Sintra

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Sintra; Description / How To
Topic Started: Nov 22 2007, 02:36 PM (435 Views)
Nocturne	Nov 22 2007, 02:36 PM Post #1
Advanced Member Posts: 125 Group: Members Member #89 Joined: March 31, 2006	Sintra I'ved used sintra in various parts of my costume, and people have asked about it, so I'll try andimpart what I know. The real sintra pros are the Fett / Mandalorian costumers. I learned from them. Sintra is it's american name, here in the UK it's called Foamex. It is a closed-cell, expanded plastic, high-density poly vinylchloride sheet. The Fett / Mando crows use 3mm sheets of it, but I couldn't find 3mm, so I'm stuck with 5mm. Apart from the obvious thickness difference, it takes longer for the 5mm to become pliable with heat, and in my experience, the 5mm is more resistant to breakage under stress. Cutting When cutting it, all that's needed is a steel rule (for straight lines), a sharp Stanley knife (although I guess any modelling knife will do) and a steady hand. Have spare blades on hand as they do tend to dull quickly. For straight edges, score the sintra 3 - 4 times, then it should break along the score very easilly. When cutting curves, I usually expend the extra effort and cut it all the way through. Shaping it can be done in two ways. Either with a heat gun (which I've never tried so can't comment on) or with boiling water (which is how I do it). Using the water method. Get a pot / pan / wok of doom that you'll never ever use for food again (you're cooking plastic, it's gonna leave nasty checmicals behind). Open a window, and get a breath mask (you're cooking plastic, it'll smoke off some nasty chemicals). I fill the put as far as I dare, but then my pot is wider at the top, so more water = more sintra coverage) Bring it to the boil, then drop teh heat to let the water simmer away. Introduce the Sintra to the water and wait til it becomes pliable. With 5mm this can take up to a minute or two, with 3mm up to 30 seconds). Once it's pliable, take it out of the water, bend it to the shape you want, then run it under a cold tap. If it's not right, stick it back in the boiling water and try again. You can reapply the heat as often as is needed til you get it right. If you're careful, you can also make things that are bigger than the pot you're using. In the pic below, the greaves (shin armour) and the vambraces are made from 5mm sintra. If I remember / get time, I'll take some step by step pics when I bend the thigh pieces this weekend. Hope that helps some of you guys.



tavrikgannon	Nov 22 2007, 04:03 PM Post #2
Advanced Member Posts: 217 Group: Members Member #105 Joined: May 15, 2006	Thanks for the info.... I've been doing some research on Sintra, or expanded PVC. I may just use some sintra for the other parts of the costume that didn't come with my kit. Right now I am leaning toward getting Jango thigh armor and boot spats. The cod piece and vambraces are going to have to be custom made.... still trying to figure out how I am going to do that, though. - Bill



Nocturne	Nov 22 2007, 04:09 PM Post #3
Advanced Member Posts: 125 Group: Members Member #89 Joined: March 31, 2006	My wip thread is fairly detailed on how I did my vambraces. Jango's thigh and spats aren't quite right for the Commando though. The spats are the wrong shape, and the thigh armour's too small. If the mods will allow it, and if there's enough demand, I'll post up my vambs work in a seperate thread?



Nocturne	Dec 7 2007, 09:13 PM Post #4
Advanced Member Posts: 125 Group: Members Member #89 Joined: March 31, 2006	OK some of you wanted to know how I work the sintra. So, having made the thigh plates, I took pictures all the way through. Here's how I work it. 1. Keep the area well ventilated. 2. Wear a bretahing mask. 3. Use a cooking pot that you'll never use for food ever again (pictured is my own wok-o-doom) 4. Don't forget to take any plastic off the sintra. 5. Boil up the water, and let is simmer. SIntra over the top acts like a lid helpit come to the boil quicker. 6. The steam will allow the sintra to be bent a little, making it possible to form a piece that's larger than the pot. 7. While in the water, the sitra can be bent very easilly. 8. Then pull it ut of the water to finely form it, and test it's the right shape. 9. Repeat until the sintra is as you want it. I hope that's helpful to you all.



tavrikgannon	Dec 7 2007, 09:20 PM Post #5
Advanced Member Posts: 217 Group: Members Member #105 Joined: May 15, 2006	That is a great how-to guide. Very simple and to the point. Thanks, man! - Bill



darkjawas	Dec 25 2007, 10:41 PM Post #6
Member Posts: 13 Group: Members Member #401 Joined: November 29, 2007	any links on where to get sintra from or find at home depot?



crazas	Dec 26 2007, 04:29 PM Post #7
Captain of the Guard TX 3758 Posts: 1,056 Group: Supporter Member #228 Joined: November 6, 2006	It is easy here, there is no way to buy sintra or ABS here in Costa Rica! :lol



Nocturne	Dec 27 2007, 07:38 AM Post #8
Advanced Member Posts: 125 Group: Members Member #89 Joined: March 31, 2006	I got my Sintra from a sign maker, I walked up to the office and asked if they had any off cuts. I got a trunkload of the stuff for free. I know it can be bought here, but I doubt my links would help any of you as I'm in the UK.



tavrikgannon	Dec 27 2007, 08:33 PM Post #9
Advanced Member Posts: 217 Group: Members Member #105 Joined: May 15, 2006	Sintra is just a brand name for expanded PVC. Do a search for "expanded PVC" in your area and your should come up with something. If you were near Portland, Oregon I would recommend Tapp Plastics - Bill



darkjawas	Jan 2 2008, 02:55 AM Post #10
Member Posts: 13 Group: Members Member #401 Joined: November 29, 2007	found a site sintra if this the right type



tavrikgannon	Jan 3 2008, 07:30 PM Post #11
Advanced Member Posts: 217 Group: Members Member #105 Joined: May 15, 2006	Yeah, that is the stuff. You just have to make sure that you are getting the right thickness desired. - Bill



Darth-Ninja	Oct 28 2009, 11:41 AM Post #12
Newbie Posts: 7 Group: Members Member #756 Joined: July 15, 2009	I've tried with my oven and it's ok. About 1minute for a 3mm expanded pvc. I use paint jug for modeling thighs. http://s11.zetaboards.com/501st_Spec_Ops_Det/topic/7188694/1/#new


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