<![CDATA[TFB Blog]]> http://www.tfbplastics.com/blog/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:40:10 +0000 http://www.tfbplastics.com/skin/frontend/base/default/images/rsslogo.jpg <![CDATA[TFB Blog]]> http://www.tfbplastics.com/blog/ Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Heros Find Immortality!]]> http://www.tfbplastics.com/blog/bronze-heros Saber-tooth Tiger These bronze heads where designed to stand as a memorial for the three Lamoreaux brothers, who were killed in WWII. The story of their untimely deaths have been immortilized in the movie, "Saving Private Ryan". The film is based on the attempt to rescue the middle brother, Al. They are survived by two sisters, with whom the creators met. Unfortunately, the two women offered them very little to go with in creation of these life-like heads. A house fire destroyed most of the photographic memories of these men. Based on the six photographs they where given, the heads began life carved from Shivcut clay and Smooth-On 724 Urethane. For the finishing touch, wax casts where then made and sent to a foundry to be poured in bronze .

The three brothers now keep vigil in a park in Sparta, MI, appropriately named for them, Lamoreaux Park.

MATERIALS USED FOR THIS PROJECT

  • Heads carved of Shivcut clay.
  • Smooth-On 724 Urethane.
  • Made wax casts and sent to a foundry to be poured on bronze.
]]> Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:55:28 +0000 <![CDATA[Woman Leaves Babies In Car....Maybe Not?]]> http://www.tfbplastics.com/blog/mellissa-babies Melissa's BabiesSo, Melissa and her babies almost had a police record. That's right, these little babies once had police waiting outside of Melissa's car when she returned from a bit of shopping. It turns out, someone thought they where real babies left inside the car alone. How about that for realism? That's not the only thing you can find at her website, there are baby monkeys, reborns and fantasy creatures. Originally sculpted out of polymer clay of Dragonskin with flesh-tone pigment, in a Reoflex 30 mold. The hair and eyelashes are painstakingly hand punched for a realistic appearence. Blemishes, veins and birthmarks and added afterwards to add character to each baby. It's an amazing "birth" for such adorable dolls.

MATERIALS USED FOR THIS PROJECT

  • Hand punched hair and eyelashes.
  • Original sculpting out of polymer clay.
  • Reoflex 30 for mold.
  • Dragonkin with flesh-tone pigment.
  • Blemishes, birthmarks, veins added afterwards for added realism.
]]> Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:53:26 +0000 <![CDATA[The Duke is Back!]]> http://www.tfbplastics.com/blog/john-wayne John Wayne SculptureThere's a new sheriff in town! Perfect for keeping watch over any barkeeps saloon. If you don't recognize this guy, then you better be ready to do a shootout at high noon! This dead on replica of the John Wayne was lovingly created by Jack Price. The body was made from Flexfoam 10, with molds made out of polyester. His head was sculpted from clay and cast in Ecoflex. The hard plastic mold was created by Reoflex. HIs eyes, hands and feet made with SmoothCast 327. His fashion accessories are high quality replicas of the originals. The hat and the metal pieces on the rifle are created from 327 plastic. The body of the rifle is carved from real wood. The frame that keeps it all together is made from PVC piping.







MATERIALS USED FOR THIS PROJECT

  • Body: Flexfoam 10.
  • Head originally sculpted of clay, Reoflex rubber for the mold, cast in Ecoflex.
  • Eyes/hands/feet: SmoothCast 327.
  • Rifle: real wooden stock, metal pieces are 327 plastic.
  • Hat: 327 plastic.
  • Clothes/belt: high quality replicas.
  • Frame: PVC pipe.
  • Body molds: polyester.
]]> Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:49:52 +0000 <![CDATA[16ft Tall Samurai Guardians!]]> http://www.tfbplastics.com/blog/samurai-guardians 2 Samurai Guardians Smooth On ProductsThese gorgeous 16 ft tall Samurai guardians where used as set props fro the Grand Rapids Ballets production of "Firebird". Built in studio located in Grand Rapids from styrofoam blocks and coated with styrocoat, these enormous "book ends" took ten days to complete by seven people who maintained regular 40 hour jobs. They're biggest obstacle was, of all things, a short deadline!

