Fake Muscle Suit

[Ronster]

I need my actor to look pretty buff, but...

They arn't. :P

An episode on about how to make a low-budget realistic muscle suit would be the bee's knees! Most realistic top-quality suit are pretty darn expensive and I know you can make it work Eric/Steve!

Thanks! :D

[justin]

I love this idea

[WesScog]

Use a similar technique for a Fatsuit, but instead of making it amorphous, just add layers of more rigid, firm looking structures on the top instead of more flappy materials.

Take a long sleeved shirt, Get some foam rubber and glue it to the long sleeved shirt in a more angular, rigid, muscular looking structure, for more rigid muscle you might want to go over it with duct tape to to really make it angle correctly.

For sections like the chest and abs, you can carve it out of soft green foam you can get at a hobby store, and glue it on top of the foam rubber.

On top of this, after you're done taping and gluing it together, get a SMALLER long sleeved t-shirt, and pull it over, stitch the edges together, and spray it with a sealer, THEN spray it with a flesh tone paint.

If you aren't going to see them take their shirts off, just do what they did in the old SNL "Hans and Franz" skits, put them in sweat suits, and stuff them with foam and cloth in a muscled structure.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5080523323170809361&q=hans+and+franz+snl&total=13&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=5

See? It's just sweat suits stuffed with cloth, and really, it doesn't look too terrible, I mean it isn't funny, it's obviously not as realistic as it could be because they're doing it for comical effect, but still, not too shabby for just cheap sweat suits and cloth stuffing.

[Walucas]

Make the top of the stunt dummy then add more duct tape for mussels.

[Ronster]

I'll try the foam attempt.
Although I did want to go with more of a realistic look.
Thanks Wes. You = genious.

Still would LOVE to see a video on it. I'm much more of a visual learner anyways.

[TrueAsian]

Hey Can you make a Muscle suit with fake muscle and stuff?:D

[WesScog]

Hey Can you make a Muscle suit with fake muscle and stuff?:D



Use a similar technique for a Fatsuit, but instead of making it amorphous, just add layers of more rigid, firm looking structures on the top instead of more flappy materials.

Take a long sleeved shirt, Get some foam rubber and glue it to the long sleeved shirt in a more angular, rigid, muscular looking structure, for more rigid muscle you might want to go over it with duct tape to to really make it angle correctly.

For sections like the chest and abs, you can carve it out of soft green foam you can get at a hobby store, and glue it on top of the foam rubber.

On top of this, after you're done taping and gluing it together, get a SMALLER long sleeved t-shirt, and pull it over, stitch the edges together, and spray it with a sealer, THEN spray it with a flesh tone paint.

If you aren't going to see them take their shirts off, just do what they did in the old SNL "Hans and Franz" skits, put them in sweat suits, and stuff them with foam and cloth in a muscled structure.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5080523323170809361&q=hans+and+franz+snl&total=13&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=5

See? It's just sweat suits stuffed with cloth, and really, it doesn't look too terrible, I mean it isn't funny, it's obviously not as realistic as it could be because they're doing it for comical effect, but still, not too shabby for just cheap sweat suits and cloth stuffing.

[Ronster]

LOL'D, Wes.
You copy and pasted.

[WesScog]

Well yes, I didn't want to retype it all.

[Ronster]

One question, though...
What if you wanted to make more...defined muscles? Like superhero style.

[WesScog]

Carved them out of foam rubber.

[IrishDrummer7707]

I need fake mussels!!! (without steroids)

[bridboyross]

sigh, muscles, couldnt you use foam or something under a lot of liquid latex?

[ericslovechild]

Fake mussels... Just go buy some shells and put pink modeling clay inside them.

JK. Briddy Boy is right though.

[WesScog]

Use a similar technique for a Fatsuit, but instead of making it amorphous, just add layers of more rigid, firm looking structures on the top instead of more flappy materials.

Take a long sleeved shirt, Get some foam rubber and glue it to the long sleeved shirt in a more angular, rigid, muscular looking structure, for more rigid muscle you might want to go over it with duct tape to to really make it angle correctly.

For sections like the chest and abs, you can carve it out of soft green foam you can get at a hobby store, and glue it on top of the foam rubber.

On top of this, after you're done taping and gluing it together, get a SMALLER long sleeved t-shirt, and pull it over, stitch the edges together, and spray it with a sealer, THEN spray it with a flesh tone paint.

