Sculpting Question: Tabs?

[NoodleBoy]

Yes, tabs. Since I really have no better way to describe it, tabs!

We've all seen them I know it, especially on metal minis. Games Workshop especially uses them, that tiny strip of pewter connecting each foot so that you can slide them into a base. Now, originally I saw these and thought, well, they must be for pooring the metal in, as a part of a flash release. But lately, I've been seeing people use them for sculpting their own minatures. Weird! Now, I've gone through just about every sculpting thread listed in the sticky, but wasn't able to find much in this specific topic.

I've seen them in metal, resins and such. I know some people don't use them, but I was curious as to the pros and cons of using them. Since I've been urged by several friends to start sculpting my own minatures ('classically trained' sculptor here, check out my work at hollows-grove.deviantart.com), the use of epoxy based clays and scale are a new thing to me, so as I was always taught, get as much info as you can!

Any bits of info and advice are always greatly appreciated!

Hope to show you guys stuff soon!

-NB

 

[Rugne]

Your pretty close to being right about them being part of the flash release, but your not quite there, all GW's stuff is made by spin casting, i.e, using a centrifugal force to help the metal flow to the edges of the mould from a pour hole in the centre of the mould.
The tabs allow them to have a large blank area into which the metal can flow, and which can be attatched to the sprue without destorying any of the details on the model itself.

Hope that helps.

Marc.

 

[NoodleBoy]

Your pretty close to being right about them being part of the flash release, but your not quite there, all GW's stuff is made by spin casting, i.e, using a centrifugal force to help the metal flow to the edges of the mould from a pour hole in the centre of the mould.
The tabs allow them to have a large blank area into which the metal can flow, and which can be attatched to the sprue without destorying any of the details on the model itself.

Hope that helps.

Marc.

I wasn't sure exactly what form of casting they use for their metal ranges, so i couldnt quite tell, either way, its a handy little addtion that goes from a necessity for casting, to one for the rest of the miniature process as well.

But my question really is how exactly are they made? What are people using for their own minatures that have these? I know Reaper miniatures sells armatures for sculptors, that have these tabs as well, just not sure how to approach it on my own.

 

[Rugne]

Some people use the ready made armatures, a lot make thier own out of brass rod, floristry wire, whatever works for them, I forget which post it is, but a chap on here used chopsticks as armatures for the leg on his giant.

Marc

 

[BPI]

Hi there, I think of them as Slots rather than Tabs, as they fit into Slottabases, no idea if there's a "correct" term though I've never thought about the casting aspects, I just assumed they were there for easy attachment of mini to base Of course now I've started to cut them off as I venture gently toward the world of display bases Cheers, B.

 

[freakinacage]

they are also used as a means to attach the mini to the base...

just use some wire and sculpt a block between the legs.

i'd call them tabs though, because they slot into the slottabase slot

 

[BPI]

QUOTE: FreakInACage: "I'd call them tabs though, because they slot into the slottabase slot"

Doh! :foreheadslap: It seems so simple once pointed out Cheers, B.

 

[nels0nmac]

As Freak says they are generally used to attach the mini to the base without having to pin the model. So it's easier for those who are not interested in display bases. The other advantage ( from my experience of the GW ones ) is that you can put info onto the tab, such as the name of the mini, your initials or those of your company and the year that it was sculpted. Not necessarily going to increase their popularity straight off but if somone comes across the mini second hand they have some reference details to track down where they originally came from.