I’m asked countless times at sci-fi and fantasty conventions what these things are made of. This is a basic run down of how I make the MonstehedZ. A detailed description will follow later, with photos.
The process starts by sculpting the basic head shape from clay. I prefer Roma Plastina medium-hard clay, but any non-drying clay will work. Depending on how big the head is, the time to the finished sculpt can be anywhere from a day, to several months. When satisfied with the sculpt, a mold is made of the head. For fine detailed works, I like to use a thixotropic silicone rubber, then back it with a fiberglass mother mold. For larger, or less detailed work, I use just the fiberglass. The last step involves mixing a polyurethane foaming compound, and pouring it in the mold. After the piece cures, teeth and eyes can be installed, and the head as a whole mounted on a back board.
