Here's the pics of Techno's current WIP, I'll let Phil fill in the details!
First pic - Just a mannequin and a current figure for scale.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3524/5720740456_51294fcee5.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5720740456/)
Pic 2 - Rough shaping of the lower legs.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/5720183847_b2cd1bfe8a.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5720183847/)
Pic 3 - Just a little more detail....That bird leg's not working at all !
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/5720740674_9763b48ae7.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5720740674/)
Pic 4 - Get the torso a bit more into position....Still hate that leg !
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2137/5720740820_355c7ff284.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5720740820/)
Pic 5 - Bulk out the human leg a bit....Fill in roughly between legs, for a skirt of chain mail....(I'm getting obsessed by the bird leg now....Can it be rescued ?....Probably NOT !
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2021/5720184123_51976ab27a.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5720184123/)
Pic 6 - A bit further on...Some detail started....Maybe the bird leg might work.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2160/5720741068_8f76f97296.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5720741068/)
Thanks for posting those for me Leon.
I'd better jump in quickly to make a few comments.
OK.....Firstly I thought it would be a bit easier for everyone to see if I made something like a Demon Lord, ....something, that because it's a bit bigger than a 10mm figure, would show 'things' up a little more clearly.
First big mistake was to not have any clear plan of what I was going to do.....The second....Was to be a lazy git, and use an old armature that's been sitting on the desk collecting dust.....This was supposed to save time...HAH !!!....But as I now really want the figure to have a much more dynamic pose.....It's almost certainly going to cast me a lot MORE time putting it 'right'.
The armature that I started with is really WAY too static......Probably would have worked for a shambling 'zombie/undead' figure much betterer (sic)!
Anyway....I'll keep going to the bitter end....without doing drastic changes, until it's finished.....Then there could be major surgery.
I've got a much better idea of where I'm going with this beastie now....Which will help enormously !
I have to give Clibby ENORMOUS praise for his tip about the colour shapers.....Absolutely wonderful tools for the smoothing and shaping of the 'basic' structure....It's such an absolute delight that the putty doesn't stick to them.....Wish I'd heard about those AGES ago....What do they say about teaching an old dog new tricks ?
How true !!
Cheers - Phil.
Thanks for posting the pics and the commentary - however I should learn to read properly I spent ages looking for a third leg and only on the umpteenth reading I realised it said bird! :-[ :-[ :-[
Quotepraise for his tip about the colour shapers
What are colour shapers???
Cheers
Stephen
Colour shapers ?
I should really let Clibby answer that, as, as far as I'm concerned he was the one that discovered them...
But .....Basically they're paint brushes.....But instead of bristles they have different shaped ends made out a 'silicon type' material.
A bit like a small eraser fitted into a paintbrush handle I suppose. (so not like paintbrushes at all ;D ;D....But I hope you get the gist)
I've only tried the smallest (size 0)...and the 'stiff' compound for the business end of the shaper.....As I said above, they're wonderful for getting the basic shape on the model, without wasting as much time cursing the fact that the putty has stuck to the modelling tool !.....You won't be able to use them for any detail work at this scale at all, so they're not a one stop 'fix it' for sculpting....But in the short time I've been playing with them.....I LOVE 'em.
Cheers - Phil.
Cheers Phil, where do you get them from?
Quote from: Maenoferren on 15 May 2011, 09:48:04 PM
Cheers Phil, where do you get them from?
I got mine from eBay:-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Colour-applicator-shaper-set-3-different-shapes-/160547570090?pt=UK_Crafts_DrawingSupplies_EH&hash=item25616181aa (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Colour-applicator-shaper-set-3-different-shapes-/160547570090?pt=UK_Crafts_DrawingSupplies_EH&hash=item25616181aa)
Quote from: Maenoferren on 15 May 2011, 09:48:04 PM
Cheers Phil, where do you get them from?
I just went through Amazon.....But they seem to be fairly readily available, as you can see by capthugeca's post.
