Week 4: Thermoplastic Creations (with images)

Over the last few weeks, I have been talking about thermoplastics and how they work. But how are they exactly useful for making props?

The way thermoplastics are used in props is simple; either use them by themselves or use craft foam to stablize it. Due to the heat sensitivity, thermoplastics lose the shape sometimes when used by themselves, hence why craft foam is used as stability. Since they already stick to themselves when heated, adhesives are not needed in order to put one piece to another. When the pieces are joined together, they are cooled back to hard plastic. If adjustments are needed in the cooled thermoplastic pieces, reheat the pieces until they are soft and malleable again, just like the consistency of a boiled pasta.

As seen in the picture, three thermoplastic and foam pieces are joined together to make one mask.

Due to the rough surfaces of thermoplastics, they are primed to make smooth edges before painting. Using 6 layers of wood glue does the trick, and automotive spray primers work as well. The only downside to using spray primers is that sanding is required to make sure there are no air bubbles from the spray.

After priming, simple acrylics are the best option for painting thermoplastics. After adding details, paint sealer or clear spray paint is used to seal the design. After attaching the apparatus for attaching the props to the costume, the prop is finished.

There are endless possibilities in making props with thermoplastics, and on the next post, more details on painting props will be explained.