My sculpting progress

[ryman1]

Hi all,

Trying my hand (and my patience) at this sculpting lark and have started off with a cowboy.
I'm using floral wire as an armature and a stanley blade/toothpick to sculpt until dollies/files/dental set/magnifying stand arrive but was itching to start so......
He's firing a pistol and carrying a blade in his left hand, trenchcoat taking shape but all parts still need a lot of work and legs not put on yet.

Any ideas/tips as to where to take it from here greatly appreaciated.



I know it's not pretty to look at yet but will keep chipping away.

Cheers

Ry

[Hertsblue]

Actually, it's rather good, Ry. The proportions are correct and the pose would be fairly easy to cast. The detail is spot-on. Keep it up. 

[fsn]

As someone who barely grasps two dimensions, creativity in three dimensions leaves me somewhat awestruck.

You thinking of doing a range? Available when?

Sadly my first thought on seeing this was "could easily convert that into Inspector Gadget", but I hasten to add that's more to do with my bizarre thought processes rather than a slur on your sculpting.

[kev1964]

Looking very good to me,

kev

[nikharwood]

Looks good Ry - I'd like to replicate my 28mm please (while you're there  )





It shouldn't be too much bother for you to knock up a couple of Cthulhu investigators either, eh? 

Nice start 

[Steve J]

Yep, for a first attempt I'd say excellent work .

[Techno]

For the tiny amount of kit you've got at your disposal at the moment Ry....That's really damn good.
Whatever you do.....Take your time !
I'll say it until I'm blue in the face   ....Practice and patience are two of the most important things when learning how to push the putty about.
Cheers - Phil.

[ryman1]

Thanks very much one and all

Fsn - inspector gadget! brilliant! not sure about releasing a range, don't want to run before I can walk but who knows in the future if things work out?
Nik, I reckon they're great as something to emulate, will give it a go!
Phil, you're right about patience, I have been rushing to get it done and have had a few 'oh dear' moments where I've thumbed putty into a blob after working on a different bit before it's cured, I'll slow down

Cheers

Ry

[ryman1]

It's been a while since my last post as I've been so busy recently studying, hope eveyone's been having fun.
Thought I'd have another crack at sculpting as I had the dollies sitting there eyeing me bitterly in their bag for not getting started, about an hours work, think I'll let them cure overnight before carrying on.

Intended to be an infantryman at charge bayonet (no arms/pouches yet) and an officer in patrol dress from the zulu war.





As my second attempt, I'm fairly happy, I'm more confident pushing the greenstuff around but if anyone's got tips for doing hands I'd be very grateful.
Oh, the cowboy isn't going anywhere, he's 13mm and almost as wide so I think I'll stick with trying to build a little unit of brits.
Anyway, good to be back  criticism and tips most welcome.

Cheers

Ry

[clibinarium]

For hands put on a blob of putty; usually much less than you think you'll need, I often get a blob I think is right for a hand and then cut it in half to make two hands, that's how much its usual to overestimate! A good check is to make sure the width would fit between no more than the distance from the chin to the nose of the figure (put your hand over your mouth to confirm this!)
Actually you can make the blob thinner than that as putting in the fingers will often widen the hand. Shape the hand as it would look like if it were in a mitten. Then carefully using a blade or a pin press in the gap between the middle two fingers in the centre of the hand, effectively dividing it. You should have an even space of putty either side. Then divide those two spaces evenly in the same way so you should have three gaps between the four fingers, which should be equally wide. You may need to go round the curl of the hand to do this if it is gripping something.
A very tiny blob of putty can be added for the thumb. You may find this can look awkward as the oversized weapons of 10mm would be too big for a scale hand to grip naturally.

[kev1964]

Looking good Ry, nice pose and good proportion's on the officer. I was wondering what you,d  been up to as not seen you about for a while, good luck with the studying,



kev

[ryman1]

Excellent clib, that's a great help.
It's amazing how little putty is needed, I do find myself picking off a tiny smidgen only for it to look twice as much when it's applied to the figure.
Cheers Kev, I can be an elusive camel once I've got my head stuck in books but the pendraken bug is back

[clibinarium]

I had a rule; mix half the putty you think you will need., because that will be the amount you actually use! Same goes for the blobs you apply to the figure to shape. I've reached the stage where I can judge it much better, but still manage to waste some.
There's a aspect of perception that exaggerates the size of hands in the mind (heads and faces too), which leads to them frequently being over-sized on sculpts. Mega-hands are often seen on 28mm figures.
Its a sign of how powerful this phenomenon is that even after lots of practice I still have to measure and check figures against templates. You seem to be doing well on this aspect so far.

[Techno]

Looking really, really good Ry !
I'll second all Clib's comments and advice.

For a 'floating' hand.....(One well away from the body)....You might find it a tiny bit easier to put on a miniscule blob of putty on the end of the wire where the hand's going to be...Let that set...and then sculpt the hand over the blob as described previously

Hope that makes sense !....I'm not properly awake yet.

Cheers - Phil.

[ryman1]

Well, here he is in all his shame.....



I have to say, painting him really made me realise how intricate the work of the Pendraken sculptors has to be.
Just when you think you've got the proportions and details done well enough to make a sculpt passable with a bit of paint the first coat goes and highlights every little mistake (admittedly there are many).
I have nothing but respect for the sculptors who make it possible for us to get our hands on top quality products, it really must take some doing.
Anyway, onwards and upwards - a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and all that.

Cheers

Ry