The creation began with two 12 x 4 foot styrofoam blocks, carved with hot wire foam cutters and a chain saw. Then came detachable arms made from a steel frame and connecting pins. On top of all of that, fourteen cases of Styrocoat® Sprayable Styrofoam Plastic Coating to envelop the styrofoam and give it a hard shell. The last step was painting them, in this case porcelain paint was used, however, normally a Bear Brand exterior paint is recommended.

In the end, a block of styrofoam became these formidable warriors who became supporting actors in "Firebird". The creators received their final reward when hearing the gasps from the audience as the lights went up on the stage.

MATERIALS USED FOR THIS PROJECT

  • Styrofoam blocks.
  • Hot wire foam cutters.
  • Chain saw.
  • 14 cases of Styrocoat.
  • Painted with a porcelain paint, but Bear brand exterior paint recommended.
  • Bottom, steel frame with casters.
]]> Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:59:18 +0000 <![CDATA[Sabre-Tooth Roams Trade Show]]> http://www.tfbplastics.com/blog/saber-tooth-tiger Saber-tooth Tiger Looking for security, but can't afford conventional systems? Just put this Sabre-tooth Tiger sculpture on your front porch and people will have second thoughts about trying to break into your house! Actually, this 175 pound sculpture was realistic enough to win 3rd place in the Collective Arts division of the International Taxidermy Show in Las Vegas out of 740 exhibitors. Not impressed? Well, the only reason it didn't place higher was because of the $7,000.00 worth of Hollywood quality faux fur!!

This life-like piece was made from a pre-formed plastic taxidermy lion body. The head was carved in foam, then cast in plastic, from molds using BCC hard urethane plastic. The makers studied the actual skeletal remains of a sabre-tooth tiger, to add realistic characteristics. The hair itself was hand poked and airbrushed with RIT dye. The tongue, ears and nose had to be cast by silicon Mold Max 15T. The incredibly lifelike eyes are taxidermy glass eyes. Finally, the teeth had to be created from Smoothcast 300 rigid plastic. It's final construction took 45 days.

It was then put into it's custom wooden crate (no air holes necessary!) and shipped to Las Vegas from Grand Rapids where it clawed it's way to 3rd place.

MATERIALS USED FOR THIS PROJECT

  • Head cast in Soft FoamIt 5.
  • Tongue, ears, nose, cast in silicon MoldMax 15T
  • Eyes are taxidermy glass eyes.
  • Hair was hand-poked and airbrushed with RIT dye.
  • BCC hard urethane plastic to make the molds.
  • Teeth - Smoothcast 300 rigid plastic.
]]> Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:56:05 +0000 <![CDATA[BEWARE: Giant Poisonous Snake]]> http://www.tfbplastics.com/blog/giant-snake Snake Head"Choosing your poison" would've been in the literal sense had the project been completed. This fanged reptile was created to serve the special drink offer, appropriately called "The Snakebite" from the fangs. It was originally a brain child of a moment of boredom for a western-themed bar. The creators had meant for the snake to have a head and tail to wrap around the bar area. But sadly, the project fell through, and only the head was made. Making the snake head began with styrofoam blocks cut into shape with a chain saw, hot wire and foil rasps. The scales where then detailed with a Dremel tool. Finally, it was coated with several layers of styrocoat with a twist. Various colors of paint where mixed in for it's realistic skin, this method is called intrinsic painting. Fear not, our slithering friend is not in a box, tucked in some corner with no chance of seeing the light of day. On October 31, 2008, he served as a party decoration, scaring off the caked on face paint of party goers at Stage 3 in Warren, MI for the SemaFX entertainment industry Halloween Party.

MATERIALS USED FOR THIS PROJECT

  • Styrofoam blocks.
  • Spray Jr.
  • Cut the styrofoam with a chainsaw and hotwire, and foil rasps.
  • Detailed the scales with a Dremel tool.
  • Coated with several layers of Styrocoat with various paint pigments mixed in for color.
]]> Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:46:06 +0000