Making fursuits: Material vs. Material

[strawkat]

We all know that there are a TONS of different ways of making fursuits. But I was wondering if any really experienced suit-makers could fill me in a bit more about the pros and cons of different materials. For example: making the head out of cast resin versus foam, along with others. I'd LOVE to hear what's what

[Harley (Squeak)]

In my experience with fursuit heads, I've tried all foam, balaclava, and plastic canvas.

All foam:
Pros:
One step ahead from plastic canvas
Tighter, more "fitted"

Cons:
A bit more floppy, lacks "skeletal structure"

Balaclava:
Pros:
Easier to tweak jaw movements
Much easier to foam, as well as less foam used than on a plastic canvas

Cons:
Hot glue burns if you don't have a styrofoam head to glue on, and even then, sometimes the heads are smaller than your own, making some placements seem "off"

Plastic canvas:
Pros:
Sturdy structure
Cheap and effective

Cons:
Harder to shape certain areas
Moving jaw is a bit more complicated
More foam is required for shaping.

These are my experiences, however. Some others may tell you differently. Hope this helps!

[strawkat]

Sweet. Helps a lot thanks!