Sculpt-along? Newbie Sculptors welcome :)

[Goblinho]

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Happy with the start, scale is a bit bigger than I usually do but that was intentional. As with Moonmin I will be working on the face next.
Left hand will be carrying either a flaming torch or a crossbow pistol, not sure yet. Right hand will be a wooden Skindu (Scottish knife worn with a kilt outfit)

 

[moonmin82]

Started building up the body shapes a little more and blocked out the basic shapes for the face. I also cut back the chest and shoulders a touch when I realised he didn't have a neck! This sculpt is 1/57 or 32mm to the top of the head. I currently use the Iron Mammoth scale template when preparing most of my armatures. I'd certainly recommend it, so have a quick browse online if you think it would be useful to you.

Here is my current toolkit:

From left to right:

1) First tool, bought as a present (probably from local hobby shop);
2) GW sculpting tool;
3) From a kit bought on ebay (never use the big spoon end though);
4) Ebay bought tool (current favourite), see link in previous post;
5/6) Ebay bought embossing tools;
7) Handle with exchangeable tips, although I use the needle only (from a craft shop);
8/9) Clay shapers;
10) Plastic tool from Hobby Craft (used just for cutting ribbon putty, ready for mixing);
11) Disposable hobby knife (used for sculpting wet putty, I have a higher quality one for dry carving).

 

[Goblinho]

Looking good man, how do you find the clay shapers? I've been thinking about picking one up.

I have a rare day off work tomorrow so will be working on the head and the general shape too.

Even without pics has anyone else made a start?

 

[meaty_nosebleeds]

nice work to the both of you so far. i might not be able to join until uni is over for the year but i'll keep a track on you all

 

[Demihuman]

Ok you guys I logged on and got super fired up looking at your posts!. Here is what i have so far: I was very intimidated by trying to sculpt a complete figure but i wanted to participate so i thought maybe a zombie type guy would be a good way to start. I thought about it and i came up with a revanant vampire hunter. I want to give him an African style wood digging stick on the lower hand and a pointing finger on the other. I am thinking of a back story where a village magic user spots a vampire but can only fight the vampire after he gets bit and becomes undead. Then once undead this village hedge mage turns himself into a revanant using the vampire's curse of deathlessness in some kind of revenge ritual.
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here are the tools i used with A LOT of WATER

 

[moonmin82]

Looking good man, how do you find the clay shapers?

Cheers! You can pick up clay shapers at most art / craft shops, usually with the brushes, sometimes with the clay sculpting tools. You can also find them on ebay and all kinds of other online shops. It can be good to look in person though as there are different shapes, sizes and firmnesses.

Demihuman: don't be intimidated, it looks good so far! How long has it taken you so far? Looking at your tools have you considered picking up a spoon ended tool and / or a clay shaper? As mentioned on page one I would definitely recommend this one via ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ZAHLE-CAR..._Equipment_Instruments_ET&hash=item3f17c882c5

You can buy sets of dental tools at reasonable prices but I find the surface finish can be a little rough. The polish on this one is so good you get a real smooth finish to your sculpting. Both ends are really useful and when sculpting with green stuff you'll wonder how you ever came to live without this tool!

 

[Chrispy]

Right- I know I'm coming in late, but I've got my armature drying right now. I based it off one of the extra reaper advanced sculpting dollies I have- so It'll be about 30mm tall. My idea for a vampire hunter comes from an old series on Sci Fi channel (When it was still SciFi and not SyFy) called "The Chronicle"..
I also had another idea from the world of video games: Juliet from "Lollipop Chainsaw" is a zombie slayer, so I thought to make another anti-Juliet for vampires "Bubblegum Hedgetrimmer".. But I thought I could get over my head with that, so I'll stick with what I got.
Anyhoo, before I get started on any major details (and even before the armature is set) I gots some questions for your consideration: First, do you think I can add chalk pastel to aves apoxie? It comes out kinda translucent sometimes and I just want some color so I know where the shadows are and such. I know you can add GS to it, but that changes the firmness slightly. And secondly, can aves stand up to baking? I got a pound each of super sculpey and the firm kind and thought maybe I could try them out for this project. But if the aves is going to explode or something underneath it, that may not be a worthy option. Lemme know what you think!

 

[moonmin82]

Welcome to the sculpt along Chrispy! You are by no means late so do not fret. We have the best part of a month ahead of us so any of you eager lurkers out there are more than welcome to join in at any point, even on the 30th!

do you think I can add chalk pastel to aves apoxie?

I have never used this putty but my concern would be that adding chalk could make it slightly gritty. You can always try it! I know you are reluctant to add green stuff but you could always experiment to see what would be the smallest amount you could add to give colour.

I also have a couple of suggestions for the Sculptalong: any suggestions for future months could be highlighted in a different colour. As the number of participants increases this thread could become quite long, so adding a bit of colour will help us find such things when scrolling through each page. With that suggestion in mind, may I be the first to give it a try! With October being the month of Halloween, perhaps we could sculpt something spooky? It could be appropriate to follow up our Vampire Hunter sculpts with a Vampire. The standard bearer would happily follow in November?

Anyway, here is my latest WIP shot:

More ground work so nothing too exciting yet. I always end up with fairly chunky sculpts, so may need to work on slimming down my armatures. As for this guy, I will need to do a bit of carving I think...

