Calling R3v artist/diy'ers etc

[CreamE30]

Hey R3v, its mid september and I've been told about a rather impressive sounding halloween party that should be happening in the future. With that date fast approaching, I've decide that I wanna make myself a newer, much more professional mau5head. I am a HUGE fan of Deadmau5 and making a mau5head is not something I'm "new" to.



Now, here's where I need help. I am more than capable of making the shape and fit of the whole rig, but I want to be more ambitious with the color scheme. The last one was just cloth stretched/spray glued to the set up. What I WANT is to replicate this:



Now, how do you guys reckon' this effect was created?! Whats been stumping me is how to get it to be reflective. I have a bit more time/money to throw at this project, but I do also want to be realistic about what needs to be done.

[golde30]

it looks like its chromed man.

[emerson.]

http://www.tcpglobal.com/SprayPaintDepot/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=DUP+CS101&gclid=CIWDp-alz7kCFaXm7Aod1EAApQ

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/grille-mesh-sheet

no it wont be exact, but itll be damn close if done right

[Pantless Spency]

damn that thing is awesome, i hope you have luck in replicating it, its definitely possible.

[CreamE30]

http://www.tcpglobal.com/SprayPaintD...FaXm7Aod1EAApQ

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/grille-mesh-sheet

no it wont be exact, but itll be damn close if done right

Thanks! The mesh grill was my next problem that I wasn't quite sure where to source that material from. The paint however, I'm unsure of. I experimented before with 'metallic' paint and discovered that you only really get the metallic finish if you spray something that is also metallic.

The only way I could think of really getting that reflective finish is to do layer upon layer and to sand and polish it and do a clear coat as well. Does that sound right? Painting is not where I'm the most knowledgeable.

[AwakenNoMore]

Grill looks like the same pattern I've seen on those standing propane patio heaters. Just throwing that out there.

[TurboJake]

Stretching chrome film

http://alsacorp.com/strechchrome/index.html

^The also sell a spray chrome similar to the video above^

[IRON-E]

Maybe making the head and ears, out of a light weight plastic mold will help you with the polished/chrome finish, once it's painted.

[Thizzelle]

Turbo jake has it, but i suggest tin foil.

[flyboyx]

start with an old motorcycle helmet. use fiberglass to make the outside shape of the sphere and ears. wrap a large cheap ball(like you can find in toy stores or perhaps use a resistance work out ball(they are really big) with 1/8" fiberglass matting/resin. use a mold release on the outside of the ball. then just puncture the ball when the fiberglass sets and pull it out of the hole. maybe a good mold for the ears would be a large round cake pan. make the proper cut outs of your sphere, use resin to glue the ears on, and fiberglass it to the motorcycle helmet around the bottom edge. as far as chrome finish....google "electroplating". this is the process that makes chrome parts for plastic model kits. you can make your own set up in your garage very cheaply. it would be a lot of work though. maybe not worth the trouble.

the space heater screen idea is a good one but that screen on the big photo above has a compound spherical curve to it instead of just a simple radius. you could start with that and instill the complex bend with an english wheel.

[Nick_S]

Why not use "chrome" vinyl wrap?

[LJ851]

Go here and have fun choosing some wire mesh.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-wire-mesh/=ojf4wq

I would use fiberglass and bodywork/paint it chrome-ish or...

shape it out of aluminum, steep learning curve though.



Also, getting wire mesh into a compound curve shape is not hard at all.

[E30_Pare]

i say mold>fiberglass>auto black gloss>tons of clear

[CreamE30]

For the shape of the sphere I was going to go with another 13" hamster ball and fill in the small air holes with something like fiberglass or the likes and sand off the rough edges. This way, I eliminate myself from trying to create a perfect sphere. Last time I made the ears out of two layers of thick cardboard which worked out well when I used the felt cloth that I used to cover the head.

I am REALLY drawn into the idea of using that stretch chrome, but I'm a little worried about trying to stretch a sheet of something over a sphere. But looking at that website, if they can seamlessly cover a lamborghini, how hard could it be to cover a simple sphere...I mean right?

Edit:
how hard is it to get/work with fiberglass? I feel like maybe I'm just scaring myself away from it possibly?

[andrewm]

Fiberglass around a structure is easy - fiberglass in a free standing form is tricky. If you have anything you can lay/form it on to get the shape, it's straight forward.