If you aren't going to see them take their shirts off, just do what they did in the old SNL "Hans and Franz" skits, put them in sweat suits, and stuff them with foam and cloth in a muscled structure.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=5 (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5080523323170809361&q=hans+and+franz+snl&total=13&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=5)

See? It's just sweat suits stuffed with cloth, and really, it doesn't look too terrible, I mean its funny, it's obviously not as realistic as it could be because they're doing it for comical effect, but still, not too shabby for just cheap sweat suits and cloth stuffing.

[ericslovechild]

ALL HAIL WESSCOG, LORD OF THE DANCE. I MEAN SPECIAL EFFECTS.

[maverick118]

Wes is correct in what he says, I've written numerous tutorials on low budget FX and muscle suits were one...But if you need one in a pinch why not nip down to a local costume store and pick up one of those cheap Mr Incredible suits, now halloween is over they could be even cheaper than buying sweats and a load of upholstery foam...If it's to be worn under clothing then the fact that it's bright red with a big "I" on the chest shoudln't matter too much...I know a number of costumers who have used these suits for their predator costumes as they are a lot lighter than the full latex or silicone body suits <even when latexed and painted> that I make for creatures...Give it whirl and it'll only cost you a trip to the store.

[KMProductions]

You can buy muscle suits at costume stores.

[WesScog]

True, but I don't know how expensive they are, and I don't know if my local costume store even has one, it's woefully understocked.

[maverick118]

Well they seem to go for around $40 on ebay and will probably go for even less now the halloween season has been and gone, I did see a similar adult size batman begins going for about $10...They're mostly Rubies pos costumes but if you need something quick it might be what you need. Personally I wouldn't touch them but I'm not limited by a 50 dollar budget when doing things you could probably add a couple more zero's to thend of that for some of the things I've been commissioned to do in the past.

[Flamingo With A Spoon Productions]

I've been needing one of these for ages. I live near no costume stores.

I need one where you can see the muscles without them being covered by clothing.

Thanks WesScog your idea sounds good. :)

[lyhoproductions]

It would be cool to see an episode on how to do Hulk effects like makeup, Mussle suit, Ripping clothes off, And picking up heavy stuff.

[Iris Van Entertainment]

I think making it more general would be cool. Like, a super strength episode.

[Mr.Jowee]

Lou Ferrigno doesn't need a muscle suit.

[Captain SteveBeard]

Yeah, these really specific requests won't get anywhere. What good is an Incredible Hulk costume if you're doing anything other than a hulk movie/spoof?

[Crosius]

<singing> Fat guy in a little coat...

If you want to have clothes that rip when your actor flexes, you can either pull in close on where the tear is going to happen and have someone else stretch the cloth until it breaks in front of the actor's muscles, or you put the actor in "look alike" clothing that is too tight and has been weakened chemically (by soaking it in dilute muriatic acid or the like and then thoroughly rinsing the garment in a soda solution to neutralize the acid, followed by a clean-water rinse) or by baking it in an oven (this is a potential fire hazard!). Basically, if you damage the fibres sufficiently, the shirt will tear rather than stretch when the actor inside it moves.

[Captain SteveBeard]

Hey Richard, is this your coat? Take it off dickhead I'm serious!

[rrh]

I don't think Hulk is that much more specific than swamp monster. Some of the ideas could be applied to other effects like werewolf transformations.

[samthemusicman12]

true...true

[Flamingo With A Spoon Productions]

A muscle suit episode would be cool but there are already a few threads on the matter with helpfull tips.

[Iris Van Entertainment]

Nah, you can't make a muscle suit look good unless you have lots of money. I vote for a super strength episode.

The episode could include:

Lifting someone off their feet
Throwing large and/or fake objects
Super strength fighting techniques. (like making someone fly back with a hit, etc.)

[chopsamproductions]

in a film i want 2 do one of the characters is weak and then his muscles grow rapidly but idk how to make something like tht and i dont want 2 use effects. soo help me indy mogul!!

[WesScog]

If you don't want to use effects then there is nothing we can do for you... It has to be an effect of SOME KIND.

Whether a camera trick, or something digital, or something physical, like some sort of prop.

So, what do you mean "I don't want to use an effect."?

[chopsamproductions]

If you don't want to use effects then there is nothing we can do for you... It has to be an effect of SOME KIND.

Whether a camera trick, or something digital, or something physical, like some sort of prop.

