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Rebuilding a Barbie's torso

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:35 pm
by catshem
Awhile back I won an auction on an old 1997-9(?) Olympic Skater Barbie and Ken set. It was that set where Barbie had a spinning mechanism built into her. I took her apart to remove the mechanism and now I'm left with a bit of a gap in her torso.
Image
I have the idea of turning her into a Steampunk cyborg type girl but I'm stuck as to how I can make a stable filler into her torso. I'm not really able to buy anymore clay right now, so I have to exclude that option. I'm looking to build something within that gap that is stable and wont break; can anyone help me with some ideas?

(i had this in custom creations before I realized that was probably not where it would be most visible :roll: I have been gone too long)

Re: Rebuilding a Barbie's torso

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 3:47 pm
by yarwel
What about attaching the sections with heavy wire and then filling in with a home-made paper mache or paper clay?

Re: Rebuilding a Barbie's torso

PostPosted: Tue May 28, 2013 2:49 pm
by catshem
I don't know if it would work, but it's worth a try! Thanks for the suggestion.

Re: Rebuilding a Barbie's torso

PostPosted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:33 pm
by Faydreams
I don't have a suggestion to help. I was just wondering how the project is going? Are there any updates?

Re: Rebuilding a Barbie's torso

PostPosted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 1:03 pm
by catshem
i haven't yet gotten the chance to try it, but I will be trying it hopefully this week.

Re: Rebuilding a Barbie's torso

PostPosted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 1:13 pm
by DollyKim
I'd say Milliput or Apoxie Sculpt, you can get small amounts of either. Make the top round so it can be a joint. Or stick a wooden bead in there.

To hold her together it there a way to put a rubber band inside? Hook one end to the hips, one end inside the chest.

Re: Rebuilding a Barbie's torso

PostPosted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:39 pm
by catshem
I tried a few different things from attaching a rubber band to connecting her with wire that didn't work out too well. Then I got some Liquitex pouring medium to make a clear acrylic sheet and got this:
Image
Painting the top and bottom to give it a cleaner edge.
I just poured the medium onto a sil-eco mat, let it dry, then cut it down to size and glued in onto the chest and hips. It holds up pretty good and gives a neat look like you can see inside the robot.

Re: Rebuilding a Barbie's torso

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:12 pm
by Faydreams
Cool Idea!

Re: Rebuilding a Barbie's torso

PostPosted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 2:22 am
by Dustafterrain10.1
She looks really cool, I'd love to see pictures when she's finished.