I have a few questions about figure sculpting - Protoss Zealot

[Flintlock]

Last week I was sitting around, a little frustrated with having to wait for people and things for my Star Wars models. So I started thinking about what other kinds of things I would like to do. Figure sculpting is one of those things, and I have specific characters I would like to sculpt. I was reading a tiny article and from what it said, it seemed like Premo Sculpey was the best kind of polymer modeling clay. Do you guys have any favorites?

Another question I had is how do some of you simulate clothing, other than using regular old fabric? I know it depends on scale, but just wanted some ideas.

 

[fettster]

Re: I have a few questions about figure sculpting

well, im sculpting my first figure myself, im using regular super sculpy and its coming along great

 

[Flintlock]

Re: I have a few questions about figure sculpting

I'll pick up some of each to try. Many of the tutorials I am reading recommend mixing-in some black Sculpey III (with Super Sculpey) and running it all through a pasta machine. This mixes it up and conditions it. The black turns it into gray and makes it easier to see mistakes. I haven't seen any tutorials that use Premo Sculpey, however...

I'm interested in seeing your progress!

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Re: I have a few questions about figure sculpting

I've been using Super Sculpey regular and I can tell you that it is a pain to work with - not only because of it's translucency, but also the softness. Have been switching to Sculpey Firm lately, which is a harder material and grey and it's much better.

Using wire and magic sculpt for armature work and bulking up prior to surface detail work with super sculpey.

The Clubhouse is a good place to get hints, tricks and inspiration - where the best garage kit sculptors gather, afaik.

 

[Flintlock]

I went to Michael's and they did not have any Super Sculpey. They had the Premo, but not the colors I wanted! I opted to skip the Sculpey 3 and try Eberhard Faber FIMO. I mixed 2 packs of white, 1 pack of brilliant blue, and 1/4 pack of black. I got a nice dark gray-blue.

You can see my reference sheet underneath. I built an armature, and applied some Ave's Apoxie Sculpt to lock up the areas where 2 separate wires meet, and to bulk it up a bit. Tomorrow I will wrap some wire around what I have and put some clay on. His arms will be posed differently before I start.

This is mostly just to hold him in place and strengthen the armature. I'll make minor adjustments as necessary.

 

[Clerval]

Between Aves Apoxie, Super Sculpey and Chavant NSP, you wouldn't need to go with anything else... all three serve different purposes and are pretty much the best at those purposes.

Key at first is don't work undersized... you'll find things far too stressful at smaller scales. Work large, learn how to control the clays, develop some technique. General to specific, and don't noodle or get fancy. Build armatures that you can lock into each other, use tubing to create channels so you can slice, remove, get at obscure or occluded bits.

You'll probably end up creating some custom tools over time as well, or adapting certain tools for different uses.

 

[Flintlock]

Clerval, I eventually want to go smaller than this, so I am starting out relatively small. What would you use Chavant NSP for? How does it compare to the others?

 

[Flintlock]

Clerval, thanks for the tips, although I am not too keen on the armature bit. Do you have any examples?

I think I am going to go with a larger figure (the reference pic I have is 10" tall) not because of the clay (as of yet, because I haven't gotten to it) - but because of the armature. I think I put on a little too much Ave's, and I've seen several things I should do differently. I was not extremely careful measuring lengths, and the right leg is just slightly longer. You can barely tell, but it is...

I need to find some thicker gauge wire, and hopefully a better base... Then I'll start over.

Fettster, how is yours coming along?

 

[DaddyfromNaboo]

...
I need to find some thicker gauge wire, and hopefully a better base... Then I'll start over.

Fettster, how is yours coming along?

Great start !

Instead of a thicker gauge wire you could take three or more threads and bind them together, intertwining them, this will give you a more rigid armature and helps keeping the clay or sculpey from sliding off the armature. I have seen people do the binding by using a drilling machine on low speed and a vise, but be careful to not get hurt by whiplash effect

For (even more ) helpful tipps you could always go over to www.conceptart.org .

Michael

Michael

 

[Flintlock]

I twisted up the wire, as you recommended, by drilling a screw part way into a board, looping the wires (4) around it, and inserting the other end of them into a drill. I went slow and it twisted up very nicely. The armature is mostly finished - just need to work on the toes and fingers. I bent it up at all the joints and put Ave's in between them. I did this to bulk it up and to make "bones". There are larger masses (Ave's - aluminum foil - more Ave's) at the pelvis and rib-cage. Oh, I also need to create "bones" for the arms.

Once I am ready, I will pose my character, mount him to a base (I found a nice one) and freeze his joints in place - that is, once I am sure the pose is absolutely correct from all angles. This is partly what I made the "bones" for. I want the figure to be strong enough to not bend under its own weight, so I don't have to build a rig to hold him up.

This is a larger figure - about 10" - 11" tall. I already like it much better and have learned a lot! When I do a smaller figure, I will be better equipped.

Also - This will not be a Zealot as I had planned, but a Dark Templar. This is what is portrayed in my reference shots. I have some cloth that I will put on him, and I will model the crystal-bearing pieces as well.

I'll post a picture when I get him mounted and posed!

Thanks for the tips, guys!

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Tbh... most times cloth for clothes usually look out of scale in small scale and makes it look like a miniature. If you feel comfortable enough, then it should be fairly easy to sculpt the clothes and wrinkles and folds and armor if there is any.

Looking forward to seeing more. Definitely good that you take your time to get the armature right before really starting work - a task I sorely lack patience for and which ends up kicking my rear later.