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How to Make Fake Rat Guts for Theatre

Prop rat guts are not as difficult to create as some may think. Since the audiences of most stage productions will not see the props close up, you only need to suggest the overall appearance of a small pile of stringy, slimy guts. The secret is to use liquid latex, which is self-adhesive after it dries and, properly tinted, has a reasonably wet-looking intestinal luster. Liquid latex is available from costume shops or online retailers.

Things You'll Need

  • Safety goggles
  • Stiff paintbrush
  • Red liquid latex
  • Black paint
  • Smooth hard surface (e.g. granite countertop)
  • Newspaper
  • Sharp knife
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on safety goggles. Mix a small quantity of red latex and black paint, paint the mixture onto a smooth, hard surface and allow it to dry. Repeat, altering the proportions of paint to latex until you achieve the desired color.

    • 2

      Paint four or five layers of liquid latex onto the surface, allowing each layer to dry before you paint on the next one.

    • 3

      Twist a sheet of newspaper into a tight, uneven "rope" about a quarter-inch wide. Lay the newspaper rope along the edge of the latex. Roll it, lifting the latex as you go and letting it adhere to itself to form a tight tube around the newspaper rope. When the tube is as thick as desired, slice along the latex to separate it. Repeat to create as many "intestines" as desired.

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