DIY "Bulging" Parts
Hey ya'll. Gary here. I have a question, I really want to make a female muscle suit, only I want it active, as in I want the muscles to flex and bulge as to suggest they are growing rapidly. Now I know the suit has to be rigged in a certain way, but as long as it has the same type of bulging effect i.e. the male werewolf transformation scene in the THE HOWLING (1981), specifically his face. The research I have done has shown me some options but they are expensive. Has anyone had any experience building that particular practical FX, and if so is there a much more frugal way of achieving it without relying on CGI? Thanks for reading and any advice given!
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Best Answers
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Chris Ellerby
Admin
Hi Gary,
Full body suits tend to be pretty expensive due to the scale and their complexity, especially when they feature exposed skin. Things can be made more simple (and affordable) if the suit is fully covered by wardrobe, like long sleeve shirt for example.
We have an awesome lesson series that covers muscle suit design and fabrication that should help you out quite a bit:
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/muscle-suit-fabrication-part-1-design-pattern-fabricate
The effect of moving/growing/flexing muscles is typically done using air bladders placed under or inside the suit. The bladders are typically hand-constructed in specific shapes to get the desired effect. This can be done with latex, silicone, or other plastics/rubbers. They are then inflated using a hand/foot pump, a large syringe, or connected to a regulated air compressor.
/Chris1 -
Chris Ellerby
Admin
Hi Gary,
I did get a private message from you here, but it had the same content and the post without a link to a video. Try sending it again and I'll see if it's something I recognise material-wise.
Thanks,
/Chris1
Answers
Happy New Year and thank you for responding to my question all those years ago, LOL! I did see it and it was helpful! Getting back into the development stage of some projects, the aspiration to build that suit is still there, but I have figured out some methods or stages to achieve the look that I want. One of those was skin.
To be specific, in my brain, I want the expansion of the muscle bladders to have a considerable scale, but I don't want to just paint over them because they would look more cartoonish. A realistic but durable layer of flexible skin will not restrict them yet provide the visual impact I seek, in theory of course.
I watched a couple of oldies but practical goodies (Night of the Demons 2 and Faust: Love of the Damned), both I believe had the PFX done by THE Screaming Mad George. Two scenes (one from each) caught my eye and IMO, may prove another piece to this puzzle, not to mention you would have 1st hand knowledge about as well! Now I can't get the Faust footage, but I do have this from N.O.D.2. Word of warning, this is adult material. It is a 1:35 minute clip, but what I am focusing on starts at 0:25. My questions are 1) What material is that skin made of? 2) How do I make it for $ (cheap but good) & $$$ (money ain't a thang)?
Any information would be helpful, thanks for reading and your time!
P.S.: I just thought of this!!! The footage is considered copyrighted material, so due to that and the visual subject matter I'll just send it to your company website!
I first want to say that my thoughts and prayers go out to all the people of Los Angeles during this terrible, trying time. I hope that you weren't significantly affected by the event, if so, I'm praying for your phoenix moment, if you have a go fund me for a charity raising funds, please let me know!
Now about the discussion at hand, well thank you for responding! I tried to leave the screenshots of the PF/X scene in the film NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2, but I'm not confident they reached you. Of course, if you are dealing with much more important matters, I completely understand! Whenever you have the opportunity, please let me know and I'll send them! Thanks, and be safe out there!
Sorry if it was blocked before, my bad Chris, LMAO!