Alien Syndrome "head"

[jfunk]

I have an Alien Syndrome cabinet..  Fully working, in great shape.  I REALLY like the look of the cab..  Was thinking it might be cool to carry some of the same elements over to my upcoming MAME cab..  Specifically, the head (yeah, I know it's a bit cheesey, but I think it's great! 

Here are some pics of the cabinet:

http://www.e-funk.net/arcade/images/as/

Anyways, does anybody have any idea how to fabricate something like the head?   (Not it EXACLTY, but similar in nature...)

I thought about maybe a giant vacuform like this:

http://www.halloweenfear.com/vacuumformintro.html

But I wanted to see if anybody else had ever tried anything like that..?  Besides, I don't know how I'd create the original 'mold' for the vacuform..  If I could do that, I wouldn't need the vacuform because I'm not planning on mass-producing 

Anyways, anybody have any thoughts?

[zorg]

sorry I could not answer your question. I have no idea on how to perform such things.

but I have one request: could you provide us a scan of the marquee ??

[jfunk]

Hrm...  I can try..  I've never scanned anything like that..  It'll take me a while  (it's in my basement, and my computer/scanner are on the 2nd floor)...

Would the sideart be helpful, too?  CPO?  I'm guessing hi-res pics probably won't be good enough?

Any tutorials on scanning stuff like this?

Thanx. 

[zorg]

Hrm...  I can try..  I've never scanned anything like that..  It'll take me a while  (it's in my basement, and my computer/scanner are on the 2nd floor)...

moving the computer and scanner will be easier than moving the cab ;-)

but i guess things will become easier if if you can un-mount the marquee.

Would the sideart be helpful, too?  CPO?  I'm guessing hi-res pics probably won't be good enough?

sure it will but the process of scannig a side art if far more complicated

Any tutorials on scanning stuff like this?

you should ask ravage for the tips and trick of scanning, he is THE scanner man at the momment.

[Samstag]

If you want to duplicate the shape of the head, probably the easiest way would be to use 2-part foam.  First find or build a box big enough to hold the piece.  Put plastic around the original and find a way to mount it face-down in the box.  Then put the 2-part foam in the box and it will expand and harden around the original.   There's your mold.

Then take the original out and cover the mold with plastic.  Pour more 2-part into the mold and when it finishes curing break the mold away and you've got a foam shape that should match the original head.  For best results fiberglass it or use some other hardening technique to make it more durable.

[jfunk]

Hrm..  That's definitely a thought..   I wonder if I'd still be able to "light it up" like the real head does...

I'll have to do some research..

Thnx for the idea!

[Samstag]

The only way that might be lightable is if you can find a clear or very translucent hard coating over the foam and then dig the foam out.  A light fiberglassing with white cloth might do the trick.

If you can find someone local who can do that size vacuum molding, you'll get a much more lightable end result.  In that case you'll probably still want to do the foam molding trick to get a useable mold for them.

[Marky_1979]

Any luck with the head would be interested to know how you got on.

[ktulu]

Im hunting for one of these if anyoine has one they want to part with please contact me!

I vacu-form and would love to try something this big. Not sure the dimensions but it looks pretty wide.