Ok, so a few weeks ago I thought it would be super awesome to make a life size nightmare before christmas halloween town fountain (86 the water). I did some research and jumped in. I am learning as I go and it is taking twice as long as it should because I am undoing and redoing etc etc. I added pics of where I am so far (please be nice I am a first timer and it is pretty obvious).
My problem is that once I complete the chicken wire body how should I cover it before monster mudding it. I thought maybe I should paper/cloth mache over the chicken wire and then when it dries apply monster mud, but then I worry about the mache chipping off giving my prop issues staying together. What is the best way for me to complete this? I could use any and all help. I want this prop to last for years if possible and I want it to be an out door prop.
here is what I have done so far
I used pvc pipes for my dragons structure and then screwed on the paper mached tail, arms, wings and head. I cut out tons of Scale shapes out of cardboard and paper mached half of them so far. with wings attached he is 7ft 2in.
I have a metal pole (used to be a tree lamp) that will come out of the dragons mouth and into the base, I am using a pole to help support the weight of the dragons head. I was planning on using expanding foam around the pole and paint it neon green, this is the "fountain " part.
I used a large board that was left over from another project I did a while back as my base for the fountain and attached my PVC anchor. I than used heavy duty cardboard to create the shape of my pond/fountain (whatever you want to call it) and attached it to my base board. I bought styrofoam sheets and glued them to the cardboard and carved in my "stones" and roughed them up a bit to look realistic, I would hate for this to look cheap and cheesy. On any project I do I try to go above and beyond to get the best looking outcome. I put in a couple of sheets of cardboard and styrofoam just a few inches from the top of the fountain that I plan to spray paint neon green.
My BIL works for a light company and I bought some rope lights from him, these are really high tech light compared to the walmart bought rope lights that I am used to, it even comes with a remote but he said I could use neon green lighting to help make it pop, I will be trying to figure out how to wire those up into the pond as well.
I could use all the help I can get. I wanted this thing in my yard at least a week ago (my fault for starting so late) . I don't want to run into any more speed bumps because I don't know what im doing lol. I have joint compound in my garage for monster mud making, I have not yet gotten paint or any kind of varnish yet. Im still trying to find the best stuff to use on styrofoam and on whatever it is I end up using for the dragons body. I am open to any suggestions on type of paint and varnish to help make this guy last. I do have a paint gun/ sprayer , pretty sure I cannot use that for MM but it will come in handy for colors and varnish.
Thank you in advance for your time and suggestions. I really look forward to reading all posts that will help me.
My problem is that once I complete the chicken wire body how should I cover it before monster mudding it. I thought maybe I should paper/cloth mache over the chicken wire and then when it dries apply monster mud, but then I worry about the mache chipping off giving my prop issues staying together. What is the best way for me to complete this? I could use any and all help. I want this prop to last for years if possible and I want it to be an out door prop.
here is what I have done so far
I used pvc pipes for my dragons structure and then screwed on the paper mached tail, arms, wings and head. I cut out tons of Scale shapes out of cardboard and paper mached half of them so far. with wings attached he is 7ft 2in.
I have a metal pole (used to be a tree lamp) that will come out of the dragons mouth and into the base, I am using a pole to help support the weight of the dragons head. I was planning on using expanding foam around the pole and paint it neon green, this is the "fountain " part.
I used a large board that was left over from another project I did a while back as my base for the fountain and attached my PVC anchor. I than used heavy duty cardboard to create the shape of my pond/fountain (whatever you want to call it) and attached it to my base board. I bought styrofoam sheets and glued them to the cardboard and carved in my "stones" and roughed them up a bit to look realistic, I would hate for this to look cheap and cheesy. On any project I do I try to go above and beyond to get the best looking outcome. I put in a couple of sheets of cardboard and styrofoam just a few inches from the top of the fountain that I plan to spray paint neon green.
My BIL works for a light company and I bought some rope lights from him, these are really high tech light compared to the walmart bought rope lights that I am used to, it even comes with a remote but he said I could use neon green lighting to help make it pop, I will be trying to figure out how to wire those up into the pond as well.
I could use all the help I can get. I wanted this thing in my yard at least a week ago (my fault for starting so late) . I don't want to run into any more speed bumps because I don't know what im doing lol. I have joint compound in my garage for monster mud making, I have not yet gotten paint or any kind of varnish yet. Im still trying to find the best stuff to use on styrofoam and on whatever it is I end up using for the dragons body. I am open to any suggestions on type of paint and varnish to help make this guy last. I do have a paint gun/ sprayer , pretty sure I cannot use that for MM but it will come in handy for colors and varnish.
Thank you in advance for your time and suggestions. I really look forward to reading all posts that will help me.
