Depending on how old the child is they may have their own idea as to how they want to pose which could be out of Mum & Dad’s hands. I always like to rehearse with Mum & Dad and the child before taking the mould so that all parties know what they are doing.

3) Where is the casting done?

A) The easiest place to do it is in the customer's very own kitchen. Everything there is easily cleaned up and the child is more content in familiar surroundings. All that I would require from yourselves is some water. If we are dealing with a new born it saves tired old Mum & Dad from carrying everything from fresh nappies to the kitchen sink across town! We cover a 30 mile radius around Aberdeen.  Due to work commitments during the week castings can only be done at weekends only.  If you live between 30 to 70 miles we would have to charge for fuel.  If you stay outwith 70 miles we would have to arrange for yourselves to visit the lifecasters home.

4) Is it messy and what clothes should I wear?

A) That depends on what mood baby is in? I always recommend old clothes for the parents and the baby. An old towel to go under baby might not be a bad idea if Mum and Dad want to keep their clothes reasonably clean. If the child is older and has a good understanding of what’s going on then you can be less cautious.

5) Can I take along friends to watch?

A) Yes! The process of taking the mould is painless and should not be dreaded or treated like a trip to the Doctors to get an injection. It should be a fun event and by all means have a friend along for support and reassurance. The occasion should be enjoyed by everyone. I can understand the concerns of letting a complete stranger into your house and for that reason I have placed on this page, a letter from Grampian Police confirming that I have no previous convictions of any crimes.

6) How long will it take?

A) The process of arriving at your house, discussing what you want, setting up and then moulding can run up to about an hour depending on how many subjects there are. Taking the mould from the baby can last between 30 to 90 seconds, some of them are not even aware of what’s going on!

7) Is the material you use to cast my baby safe?

A) Yes. The material used is alginate, a compound made from seaweed. Most people will have seen alginate used in dentist surgeries for taking impressions of teeth. To be on the safe side, we always take an allergy test on the babies ankle. A data sheet on the material is available if requested.

8) What does the process involve?

A) Once the allergy test is complete and we’ve done a rehearsal run, I will mix the alginate material to a smooth thick goo. A cross between yoghurt and angel delight. We then place your child's hand or foot into a plastic container letting the alginate set (This can normally take about 30 to 90 seconds).

9) Is the material sticky?

A) It's actually the opposite. It’s wet and slimy which makes it easier to come off. After letting some air in the mould, your hand or foot will slowly ease out much to the relief of Mum and Grandma.

10) What happens if my child does not behave?

A) A child’s concentration level can be testing on all Mums and Dads when you need them to stay still for any length of time. I always tell customers to let their children run around and have fun while waiting for us to set up. That way it saves them getting bored.

The rehearsal and mould process can take about 5 minutes with the casting part taking on average 90 seconds. All going well this should give us enough time to get a good cast. If it goes wrong, we either set it up again there and then or reconvene for another time.

11) Once the job is complete, what happens then?

A) We will discuss what style of lifecast you want, what material to use, which display method you require for your lifecast, whether there is a name plate etc.

The impression is taken away back to base to be filled with the material of your choice.

12) Can I get copies?

A) If your child is 24 months old or less we will manufacture silicone moulds which we will retain for 1 year only. This means that should another member of your family wish to purchase a replica or different display of your sculpture, they can do so. The silicone moulds will be made with no extra charge and a discount of 10% for any extra sets.

If the age of the child or adult is above 24 months then extra moulds would have to be taken on the day of the original casting. You would still qualify for a discount of 10% but only on extra copies being made of the same person at Bodyrock Sculptures discretion.
13) When will the lifecast be ready?

A) Due to work commitments it can take between 5 to 6 weeks so please remember to give plenty notice if you have a special occasion in mind to save disappointment.

We like to deliver the goods ourselves by hand to avoid the risk of any breakages with courier companies.

14) When do I pay for it?

A) If the product costs less than £300 we will not require a deposit. If the amount exceeds this we would require half the amount as a deposit and the remainder upon completion. We accept cash or cheques.

15) Is it only babies that you cast?

A) The majority of our customers are babies, however, all age groups are more than welcomed. As you will see from our gallery and pricing pages, a number of adults are just as fascinated with seeing their hands cast in stone.

A lot of our items have set prices but we also do a number of specials such as anniversaries, sport and family poses. The list is endless.

16) Should I cut my finger nails down?

Yes for babies or children. When their hand emerge from the alginate we have to avoid damage to the mould. A finger nail can pick up alginate or scratch the interior of the mould when being removed so my advice is to trim them back.

As for the ladies, if possible it would be greatly appreciated to trim them back as I cannot guarantee how they will emerge.

17) Are your lifecasts hard wearing?

A) Very! The gypsum is unlike normal plaster as it’s incredibly hard and can take a knock or two. That does not mean to say you can take a hammer to it or pass it onto the kids to play with. If it needs cleaned, dust it down with a clean cloth. It is not recommended to use cleaning fluids or water.

Cast Bronze can be cleaned with good quality metal polishes.

18) How do I find out the cost of my lifecast?

A) At Bodyrock we have a fixed price list on individual poses from young to old in 8 different standard formations which can be quoted over the phone or by e-mail.

If however a pose is different to the 8 different formations this would make it a special (family groups, holding something in the hand etc) where we would require more information to work out a price for you.