Sculpting question

[KnightAsylum]

I am going to be using one of Sgt. Fang's Hannibal bust for a base to (try and) make a bust of Darth Malak.
I will need to sculpt the large "metal" plate/mask that covers his face from below the nose on down around his head. While I have sculpted a few smaller things before I have always used Super Sculpey and baked it to harden on the oven. Since I am working on a pre-made bust I am unsure what material to use.
I am thinking something that is not too fast hardening, will adhere well to the bust and will cure on its own without heat - any suggestions?

 

[kdawg1]

Aves Apoxie sculpt works well! It's a two part system and it cures with out heat,you can sand it drill it what ever you need and it will adhere to your base sculpt with no problem. You get 1-3 hours of working time with it.:thumbsup

 

[KnightAsylum]

That does sound like a good choice. Thanks for the advise:thumbsup

 

[Darth Lars]

Are you sculpting this to make a rigid bust or a costume?
I think that epoxy-based sculpting clays could cure too fast for such a large sculpt.

If this is for a costume, then may I suggest you use a technique used for latex swords used by LARPers. Cut it from (camping) sleeping mat material, cover with a couple of layers of slush latex, the last layers containing some measure of acrylic silver paint.

 

[KnightAsylum]

It is just for a bust, so it can be ridgid - but with my novice sculpting abilities you may be right about the curring time. I wish I had something that would dry overnight, then I would have a full day to sculpt the neck/jaw peice.

 

[itsalive]

I'd go with Wax.


You'll need some metal carving dental tools, a dental wax spatula, an alcohol torch, pantyhoes, jewelers files, wax


Heat your dental spatula up over an alcohol torch.

Dip it into the wax.

Pull it out of the wax.

A thin pool of wax will remain on the spatulas surface.


Tilt and rub the wax covered splatula over the wax sculpt piece to add more wax.

You can gradually build up areas on your sculpt doing this.

Carve away and sculpt with the other dental tools.

Take large sections off of the Wax sculpt using a hot tool and add large pieces as well using the hot tool to wet up the both sections of the contacting surfaces.

Too smooth the piece, run pantyhose over your wax sculpt like you would if it was sandpaper.

You can also use some jeweler files to rough in areas for shape work.

 

[PTK]

i'd still go with the aves apoxie sculpt........its not like you have to do it all in one shot, you mix up as much or little as you want/need and you can keep adding to it or sanding away from it, i'd rough it out with the apoxie sculpt, sand it to get it as close to the basic shape as possible, then go over it with a catalyzable glazing putty or higher-end bondo (Evercoat makes a pretty good one)....dont' use the air-dry spot putty. then progressively sand it, probably starting with 220 grit sand paper then work your way up to about 1000. Then i'd cut those detail shapes out of some styrene, warm it up with a hair dryer or heat gun, and press it against the rest of the mask to form it to the right shape. Once it cools carefully epoxy it on. Mask off the mask, prime it, paint it and you are good to go.

I've done stuff this way several times. It takes a little longer, but looks completely professional and "manufactured" as opposed to sloppy and thrown together.

hope that helps

 

[KnightAsylum]

It does!
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. :thumbsup