denhaunt2's Photobucket Pumpkin Thief Step-by-Step album media

Step 30 - Give me a Hand

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:12:49 MDT

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Step 30 - Give me a Hand - 009.jpg

Hands can be made a variety of ways. I like the old PVC, plastic tubing, and clothes hanger route. Not shown here, but it works best if you make a "cut" at all of the knuckle joints and bend slightly before latexing.

Step 30 - Close up

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:12:34 MDT

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Step 30 - Close up - 0112.jpg

Step 29 - Ripped Flesh

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:12:19 MDT

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Step 29 - Ripped Flesh - 0122.jpg

Use strips of cotton & latex to make the insides (think pumpkin guts). This is where you will be attaching the real pumpkin seeds later.

Step 29.5 - Close up

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:12:04 MDT

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Step 29.5 - Close up - 0132.jpg

Step 31 - "A Hello to Arms"

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:11:49 MDT

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Step 31 - "A Hello to Arms" - 0142.jpg

I needed the hands to be at an angle so intro the heat gun. Instead of PVC connectors I used a piece of dowel cut to fit into the 1/2 inch PVC - Then duct tape.

Step 31 - Attached

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:11:33 MDT

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Step 31 - Attached - 0153.jpg

Step 32 - More Fleshing

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:11:17 MDT

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Step 32 - More Fleshing - 0162.jpg

After attaching the hands, flesh out the wrist and forearms.

Step 33 - Prepping for paint

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:11:03 MDT

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Step 33 - Prepping for paint - 0182.jpg

My first coats are pretty much always flat black spray paint. This gives a nice even surface to dry brush or whatever else I want to do.

Step 34 - Back in Black

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:10:48 MDT

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Step 34 - Back in Black - 0203.jpg

All painted up and no place to go...

Step 35 - Contrast

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:10:26 MDT

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Step 35 - Contrast - 0222.jpg

After the tape is removed.

Step 36 - Final Push

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:10:09 MDT

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Step 36 - Final Push - 0243.jpg

From here on out it's pretty simple. Dry brush the whole thing (starting with the darkest and working your way to lightest - wait until each coat is dry before the next). AFTER painting add the pumpkin seeds with hot glue - then dirty them up with watered down paint.

Step 24 - Buling up the Biceps

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:09:51 MDT

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Step 24 - Buling up the Biceps - 0273.jpg

Add piping insulation to the arms and trim to spec.

Step 25 - Let the Skinning Begin

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:09:23 MDT

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Step 25 - Let the Skinning Begin - 029.jpg

Yep, you got it - unroll a few hundred cotton balls (feels like a few thousand). Work in sections by brushing on latex and laying cotton. It's a bit tedious but the outcome makes it all worth it. Use hair dryer to speed up dry-time.

Step 25.5 - Close up of Chest

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:09:09 MDT

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Step 25.5 - Close up of Chest - 030.jpg

Don't build it up to thick at first or it will take FOREVER to dry (even with a hair dryer).

Step 27 - Arms and Legs

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:08:40 MDT

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Step 27 - Arms and Legs - 032.jpg

Step 26 - Backwork

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:08:25 MDT

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Step 26 - Backwork - 033.jpg

Close up of back.

Step 26.5 - More from Behind

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:08:11 MDT

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Step 26.5 - More from Behind - 034.jpg

Step 26 (cont)

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:07:57 MDT

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Step 26 (cont) - 035.jpg

Step 28 - Meaty Bits

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:07:43 MDT

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Step 28 - Meaty Bits - 036.jpg

Warning - this is a mess. If you do not wear gloves you will be very, very, very, sorry. I pulled gloves and duct taped them half way up my arms and still suffered. Take handfuls of great stuff and smear all over the inside. When it dries it creates a really cool texture.

Step 18 - Add (and wire) the head

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:09:58 MDT

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Step 18 - Add (and wire) the head - 002.jpg

Run the wires through the inside of the mouth and into a "neck-sized" piece of PVC. I shaped mine with the heat gun first. Then I ran the wiring into the spine and out into the chest area.

Step 19.5 More ribs

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:09:45 MDT

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Step 19.5 More ribs - 003.jpg

This is a side view of the ribs being added

Step 19 - Rib Cage

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:09:30 MDT

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Step 19 - Rib Cage - 004.jpg

Rolled up news papers work great. I ran a piece of clothes hanger through each piece so they can be bent into shape later. Cover and attach with strips of duct tape,

Step 20 - adding "duct-skin"

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:09:14 MDT

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Step 20 - adding "duct-skin" - 005.jpg

After ribs are in place, fill in the space between with more duct tape. This will give you a surface to latex later.

Step 20.5 - More duct tape

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:08:58 MDT

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Step 20.5 - More duct tape - 006.jpg

This is another view of ribs coming together.

Step 21 - Creating a cavity

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:08:42 MDT

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Step 21 - Creating a cavity - 007.jpg

This is one of my favorite features. Use balled up news paper and duct tape to create the waist-line and inner cavity.