Lots of on-line art supply shops seem to stock them too.
Cheers - Phil.
I picked up one at the Rhode Island School of Design store! I would imagine that they exist in any art supply store. I have a chisel point soft -- and it is great for smoothing the surface of the putty.
If it's okay to post this here, Heresy Miniatures sells 'em too.
http://www.heresyminiatures.com/tools.htm
http://www.heresyminiatures.com/clayshapers.htm
http://www.heresyminiatures.com/images/doubleendedtool.jpg
http://www.heresyminiatures.com/images/flatdoubleended_size0_large.jpg
I like the round cup for smoothing, myself; but I've also taken more to the conical taper, and with that finally got any idea of how some guys can sculpt with only toothpicks or other conical tools. The size 0 double-ended taper has a finer point than the regular size 0 taper, but as Techno says: "you won't be able to use them for any detail work at this scale at all". And not a lot at 28mm, either.
Nice bird leg, too. :D
Tools at this scale?
I couldn't find any 'commercial' dental/modeling tools that really work for very small scale sculpting.....So I custom made my own out of doweling with different sized needles...(I didn't know how many different shaped sized needles existed until I started looking !)
It was useful having a friendly blacksmith who would heat, bend and flatten the needles into the rough shapes I was looking for....then it was out with the dear old Dremmel to finish them off.
I'll post a pic at some stage (or more likely get Leon to do it for me) of the shapes I find the most useful.
Cheers - Phil.....(I'm still not convinced about that leg !.....But I do like the look of that Basilisk !)
.
Really useful progression pics Phil - thanks for posting these...I've got a friendly blacksmith too - might have to tap him up for some pieces significantly smaller than he's used to working with! :)
Looking really cool Phil! Great to see the WIP steps too. I'm keen to see how you finish him off.
Cheers,
Kev
Thanks guys.
I'll keep taking shots as I go along and ask Leon (when the poor chap has a moment to breathe, as he's got so many other things to do just at the mo'....getting ready for shows etc.) to put them up for me.
I'd try and do it myself, but (if I haven't said this before) I'd be more than likely to crash the forum.....OR...I'd end up posting up pics that are WAY too big.
Cheers - Phil.
Another pic of 'Jim':
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2318/5733816887_e4454475f9.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5733816887/)
And also the colour shapers:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/5734365384_e88573fb3d.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5734365384/)
:)
Couple shapers ?....shome mishtake shurley....hic !
I told you the poor chap was busy. (sorry Leon) ;D ;D ;D
Anyway....Just a little bit more detail...And his 'breastplate' roughly formed.
VBWs - Phil.
Quote from: Techno on 18 May 2011, 05:55:44 PM
Couple shapers ?....shome mishtake shurley....hic !
Haha, I had one of those moments where my head was thinking one word and my hands were typing another... happens quite regularly in emails as well!
:D
Don't you worry Leon !
Wait 'til you get to my age... ;D ;D ;D
Sometimes I can't remember why I mucked up the scale on the first figures I ever made for anyone...
Some Chinese chappie.....Name something like Ying Zhang....Wanted loads of soldiers made.
He ended up burying the whole lot....Wasn't MY fault...I blame the interpreters...I couldn't understand ancient Chinese.
And the 'putty' you had to use in those days.... More like Terracotta clay...
Bl**dy rubbish, compared to now....At least I managed to get away before he threw a wobbly and took my head off !!
Cheers - Phil
Some more WIP pics of 'Jim'!
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/5756472617_d00ac355a2.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5756472617/)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2243/5756472359_199501a7d7.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5756472359/)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/5756472497_381f24e119.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5756472497/)
A little more detail....Start roughing out the head properly...Still loads to do here, including corrections....Get out that Swann Morton !
Finish tentacle......OOOPS !! That'a looking oversized...maybe it'll work once a shoulder pad is put on....Hmmmm.... I have my doubts.