So, what do you mean "I don't want to use an effect."?

i mean like adobe effects, programs like tht.
sry about tht

[ericslovechild]

Yeah, you don't want to use an effect means you want his muscles to really spontaneously grow on their own.

[Captain SteveBeard]

Stuff yourself with inflatable water wings or something and have a system rigged up that pops them or lets all the air out. Film them deflating under your clothes and then reverse and speed it up in post production.

For clothes tearing, just cut to close ups of someone tearing the clothes and then cut back to your actor wearing ripped clothes. You can use some of the forced perspective from the Giants weekend extra, as well as have them wear a smaller sized shirt.

[WesScog]

Yea, I agree, I would get a T-shirt, cover it in Zip-Lock bags, and put another shirt over it.

You could connect tubing to each of the bag, make it airtight with ducttape, then pump them full of air, maybe using a rig similar to the blood shooter to puff them all up simutaneously.

To form the bags into kind of a 'muscle' structure, I would tape them down a little bit. For the six-pack, I would do a kind of 6 segmented structure with the tape, and tape it down in that shape.

Cover the entire thing with another shirt, a little smaller than the full size, so you can see them bulging.

For the muscles bulging or breaking the fabric, just do close-ups of him wearing a shirt that is very small, cut some slits in it with scissors, and get him to flex in it, even if he isn't big, it'll look big because it'll be breaking out of the fabric.

For him walking around bulked up, after the 'transformation' scene with the bags, just stuff his shirt full of crumpled newspaper, or cotton, kind of like in the old "Hans and Franz" skits, they did it REALLY simply.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8928/hansfranznn5.jpg

They just got sweat suits, and stuffed them full of foam, and shaped it into a muscle structure.

But you can do the transformation sequence with the air bags, do some close-ups of his muscles flexing under the stretched broken fabric, then show him walking around in a stuffed suit.

[Zabren]

Yeah either stuffing your clothes or using floats or inflatables is really your only options at this point.. thats why editing using adobe or adding some form of animation to it or digital illusion would really help you out in this situation... But yeah i guess since you dont' want to do that you'll have to use floaties or something..

[chopsamproductions]

Yea, I agree, I would get a T-shirt, cover it in Zip-Lock bags, and put another shirt over it.

You could connect tubing to each of the bag, make it airtight with ducttape, then pump them full of air, maybe using a rig similar to the blood shooter to puff them all up simutaneously.

To form the bags into kind of a 'muscle' structure, I would tape them down a little bit. For the six-pack, I would do a kind of 6 segmented structure with the tape, and tape it down in that shape.

Cover the entire thing with another shirt, a little smaller than the full size, so you can see them bulging.

For the muscles bulging or breaking the fabric, just do close-ups of him wearing a shirt that is very small, cut some slits in it with scissors, and get him to flex in it, even if he isn't big, it'll look big because it'll be breaking out of the fabric.

For him walking around bulked up, after the 'transformation' scene with the bags, just stuff his shirt full of crumpled newspaper, or cotton, kind of like in the old "Hans and Franz" skits, they did it REALLY simply.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8928/hansfranznn5.jpg

They just got sweat suits, and stuffed them full of foam, and shaped it into a muscle structure.

But you can do the transformation sequence with the air bags, do some close-ups of his muscles flexing under the stretched broken fabric, then show him walking around in a stuffed suit.
wow thank you i will start working on it soon

[smashingrobkins]

Steroids.lol.jk.idk how u would do that

[Whole Milk Productions]

the inflatable bag is the only logical idea. it's the closest thing to realistic you'll get

[MrIndy]

I have an idea, but you'd need a whole lot of bees and an ambulance on stand-by.

[salamin'rye]

you could always, just run into a gamma bomb testing field.

[Fisherking]

the inflatable bag is the only logical idea. it's the closest thing to realistic you'll get

Strictly, the most realistic way would to be to create a complex structure of latex bladders and sheath the actor in a silicone or foam latex skin. Given that the original poster apparently doesn't know what an 'effect' is, I suspect this may be beyond his experience level.

[CB2001]

One thing you can do is the same thing like with the old The Incredible Hulk TV series: get some clothes that are smaller than what you normally wear, lightly cut the insides of the fabric and then run your arm through it to make it look like your arms are growing while inside their clothes. Simple and easy to do (Hey, they used to do it EVERY episode of the old series).

[salamin'rye]

i'd still go with the gamma bomb

[Gwiz]

How would the skin work out? Sounds difficult and tedious. I mean for the inflatable bag thing.

