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Material/Product ideas???

Brevens | 03/07/2008 - 16:37
Australia | Tech Talk

I am looking for any suggestions for materials I could use in relation to a costume I am constructing.Basically the costume will include a bodice in which the center panel requires a product which is smooth and moldable that will be layered vertically in sections as to look like armour....The bodice will be constructed seperately and the panels will be attached later so it doesnt require any support or strength to the costume.This "armoured" section will be sprayed with a chameleon/harlequin effect (colour changing effect that is sometimes used on cars) this is why it needs to be smooth,rigid and non porous....All suggestions would be most greatly appreciated. In the future I also look to make a full bodice out of a moulded material to be sprayed with a chrome effect.Any ideas???

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Papier mache is the obvious
Author: David Ashton
Date: 03/07/2008 - 18:12

Papier mache is the obvious first choice using acrylic glue, http://www.papiermache.co.uk/


I disagree. Papier mache is
Author: Na
Date: 03/07/2008 - 23:34

I disagree. Papier mache is all well and good for sturdiness, but it would hardly be able to stretch with the body. In fact, I'm betting papier mache would be extremely brittle in this particular situation.

I don't know if it would work, but what about rubber latex? It's used all the time for puppet costumes (ie. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and would be quite flexible. You can paint it, and it's not all that expensive or difficult to make.

Moppet eyes now on sale at
Puppets in Melbourne


Latex sounds like a good
Author: JoeMc
Date: 04/07/2008 - 09:06

Latex sounds like a good idea Na. As with David my first thought was Pappier Mache, especially as he suggested bonding with acrylic Glue. Then I thought about using a thin sheet of plastic, over the body mold which would probably be made of clay. Popping into a domestic oven, on a low heat & allowing the plastic to form the shape. As the plastic would only be about 1 or 2MM thick, it would take little heat & it could be trimmed to suit later.

But I can see the Latex would be a better option, as it would be easier to even stitch on to the garment.

Being just a techie, this is far too technical for me.

Even though in fact the very first Lighting Technician in theatre, was alleged to be the Apareler. As one of their other duties was to ensure the lighting of the candles & trimming the wicks on the oil lamps.

TOI TOI CHOOKAS


Latex isn't that hard to
Author: Na
Date: 04/07/2008 - 09:41

Latex isn't that hard to do, in fact, it's pretty much less complicated than papier mache. Make a clay model, do a plaster cast, fill the plaster cast with the latex. Voila!

I recently looked into the whole latex thing for a puppet, and there's some fairly cheap but good products available in Australia. If anyone remembers the show, Farscape was produced here and most of their costumes and puppets used latex.

Moppet eyes now on sale at
Puppets in Melbourne


"it needs to be
Author: David Ashton
Date: 04/07/2008 - 14:07

"it needs to be smooth,rigid and non porous...."
On the original criteria papier mache is the easiest choice, latex armour might be a little unconvincing.


I don't see how. The reason
Author: Na
Date: 04/07/2008 - 14:45

I don't see how. The reason I suggested latex was more because this is for a costume, and personally having used a lot of papier mache, I can't see the benefits of using it unless it was for a mask. A person's face doesn't do a lot of changing, in terms of shape and structure, but a body does. Will the performer need to bend over for instance? In this case, the papier mache would not be able to flex with the body; latex will. Sometimes practicality overrides artistic vision.

Moppet eyes now on sale at
Puppets in Melbourne


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