So I was thinking yesterday, while looking at props done with Monster Mud, that there could be an alternative to creating the same effect without the wait or having to weather proof the prop.
I work with composites and the way a MM figure is created is pretty much the same way a custom speaker box is made for a vehicle. A frame is built, then wire mesh, or chicken wire, is fixed over it for shape, and cloth is laid on top of that. The difference in building custom speaker boxes is instead of using joint compound, polyester resin is brushed on. After that sets, after only about an hour, fiberglass mat is laid down to build up strength.
Well, instead of using fiberglass, the burlap and cheese cloth would be be brushed with the resin. It dries almost completely in just a couple of hours, and can be tinted any color so it's uniform all the way through. Just add layers of material and brush on, or spray if you have the equipment. It's weather proof and ready to paint in just a couple of hours after you are finished.
The draw back to using resin, or even gelcoat, is the smell, but if you do it outside, and use the proper safety materials, like gloves and even a respirator if you've never done it before (I'm too used to the smell to notice it), and use a drop cloth under your project, you could literally shave days off your project.
I haven't tried it yet, and I don't know how well it will work, but I'm pretty confident it will. Anyone here tried it? I'd be very interested to know how it turned out.
Crash
I work with composites and the way a MM figure is created is pretty much the same way a custom speaker box is made for a vehicle. A frame is built, then wire mesh, or chicken wire, is fixed over it for shape, and cloth is laid on top of that. The difference in building custom speaker boxes is instead of using joint compound, polyester resin is brushed on. After that sets, after only about an hour, fiberglass mat is laid down to build up strength.
Well, instead of using fiberglass, the burlap and cheese cloth would be be brushed with the resin. It dries almost completely in just a couple of hours, and can be tinted any color so it's uniform all the way through. Just add layers of material and brush on, or spray if you have the equipment. It's weather proof and ready to paint in just a couple of hours after you are finished.
The draw back to using resin, or even gelcoat, is the smell, but if you do it outside, and use the proper safety materials, like gloves and even a respirator if you've never done it before (I'm too used to the smell to notice it), and use a drop cloth under your project, you could literally shave days off your project.
I haven't tried it yet, and I don't know how well it will work, but I'm pretty confident it will. Anyone here tried it? I'd be very interested to know how it turned out.
Crash
so I think I will stick with foam.
