this is going to be my first lifesize mount and the form i'm needing to get is 2.5" to small around the neck i was looking to find out a good method on how to build this area up. i didn't know whether to use a clay or what any input would be greatly appreicated.
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Feed him corn
Where is the 2.5" difference on the lifesize form? Behind the ears or further down?
Have you considered buying a shoulder mount form or neck mount form with the size neck you need? You could cut off the neck or up to the front shoulder on the lifesize form and then attach the shoulder form or neck form and blend the cut and attachment areas.
You could cut out several circles from cardboard or some other similar material a bit larger than the neck size you need. Then cut out the inside of those circles to fit around the neck of the lifesize form so you now have several rings of carboard. Attach the circles to the neck for the length of the neck that you need to increase the size. Wrap that area with plastic wrap and pour in some foam. After the foam has expanded and cured, remove the plastic wrap, rasp down the foam, add any musculature detail to that area and blend in the end of the poured foam area to the lifesize manikin.
You could also use some other kind of "spacer" around the neck inplace of the cardboard such as small pieces of foam. Attach several of the small spacers of foam around the neck so you essentially have circles of foam around the neck and then use the plastic wrap and foam like above. This would probably be easier to rasp down than carboard edges sticking through the foam.
If the neck is long enough but not thick enough just wrap some cotton batting or something around it to build it up to where you need it. Hope it helps! Jessica