The Zygon Build Diary Part 4
Hey Gang
So Paul and I were back at it on Day 4 of the Zygon Build. Today was all about finishing sucker application, getting the last amount of latex pulls needed from the mold, adding texture and starting the brush latex layers.
More Zygon goodness and Info
In the interim between days 3 and 4 Paul worked during his downtime to brush up and pull several more smaller 'gank' latex pulls and a number of the larger suckers so we had enough to complete all the application we needed today. We also picked up an an extra gallon of latex since most of the first batch was use don the sucker molds. This second gallon would be needed to layer the entire suit.
Pulling suckers from the mold
Powdering the latex
Once pulled each of the suckers had to be brushed down with baby powder as latex is inherently sticky and powdering negates this.
Lining up and counting Suckers
We set up our materials ad we counted out how many usable suckers we had making sure we had enough to finish applying over the body and head. We were just about there. 2 more pulls would do it. So we brushed in some more latex into the mold and let them dry between layers while we moved on.
Suit in it's current state from Day 3
Music to make Zygons by
Normally we listen to film scores while building and appropriately we listened to the actual Terror of the Zygons soundtrack while making the suit on this day!
Ref material ready to go
Applying the suckers
Applying suckers was easy once we pre-determined which ones and which sizes would be applied to which parts of the suit. These areas were then prepped with more spray glue along with the suckers and carefully situated in place.
Cutting excess foam from the back
Cutting suckers for application
Each sucker was cut fomr the line and shaped on the edges to help blend where it was applied. The interior of each sucker was fiulled with either scraps of mattress foam or expanding foam to help hold it's shape. The back of each sucker had the excess foam removed with a razor blade.
Drying latex in the mold
Suit Progress
Applying gank to shoulders
The smaller gank molds were a godsend for helping to blend joins and seams in the suit especially in the waist, ankles, shoulders, underarms and neck.
Ready to apply gank suckers
Cutting strips for the back head ridges
For the back of the head we cut triangular strips of foam in long lengths and then cut them down for each size needed and after measuring the right distances (and using the ref photos and action figure as invaluable reference) each strip was applied with spray glue and bent around to give the soft point on the outer edges.
applying back head ridges w/spray glue
Finished back of the head ridges
Applying Gank
Full suit progress
We stopped after the back head ridges were done to to do atest fit of the gloves which fit great! Word to the wise though baby powder your hands before putting on- it helps a lot for slipping on and removal later.
Trying on the glove
More suckers to the body
As we neared completing the sucker application and prepped up the remaining batch, I did a test fit of the torso and I have to say it was pretty roomy and comfy! It had great range of motion and really looked terrific.
Prepping suckers
Test fit torso!
Another area that needed work was adding more texture. This was done with string to add the vein effect to areas on the chest. This was easily done with spray glue and applied in the most squiggly way possible.
Adding veins to the body
Kelby then came by mid-day to help us with finishing pulls and texturing the body.
Kelby drying another latex pull
I took this time to pick out the best sucker pulls together and carefully apply them to the head. Once these were on and I could see the silouette come together, it was awesome!
Adding suckers to the head
More texture was added to the body by spreading on then layers of cotton batting, laid on top with spray glue and then smooshed down to create an organic look.
Texture to to the body
Brushing on latex
With the texturing done. We started brushing on layers of latex to seal everything.
Adding string for veins
Applying string and cotton texture
After adding extra string veins on the head and brushing on about half the latex we called it a day as we were losing the light.
Stopping Point
With a lot accomplished we wrapped for the day!
I'll return soon with more on the build in Part V!
-Honorarydoctor
So Paul and I were back at it on Day 4 of the Zygon Build. Today was all about finishing sucker application, getting the last amount of latex pulls needed from the mold, adding texture and starting the brush latex layers.
More Zygon goodness and Info
In the interim between days 3 and 4 Paul worked during his downtime to brush up and pull several more smaller 'gank' latex pulls and a number of the larger suckers so we had enough to complete all the application we needed today. We also picked up an an extra gallon of latex since most of the first batch was use don the sucker molds. This second gallon would be needed to layer the entire suit.
Pulling suckers from the mold
Powdering the latex
Once pulled each of the suckers had to be brushed down with baby powder as latex is inherently sticky and powdering negates this.
Lining up and counting Suckers
We set up our materials ad we counted out how many usable suckers we had making sure we had enough to finish applying over the body and head. We were just about there. 2 more pulls would do it. So we brushed in some more latex into the mold and let them dry between layers while we moved on.
Suit in it's current state from Day 3
Music to make Zygons by
Normally we listen to film scores while building and appropriately we listened to the actual Terror of the Zygons soundtrack while making the suit on this day!
Ref material ready to go
Applying the suckers
Applying suckers was easy once we pre-determined which ones and which sizes would be applied to which parts of the suit. These areas were then prepped with more spray glue along with the suckers and carefully situated in place.
Cutting excess foam from the back
Cutting suckers for application
Each sucker was cut fomr the line and shaped on the edges to help blend where it was applied. The interior of each sucker was fiulled with either scraps of mattress foam or expanding foam to help hold it's shape. The back of each sucker had the excess foam removed with a razor blade.
Drying latex in the mold
Suit Progress
Applying gank to shoulders
The smaller gank molds were a godsend for helping to blend joins and seams in the suit especially in the waist, ankles, shoulders, underarms and neck.
Ready to apply gank suckers
Cutting strips for the back head ridges
For the back of the head we cut triangular strips of foam in long lengths and then cut them down for each size needed and after measuring the right distances (and using the ref photos and action figure as invaluable reference) each strip was applied with spray glue and bent around to give the soft point on the outer edges.
applying back head ridges w/spray glue
Finished back of the head ridges
Applying Gank
Full suit progress
We stopped after the back head ridges were done to to do atest fit of the gloves which fit great! Word to the wise though baby powder your hands before putting on- it helps a lot for slipping on and removal later.
Trying on the glove
More suckers to the body
As we neared completing the sucker application and prepped up the remaining batch, I did a test fit of the torso and I have to say it was pretty roomy and comfy! It had great range of motion and really looked terrific.
Prepping suckers
Test fit torso!
Another area that needed work was adding more texture. This was done with string to add the vein effect to areas on the chest. This was easily done with spray glue and applied in the most squiggly way possible.
Adding veins to the body
Kelby then came by mid-day to help us with finishing pulls and texturing the body.
Kelby drying another latex pull
I took this time to pick out the best sucker pulls together and carefully apply them to the head. Once these were on and I could see the silouette come together, it was awesome!
Adding suckers to the head
More texture was added to the body by spreading on then layers of cotton batting, laid on top with spray glue and then smooshed down to create an organic look.
Texture to to the body
Brushing on latex
With the texturing done. We started brushing on layers of latex to seal everything.
Adding string for veins
Applying string and cotton texture
After adding extra string veins on the head and brushing on about half the latex we called it a day as we were losing the light.
Stopping Point
With a lot accomplished we wrapped for the day!
I'll return soon with more on the build in Part V!
-Honorarydoctor