Corpsing giant bat wings, like some suggestions

Sytnathotep · #1 05-21-2012

Heya Peeps. Getting ready to start building props again. Going to try real hard this year to start ahead of time (like not a few days before Halloween lol) to get some things done.

What I'm wanting to do is create a posable, static prop of a bat winged gargoyle type critter. I imagine it'll be in the neighborhood of a 3 foot wingspan. I think for the frame I'll build my usual wire and pvc zombie hands, just scale them up. What I'm not sure on yet is the skin. I'd like the wings to be kinda tight looking when fully streched out, but also be able to have them fold up, without looking too baggy. I'm a fan of Allen H's plastic corpsing methods, But I'm afraid that when the wings are closed, it might look like, well, a crumpled trash bag. lol

So, any ideas of thoughts on how to go about this? Anyone try something like this before? Love to hear it. And as always, this has to be done on a ghetto budget, the cheaper the better!

Mr_Chicken · #2 05-21-2012

I think you'll be better off making them opened or closed. Maybe a set of each if you want the option, but shy of some super stretchy silicone, I don't think you'll find a solution that looks great for both.

The Watcher · #3 05-21-2012

spandex or woman's hose or the only things I know that would have that much movement. Spandex with some cotton added on it might come close to looking good. It would take some time I am sure to get it right. But this isn't going to be quick.

RoxyBlue · #4 05-21-2012

Will the wings have long fingers as part of their construction so any fabric or covering would be stretched between them?

I would think this would be doable with a spandex or lycra-based fabric. I would avoid plastic for the reasons mentioned - it's not likely to have the drape you'll need. I actually had some smaller creatures in mind I wanted to make this year who would be winged as well and somewhat posable, so I'll be dealing with this same issue soon.

bmaskmaker · #5 05-21-2012

If you design them to be removable (along the lines of Stolloween's Gargoyle tutorials), they wouldn't be posable, per se, but you could make a set that was fully extended, and a set that was closed (or any in between) ...

Again, not strictly posable, but with options for variation and easier to store.

RoxyBlue · #6 05-21-2012

Take a look at the photos and videos of the tombstone flapper Spooky 1 and I built a couple years ago:

http://www.hauntforum.com/showthread.php?t=24502

Bear in mind the wings for this prop were designed for active movement, so they won't be quite the same as what you have in mind, but it does show that a posable wing should be achievable. The material I used for the wings was a stretchy fabric so it would have some give at full extension. I was not trying for an anatomically accurate version since the creature itself is somewhat imaginary

Spooky1 · #7 05-21-2012

I wonder if a thin stretchy cloth coated with liquid latex would work?

RoxyBlue · #8 05-21-2012

I think it would - I've seen other wing writeups that mention using latex. They'll need to be powdered so they don't stick to themselves, though.

Bone Dancer · #9 05-21-2012

The cloth and latex combo sounds good. I would use a lite nylon material for a base.
Weight will be an issue if you go with the latex, depending on the motor you will be using .

Sytnathotep · #10 05-21-2012

Thanks for the input guys. I didn't consider cloth.

I have never used liquid latex before, nor do I have any, so that is uncharted territory for me.
How long does the latex last? I've had latex props (commercial props, not homemade) and they never lasted terribly long, maybe a couple years before the latex started to dry out and break down. But this has been years ago. Is this still the case, or has it improved?

However, I did pick up some Smooth-On Dragon Skin . But I haven't tried using it yet either. Also, as anyone else used this, or similar, product for prop building?