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Nachtzehrer Veteran user Portugal 324 Posts |
Hello all.
If I make an illusion base out of fiberglass, like imagine a beveled base but its just a fiberglass shell will it be strong enough for someone to stand on it? I. Not talking inside the base but in the base itself, like to stand on top of the bevel. Cause with a fibberglass shell if can be hollow and that space can be used to help hide the assistant. Ive seen base that are built with a wood box and the bevel part goes around it so the only space usable is inside that box if I make my self clear. Using fiberglass, if its strong enough the empty space inside the beveled part could be used as well. Would it work? Thanks for the help
Alex
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
All depends on how heavy the person standing on it is. They make the Chevrolet Corvette out of fiberglass body, and they hold up well. Ever seen the back side of fiberglass material, kind of dangerous, you would have to coat both sides for a person to not get cut up.
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Chris Stolz Inner circle Mississauga, Ontario 1958 Posts |
If your bevel is so thick that you can fit parts of the assistant in it, it might be too big. The bevel should rarely hide the *entire* load IMHO.
The deceptiveness is in using various methods to score and inch here and there, not in using one method to do the whole thing. To answer the question however, you can reinforce it with aluminum bent to shape. We built a car for a theatre production with a steel frame and foam body which was carved to the shape we wanted. That was fiberglassed over and it was amazing.
Chris Stolz
BLACK ART BOOK: Hiding In The Shadows. |
john wills Special user 939 Posts |
Metal is the only right answer.
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
The right kind of rubber, PVC, wood will also work
You’r toughest decision, as Chris eluded to, is the dimensions. in your case Nach, I think AL would be better then fiberglass and less prone to breaking.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
Blair Marshall Inner circle Montreal, Canada 3660 Posts |
I have a couple of John Gaughan illusions built with fiberglass tapers, a Crystal Casket and a Sword Box. The one thing is if you create a good enough mold to shape your fiberglass in you could use it for several illusion bases by using spacers.
Blair
Visit My Facebook Fan Page At
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Nachtzehrer Veteran user Portugal 324 Posts |
Thanks for the help guys. Any more insights keep them comming
Alex
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
I think those were enough ideas. You should have already made a cardboard mock up then used it to make the real thing.
So were just interested in how others made this or did you make one over the weekend? The correct answer is "I made one". By the way, a lot of "uppers", as you mentioned in the OP usually have a bracket or support inside so a person can stand on top near the front or rear. If you are making a table with a box on top then you wouldn't be standing in the center unless the box has a base within it. So did you at least make a drawing or Sketch Up of your project? The answer should be yes.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
Shane Cobalt New user 91 Posts |
I think you could learn a lot of wonderful things about bases in Jim Steinmeyer's book Technique and Understanding. A number of new innovative bases are there as well as a remarkable discussion on empty spaces.
I appreciate what you are trying to do, however I think you are better served by finding other methods of concealment than the bevel base. It is flawed for so many reasons. Largely because we've lost sight of what the bevels were actually meant to do. A quick read through The Complete Jarrett should serve as a wonderful education on concealing people, base design, and the origin of the bevel base itself. |
spiltrap New user 51 Posts |
There are several factors. For example, will you be using cloth or matt? Polyester or epoxy resis? I think if you research these sorts of things you'll find ways to maximize strength.
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