Start right arm.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2051/5756472749_086f06fecb.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5756472749/)
Wow, that really is amazing work :o I think the tentacle arm will be ok if you have a fairly large shoulder pad in mind.
Cheers,
Kev
Thanks Kev.
I think it will have to be a biggish pad on the tentacle arm.. ;D ;D
About the only thing of relevance that's missing on the comments is the wire used for the 'arms'
For the tentacle I've used brass 'braid'. I take single strands of brass from the fine brass 'rope' that gets sold in packs for hanging photo's/pictures on a wall.
The right arm is made from point 5 mm brass rod.
I haven't quite decided yet whether I'll simply bend the rod at the bottom to make his sword....or cut the arm around the wrist/hand and then solder another piece on to the 'hand to make the weapon.
It'll probably end up being the second option...But we'll see.
Cheers - Phil. (and thanks again to Leon for putting these up for me !)
I've said it before - and I'll say it again: these are really useful Phil for understanding & following the process - nicely done 8)
Cheers Nik.
That was the basic idea behind this thread....So I'm very pleased you're finding it useful.
Phil.
.....Carry on with head....Start shoulder pad....allow to dry, and the drill tiny holes for the 'rivets'
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2504/5804761267_1cf62d3aa5.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5804761267/)
......Put rivets on big shoulder pad.....Do other shoulder pad...chain mail 'short sleeve'
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/5805319524_ace3a75f93.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5805319524/)
Progressing good, Techno.
I keep on having to remind myself that it isn't much bigger than 10mm.
Do you use any vision enhancer?
Quote from: capthugeca on 06 June 2011, 05:57:39 PM
Progressing good, Techno.
I keep on having to remind myself that it isn't much bigger than 10mm.
Do you use any vision enhancer?
What?!?! It IS 10mm???
Noooooooo!!
Amazing work!
Same question...^^
Hi Capthugeca.
Yes.....I do use the lowest powered 'optivisor'......Not really for the magnification, which is only one and a half times, but so I can close focus on the little chaps.
I' reached 'that stage' in life a few years ago where I really needed bi-focal glasses and the optivisor was a much cheaper compromise. (For me, at least.)
I did try using the 5X mag lenses once....in the belief that they'd help even more. But there's such an incredibly shallow depth of field on those, that I ended up with a belter of a headache, as 95% of what i was trying to sculpt on was a horrid blur.....very disturbing.
Not too displeased with it now....But the head......YUK !......Plastic surgery time ! ;D ;D ;D ;D.
If it helps....No, no, no Arsenus...It's not 10mm...(There should be a comparison shot of 'Jim' and a proper 10mm figure right at the start of the thread)....To the top of the head (excluding the current mane and ears) ....He's 18mm near as dammit.
Cheers - Phil.
Quote from: Techno on 06 June 2011, 07:02:04 PM
Yes.....I do use the lowest powered 'optivisor'......Not really for the magnification, which is only one and a half times, but so I can close focus on the little chaps.
I' reached 'that stage' in life a few years ago where I really needed bi-focal glasses and the optivisor was a much cheaper compromise. (For me, at least.)
Yes, I've reached 'that stage' too. :-B
Varifocals for me but they're a ruddy nuisance for painting and sculpting so I take them off and squint
I might give an optivisor a go.
Cheers
Hugh
Quote from: capthugeca on 06 June 2011, 10:11:42 PM
so I take them off and squint
Hugh
Ah someone else using that tried and tested technique ;)
Quote from: Germy on 07 June 2011, 07:04:46 AM
Ah someone else using that tried and tested technique ;)
Yes, but my wife warns me that one day I'm going to get stuck like that! :o
Hah !....You two are lucky....I can't focus both eyes on the same thing if I take my glasses off ! (VERY short sighted... :'( :'( :'()
But with the optivisor flipped over my normal 'distance' specs, I can see perfectly well.
Not sure how well your vari focals would work with the optivisor Hugh, but I'm guessing you're intending to use them with the naked eye....That should be fine...I'd be very surprised if you didn't think they worked really well.
