firt attempt at life cast (forearm)

[featuresforever]

Starting off small as you say.


I only used one cup of alginate (I only planned to do the forearm alone) but managed to spread it down to his hand also.

My question is, how do you generally do 'outstretched' hands/arms, where the hand isn't touching the body, would you cast the hand seperate in a container (like baby casting) so that the hand is solid when cast?

My actual cast here is really thin (approx 5-6mm) as I was only experimenting (this was before I got your book and had watched your videos)

When my son get home from school, I'm going to try convince him to let me cast his torso again - the first attempt was a disaster!

[featuresforever]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... =900855034

Not sure why the photo isn't coming up - but there's a link

[olivier]

This looks like a beautiful first attempt.

Tattoos will not show.

If you wanted to cast a full, "in the round" 360 arm and hand (as opposed to only a half shell front or back) the best method is to use a container as one would do for a baby's hand.

This requires quite a bit of alginate and is therefore rather expensive but it is quick and works every time. I have a PVC pipe which I use for that purpose.

How much Alginate to mix? Fill your container with water, plunge the arm in it, excess water will pour out. Measure the amount of water left and calculate the required amount of alginate powder (depending on your particular brand mixing ratio.) This will make more paste than actually needed but better too much than not enough.

A few tips:
Instruct your model to be careful not to have any skin in contact with the container. This would make a thin patch in the alginate where the casting material (plaster) could later leak through .

Use 8% more water than indicated by your alginate manufactuer. You want a runny mix so that it is easy to fill the container. (does not have to be exactly 8%, this is just an indication)

A possible difficulty is rips in the alginate mold when removing the hand. (The wrist is like a narrow neck between forearm and palm.) The model must be careful to free its' limb very slowly.

I hope this helps.

[tree]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=13371574&l=3f7d68cc2a&id=900855034

Not sure why the photo isn't coming up - but there's a link

hello, what type of material you use to get that finishes effect ? thanks in advance.

[featuresforever]

Hi Tree - Sorry I didn't answer your message earlier, I didn't see it.

To get the finish that I got I used about a cup pf alginate, and a cup of water, and smeared it all over the arm. then plaster bandages to support it.
After I filled it with plaster, and waited for it to dry I just painted it black - as an under coat, and this is where I took that photo. I just used a water based acrylic, but I wouldn't suggest that as it rubs off easily, and really does need a top coat, I think any 'matt' colour black would give you the same effect.

Is this the info you were after??

I'll always help where I can