Step 1- It Begins with a Skull

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:08:27 MDT

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Step 1- It Begins with a Skull - 011.jpg

This is what I started from

Step 4 - Wrap with cling wrap

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:08:12 MDT

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Step 4 - Wrap with cling wrap - 012.jpg

This will seem a little strange but it will save you time and make the future steps easier.

Step 5 - The magic of heat

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:07:58 MDT

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Step 5 - The magic of heat - 013.jpg

CAREFULLY, use a heat gun to "shrink-wrap" the entire head. This will hold the whole mess together and make the latex process easier (and cheaper). Note - use care, the spider webbing will melt (trust me).

Step 2 - Skull Prep

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:07:44 MDT

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Step 2 - Skull Prep - 014.jpg

Using a Dremel, I hollowed out the inside of the mouth area and made holes for the LED wiring into the eye sockets.

Step 6 - Prep the cotton (skin)

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:07:30 MDT

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Step 6 - Prep the cotton (skin) - 015.jpg

Let's face it, this part just kinda sucks. Unroll about 50 cotton balls taking care to keep them as untorn as possible. These will be used to make the skin and you will be doing a whole lot of this. I used about 200 - 250 total.

Step 3 - Forming the gourd

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:07:17 MDT

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Step 3 - Forming the gourd - 016.jpg

Using the "stretchy" kind of spider webbing, create a "pumpkin" shape and form the head.

Step 11 - A Good Foundation

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:06:52 MDT

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Step 11 - A Good Foundation - 0192.jpg

Attach 90 degree connectors to the base. I used plywood and wood screws. Drill up from the bottom.

step 7 - Skinning the Pumpkin

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:06:36 MDT

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step 7 - Skinning the Pumpkin - 020.jpg

Working in sections and using a medium sized Nylon brush, paint on the latex. Then lay the cotton in vertical rows and brush a generous amount of latex over the top. It's best if you start and continue in one direction as to not wrinkle the skin. Don't press too hard or it will flatten.

Step 12 - The Angle of the Ankle

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:06:24 MDT

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Step 12 - The Angle of the Ankle - 0212.jpg

(I'm not responsible for fires and/or cancer and you should probably do this outside). Using a heat gun, slowly and carefully heat the PVC until it gets soft. Then bend to whatever angle you wish and then hold in place until cool. (Thanks Vic for teaching me this technique..it rocks).

Step 8 - Get the picture

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:06:08 MDT

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Step 8 - Get the picture - 021.jpg

Draw the face so you know where to lay cotton strips.

Step 13 - Nice legs

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:05:54 MDT

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Step 13 - Nice legs - 022.jpg

Using the previous step's method (and safety precautions) bend the knees to whatever shape or angle you want. This is where you really need to make sure you have a vision for your final pose.

Step 22 - Adding bulk to legs

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:05:40 MDT

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Step 22 - Adding bulk to legs - 0233.jpg

You could skip this step but I've found that the bend in the pipe insulation creates a perfect knee cap.

Step 9 - Taking Shape

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:05:25 MDT

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Step 9 - Taking Shape - 023.jpg

Pay a lot of attention to the mouth & eyes area. If found that it's definately easier to get it right the first time then to go back later.

Step 16.5 - Secure the Joints

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:05:11 MDT

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Step 16.5 - Secure the Joints - 0242.jpg

I don't care to use the PVC glue because I like the flexibility to change the pose if I want (or if I screw up).

Step 14 - Hips and Pelvis

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:04:57 MDT

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Step 14 - Hips and Pelvis - 0252.jpg

The connectors you use here will have a lot of impact later. I used 45s and a "T" for the spine.

Step 23.5 - shaping the legs

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:04:42 MDT

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Step 23.5 - shaping the legs - 0253.jpg

Using duct tape, shape the legs. Then "heat-shrink" the whole package (heh-heh).

Step 10 - Creating Depth

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:04:28 MDT

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Step 10 - Creating Depth - 025.jpg

Cut away the rest of the cling wrap and start adding cotton and latex to the inside of the mouth and the edges of the eyes.

Step 23 - Yes, this is the "Butt" step

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:04:14 MDT

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Step 23 - Yes, this is the "Butt" step - 0262.jpg

Okay, using more spider webbing, add bulk to the legs and butt by wrapping around. This step is a lot more fun after a few drinks. Wrap in cling-wrap and then heat shrink with heat gun - careful not to melt the webbing.

Step 15 - Got Backbone?

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:04:01 MDT

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Step 15 - Got Backbone? - 026.jpg

One of my favorite features on this entire prop is the curve of the backbone - I think it adds a ton of character. Bent using the same heating method as before.

Step 16 - Strong Shoulders

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:03:44 MDT

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Step 16 - Strong Shoulders - 0272.jpg

Using a 4-way connector and (2)45s create the shoulders. As you can see, I used the heat gun to get the perfect desired angles and shape.

Step 17 - Arming the Beast

denhaunt2 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:03:29 MDT

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Step 17 - Arming the Beast - 0282.jpg

Same methods as before - things are finally starting to take shape. (by the way, does anyone else see the "gorilla" resemblance...Hmmmm)