Sculpting tips?

[Xtapl]

Hello!

I am trying to sculpt some tusks for a mammoth that I am converting. I\'ve been scouring the internet for tips, but haven\'t been able to find any.

Has anyone sculpted tusks/horns before (from green stuff)? I need to make them in such a way that I can resin cast them later, because I need about 20 of them...

Advice/suggestions desperately needed!

Thanks!

 

[Bengoodall]

I would have said starting with a large wire core, and working your way out was the best way.

Literally making a bone/outer piece.

depending on what you want, is it possible to just make a gs mold of the existing games workshop ones.

(Yes I know its illegal, but then, they can jump)

(No offence to gw staffers)

 

[Einion]

I would also suggest you use stout wire as the basic armature, then build up to the final shape/thickness in two applications of putty (maybe wrapping the core wire with fine wire, superglued in place, to help the putty stay put when doing the initial application).

Personally I wouldn\'t use GS for this, much preferring to use something easily sandable, so that I could refine the shapes if necessary after the putty is hard. MagicSculp would be my putty of choice but Apoxie Sculpt or Milliput could also work well. Maybe BrownStuff too.

Einion

 

[freakinacage]

@einion, using your method, would you start off with a curved piece of wire? with gs you can roll it out over the wire, wait for it to set and then bend it, which is quite easy. you can sand it enough for something like tusks

as for the mold, isn\'t it legal to do it for yourself, just as long as you don\'t sell it on?

 

[Xtapl]

So say I cover a piece of wire with green stuff. How long can I let it cure and still be able to bend the wire without cracking the green stuff?

 

[DaN]

No... Bend the wire first

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by freakinacage
@einion, using your method, would you start off with a curved piece of wire?

Yes, you\'d have to using any of the harder putties. With mammoth tusks being a compound curve getting the foundation right would be the difficult bit, after that it\'s mostly just \'dogwork\'.

Originally posted by freakinacage
as for the mold, isn\'t it legal to do it for yourself, just as long as you don\'t sell it on?

Well the real bottom line is if you don\'t tell em... But yeah, technically it\'s a little like what GW recommend themselves in a few places so it\'s okay with them unless you try to sell.

Originally posted by Xtapl
So say I cover a piece of wire with green stuff. How long can I let it cure and still be able to bend the wire without cracking the green stuff?

You\'d have to wait until the GS is fully cured (it\'s really quite flexible when set) otherwise you\'d mash it while bending the wire. At the very least you\'d leave fingerprints all over it.

Einion

 

[DaN]

I always tend to wear latex gloves when using green stuff of milliput or whatever to avoid fingerprints.

Also helps insulate some of the warmth from your fingers.