Cheers - Phil.
Really great modelling and like the design too - will make a great chaos mutant. The only bit i'm not keen on is the hair - would prefer either a full mane or none. Is this a competition entry by an amateur or a preview of a figure by a Pendraken modeller?
Hi Dunnadd.
You're quite right about the current 'mane'.....Looks rather 'waffy'....
No.....I'm not entering this in the comp....It's supposed to be a 'stage by stage, how to', to hopefully give people a bit of a helping hand.
If Leon and Dave want it when it's finally finished, they can have it as a dungeon 'beastie'.....The trouble I'm having, is finding time to do this, while I work on other wee soldiers....So it's a little more rushed than I would have liked. ;)....Which is why the whole head's 'gotta go'....I'll finish it eventually !! ;D
Cheers - Phil.
I like the quiff! :(
Oh dear.....
'Jim's' completely quiffless now.
Cheers - Phil.
Phil's latest update on Jim:
Oh dear......Shows the head 're-done' and his sword soldered into position.......As Homer Simpson would say..."Doh !! It just gets worse and worse !"
More major surgery to come methinks !.....Head looks WAY too big !...PANTS !!!!
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5181/5835691523_80255af6fa.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5835691523/)
Well...
Since I sent Leon the pic....Jim has had a 'headechtomy' (sic)....and transplant...He thanks all his friends for their get well cards...flowers..grapes etc...
But would prefer everyone to know that his best prezzies have been the lumps of rotting flesh he's received...He's been scrumming those down !!
The bandages will be off very soon...and his new visage will be available for all to see...
He still looks **** as far as I'm concerned...But don't tell Jim that !
Cheers - Phil
Is his old head to become scenic detail on his base?
Hmmmm...Maybe ....It could do, perhaps.... To me, the old head looks like a cross between a wild boar and some VERY unspecified doggy, which is why I hate it...Apart from the fact that it's got out of scale by oodles.
Or...I'll just save it for something else at a later date....(Which is where Jim's new head....as yet unseen, has come from.... ;D ;D ;D)...I never throw anything away...Finding something is another matter though !!!
Cheers - Phil.
PS.... As the 'hyena's' mane's gone now....'Jim' may end up with spiky things on his back. - P
....The headectomy and transplant:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/5836324125_22e1980efe.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5836324125/)
.....Plastic surgery on the face and arm/hand:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3389/5836873162_644e02399d.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5836873162/)
Still work to do....The lower jaw looks 'very iffy'....."Nurse...The screens !"
Dr Phil.....Oh no...Surgeons are Misters aren't they ?....In that case.... Mr Phil.
Thanks again for putting those up for me Leon.
Just to confirm....The head is something that I had sitting in a 'bits box'....But it seemed to be far better scale wise....although it needed a bit of work done on it ;)
There's a bit of work to clean up the shoulder pad where yours truly hacked the original head off....Also I want to neaten up the lower jaw....But I feel that I'm starting to get somewhere now.....Fairly close to finishing.....I HOPE !!
The temptation is.... to be far too much of a smart arse with the sword, and put pretty little circular notches in it....Nah !!!...It'll probably break and I'll have a hissy fit!
Just for your information... The 'blue stuff' forming the sword is Sylmasta A+B...(Obviously the blue version)...This is a putty not dissimilar to Milliput and useful for 'straight line' work.
I tend to use different colours of this particular putty to stick dollies to corks when I'm doing different ranges of models....And I don't want to put the wrong type of weapons on the wrong type of models....If that makes sense ???...I hope it does !! ;D
Cheers - Phil.
Interesting...nice new head - but...[ducks for cover] now I don't like the tentacle arm...I'd like him better with a 'normal' arm beckoning on the next opponent :-S
Just for you Nik..Once he's completely finished I'll take the tentacle off and give him an arm....Or maybe a crab claw ??
