Running snap core prosthetic

This blog will show and explain the process of running silicone prosthetic pieces from the snap core made in the previous blogs.

Silicone is used to create a more realistic skin texture and a more realistic look compared to foam latex that lacks movement and detail.

The process of running prosthetics:

To prepare the snap core it is coated in a thin layer of Vaseline/release agent, this creates a barrier between the core itself and the cap plastic applied in the next stage. Resulting in the prosthetic coming out smoothly and not sticking.

Cap plastic can be applied by brushing onto the snap core pieces or made into a thinner consistency to be used in an airbrush.

Figure 1

For the first attempt of the prosthetic piece a silicone mixture of Platsil gel 10 with deadner was mixed and poured into the negative core. Due to the depth of the mould the silicone had to thicken slightly and guided into the sides of the core before placing the positive core in.

Figure 2

Once ready the positive core is placed into the negative and squashed together with pressure from a hammer and heavy casts on top. This insures the cores fit snuggly together and all air is pushed out causing the silicone to fill in the areas of the sculpt.

Figure 3 & 4

The result of the first prosthetic run, overall surprised with the outcome as the student previously struggled with removing the flat mould prosthetics due to the texture. This attempt was good for a first try although a lot of excess silicone can be seen in the overflow onto the face, aswell as the silicone was too soft unfortunately.

Figure 5

For the next two runs of the forehead piece, a different technique was used to make the silicone piece firmer. Using the same method in the flat mould blogs, parts of A and B are mixed separately then painted into the negative mould. This cut out the deadner which softens the silicone. Due to the depth of the bark details a small syringe was used to place the silicone into place.

Figure 6, 7 & 8

After brushing and syringing two layers into the depths of the bark, the usual measurements for the rest of the silicone is mixed and poured over the nearly set pre mixed A and B silicone. The snap core is put together and squashed.

Figure 9

The second run of the forehead prosthetic, in refection to this attempt the firmness of the silicone was perfect however the cap plastic came away over the left eyebrow, this could be challenging when applying as there is not much room to blend the prosthetic out into the skin.

Figure 10 & 11

In last attempts to run the forehead piece, the third attempt did not come out as successful as wanted. The cap plastic became stringy and peeling away from the silicone, as well as the same left eyebrow having little cap plastic to work with. In attempts to fix this prosthetic more cap plastic was added once removed from the snap mould.

In overall reflection, the snap core works sucessfully. But the student needs to perfect their technique and ideally needed to do more than three runs to get a perfect piece. With shortage of time the student had to work with what they had therefore picking the second attempt.

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Figure list:

Fig 1 - (Radfelder A, 2021) First run of prosthetic, York College

Fig 2 - (Radfelder A, 2021) Snap mould peices together, York College

Fig 3 - (Radfelder A, 2021) First siliocne prosthetic, York College

Fig 4 - (Radfelder A, 2021) First silicone prosthetic pinned onto board, York College

Fig 5 - (Radfelder A, 2021) A & B silicone painting in technique, York College

Fig 6 - (Radfelder A, 2021) First layer of syringed silicone, York College

Fig 7 - (Radfelder A, 2021) Second layer of syringed silicone, York College

Fig 8 - (Radfelder A, 2021) Remaining silicone and deadener poured into mould, York College

Fig 9 - (Radfelder A, 2021) Second prosthetic peice, York College

Fig 10 - (Radfelder A, 2021) Third silicone prostheitc peice, York College

Fig 11 - (Radfelder A, 2021) Third silicone peice laid onto board, York College