Thursday, May 17, 2018

Polyurethane Resin Casting And The Nerd Industry

By Carol Wagner


Blockbusters have action scenes. An action sequence, shot and lit properly, can titillate an audience. An action sequence can even become the signature scene of a film, the moment that sticks in the minds of the audience. But those scenes need props in order to be made properly, and to make those props, polyurethane resin casting California is done.

Polyurethane resin casting is the process in which viscous liquid is molded into a different shape. It is the process through which props and costume pieces are made, usually for productions like stage plays or motion pictures. It is also used for other things.

The process itself is fairly straightforward. First, mix two chemicals together, typically in a ratio of one to one, to make the actual resin. Then pour the results into a mould. Depending on what was used to make the mixture, the waiting time for the resin to cure, that is harden, can take between half an hour to a full hour or even more. Once it is cured, all that is left to be done is the remove it from the mould, though this will damage the mould. A protective spray can extend the lifespan of a mould, but it will break eventually.

While it is simple enough that can be done anywhere by anyone given the easily obtainable materials and adequate space, any state or country or city with a sufficiently large entertainment industry is going to have a lot of resin casting. Props have to be made, after all. As such, some places are going to have more studios than others.

Sculptures can be made through such a process. The trick is the mould. The mould has to be made in the desired shape before the resin is poured in.

Casting is used for props. Most productions have on set armories and prop masters to handle the weapons used on screen or on the stage. For a science fiction or fantasy production, swords or toys made to look less like toys with a black or gray coat of paint are employed. But in a less fantastical setting, actual firearms that shoot blanks are used instead. But guns can be hefty, so a prop is sometimes used to help an actor.

But the protection against weapons, or at least the facsimile thereof, are also used in productions as well. But looking like a knight in shining armor can be exhausting, given that said shining armor can weigh upwards of a hundred pounds. To keep backs from breaking, fake armor can be employed.

But movie fans like to collect replicas and other merchandise from the movies. Action figures and replica weapons are made through the process. The results are then sold to fans for a premium.

Computer generated imagery rules the modern blockbuster. But just as important are the props. Some props become so iconic that a screen used one can fetch six figures on the market. It may not always be flashy, but it does leave a mark on the audience.




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