Comments on: Foam / Fiberglass Armor http://colincarley.com Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:41:01 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Makoto http://colincarley.com/props-armor/foam-fiberglass-armor/comment-page-1/#comment-2050 Makoto Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:41:01 +0000 http://colincarley.com/?page_id=329#comment-2050 Glad I could help, or at least provide some tips! Let me know how it goes (or send to email@makotokamui.com), I'd love to see what you do with Mara's costume. Glad I could help, or at least provide some tips! Let me know how it goes (or send to email@makotokamui.com), I’d love to see what you do with Mara’s costume.

]]> By: Saira Tasartir http://colincarley.com/props-armor/foam-fiberglass-armor/comment-page-1/#comment-2048 Saira Tasartir Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:52:12 +0000 http://colincarley.com/?page_id=329#comment-2048 Ok-- that makes perfect sense. Sounds like foam is the way to go! I definitely would rather have the uniform thickness, and not be rushed while applying the details! Thanks so much for responding-- it's great to get advice from someone who's done this before! Great website by the way-- you've done a wonderful job explaining stuff and posting good pictures. Thanks! Saira Ok– that makes perfect sense. Sounds like foam is the way to go! I definitely would rather have the uniform thickness, and not be rushed while applying the details! Thanks so much for responding– it’s great to get advice from someone who’s done this before! Great website by the way– you’ve done a wonderful job explaining stuff and posting good pictures. Thanks!
Saira

]]> By: Makoto http://colincarley.com/props-armor/foam-fiberglass-armor/comment-page-1/#comment-2036 Makoto Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:25:18 +0000 http://colincarley.com/?page_id=329#comment-2036 Bondo will probably work - when you mix it up, it has the consistency of clay, so you can mold it to your needs, if you work quickly. I don't like it for two reasons: first, because it dries out enough that you can't work with it anymore fairly quickly, within minutes. And second, the smell. That stuff stinks for up to a week after you work with it. Also, like polyester resin (the stuff you can buy at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc), it will melt insulation foam. That armor has a lot of details, so you'll probably end up making a lot of small batches of bondo, doing a few swirls, then mixing more. I know some people use hot glue for detail swirls like that, but I've never had much luck with that approach. I tend to just glue down layers of craft foam cut or bent to the shapes I want instead. It takes a little longer, but it gives consistent thickness to the details. Bondo will probably work – when you mix it up, it has the consistency of clay, so you can mold it to your needs, if you work quickly. I don’t like it for two reasons: first, because it dries out enough that you can’t work with it anymore fairly quickly, within minutes. And second, the smell. That stuff stinks for up to a week after you work with it. Also, like polyester resin (the stuff you can buy at Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc), it will melt insulation foam. That armor has a lot of details, so you’ll probably end up making a lot of small batches of bondo, doing a few swirls, then mixing more.

I know some people use hot glue for detail swirls like that, but I’ve never had much luck with that approach. I tend to just glue down layers of craft foam cut or bent to the shapes I want instead. It takes a little longer, but it gives consistent thickness to the details.

]]> By: Saira Tasartir http://colincarley.com/props-armor/foam-fiberglass-armor/comment-page-1/#comment-2035 Saira Tasartir Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:42:15 +0000 http://colincarley.com/?page_id=329#comment-2035 Thanks for the advice! I think I'll probably go with the first option... also, have you heard of Bondo? Would that work for the detail layer? ~Saira Thanks for the advice! I think I’ll probably go with the first option… also, have you heard of Bondo? Would that work for the detail layer?

~Saira

]]> By: Makoto http://colincarley.com/props-armor/foam-fiberglass-armor/comment-page-1/#comment-2029 Makoto Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:11:24 +0000 http://colincarley.com/?page_id=329#comment-2029 That's some pretty detailed armor. I'd definitely go with a smooth base of fiberglass (maybe on top of craft foam), glue the detail layer on that, and use a light coat of just resin on top to seal things and give the details some dent protection. The other option would be to put everything together first, fiberglass the inside of the arm bands, and just use resin on the outside. This would probably be quicker to make, since you wouldn't have to wait for the fiberglass to set before adding on the detail layer, but it wouldn't be as strong from the outside. That’s some pretty detailed armor. I’d definitely go with a smooth base of fiberglass (maybe on top of craft foam), glue the detail layer on that, and use a light coat of just resin on top to seal things and give the details some dent protection.

The other option would be to put everything together first, fiberglass the inside of the arm bands, and just use resin on the outside. This would probably be quicker to make, since you wouldn’t have to wait for the fiberglass to set before adding on the detail layer, but it wouldn’t be as strong from the outside.

]]> By: Saira Tasartir http://colincarley.com/props-armor/foam-fiberglass-armor/comment-page-1/#comment-2028 Saira Tasartir Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:09:54 +0000 http://colincarley.com/?page_id=329#comment-2028 Hi! I'm trying to make fiberglass armor pieces to look like Mara's in this picture: http://www.ffurg.com/casting_call/marajade/mara-dancer.jpg I was wondering if you had any ideas to do all that detailed carving on there? Would it work to start with a smooth fiberglass base and then glue on foam details and then coat with the resin over that? I'm not sure how to do this-- it's my first attempt with fiberglass, so any tips would be awesome! Thanks, Saira Hi! I’m trying to make fiberglass armor pieces to look like Mara’s in this picture: http://www.ffurg.com/casting_call/marajade/mara-dancer.jpg

I was wondering if you had any ideas to do all that detailed carving on there? Would it work to start with a smooth fiberglass base and then glue on foam details and then coat with the resin over that? I’m not sure how to do this– it’s my first attempt with fiberglass, so any tips would be awesome!

Thanks, Saira

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