STUDIO BUZZZzzzzzzz......
Look here for new tricks and treats as we
discover them in our studios and as our clients report their own
discoveries to us.
Mark has a new positive casting product that we are calling REDUCIT II. Like our original REDUCIT, it will shrink to approximately half its orignal size. However, the process is urethane based; and it takes a much longer time to shrink. The end result is extremely accurate; and for some reducing jobs this material will be ideal. Check it out on our Reducit info page.
It's finally ready! "Mark Prent's Ultimate Guide to Fine Figure Finishing With Glass Eyes, Embedded Hair and Airbrush Coloring" is ready to ship to our pre-order clients. We are very proud of it and think you will agree that it is every bit as thorough and informative as our previous three technical videos. If you haven't already, be sure to place your order now. It's $54.95, plus $5. shipping. Also available on PAL format (for some non-North American VHS machines) at $75.95, plus $10. shipping (slightly more to some destinations.)
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Which brings me to the question of e-mail. If you need a really timely response from us, you are better-off phoning or faxing us at (802) 524-7191. We're a little slow here when it comes to answering e-mail. Likewise, if you require technical advice, please telephone and ask to speak with Mark who tries to be available on Thursdays and Fridays during normal business hours. We have so many technical queries requiring elaborate replies that we cannot possibly handle them in writing. Even the simplest question may telescope into a long series of questions and answers about specifics that can all be resolved in a modest phone conversation, but would take hours of writing back-and-forth by e-mail...And, as I've already hinted, Mark still does not type. Period.
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People are always asking us for new products, and we think we've got one now that will be a lot of fun for everyone, but especially useful for those of you doing special effects for film or theatrical productions. Check out our new Break-Away Rubber! This stuff looks amazingly like broken ice or glass when fractured. And breaking it up is easy because it's sort of a "pull-apart" siloxane rubber. It's easy to use, crystal-clear; and, unless for some reason you want to exclude absolutely all air-bubbles, you probably won't even want to de-air it. Great stuff! We're offering it because around the Studio, we think it's one of the coolest new materials we've used in a long time...it even floats like ice!!!
Glistening ice cubes in a glass of bourbon; an ice-maker run-amuk; dancing barefoot amongst shards of broken "glass"...there are unlimited special effects possibilities for this crazy stuff. Let us know what you come up with. We're all-ears at Pink House Studios!
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Ply-O-Life is once again available after a brief hiatus. We think that you will find the new formula represents a distinct improvement over the old for most of our clients, including greater tear-strength and slightly longer working time. As noted in our new directions for the use of Ply-O-Life, you will want to be sure to put a thin application of vaseline on your model's skin before making your mold, because the new Ply-O-Life has slightly more "cling" (or suction-hold) to it. We now find that petroleum jelly works better for this purpose than does Neutrogina.
Also...see our new information for making Ply-O-Life molds over clothing!
When you are using cholesterol hair conditioner to prepare the hair for a Ply-O-Life mold, do NOT wet the hair first.
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Please note: The proportions of Reducit to water have changed since our "User's Guide to Reducit" video was first released. Be sure to refer to our catalog or to this website for the correct proportions.
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Here's a helpful hint for Algiform users:
To make fresh Algiform bond to set Algiform, brush the surface of the set material with a solution of one-teaspoon Arm and Hammer Washing Soda to four-ounces of water.
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If you are finding that you would prefer that your Ply-O-Life be a little more fluid (less viscous), you can add up to 20% of our FDA approved Silicone Fluid to the Ply-O-Life in order to increase its "flow." This will also yield a little more working time, and extend the more expensive Ply-O-Life. Silicone Fluid is only $20. per pound.
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