I would find something slightly smaller than the final head you want to make and use it as a permanent foundation, building with pulp on top of it.  You could use one of those head-sized play balls that are really more like heavy-duty balloons, but they stay inflated much, much longer, which you would need.  Or you might be able to use a plastic jug, a 2-liter soda bottle, or some kind of plastic container from a thrift shop.

Don't try using a regular balloon, as it will deflate before the pulp dries.

And if your foundation is plastic, you can't dry it in the oven, as the plastic will produce toxic gases.  But placing in front of a small fan would be perfectly safe to increase the drying speed.

Others may disagree, but I would not use PVA (white) glue with a project like this.  I would use methyl cellulose-based wallpaper paste as my adhesive of choice, as it will allow moisture to gradually wick out of the pulp, where PVA tends to form a skin which delays or prevents drying inside.

Once you get your head as you like it, allow it to dry for a while, and when it is sort of leathery, burnish the surface with the back of a spoon to smooth it.  This will cut down on the sanding considerably when it is dry.

Sue

Maybe crumbled up foil? Although, I've found paste doesn't stick well to foil, so not sure what mix you'd need (glue, methy, whatever).

Hi,

I had wondered about doing it that way, I was concerned that I would lose the fine detailing that I had carved into the head.  The dolls in the gallery are paper layered around plasticine but I assumed that I would struggle with finer forms.  I suppose that experimenting is the way to go.

Has anyone tried Martin's fine finish mache?  How easy is it to sculpt?

Thank you very much

I am experimenting with plaster cast mould, it is drying at the moment and should be ready to be inveiled in the next couple of days.  As it is the first time I have done this since college ceramics lessons, hmmmm years ago! I don't know how it will turn out.

Out of interest has anyone in the UK been able to buy shellac.  I tried a couple of years ago for something else I was making and got blanks alround from most of the places I tried.  Is this something that has gone the way of Cow Gum, which I was recently told is now illegal.

I regularly use a fine pulp mix, similar to the one Martin describes.  You have to aim to make the finished object as perfect as possible.  It helps to burnish the surface several times while it is drying.
Being fibrous, it won't cut really cleanly but can be sanded.  The best way I have found is using a grinding tool in a Dremel.  This seems to polish the surface and can help model it at the same time.
I am considering buying an engraving tool because I think that should work for fine detail.  Has anyone tried that method?
DavidO

I have just lifted the head out of the plaster block and the cast looks usuable, I can't see any air bubbles of cracks.  I will cure it for a couple of weeks and then cast pulp in it.  As an experiment I am following David's suggestion of layering over the plasticine model as it came out of the cast nice and cleanly.

I have used the paper layering method initially as this is the one that I am most comfortable and adept with.  However how many layers do you think I should put on before cutting it off the mould?

The head is approximately 4 cm diameter, and 5 1/2 cm high.  I have put about four layers on that are now nearly dry.  I want it fine detailed  enough to be able to apply Martin's porcelain finish pulp but strong enough to cope with removal and reassembly.

Oh, I nearly forgot, has anyone cast papiermache over a stockinette body form?

Charlotte