The Zandalari build was our first experience using Creature Cast Rubber. After talking to Hulkhokie about his Death Knight at Blizzcon in 2017, it seemed like a really neat material. Our original plan was to use it to slip cast the Troll feet and hands, but we also wanted to see how it worked as a foam sealer.
When we built Reinhardt we sealed the foam entirely with Plasti Dip. While it looked fantastic, the downside was the cost and harmful fumes. Creature Cast was appealing because it is non toxic.
There was certainly a learning curve with this product. Our best piece of advice would be to experiment with it before applying it to a finished product. We went through a lot of different versions before we got the results we wanted. Now that we have a feel for it we will certainly be using it again!
For amazing ideas and inspiration, check out the Creature Cast Instagram and the companion page Faust & Co.
Are you are looking for a smooth finish? We recommend watching THIS video from Punished Props!
Things we learned:
First off, there are four different “flexibility” options of rubber.
The more flexible the rubber, the less sandable it becomes. Yes, it is sandable!
While easier to sand, the rigid is more likely to crease when bent.
The rubber more encases the EVA foam rather than fully adheres to the foam. This means that if it is not thick enough, it might tear and begin to completely peel off… This also can be to your advantage! If you mess up or want to go another direction, YOU CAN JUST PEEL IT OFF!
When applying with a Critter Gun, the nozzle tends to clog. You may be able to pull out the blockage with your fingers, if not, acetone works well.
Creature Cast is self leveling and will fill in any small details or imperfections.
Applying heat will help the rubber to cure faster and reduce air bubbles.
Tools and materials we used:
- Creature Cast Super-Flex black
- NEO-THIX Creature Cast Thickener
- 1″ Chip Brushes
- Critter Spray Gun
- Hair Dryer
- Heat Gun
- Fine Sandpaper
- Cotton
Wood Texture
- A wood texture was carved into the EVA foam base using a Dremel with a sanding barrel. We went heavy with the texture knowing some details would get lost when coated.
- The foam was then heat sealed using a heat gun.
- The first few layers of Creature Cast were applied using a chip brush.
- Additional layers (4-5) were built up using a critter gun.
- NEO-THIX was added to some Creature Cast and applied using a brush to build up textures.
- Cotton pads where torn up and brushed into the surface to add a fibrous look.
Hammered Metal
- This EVA foam was left relatively smooth. Some “battle damage” was added with a Dremel tool.
- The foam was then heat sealed using a heat gun.
- The first few layers of creature cast were applied using a chip brush.
- Additional layers (4-5) were built up using a Critter Gun.
- Un-thickened Creature Cast added using a chip brush, letting it pool naturally.
- Immediately we hit it with a hair dryer to lock the rubber in place.
- This was repeated until we achieved the desired texture.
- Once fully cured, we LIGHTLY sanded the surface with sandpaper to level out any lumps and sharpen the edges.
Carved Jade/Stone
- The base was carved in EVA with a Dremel/belt sander/ spindle sander to resemble chipped stone.
- The foam was then heat sealed using a heat gun.
- The first few layers of creature cast were applied using a chip brush.
- Additional layers (4-5) were built up using a Critter Gun.
- Creature Cast thickened with NEO-THIX was then added using a chip brush in a dabbing motion.
- The rubber was then immediately hit with a hair dryer, removing air bubbles and curing it.
- We kept building it up until the desired texture was achieved.
Painting
Because we wanted the pieces to remain flexible, we needed paints that would resist cracking. Creature Cast recommends using Liquitex acrylic paints. Thanks to the advice of our fellow builder Bio Cosplay, we ended up trying Angelus Leather paints. These are designed to paint things like shoes so it is very flexible. For metallic pieces we used Rub N’ Buff, a metallic pigment made with wax that is also very flexible. The jade/stone was sealed with Liquitex acrylic gloss medium to help give it a translucent quality.
For information on slip casting Creature Cast, check out our YouTube videos!