Custom Boot Soles

[MandoMan531]

Hey guys, i recently decided to scrap my helm from last year and make all the new high detail stuff. Already got the helmet pep done, and the boots. I want to finish up the boots first because i have this great idea to make custom boot soles.

For this i would make a mold out of something and pull copies with some kind of urethane/rubber. ive researched a few things such as different types of caulk and didnt really find much suitable for the application. then i looked into liquid molding rubbers, but since i dont have much experience in molding rubers i wasnt sure of the durability/abrasion/grip factors. So im wondering if anyone here can point me to a poduct that may be suitable. pretty much a liquid moldable rubber similar to boot rubber in durability/grip.

Id love to make these available for everyone because i think its an awesome idea, and could take those "almost accurate" boots and really set them off. Just trying to find my own way of giving back to the site what the site has given me.

I appreciate any and all suggestions.

 

[Primal Weyland]

I planned to bolt rubber car mats to my boots. This should give me good grip and a high wear tolerance.

 

[Vrogy]

Interesting idea. I know I've seen enough bad sabatons, riding 1" or so above the boot they're fastened to..

I'm not sure when, but I think at some point Adam mentioned doing something similar.

 

[NZTK]

You may find this helpful
http://www.amazon.com/Cast-Small-Metal-Rub...s/dp/0830604146

 

[MandoMan531]

@ Weyland- yea i COULD do that, but im going for game accuracy.

@ Vrogy- yea thats the exact thing i want to eliminate, inaccurate sabatons.

i have enverything figured out but what material to use, thats the only thing holding me back.

 

[Sean Bradley]

Well the best thing for you to do would be to contact some of the rubber comapnies like Smooth-On, Polytek, etc. and directly ask them which of their products they would recommend for this purpose. I've never cast rubber soles before, but I'd bet that someone they supply to has.

I'd imagine that you'd need a rubber with a very high shore hardness and tear strength. You'll also need to be able to dye the rubber a specific color.

Smooth-on does carry materials for stuff like this. Give them a call and see what they recommend!

 

[Ph4de]

I'm going to do the same thing and for my soles I'm going to use Plasti-Dip.

 

[Vrogy]

I'm going to do the same thing and for my soles I'm going to use Plasti-Dip.

Two things:
-Solid plasti-dip takes a loong time to cure.
-Sprayed-on plasti-dip will wear off very quickly when you're constantly grinding it on the ground.

Even then, it's going to be ground up at a pretty alarming rate- the stuff is soft.

 

[MandoMan531]

Sean- yea i think im gonna contact smooth-on and see what they have to say. thanks

wow i had NO idea they were loated in Easton, PA. thats not too far from where i live.

 

[Ph4de]

I was browsing Smooth-On and I found this: Click
Sounds like it would work.

 

[Keegan]

All I can tell you is good luck and, the new action figures have a great detail on the bottom of the boots, I recommend looking at them.

 

[MandoMan531]

Ph4de- wow thanks alot for that link. sounds like itll be perfect. ill order the trial size this thursday and give you guys a WIP thread.

Reega- yea i had all the halo figures preordered, but due to a problem i had i had to cancel my preorder. ill get them eventually. most likely cheif first so i can check the details.

 

[Keegan]

Reega- yea i had all the halo figures preordered, but due to a problem i had i had to cancel my preorder. ill get them eventually. most likely cheif first so i can check the details.

Reega? Ha, that would be "Keegan"

 

[noName]

this sounds like i good idea to add detail to the boots. does anyone have referecne pics of the bottom of MC's shoes?

 

[NZTK]

you could try vinymold (sp?) it might be tough enough but, there are many flexible casting urethanes available with differing hardnesses and flexibility there are a lot of pigments around for them too, just do a search to find out what gumboots are made of.