[Anthony573]

Film a close up shot of a weak, skinny arm, then fade directly to a muscular arm.

[rockband1995]

Erik I want to know how to make it look like your muscle is showing through your skin. Please pick my project.

Sincerely, rockband1995

[Scott]

I don't think saying "please pick my project" gives you a better chance over anyone else.

I just thought I'd let you know that.

[happyhands man]

make a bunch or muscle fibers attached to where ever and then covered with liquid latex with slits in the liquid latex so u can see the muscle

[trspballer7]

I am not sure what you mean, is it a gash where the muscles and ligaments can be seen through? If so, I would suggest cutting a bunch of wires, and painting them red, stick them to the area with spirit gum, and use liquid latex and makeup to blend it, and give it a "ripped" skin effect. Search for urishuh's hand tear effect, basically that but red.....oh and look at an anatomy book for specific places and ligaments.

[BinBinProductions]

do what erik did in one of the bfx "ligament tear" but dont have steve bite it off

[Lazlo319]

Hi Indy Mogul,

I got the Great Green Challenge for you. Make The Hulk makeup and effects. I mean really buff body and green face.

Thanks,
Lazlo319:)

[BinBinProductions]

DUDE! COME ON!

Use the Search Tab at the top of the page.

Cookies. Please post picture.

But take green makeup, and buy a body suit. Thats it.

[samthegorefan]

yes do that first new rules for new guys check before you type in some thing.
ever day a new forum is made only to be wasted on some thing all ready made. :( ;) :(

[Scott]

You're going to need green make-up and a really buff dude.

[katz]

You're going to need green make-up and a really buff dude.
Or green make-up and some weights.

[Scott]

Or green make-up and some weights.

Not if he wants a Hulk movie done soon.

[BinBinProductions]

You no make Hulk angry!

[Scott]

You no make Hulk angry!

I don't think so.

[ilikecookies]

DUDE! COME ON!

Use the Search Tab at the top of the page.

Cookies. Please post picture.

But take green makeup, and buy a body suit. Thats it. got it:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii178/stewieparker/searchbutton.jpg

[lyhoproductions]

You're going to need green make-up and a really buff dude.
True dat.

[BandDfilms]

please use the search button because this has been asked for 100000's of times so this is called a body suit and to turn green use make up.

I dont need a body suit to look like the hulk i have the natural figure

[chaoticmatters]

I am making a superhero costume and i need something to make me look muscular. What could i make? And what can i use?

[stone-dead]

I dont know...
you could use some plastic bags fiill them with sand,and tape them to the inside
of the shirt.
use two or more for the big muscles.
:)

[chainedflesh]

Dont use polyfill!!!!

It just bunches up and looks extremely fake.

Everyone is already fairly well muscled they just haven't defined it. I would suggest using something like layerings of compressed felt to create muscle accents. You can use rubber cement to attach the layers to each other. This way it will look hard like muscle does and still be somewhat plyable and have gentle curves to it.

Don't go overboard with muscle sizes either otherwise it will once again look fake. Try to build the body of an athlete, not a weightlifter. Basically you need to subtract your muscle mass in relation to your body shape from the desired muscle mass and use the layers to fill in the gaps.

And build it in two different suits. One out of spandex for the muscles and one that is somewhat looser for the superhero suit. That way it looks like the muscles are moving under the suit as opposed to them being moved by the suit.

[stone-dead]

That is a very detailed reply.
dum down.

[Leatherfeet]

You could paint on the muscle tone onto the costume. It could work if you did it properly with an airbrush or something. They did this in the (shit) 300 spoof -

http://www.scifiunited.com/home/components/com_xevgfx/img_pictures/meet-the-spartans-1.jpg

They also enhanced the muscles of the actors in 300 (and other films im sure, but 300 is the most muscles ive ever seen in a film!) using makeup, so you could use a mix of the above suggestions and paint.

[WesScog]

Most of the Muscle suit / Fake Muscles threads merged.

[davethomasfilms]

I've been working on muscle suits for a year or two and thought I would share my two cents on the matter, maybe three. I am currently in the process of making a new muscle suit so this seemed topical enough. Keep in mind this muscle suit is not one that would be seen, but rather one that would be worn underneath a spandex superhero costume or some other clothing to give realistic definition and some bulk. I'll just cover the upper body for now.


