Learn to create props with expanded polystyrene aka "styrofoam" with master FX artist Tim Martin (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Captain Marvel, The Predator).

If you're looking for the perfect material to make low-cost and lightweight props for your films, haunts, or cosplay creations, it's hard to beat styrofoam.

In Part 1 of his 2-part course series, Martin teaches you how to transfer your prop design onto a block of styrofoam, carve it down to the primary and secondary forms, and then use a rotary tool and a heat gun to begin the detailing process.

This DVD is a 2-Disc Set

Intermediate Level

4h 30m of duration

English (auto), Spanish (auto)

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Curriculum

1. Title & Introduction - 2min

2. Tools & Materials - 8min

3. Sketching Your Design - 9min

4. Transferring the Design to a Foam Block - 3min

5. The First Cuts - 9min

6. Blocking Out the Sculpture - 12min

7. An Overview of Extendable Knives - 6min

8. Rounding Out the Primary Shape - 25min

9. Maintaining Symmetry - 30min

10. Adjusting the Basic Form - 33min

11. Refining the Overall Definition - 17min

12. Making a Jaw - 18min

13. Refining the Jaw - 24min

14. What is Some Advice for Doing this Sort of Work in Los Angeles? - 2min

15. Fitting the Skull and Jaw - 21min

16. Detailing with a Rotary Tool - 19min

17. Doing a Second Dremel Pass - 8min

18. Texturing with a Heat Gun - 8min

19. How to Avoid Heat Gun Disasters - 2min

20. Recap of the Process So Far - 1min

21. How to Make a Tooth - 13min

22. Wrap Up - 44s

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

Mouldlife USA

Mouldlife Europe

Naimie's Beauty Center

Reynolds Advanced Materials

Smooth-On Inc.

GreatArt UK

FOR YOUR WORK STATION

Leather or thick rubber (fish filleting knife) gloves

Rubber gloves

Safety goggles

AIRBRUSHES

Airbrush (optional)

CLEAR COATS/GLOSSES/MATTING AGENTS

Crystal clear or flexible clear coat

FABRICS/FOAMS

1lb white bead foam (polystyrene)*

4-6lb yellow carving foam (aka gold foam)*

* Each one of these materials can be purchased in different quantities and sizes depending on the size of the sculpture the artist intends to create.

Canned spray expanding foam (“Great Stuff“ brand name)

LATEX/SILICONE

Latex

PAINT/BRISTLE BRUSHES

Chip brushes

Various paint brushes

PAINTS

Acrylic paints – assorted colors (white, yellow, brown, black)

RESINS

2 part casting resin (white)

Fiberglass resin (optional)

CUTTING TOOLS

Dremel tool and various bits (drums or ball tools)

Extendable carpet knives and replacement blades

Various Hand Saws

DRAWING TOOLS

Paper - (large table or packing paper roll or whatever artist wants to design then draw bilateral silhouette)

Pencils

Sharpie Markers

SCULPTING TOOLS

Clay sculpting tools (various rakes and wire texture tools)

Green scouring pads

Sanding sponge pads, medium grit

Small and large wire brushes

OTHER TOOLS

Heat gun

Hot glue gun

SUPPLIES

Glue sticks

Mixing/measuring buckets/cups

Mixing sticks

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 BiographyTimothy Martin

Special Effects Character Creator & Master Monster Maker, Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc..

See Full Bio

Additional Purchasing Options

Notice: DVDs do not include closed captions.

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