Fosshape and Wonderflex at Solarbotics

Solar botics
July 12, 2016

With our recent experiences with the costuming and cosplay communities, we've learned a lot about new materials that cosplayers use for making masks, props and armour. That added a few new words to our vocabulary and awesome new items to our inventory.

First, Fosshape. It is a felt-like polyester fabric that can be stretched and formed over a mold with heat (ideally a steamer). It collapses in thickness and sticks well to itself, forming a firm but pliable surface. It comes in two thicknesses, 300 and 600 which is double the weight. Easy to cut and paint, does not fray.

Fosshape 600 is a heavier, thicker and denser version of the 300, better for more rigorous and structurally intensive pieces of work. Takes dye quite well, mildew resistant.

Wonderflex is another heat-activated material that has a texture of 1mm thick lightweight plastic rather than fabric. It is pliable and sticks to itself while heated and becomes tough but flexible after cooling down. It is very popular in making prop armour and other rigid costume pieces.

Here are some samples of what Fosshape is capable of. It cuts well with scissors and Xacto knife, and can be formed around various objects and hold that form after cooling down.

59050-IMG_0110

It can be painted and formed into relatively simple...

59050-IMG_0114

... or quite complex shapes:

59050-IMG_0118 

MORE POSTS

April 7, 2004
New BEP Application -- The Turbot

The Resources section, which is a new and growing portion of our site to display all things BEAM, now contains a brand new project that can be built off of the Solarbotics BEP (Bicore Experimenters PCB). Introducing... BEP Application #5 -- The Turbot. This extremely popular bot is a milestone in the amazing combination of […]

March 23, 2012
Ardweeny Non-Clock, New (Mainly Battery)...

It's that time of the week where we point to a pile of new things and exclaim "LOOKIT THAT!", before bouncing away on pogo sticks. We're kidding, of course. If we actually did that it'd be plain ol' absurd. First things first - a neat-o community project needs to come before that sweet, sweet pogo […]

October 30, 2008
Pololu is neat.

They make neat things. Like wheels that fit the 3mm "D" shafts on GM11a/12a/13a/15a/18 gear motors. And super-cool motor mounts. This stuff is so neat, that we're selling it now. 32x7mm Fine wheels 42x19mm Fat wheels Standard Mini Metal Motor Mount Extended Mini Motor Motor Mount Oh, did I mention that the MAKER Faire: Austin […]

December 9, 2008
New Servo-liciousness

For far too long we've toiled under the merciless grip of the Gear Motor. But no more! For behold, there appears a trio of defiant servos to overthrow the tyrannical rule! *cough* But seriously forks, we have three new units available from Grand-Wing Servo. The 22140 GWS Modified Servo is a useful continuous rotation, full-sized unit. […]

Solarbotics Ltd Logo
Solarbotics has been operating for more than 25 years, bringing electronics know-how and supplies to both the electronics professional and hobbyist. We'll be happy to help you too!

Solarbotics, Ltd. is not responsible for misprints or errors on product prices or information. For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions.

Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information. This item was manufactured prior to August 31, 2018.