Firefly - 1:6 scale Mal Reynolds sculpt

[Coz]

You sir, are a big damn hero. That's a mighty purdy job.

Really enjoying this tutorial - makes me wanna throw some clay around.

I've done a few likeness heads. Yeah, they really are a pain - but they really are worth it. Keep up the great work.

I've found Super Sculpey to be way too soft for me (smooshy.) so I've stuck to Fimo Classic for a while now.
However - there is a sculpey product called " Sculpey Firm" which is a neutral grey that may be worth a try for you (you can get trial blocks of it). It is pretty tough stuff compared to regular sculpey - but you can mix it with regular stuff to soften it some.

To see someone pretty new to sculpting taking a crack at something like this first time outta the box - and nailing it. - well, I'm blown away.

You should maybe offer the head for sale on its own - I'm pretty sure it'd go down well with the 1:6th scale figure customisers.

A thought on the pistol - there are a number of Wild West 12" dressed figures available (Sideshow, for example), and I think there's also a Japanese company offering sets of weapons cast in metal - perhaps you could re-work one of those (Colt Army?) into Mals weapon of choice? Basically use it as a 'skeleton' to build around.

Can't wait to see the finished article.

C.

 

[Darth Brass]

I'm pretty sure there's a Mal gun cast in metal that's 1:6. Let me look for the link...

EDIT: Ah, here it is: http://www.stevostoys.com/SciFi.htm

I've never dealt with them before, so I don't know anything about them, but look kinda cool. Not terribly accurate, but not sure how close can be got that small.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Thanks for the kind words, Coz. :$

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darth Brass @ Nov 25 2006, 03:17 AM) [snapback]1365114[/snapback]</div>

I'm pretty sure there's a Mal gun cast in metal that's 1:6. Let me look for the link...
EDIT: Ah, here it is: http://www.stevostoys.com/SciFi.htm
I've never dealt with them before, so I don't know anything about them, but look kinda cool. Not terribly accurate, but not sure how close can be got that small.
[/b]

That's a terrible looking piece of work, shabby and uneven. Having worked on only a one-side piece I don't really know how easy it is to do it, but I really think it can be done a whole lot better and more accurate looking than that - possible with sheet styrene and strips and a little bit of sculpey, perhaps.

 

[Darth Brass]

Whew, glad I'M not the one who made it.

I figured that'd be your feeling about the gun, but thought I'd post it anyway, just in case.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darth Brass @ Nov 25 2006, 10:46 PM) [snapback]1365540[/snapback]</div>

Whew, glad I'M not the one who made it.
I figured that'd be your feeling about the gun, but thought I'd post it anyway, just in case.
[/b]

LOL... I'm bad... :love

 

[Too Much Garlic]

I hate being impatient and I hate having no money... oh well... started working on my next sculpt last night... will hopefully do the very few last things on the Mal sculpt within this week... and then all I'm really waiting for is to be able to make molds and casts...

Yeah... I know... money sux. :angry

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Bummer - right arm popped right off, when I attached the hand and started working on the cuff... should I reattach it before baking or bake separately and then attach or possible cast separately? I think it would be difficult at best to mold it as a one-piece, but it can be done. What do you guys think?

 

[Sidewinder]

I'd be quite happy for stuff like this to come in seperate parts, makes subtle reposing easier. (not saying your pose is wrong etc.)

SAS

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Well, that's settled then. No point in reattaching this thing, as it is a clean break... if you can even call it a break... as it seems that the added "blue" never really attached at all to the baked "green". Will clean up the arm socket for excess super sculpey and fix the slightly edgy parts on the arm... and have them molded separately... it takes away the simplicity of doing just one mold... but I can live with that, as it will seriously ease molding and casting, I guess.

So... still thinking about whether I should also mold the head separately, when doing the full figure mold... but haven't decided on that yet...

 

[Darth Brass]

I would think that many folks would have a use for a seperate head. Especially for 1:6 customs and whatnot.

Just my $.02

 

[Too Much Garlic]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darth Brass @ Nov 27 2006, 10:21 PM) [snapback]1366395[/snapback]</div>

I would think that many folks would have a use for a seperate head. Especially for 1:6 customs and whatnot.
Just my $.02
[/b]

Yes, yes. I wasn't too specific... I will do a separate head for those who only want a head... but with the full figure kit, should I do the head separately or should it be one with the body-cast? The reason is that I wanna have him look off to the side - which means modifications to the neck on the head that comes with the kit anyway... so why not simply have it be attached to the body?

Oh... I'll think of something, I guess... just need money... grr... I hate money. No, correction: I hate NOT HAVING money. :cry

Oh well. Tomorrow the head, body and arm will be baked as there is no more to be done on those pieces - the body will still need to have added buttons, coat clasps and holster leg strap, but all that will not be made from sculpey, but from other materials that cannot endure the heat of being baked, hence being added afterwards.

Wish me luck...

 

[Zeppo]

Good luck. Can't wait to see the final product.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Arm has been baked... currently baking the body... man... that takes a long time - due to the idiocy of how I constructed and supported it...

But so far... looking good. May have pictures of the finished and primed parts this weekend or possibly next week.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

@#$%.. @#$%.. @#$%..

DISASTER.

Not only did I forget to support the right leg, so that it would stay in shape and not slant down, when being baked... it also @#$%.. broke off. It's not beyond repair... but it still @#$%.. @#$%... Won't be able to work on it until Friday, as I'm gonna be away for the next two days. @#$%.. DAMNED... GRRRRRRR..... :confused :eek :angry

:cry

 

[Zeppo]

GRRR ARGH.

 

[Darth Brass]

It's okay. Deeeep breaths. Don't get all green-skinned and huge over this. I don't want you wrecking everything in a fit of "Hulk".



Enjoy your days away.

 

[Ramiel]

Don't worry, if it can be fixed it's OK.
When you'll find the time to repair the leg, you can always "bake" it again with an heat-gun, so you should have a better control and you can place it over a flat surface (and you could use tin foil as a support to keep the leg in place...)

 

[Too Much Garlic]

This happening is probably for the better... will be able to fix the things I did wrong the first time around... it just sux a little... :unsure

 

[Bar]

You always need to make a proper armature if you are making a serious sculpture.
If it's one of a kind, the armature will hold it together indefinitely, and if it's destined to be a kit master pattern, you can use a razor saw to chop it into parts.
Otherwise it's just a pile of clay waiting to fall apart.
It's ok, though. You know for the next time(It's how i learned about armatures.).
Bar.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Yes... armature... hmm... currently working on my second figure and guess I forgot that in that one too... should I stop, make an armature and then start over? What is the best material to make an armature from? Metal?

Damn my impatience... I just hate prep-work... but I guess it will pay to do so in the end to prevent stupid mistakes and accidents later.