 

[Fallan]

Nice wips everyone!
Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to participate, at least not for a while. Got a new job at the beginning of the week and so far I've had to work 13h shifts every day including Saturday which leaves me no spare time atm. :/

 

[moonmin82]

Good luck with your new job Fallon and I look forward to seeing your sculpting in the (hopefully not too distant) future!

 

[Goblinho]

@Demihuman nice work man! it really has a sort of decaying feel to it. I know what you mean about the water, green stuff is unusable without it I think

@Chrispy Welcome mate Glad to hear you have a good idea what you want for your mini. I the figures where I don't have a really good image in my head first tend to be the ones I do about half then it sits on a shelf for 6 months Could you do me a favour and drop a link for the armature you are using and also for the sculpting material? I have never hear of it before never mind use it

Personally I vary my material depending on what I am doing on the mini. Green stuff for the general shape and sometimes detail work (armour and stuff). Been using Pro-create for fine detail and the face. And a Miliput/greenstuff 50/50 mix for fleshing the figure out as it flows easier for muscle shape and files down much more smoothly than either of the other two alone.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Green-Stu...05?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item483b841e75

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ProCreate...es_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item33854cecd6

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MILLIPUT-SUPERFINE-WHITE-ADHESIVE-2-TWO-PART-EPOXY-PUTTY-MODEL-FILLER-MOULD-/280890032437?
pt=UK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item416659c135

@Moonmin Actually love that idea of a Haloween theme! All I can think about is doing monsters dressed up in costume to go trick or eating

 

[Goblinho]

Better put some pics up of my progress I have a sort of face (not great but I plan on hiding it behind looooots of hair)

@fallan No worries man, just drop in when you get time I know how it goes with work, add two small kids to the mix and I'm amazed I get time to look at these forums never mind sculpt

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[Chrispy]

Okie dokie:

I used the method I found at Patrick Keith miniatures while searching on the internets. I had to go out and buy 22 gauge wire, even though I had 18.. but it's too big. I've yet to trim the arms, and the legs have a bit extra so I can put them on the sculpting jig.. thingy. I just made some rough shapes with the Aves Apoxie this stuff is a 2 part epoxy putty like Greenstuff- but it's more clay-like and can be "watered down" slightly. Whereas GS has elasticity when pulled, apoxie will break, but it can be filed and sanded. Now that I think of it, milliput is the most clay-like of the 2 part putties I've used. But this has a longer drying time, so I find it better to use for different things at different times. As I said, was thinking about trying out Super Sculpey but dunno- I'd maybe have to work on it for a long time before I bake it.

Well, that's about it.. but if everyone's showing off their toolkit:

Yep.. overkill. I may not use them all, but I think it helps to have a large array. From left to right: clay ribbons, mini silicone shapers, harbor freight's wax carver set (with a GW tool that is almost identical to one tool that comes in the set), large color shapers (which double as pastel shapers for art), three custom made tools (one made from a dead ball point pen tip with ball removed, a pin, and a shaped nail), two dental picks, and finally big cheap clay tools. I'll admit I had the sculpey in mind for the first and last sets. Eventually I'm going to make my own custom MLPonies from the clay and cast in resin. Well, that's it for me!

 

[moonmin82]

Yep.. overkill. I may not use them all, but I think it helps to have a large array.

I agree! Although the phrase "you can never have too many sculpting tools" may not be entirely true, you do not know the right tool for you (or the right tool for the job) until you try it. Every now and then I realise the need for a tool when the one to hand can't quite cut it. Those are the times when you can dust off the collection to see what may be of use!

 

[Mortarion101]

Not a massive amount of progress from me so far, Started to bulk out the armature, though at the moment I'm slightly concerned that the body is too long but I'll see how it looks once I've got some more layers on as I started to work on the legs more today. The arms aren't posed yet either as I'll be going for a pistol in the right hand and a stake in the left held under the pistol like you see police/anyone with a gun and torch holding torches in tv shows like this:

http://www.shootingillustrated.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/FV_007-354x200.jpg

Obligatory picture of my tools

 

[moonmin82]

Mortarion101: I have that same Toolkit! Think I only use one of the tools though...

 

[wargamesculptor]

great start guy's have all beaten the first hurdle by getting started, unfortunately can't join in on this one with too many commissions on the go, hope to join in on a later sculpt

 

[moonmin82]

hope to join in on a later sculpt

We're counting on it! :beerwave:

 

[Goblinho]

@Mortarion101 I think the proportions are fine, once you have feet on there and the head it will balance out I think

@wargamesculptor hey man, would love to have you join us even if just for the odd mini here and there I really love your stuff and would appreciate any advice mate

Not had much time to do anything over the last few days as I have been working non stop managed to put a bit more of the musculature on the figure and filed a few bits to give them a better finish. Everytime I look at it though all I can see is Sonny from I Robot (which might be a good topic for one month, Droids?)

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[Demihuman]

Okay got another quick bit of work done. I think I am about 3 hours in so far. I added a little bulk to the legs and arms, started on his feet and started building his weapon. I also added some styrene scraps as armatures for his fingers on the right arm. I want his fingers to look very clawed/bladed and so I used the plasticard scraps. I knew I could at least start with the shape I want that way.

Next I will bulk it out then come back whittle it down. At least that is the idea for now. i also started his weapon. I also plan to fill the file that to get a more rounded wooden shape. Then I think I am going to add wood grain to it as described in this little CMON article by Ogrebane (Thanks Ogrebane!) http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/1396-making-wood-grain

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