Applied Animation: The Model Part 5

In our last scheduled session in the ceramic workshop, we were all focused on getting our first foam cast of the models we'd spent weeks on beforehand, just to destroy them making the casts. But that doesn't matter because we now have a cast to make as many models as we want (it's so exciting!).

In order to make it easier for the foam mixture to come out of the mold once tit had set, we had to use a mixture of wax and turps to creating a surface along the cast that wouldn't bind to the foam. We then had to get a very tight rubber band around our cast in order to keep to all together as the foam did its magic. This part was really difficult, as the band was seriously tight.

Then the most difficult part came along, mixing the two agents that would create the foam together. We had to work out the correct ratio (which is 60:30 for my model). As if having to use my brain for maths was bad enough, we then had to weigh out the ratios we had just worked out then we had to quickly (I mean very quickly) mix the two agents and get them into the casts before the foam began to set, overall I think we had about 20 seconds once the second agent was added before the mixture started to set. I had some difficulty with this the first few times, as the first time I hadn't used the correct ratio, which resulted in my model having no feet or a left hand (below). The second time I had taken too long to get back to my cast and the mixture set in the tub before I even thought about putting it into the cast.

Third time was a charm and I managed to get the correct ratio and get the mixture into the cast on time and I was really pleased with the outcome. Next up is getting the wire frame into the mold before I put the foam in to a create a movable model.

Overall, it was a really good afternoon and I am really pleased with what I was able to achieve. I still need to improve on my mixing of the two agents in order to produce a model that has less air bubbles in it, but I feel that for my first few attempts I did a really good job. I feel that I have learned a fair deal of really useful skills that I will definitely continue to develop. I have thoroughly enjoyed working within the ceramics workshop and I am excited to find out what else I will be able to create down there!