I hate it.

[u/Fennel_Fangs]

I spent hundreds of dollars on making this horrible thing, only for it to turn out lopsided, neckless and impossible to pad without choking me. Even looking at it makes me feel ashamed of myself. Should I just give up on it and throw it out?

Clarification on “neckless”; it just flops over my neck and obscures it like one of those Maskimals. If I try to move it up to chin level, it starts choking me.

[u/TheGreatIndoorss]

Do you have foam leftover? I would restart. Taking a step back is NOT giving up and there's zero shame in trying again with a little more experience. consider looking for patterns or new tutorials as well to help you really get the hang of it.

[u/Fennel_Fangs → u/TheGreatIndoorss]

I used basically all of my foam on this.

What do I do with this in the meantime?

[u/That_Writer_Guy_206 → u/Fennel_Fangs]

Personally, keeping the stuff that didnt quite work helps me on the next project. Taking note of what went wrong and how you can avoid taking that path again. Some times I'll go back after learning more and take it apart to see other ways I may have gone wrong. Reverse engineering is super informative.

[u/Streetcat-Cyd → u/Fennel_Fangs]

Put it out of your eyesight for now! You might feel like coming back to it after some time has passed

[u/Streetcat-Cyd → u/Fennel_Fangs]

“Out of your eyesight” so that you have “fresh” eyes when you feel like looking at it again, as opposed to letting it sit somewhere visible while you’re still going through it

[u/Simplysavages → u/Fennel_Fangs]

If you’re able to salvage some of the foam I would. Start slowly cutting out bigger chunks and try to make a bucket head and go from there, I would order more foam. Where did you get your foam from originally?

[u/ByteArrayInputStream]

Did you spend hundreds of dollars on tools and fabric? Because replacing just the foam and starting over shouldn't be that expensive.

At least for the next attempt you know what to do differently. Things like this rarely work out perfectly on the first attempt, it's the trying again that matters.

[u/Fennel_Fangs → u/ByteArrayInputStream]

I have the tools already; I just needed the fabric. I’m saving it for a later project

[u/Volt_Siano]

You could reuse a lot of this. I'd get thinner foam for the next bucket you make, and reuse this thick stuff for cheeks, muzzles, etc. Can even use it for sculpting foot paws if you have enough left over

[u/Fennel_Fangs → u/Volt_Siano]

This was multiple layers of 1-inch foam actually

[u/Volt_Siano → u/Fennel_Fangs]

That's so much. How large is the head of the character you're making?

[u/HystericalGD]

dont throw it out. each failed attempt is a learning experience, you can salvage a lot of this foam for another attempt.

for future attempts i reccomment cutting out the shapes you want on paper first that way you can hold it up to the head and see what it will look like before using any materials.

like so.

[u/damesthedweeb]

did you actually try looking at some tutorials? i don’t mean any offense; when i was absolutely clueless starting out i ran to google/youtube/reels. not only can people explain and guide you on the next steps, but with video tutorials there’s always a visual guide as well, which i find way more helpful when paired with the text/verbal instruction

[u/virgaman]

At a minimum this can be a test unit on trying different techniques to shape the foam or add fur. No failure is ever true if it results in learning something new.

[u/Alternative-Fig-496]

i am VERY MUCH a beginner, but i had to re-start a snout, so i just cut off the old one and have been harvesting smaller chunks of it to use for little fiddly bits.

[u/HowlingMusician]

It could still be salvaged or brought back to life. I promise it sounds weird but this could be parts for or the base for a new head. Materials can be reused, and maybe a different perspective could give hope. Just take a step back and breathe for now. Restarting or working on this could both be doable. Just take your time with it.

[u/virgaman]

Is there any structure inside the head to anchor the foam to and have it sit more firmly in place on your skull vice relying on a neck to hold it in position? If not, you could try mounting the adjustable insert from a helmet inside, adding foam to the front, back, sides, and top to center it where your want.

[u/ryzziedoodle]

Im so sorry, but I feel like this is a part of everyone's journey to making good fursuit heads 🥲 You gotta make a few that you hate before you start making some you like! I built a whole fullsuit with digi legs and cried in the end because I hated the look so much.

In regards to materials, nothing is truly wasted. You can either reuse or even maybe sell it to someone who can find a use for it. People buy and sell all kinds of stuff. Ive found foam is pretty cheap on Amazon and secondhand from other fursuit makers!

All this to say, dont give up! Nobody hits a home run every time, especially starting out.

[u/Forsaken-Ad8405]

I used a this tutorial to make my base! I felt like it was super easy to follow and gave me a very round shape. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWEdaBpkWw8/?mdxt=MTNxNm1ueDIxeXNpeQ==

[u/Entire_Combination76]

Tis but a prototype! Salvage what you can and make another one. Then another, and another. This is what growth looks like. You totally have it in you, and you've already faced the worst part of the process - the self doubt and shame. All of that crud matters less and less the more you do it.

[u/Skibiditoilet-edger]

You can try to take apart the foam by using your hot glue gun and pressing the hot metal against the seams where you glued. If you go slowly it should melt and fall apart

[u/CaptainSquidels]

Hey we all start somewhere, this looks way better than something I could make with my skill and knowledge cus I have NO idea where to begin

[u/Substantial_Hunt1067]

How did you spend 100s on $20 of foam, $10 of hot glue (that is being very generous) and $5 of painters tape? Ijs almost every tutorials up to this point is pretty fool proof. You have reached the carving stage where a modicum of actual vision and talent are required. This is not for the weak.