Might wait to see whether Leon wants to mould him up first, and then convert him.... Have to admit I'm not over happy with the way the tentacle 'works' myself.
That'lll give the opportunity for some different shots/techniques perhaps ?
INCOMING !!! ;D ;D
Cheers - Phil.
The new head looks much better!
Thanks Jester....
I'm MUCH happier with the new one...The more I look at the old head...The more stunningly awful it becomes !!!
Cheers - Phil.
Phil, I think you are being a bit hard on yourself over the old head - I'd be chuffed if I could do it! That said, the new head is even better - size wise as well.
I'm uncertain about the tentacle .... it looks good, but an arm might look better ........ sounds like two casts needed :D
Cheers,
Kev
I'll prep Jim for surgery then ;D
That's you and me Kev..... that aren't convinced..And Nik's a definite 'don't like'
Well....I did say he was the Lord of Entropy didn't I ?....I agree...think he will look better with an arm rather than the tentacle....Calamari anyone ? (YUK !)
Cheers - Phil ;)
Quote from: Techno on 16 June 2011, 08:55:45 PM
Calamari anyone ? (YUK !)
Stick it onto a well, grating or pool of water and you've got a "nice" surprise! :d
Quote from: O Dinas Powys on 16 June 2011, 09:19:53 PM
Stick it onto a well, grating or pool of water and you've got a "nice" surprise! :d
That's a great idea :)
I should say that I think your sculpting is excellent - but the tentacle does look out of place now & makes him more cartoony than evil...and I reckon he'd be good evil :d
Here's the final updates to 'Jim':
Final of shots of Jim front and back before taking the tentacle off:
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6059/5867453494_dd9ced1eba.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5867453494/)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5077/5867453680_dabbcfceef.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5867453680/)
Tentacle and shoulder pad off....Blood everywhere...Unfortunately mine, not Jim's...(I will not make cuts towards myself...I will not make cuts towards myself...I will not make cuts towards myself...etc.....Bet I damn well will !!...Just give me a few months to get careless again.)
Start roughing out arm:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5075/5866900003_838d1f4fd6.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5866900003/)
Shoulder pad replaced..(Might have to do that again...It looks a bit scruffy now)...Continue with arm/wristband...Make 'former' for hand.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5275/5866900213_77fec64a7d.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5866900213/)
The hand bothers me a little....I think it may prove too much of a swine to cast in that position....If I don't think it will work as is...I'll turn it into a clenched fist holding either a severed head, or a bag of 'treasure'....Casting wise I'm confidant that that would be fine.
Left hand ground down before doing the hand 'properly'..."Come on over here if you think you're hard enough !!"......add a tiny 'smidgin' of putty to the lower jaw.....Hopefully that just leaves the shoulder pads to neaten up now:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5072/5866899441_aa39c76030.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5866899441/)
If anyone's wondering why I've used different types of putty...(Leon was)
I've just used those to give a bit more contrast in the parts of the model...hopefully to make things easier to see ???
Jim will have a friend very soon....Who'll be much more "10mm".
Well...When I say done.....I've just got to neaten up the spikes on his back:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5302/5866899087_4264a92615.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5866899087/)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5866899261_12f31f68ef.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pendraken/5866899261/)
Jaw droppingly good!
You know his first 'quiff' head still needs a home!
Coolio mate, coolio 8)
Thanks Lemmy, thanks Nik !!
Quiff head.? Not really sure what to do with that....Maybe on a base at some stage, like you suggested ?.... I think I might find a use for the tentacle though.
Cheers Phil. (Now I can get on with 'Colin'.....I must start thinking up proper names !) ;D
Awesome Techno, just awesome 8)
Looking forward to Colin .........
Cheers,
Kev
Thanks to you too Kev !
Like Jim, Colin's gone just a little bit 'oops !' here and there at the moment....So I'll pester poor Leon to pop the piccies up as he progresses.
Feedback is just SO genuinely useful !
Cheers - Phil.