Starting out with figure modeling

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I would not try to bend an arm or hand other than to straighten it, e.g., if it were dropped. If you want to repose a figure, you really need to use a saw and cut the joint, add or remove material and reattach. Not a great idea for a beginner and without sugery, the joint will look unnatural. For sites try missing lynx, metalsofhonour (the british spelling) and armorama. All have extensive article "libraries" and many very good builders. Andrea's CD-ROM on figure painting with acrylics is an excellent primer. It'a available at Squadron and Military Miniatures Warehouse, among others.

Here's a few sites with some painting tips. Many of us here can be tapped for tips as well.

Armorama.com: Features: Figures
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/articles_figures.htm

How bent is the sword? If you have a hard surface, like an anvil on the back of a vice, and maybe a hammer or something of that nature, you can lightly press the sword flat between the two surfaces. If it's really bent, you'll have to set the apex of the bend on a flat surface and carefully flaten it going out from the center. Once you have the bend flattened out enough, you can try the first trick to flatten it out completely.
 If there's already a break present however, it's going to be tough to fix. You may have to just deal with a broken sword, because once you start bending it, it will break off. You can glue it back together. If you are careful, you can repair it and hide the seam though, but it will always be a very weak point, so keep people from touching it.

[edit: made the armorama.com link shorter -Dave]

Thanks for the reply i will check out those sites and links. I have not worked on it yet and will take a shot of it and post it before moving on with that guy.

I have been working on three figures for 2 days now. They are going pretty well and see that i am alot better then when i painted some many years ago.

The smallest brush i have is 10/0 and dont know of any samller. What sizes do you use. I have used a magnifier before but found it hard to get a proper feeling kind of like when you stick something in water it appears to bend :>

You can get a brush as small as 18/0. I have sveral. They tend to break down pretty fast, though.

For magnification, most guys I know use an Opti-visor.

http://xtronics.com/images/optivisor.jpg

I still use only my unaided eyes, but things aren't as sharp as they once were, so it'll be a matter of time before I'll have to start thinking about assistance. I tried using a magnifier, but found the same problem you did. Takes practice I guess.

I used to use a 10/0 for most of my face painting when I was still doing mainly 1/35th scale figures for armor dioramas, and I have an 18/0 which I use for only the smallest details now, but #1 is the smallest brush I use for most painting. I can get fairly fine detail with it, but then I work in larger scales mainly these days. However, either someone told me once, or I read it in an interview with a painter that a good painter should be able to paint whatever he/she needs to just fine with nothing smaller than a #1. I feel that whatever works is what you should use, and if it's a 18/0 then that's fine, however, I've kind of taken that advice to heart and have used that #1 brush as my smallest for years, even on 54mm figures.

 You'll have to try some stuff out and see what gets you the best results. I would highly recomend that you get ahold of a copy of Historical Minature Magazine and set up a subscription. They always have great articles on painting (in both oils and acrylics), making groundwork, sculpting original figures and such, plus tons of great color photos from all of the big shows around the world. A great resource for learning and for inspiration.

http://www.r-kproductions.com/historical_miniature_magazine.php

I posted a collection of links related to Warhammer miniatures sometime back.  The ones towards the bottom of the list might be useful.  Even though some of the other sites are focused on Warhammer, you might look through some of their reference / links pages for other websites.

If you are interested in larger figures and especially like SF, Fantasy, Movie and Horror kits than I would recommend:

David Fischer "ModelMania" Video series
Vol I - Vol IV.

Zen_Builder wrote:

If you are interested in larger figures and especially like SF, Fantasy, Movie and Horror kits than I would recommend: David Fischer "ModelMania" Video series Vol I - Vol IV.

If the videos are anything like the articles, those would be great to watch.

The Creature from the Black Lagoon ModelMania™ Article By David Fisher

Model Mania video series -- It looks like Vol II & III are not available anymore.

Amazing Figure Modeler -- another good site to bookmark (nice list of website links too)

I also came across a reference to Wayne "the Dane" Hansen's Instructional Sculpture Video Tapes.  I don't know anything about the tapes except for what's listed.

The Videos are great to watch, unfortunately no. V was never produced. This is the one I wanted the most from the series.

One of the Videos include the making of the "Guilotina wading in the blood Pool" seen in your link.

Can't comment on the Wayne Hansen Videos as I haven't seen them yet, but he regularly posts on a few forums I belong to.

Here are the 3 figures i am working on now. Any thoughts on them so far. I would say i am about 50% done. Still going to add details and color in things. I will also do some shadowing if i can. Sorry for bad photos - its late hehe. Any thoughts on these figures? One thing i am having trouble with is the skeleton as what shade his bones should be ? i am thinking more dark and greenish. Like the pirates of the carriebean movie. I will also correct all the glossy parts and dull parts as well just waiting till later till i am done.