Learn how to fabricate a muscle suit with master creature effects fabricator, Ted Haines (From Dusk Till Dawn, The Muppets, The Bourne Legacy).

In Part One of his 3-Part course series, Haines starts strong with professional tips on everything from muscle suit applications and researching anatomy, all the way to making patterns, using a mannequin, and how to fabricate muscles out of various types of foam.

Whether you need to bulk up an actor to fill out a muscular superhero costume or add realistic "under the skin" muscle movement to your animal, monster or creature characters, this course series with one of Hollywood's fabrication experts will show you how to do it right.

Intermediate Level

3h 7m of duration

English (auto), Spanish (auto)

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Curriculum

1. Title & Introduction - 45s

2. Muscle Suit Applications - 11min

3. Research - 9min

4. Design - 16min

5. General Q&A - 11min

6. Tools & Materials - 18min

7. The Mannequin - 3min

8. Patterning - 31min

9. General Q&A - 8min

10. Foam Carving - 26min

11. Foam Carving - 25min

12. Foam Carving - 13min

13. General Q&A - 15min

14. Project Goals - 51s

15. Wrap Up - 23s

Materials

CLICK on the links below to find the materials you need for this lesson.

Some items might be harder to find, but a little internet scouring usually finds you everything you'll need.

Foam Mart

McMaster Carr

Reynolds Advanced Materials

Smooth-On Inc.

FOR YOUR WORK STATION

Home Sewing Machine - Overlock or Zig Zag

(This is not a must if you don’t have one, but it will make things easier)

EPOXYS/GLUES

3M 74 Spray or equivalent Spray Adhesive.

Barge Contact Cement

FABRICS

1 Spandex Unitard - long sleeves and feet. We will go over making one as well.

Spandex - 8 yards, yardage may very according to project

Thick Muslin - 2 yards

Elastic - 1” & 1 1/2”

Heavy Hand Sewing Thread

Webbing - 1” & 1 1/2”

Heavy Duty Separating Zipper - 8” & 28”

FOAMS

Upholstery Foam - 2”- 4”

Closed Cell Foam - L200 or interlocking kids play mats

TOOLS

Cutting Tools

Razor Knife - snap of blade kind

Personna Razor Blades - several boxes (20) blades

Sewing Needles/Pins

Hand Sewing Needles (curved or straight - personal preference)

SUPPLIES

Disposable Chip Brushes - 1”

HEALTH/SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

When working with toxic and/or dangerous materials or tools:

ALWAYS read labels for appropriate use guidelines

ALWAYS wear a high-grade respirator

ALWAYS work in a well-ventilated area

ALWAYS protect your skin

ALWAYS wear eye protection

Artist BiographyTed Haines

Ted Haines is a foam fabricator. He's a wizard with scissors. We asked him to make something. He made a T Rex.

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Additional Purchasing Options

Notice: DVDs do not include closed captions.

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