Multi piece figures

Not being a figure builder as you well know Bill, my suggestions are very basic.

I'd use 1 head, 1 upper torso, 1 lower torso, 2 arms, and something you didn't mention in your post ..... 2 legs to make my figures up. Any other combinations are not often seen !!!

There are some days I should not be allowed anywhere near my computer.

Robert, you are way too funny...not much help, but way funny!! lol

But thanks, I needed the chuckle!

Bill

Always there for you pal.

Some days Robert?!?!? More like most days!!

Bill, I'm no figure builder/painter either but it seems like most of the write ups I've seen they assemble the main body and leave the head off to work on it seperate and hands if they're seperate. But, it's kind of like road wheels/tracks/gear I'm sure. It's going to come down to figuring out how you like to do it. Do one each way and see what's easiest for you, then knock 'em out (not Robert )

Eric

I build some figures. I join everything, but the head and accessories, so the uniform is complete. Paint. Finish glueing.
I use super glue and Testors contour putty on seams.
hope this helps.

QUOTE: Do one each way and see what's easiest for you, then knock 'em out (not Robert )

I think he should be knocked out, sometimes!!

Thanks for the replies, guys. Guess I'll go wash them up and start gluing tonight!

btw, Tristar does some NICE figures!

Bill

I stink at making figures. hmmm.. better go home and work on Patton and Willie... I'm assembling the body, then the head last. Old Georgie is pretty easy to paint (watch me screw it up now).

Robert, I think a TC needs at least three hands to do his job... add that arm on for us, won't you?

Ron.

I like to paint mine first then glue and fix the cracks/gaps with bondo or model putty. After all that go back over and touch them up once more and then do the weathering of the uniforms and so on and on and on.

if you're doing the guys to go into scale hospitals. then leave off any number of pieces, except the head and torso. unless you put them in a scale morgue.

Chris, you and Robert must be from the same school, many (many, many) years different, but the same school! lol

Bill

Hey Bill,
Maybe I can be a little more help then Chris and Robert.

When I build my figures I assemble the whole figure with the exception of any headgear. I will also leave off any accessiores or weapons that will interfere with the painting of the figure. I then glue it to the top of an old 35mm film canaster with white glue ( the white glue peels off real easy when done), so I don't have to touch the figure while I paint it. When finished painting the figure, I paint the accessiores and attach them. After everything is dry I remove the figure from the canaster and touch-up the boots.

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw Chris, you and Robert must be from the same school, many (many, many) years different, but the same school! lol Bill

robert did say something about being from saskatchewan....??!! maybe its the prairie air or something. although mad coyotes could have bit us both.....

Before, I paint them while the parts are still in the sprue but now, I do it as described by Trevor. Although I don't glue my figures on film canisters. I attach them to a stick.

O BTW, I always use the following for my figures:

1 head
1 torso
2 arms (limbs)
2 legs

LOL.

Hi Bill

Thought I'd throw my in worth.

I glue torso and legs together with cyano. Then I glue the arms on using poly cement, making sure that they sit naturally on the figure and in relation to the vehicle (nothing worse than daylight under a commanders arms as his vehicle is sliding down a 30+ degree slope.... Then again he could be imitating a roller coaster rider).

Using poly for the arms gives you plenty of time for adjustment, and if you let the glue soften and then push the pieces together you get a little bit of plastic to ooze from the join that you can trim later making less need for putty.

Depending on whether you can reach the equipment to paint it or not, glue the equipment down on the figure. For AFV crewman this usually consists of little more than a pistol in holster. If you are worried about geting paint on your perfect camo suit, then just Blu-Tack (Silly Putty) around the piece to be painted/dry brushed to protect the uniform finish.

I drill a hole in the bottom of the figure's foot so I can glue some wire in it. This means that all you need to do is snip it off later...and no need for clean or touch up. If the figure is going to be standing on a dio base and not in the vehicle, then you can actually drill a hole in the base for the wire to go into...killing 2 birds with one big rock. Use the wire to hold the figure whilst painting.

You can also drill holes, a little bigger than the wire, in a block of wood so that you can put the figures aside between coats of paint and they (hopefully) won't get knocked over. If you place an empty jar or can over the figure you can keep dust off while the paint dries too.

The head: I always drill a little hole in the the neck and put wire in that too. If the cap is moulded separate, make sure it is a good fit first, but paint it separate. It's just so much easier than trying to paint an Officers cap when the cap is already glued down on the hair.

It is also a good idea to see how loose the cuffs of the figures jacket are supposed to be. If fairly loose, then I cut off the hands and drill out the cuffs. Wire the hand as above, but use some milliput or something to mould the arm longer, just enough to go up the sleeve. Paint the arms separate and glue them in the sleeve when all the painting is done. You can cut off a moulded on head, lengthen the neck and paint it separate too, as the collar is usually moulded too close to the neck on plastic figures, but these guys didn't wear ties to battle

If you like the finish of figures, you will probably progress to changing all heads to aftermarket items, when you see the difference in the result.

Wow! Great stuff. Thanks (most of you lol).

Great help. Now I don't feel so intimidated..

Bill

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw Thanks (most of you lol).

sniff, sniff. me and robert aren't appreciated.





jk

Well I'm a bit late on the reply to this, but for me, on the figures I've done, I do a base coat on the main body parts while on the sprue. I then attach the figure together, leaving off all exposed flesh parts and equipment. I then paint the clothing and do all the shading, and then paint the webbing, leaving touchups to the end. I then attach the head, hands, and equipment at this point.