OK then, it’s kind of official (I’ll ask if we can get this ‘stickied’, but also moved to the ‘Techniques’ forum, where I hope more will be able to see our progress, and maybe be tempted to join in): we have a Group Sculpt!
The list of members so far:
Boybuddho
Cplchilly
Jack 21771
Jeff_Herne
Plymonkey
and myself…
Rules:
Use whatever medium to sculpt whatever you want. The idea is to see how others do, share experiences and tips and hopefully learn some useful things.
Whatever you are sculpting must be a ‘major’ part of the completed model/saynete/diorama. A couple of tarps on the back of a vehicle will not do…
Conversions of existing kits/figures are allowed but the extent of the conversion must radically change the nature of the subject.
Start date: 1 June 2004
Closing date: 1 December 2004
Finally, if at all possible, share as much of your sculpt as you can, through pictures. And have a great time! [:p]
I think I could get into that. Been cooking a new Napoleonic piece in my head for a couple weeks now. Might be a good time to settle on a subject and get going on it. I’m thinking antoher 1/6th scale piece. But what???
Okay ,I’ll start it.
Here’s were I begin. I make a wire armature with twisted floral wire. I use a figure cannon(3 view drawing) from an artist’s “how to draw” book blown up to 120mm. The material is “castaline” a wax/clay hybrid that is melted in a jewler’s wax tray and applied with a heated waxing pen.
More later… http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=42
Looks like Jack is already on it! I was not just ready to start, but if you are all ready, let’s get it officially started and hopefully ‘stickied’…
Jack, I’d really like trying that wax but I’m afraid of spending a fortune and not be able to do anything with it! Does it dry hard? Can you overpaint it? Or is it just OK to make molds and then cast in resin/metal…?
Domi,
Stay tuned and all you’re questions will all be answered[;)]!
I will say that I work in this medium because I’m never satisfied until the end. Wax and clay can be constantly reworked- materials that harden give you one shot to get it right . It is inevitable that things will need to be adjusted as the figure goes along otherwise you can end up with disproportionate figures.
I always make a mold (as you will see) and do a final hard casting of the figure.
I’m resurecting a project I had started a while ago but ran out of steam on. I had gotten as far as sculpting the head and fleshing out the armature, sans the arms. I had the basic detail of the boots done, but was in the process of reshaping the toes. Last night I completely changed the pose from a seated position to a full bore running pose. Still not sure which direction I’m going as far as subject, other than that it will be another Napoleonic piece. Either Brittish or French Infantryman, leaning towards Britt, possibly a Highlander, but I hate sculpting kilts[%-)].
I’m working with epoxy putty over an armature made up of a resin torso and pelvis blank, and in this case, because of the scale, coat hanger for limbs and the spine. This is a big figure. No pics up yet. Will have some soon.
I too prefer to mold everything, but I don’t have the financial resources at the moment to do that. I do at least mold good heads and other things I’m likely to need in the future which would save me some time on future projects. My resin torso and pelvis blanks are another example of that. I sculpted them some time ago but molded them so that I have a ready supply to allow me to spend more time on the fun part of the project. The originals are usually solid in smaller scales, but as a cost cutting measure, for the big scale figures I used regular modeling clay and then coated it with about 1/8th inch of epoxy putty and formed and sculpted the detail. That cuts down on the weight as well as saves on material.