Making a Rubber Puppet

[STUDENTOFARNIS]

Can you use any type of resin? Yours looks a bit thick. Is this the same stuff as automotive body work resin? Also, where do you get the expandable foam from? this is awesome. Do you do work for movies? You should show us some sculpting techniques. Your a good instructor.

[thedarkpower]

@STUDENTOFARNIS Hey, thanks. I used polyester resin, but I'm sure you could use other types. Think car body work resin is carbon fibre? Not sure. Check out my channel for some sculpting vids.  Thanks for looking ;0)

[thedarkpower]

@STUDENTOFARNIS Hey, thanks. I used polyester resin, but I'm sure you could use other types. Think car body work resin is carbon fibre? Not sure. Check out my channel for some sculpting vids. Thanks for looking ;0)

[thedarkpower]

@STUDENTOFARNIS PS google 'tirantis' or 'mould life' for materials ;0)

[STUDENTOFARNIS]

@STUDENTOFARNIS Hey Dark Power. Question for you. When you built the layer of expandable foam inside. Did you leave it inside your mold when you poured the liquid rubber in? I'm assuming you did. What type of liquid rubber did you use? Is it a Smooth On product? What kind of flexible paint do you use?

[thedarkpower]

@STUDENTOFARNIS Hey - yes I left it inside the mold. I used a tin based silicon from a local art shop. Google 'mould life' - tinsil is very good.

[TK42138]

When I was a kid I used to make my own fake hands, severed fingers etc out of home-made foam latex using liquid latex, latex thickener, acrylic paint, UHU general purpose glue and bicarbonate of soda to foam it up. I'd then mix up the ingredients with a food mixer. Most of the time it worked well but my mum didn't appreciate me using her food mixer.

I'm certain professionally made foam latex is better but at the time I couldn't afford to buy it in.

Great work by the way.

[thedarkpower]

Thanks mate, yeah I remember doing similar in the past - I was banished to the garage after a while!

[Rmir72]

Well, I know Selick swears by it, where a few others seem to favor foam latex. Never cast either, to be honest. I have heard nothing but praise for silicone's ablity to pick up detail though. I have watching your video over and over again, fascinating.

[Rmir72]

Fantastic video. I have a question, the silicone layer I presume is to provide a layer of transluency for the puppet. Would you use the same technique for a stop motion puppet? And has that been done for stop motion puppets before?

[thedarkpower]

Hi

Yes I've actually made a stop motion animation puppet using this puppet. The idea was to get a translucent look to the puppet as you say. It won't let me post a link here, but if you go to my channel there's a link to my website which has some details. Click on the blue demon guy ;0)

[peternoer]

great! ty for the proffessional tip!

[Rmir72]

Awesome! I love it! You're incrediblely talented there. I always wanted to ask this, does silicone present a problem in the fact that its heavier than foam on the armature? Or did you build the armature tougher in anticipation? By the way, I can't wait til the short is finished!!

[thedarkpower]

Hi

Thanks! Yes the silicon is abit heavier than foam, however I tend to steer clear of foam as you're limited by the size of the oven you have so I wouldn't have been able to make the puppet the size I have if I'd gone for foam. I also thought it'd be abit more hard wearing than foam, although perhaps there're stronger versions of foam I'm not aware of, I've only ever used foam latex which seemed to tear very easily and polyurethane foam doesn't retain the detail from the mold.

[thedarkpower]

The armature's fairly tough but I have had to tighten up some of the joints occasionally which does mean doing abit of surgery, but it's not been too bad so far.

Thanks again!