your looking for I would recommend "liquid latex" although it can be found reasonable online - the shipping is killer as it is considered Hazardous due to the ammonia.
You can get more texture wit the plastic by twisting and adding more layers - as said the pics are from my first one (learning project) the others I really ramped them up . Even added a tongue to one which resembles a piece of jerky in real life. (grosses my daughter out big time)

 

[Old Man Bakke]

Rumsfield-

I would like to see some pictures of you most recent "ramped up" stuff...if ya have any! and the jerky!!

My hands are idle, garage is clean....and time is wasting!! ah HAHAHAHAHAHAH

 

[Otaku]

OMB, the pics you posted are of Pumpkinrot's amazing mache work. He uses a mix of white glue/water (about 50/50 works well for me) and various types of paper materials and (I think) some occasional cheesecloth. I use the same materials on my corpses. I make ribs of rolled and taped newspaper. I also use the fancy thick napkins as texturing/scupting material. Skulls are cheap - I use a plastic Skillcraft skull model, cover it with foil and a few layers of paper towel mache. After it dries, cut it off and you have a fairly rigid skull ready for corpsing and detailing. If it's too flexible, just stuff some newspaper inside of it.

 

[Old Man Bakke]

Yes they are...good eye!

But I am unsure if the skele is paper mache itself. I have looked at a lot of his stuff and MAN if I am not mistaken he is using some bucky's. If not, good for him. I can not however devote that type of time to creating such and elaborate skele...been down that road and although it was fun and very rewarding I am looking to cut a corner or two by utilizing these walgreens skeles.

I really enjoy mache work and I consider it my forte....I have hesitated on mache these skeles b/c I am concered about the adherence of the mache to the plastic. With all the moving around, packing and unpacking, I am afraid of the initial bond between the plastic and the mache may break free...

Maybe I am just chicken and need to dive in ...

I even wonder about the drop cloth heat gun method...doesn't that tend to break free/ move around after a lot of movement / take down / set up?

 

[Otaku]

I do know that the standing skelly is a Bucky, and there are some plastic skulls involved in a lot of his work. He recycles the skulls often, I think he doesn't keep much in the way of props around from one year to another or he'd be up to the rafters in corpses. The giveaway on the plastic skulls is the teeth - it's hard to get teeth to look that good with mache/hot glue/Paperclay or whatever. I know, I've tried.

 

[Old Man Bakke]

Its good to see some familiar "faces" responding to this thread!!

 

[Shift]

Looks Good. I used a similar method and it worked out great

 

[Old Man Bakke]

Break it down for me a bit Shift!...is that just plastic?...hard to tell whats going on in those pics with the spider webs and being upside down..

 

[Shift]

I made him out if a $20 skeleton. I used plastic drop cloth a heat gun and a dark varnish and just kept melting on layers and did dry brushes some varnish every few layers

The webs are because I had him hanging upside down wrapped in webs

I prob have some progress pics of building him on my computer somewhere

 

[lemonade]

How about strips of cloth covered with thick monster mud. The Drylok will make it waterproof, too.

 

[Old Man Bakke]

How about strips of cloth covered with thick monster mud. The Drylok will make it waterproof, too.

Yeah that t e route / texture I am leaning towards. I just don't know if the MM and cloth would be brittle on the skele and once I moved him a few times it would just come loose....???

 

[Hallomarine]

I talked to a prop buddy of mine, and he suggested that Shift is on to something with the webbing. Here's what he suggested based on the how-to video:
Spray the skelly with spray adhesive to get the plastic to stick. Twist up plastic bags to bulk up your corpse, heat gun them to your satisfaction, and repeat. He also suggested you paint each layer if your top layer is clear plastic. This will give your "meat" some color. Before you put on your final plastic layer, string some webbing (thickly) over your copse for more texture. He is not sure if the webbing will melt or not - he's never tried it. But you never know.
And then there's always the panty hose and latex method...
Just some ideas to try - good luck
HM

 

[annamarykahn]

might not the heat gun help the plastic corpsing material stick to the plastic skelly?

thinking that heating the skelly and then putting the corpsing plastic over the heated plastic skelly might be an experiment worth trying ... if you do, please let us know

amk

 

[Old Man Bakke]

I forgot about the panty hose latex method...