Advise Sought On Sculpting Clay

[Dr Varney]

Hi, I'm new here. Not so new to make up effects, sculpting and props making and I've managed to achieve a lot with economy materials and things I've adapted for my own use.

I'd love to get a comparison from any of you with more experience of the popular sculpting clays used in make up special effects.

When it comes to clays, I've only ever used ordinary wet clay and plastilene for my sculptures and after reading up on the subject came across names like Chavant, Le Beu Touche (?) and WED (Walter Elias Disney) and notice they seem very popular.

Being from a bronze foundry background, I'm used to using traditional grey buff and 'Newclay' nylon reinforced water clays, various waxes and 'plastilene'. I've done wet plaster modelling too. My 'freelance' techniques vary widely depending on the pattern I'm making but I've never invested in any of the expensive clays.

I discovered recently that if I add silicone oil to 'Newplast' plastilene, it stays soft, yet firm, ready to go without the need to warm it and I've found I can blend it smoothly with white spirit. So I wondered if this might be similar in principle to the Chavant NSP and Le Beu Touche materials? Or am I just wildly guessing here?

I've just landed a budget for a cool and exciting project which means I can use the 'best of the best' if I so wish. I am known for my keen pricing, due in part to my ability to make best use of a budget by buying my materials direct through industrial suppliers rather than art/ craft hobby shops.

Ideally, I'd like to try samples of oil clays and WED and see how they differ and compare with what I already use. I'd love to know what other people prefer and why.

Thanks for your time and I look forward to reading your replies.

Best wishes from the UK!

Dr. V

 

[claymore61]

I've used the Newclay and Plasticene . I also work in casting plaster, fibreglass and resins.
I've not been sculpting long ( less than a year) but I bought some Chevant NSP and haven't looked anywhere else.
I find it great for my us, and it can be reused.
It's more expensive than others - especially in the UK , but it is good.
I'd like to try Monster Clay, but it's hard to find in the UK

 

[Dr Varney]

I'd like to try Monster Clay, but it's hard to find in the UK

Hi, Claymore. Well, Mouldlife sell Monster Clay and they are based in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Clay is £24.99 for 5lb. If that's any good to you? To me, that seems quite expensive.

Monster Makers Monster Clay

Have you tried adding silicone oil to ordinary plasticene? It doesn't seem to go hard when cool but I've just put some in the freezer to see what happens. If it stays soft, then I'll vary the amount of oil for the next batch to make successively harder grades.

 

[claymore61]

Never tried mixing silicon oil with Plasticene but I use it for some mould release occasionally.
Mouldlife is where I got my NSP , and it's dae too, but it's good.

I'll maybe try the monster clay - just to try it.

 

[Dr Varney]

Well, the conditioned plastilene has been in the freezer for more than an hour. It came out icy cold yet still very supple. So I've just saved myself some money by ordering a bulk pack of grey plastilene and a bottle of sil oil. I think the main difference (that affects me) is that you can melt Monster Clay right down to a slip, whereas plastilene simply won't turn liquid under high heat. I've found it just burns if I am not careful. So I use a hairdryer to condition it. But the sil oil keeps it at a soft grade so by varying the amount of oil, I should be able to make myself a range of hardness grades.

I'd like to try Monster Clay, too though. Maybe let us know what you think when you get it, Claymore.

 

[christrom]

I've got a tiny chunk of monster clay that Alaneye kindly gave me. I'm now in the process of selling off my Sculpey because I'm that impressed with monster clay. For me, it is perfection!

 

[v3d]

I always used Roma Plastilina plasticine. Medium for masks and make-up appliances and firm for maquettes and smaller critters.