Start off with one of those fancy under armor shirts that fit tight to the body. Really any sort of shirt that is practically skin tight will work. Try to avoid something that is very thick or you'll become quite moisty from the impending sweat. If you have to, you can sew the shirt closer to the body from the existing seams to make the shirt fit tighter (that's what I did).


Next, it is time to start cutting/carving out some fancy new muscles of justice. For my current upper body suit I have been using Nu-Foam. it is very similar to the material that is used to create those shoulder pads in ladies dress jackets. You can find it by the yard at most fabric stores. It moves like muscle when bent and can hold up strong enough to give some definition. With your foam, you'll want to cut out the shapes of the various upper body muscles, forearms, biceps, triceps, pecs, and abs. Don't go to thick, or ridiculousness is what will occur. If you guys find this post interesting enough I'll try to get more detailed and get some pics up.

Next, you will begin to attach the foam to the body. Put on the under armor shirt and have a friend help you pin on the foam in the desired locations. Then, sew the pieces on. After this is done you will want to take a material similar to the shirt's and sew it over each foam piece as a covering. Try to use a stretchy fabric so the muscles can move like real ones. This will also smooth out the edges of the foam for realism and protect it from getting beaten up over time.

So those are the basics of the new suit I have been working on it. Hope this helps out. Hopefully seeing yourself in a realistic muscle suit will motivate some gym time haha.

[Patuman]

umm, you could also hit the gym stringy arm man! :D

[davethomasfilms]

True true, can't go wrong with the natural and health conscious method. However, even with great definition, under a costume it does not show up well. Even Tobey Maguire and Brandon Routh had to have a full muscle suit on under their costumes to show musculature.

[Patuman]

True true, can't go wrong with the natural and health conscious method. However, even with great definition, under a costume it does not show up well.

I know dude, but I still hit the gym... Feeling afterwards is awesome. :cool:

[punkandska66]

I hit the gym


You're a bully...

[Patuman]

You're a bully...

lol, what the f*ck. How come I always get that...

[yourmindsinnerworkings]

lol, what the f*ck. How come I always get that... Im 25 and still a bully?
hey, hitting gyms isn't nice (although i do tend to drop on the occasional weightroom myself)

[Patuman]

hey, hitting gyms isn't nice (although i do tend to drop on the occasional weightroom myself)

Well yeah it isnt... But the feeling after is nice.

[trspballer7]

you don't have to hit the gym, what did it ever do to you?

[Todd]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n1hKQULa9Y

best fake muscle scene ever

[davethomasfilms]

Nice link hah, classic flick. So I got a private message asking for some more detail on the muscle suit I have fabricated. Here are some photos of the prototype.

Chest
http://davethomasfilms.com/images/chest.jpg

Here you can see the chest and abs fully completed with their fabric coverings.

Forearm
http://davethomasfilms.com/images/forearm.jpg

Here is a shot of one of the forearms before the fabric covering has been added.

Full Shot
http://davethomasfilms.com/images/full.jpg

So hopefully these images can give some more detail on the suit. When I complete it I can try and put up of a before and after picture with the suit in use. So far the chest looks great under costumes. I still have to complete the biceps and triceps, but after that the upper body will be good to go.

[digitalgeneral]

Something of a cartoon-ish effect. In the Popeye cartoons, he would eat some spinach and his forearms would bulge out. I'm thinking of something in that direction.

Thinking outside of that, it could be like growing muscular (Street Fighter) or getting fat (see wired-al fat video). The incredible Hulk comes to mind too!

It's understood that you could make a foam suit or use balloons. But seeing the process would rock!

Update: So ERIC JUST POSTED SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! But still, can we see the growing process?

[sonnyfromda02]

He posted that hours ago. The only way would probably be After Effects.

[ciwi286]

As for growing buff. I suggest showing a shot of your "wimpy" actor, then some closups of things like their t-shirt ripping (Hulk style) and then back to a shot of him wearing the muscle suit.

[stoneyjr]

:loco: hulk want BFX

[xsanmdanx]

http://www.indymogul.com/backyard-fx/episode/BFX_20080616

[HomemadePictures]

you could just hit the gym-alot!

[Nonsensical studios]

Okay. This could be done easily.

Step 1. be exposed to large amounts of gamma rays

Step 2. Ensure you aren't dead

Step 3. ????

Step 4. Profit

[HomemadePictures]

i forgot about gamma radiation,
of course there's always radioactive insects, those work pretty well too,