TECHNIQUE - Group Sculpt 2004

Sign me up, Domi!

Regards, Dan

Cool, that makes us two!

I think I could get into that. Been cooking a new Napoleonic piece in my head for a couple weeks now. Might be a good time to settle on a subject and get going on it. I'm thinking antoher 1/6th scale piece. But what?????

Ahaa! We appear to be three..! Welcome aboard, Plymonkey! 1/6..! Wow!

I'll contribute as long as I can sculpt whatever (or whoever) I want.

That's the idea, Jack. No particular subject, just a particular technique...

Four!

When do you want to start, Domi?

Dan

Okay ,I'll start it.
Here's were I begin. I make a wire armature with twisted floral wire. I use a figure cannon(3 view drawing) from an artist's "how to draw" book blown up to 120mm. The material is "castaline" a wax/clay hybrid that is melted in a jewler's wax tray and applied with a heated waxing pen.
More later.....
http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=42

http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=43

Jack

The next step is to pose the figure. In this case "man jogging".
http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=97

Looks like Jack is already on it! I was not just ready to start, but if you are all ready, let's get it officially started and hopefully 'stickied'...

Jack, I'd really like trying that wax but I'm afraid of spending a fortune and not be able to do anything with it! Does it dry hard? Can you overpaint it? Or is it just OK to make molds and then cast in resin/metal..?

Domi,
Stay tuned and all you're questions will all be answered!
I will say that I work in this medium because I'm never satisfied until the end. Wax and clay can be constantly reworked- materials that harden give you one shot to get it right . It is inevitable that things will need to be adjusted as the figure goes along otherwise you can end up with disproportionate figures.
I always make a mold (as you will see) and do a final hard casting of the figure.

Jack

Sorry guys I didn't mean to jump the gun. I have to do these guys anyway so I figured I'd take you along for the ride.

The next step is to "flesh out" the armature"
http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=98

http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=99

Nice progress, Jack

Now hope I can do that and have it turn out to look like something!

Dan

I'm in...using Super Sculpey...more than likely it'll be about 200mm, and some WW2 subject...I'm thinking something dramatic...

Jeff

Domi,
I've never done the "group build" thing before. Is there a particular place I should be posting? can you fill me in on what I should be doing?

Jack

I'm resurecting a project I had started a while ago but ran out of steam on. I had gotten as far as sculpting the head and fleshing out the armature, sans the arms. I had the basic detail of the boots done, but was in the process of reshaping the toes. Last night I completely changed the pose from a seated position to a full bore running pose. Still not sure which direction I'm going as far as subject, other than that it will be another Napoleonic piece. Either Brittish or French Infantryman, leaning towards Britt, possibly a Highlander, but I hate sculpting kilts.

I'm working with epoxy putty over an armature made up of a resin torso and pelvis blank, and in this case, because of the scale, coat hanger for limbs and the spine. This is a big figure. No pics up yet. Will have some soon.

I too prefer to mold everything, but I don't have the financial resources at the moment to do that. I do at least mold good heads and other things I'm likely to need in the future which would save me some time on future projects. My resin torso and pelvis blanks are another example of that. I sculpted them some time ago but molded them so that I have a ready supply to allow me to spend more time on the fun part of the project. The originals are usually solid in smaller scales, but as a cost cutting measure, for the big scale figures I used regular modeling clay and then coated it with about 1/8th inch of epoxy putty and formed and sculpted the detail. That cuts down on the weight as well as saves on material.

http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=102

Getting closer to clothing! Need to do the hands and touch up the head.

Jack, you are unbelievably fast! And gifted too, of course! At this rate, you'll have an army of people while we all decide what to start..! LOL

Good luck guys,

I'll be watcing from the sidelines but I'm very interested in this one. Keep us posted?

Mike

http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=103

Jogger sans clothing and the next figure (mailman).

Looking fantastic Jack. I wish I could work with such skills!

Anyone good with PCs and graphics??? We need a GB patch..!

All right, folks, you've got an "official" group build: You've been stickied, and per Domi's request, I've moved this threat to the Techniques area. Good luck & have fun!

From now on, please disregard this thread and post messages in the Techniques Forum, under the sticky Group Sculpt 2004.

Thanks!

Here's a little more Progress (mailman has a head and hands)

http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=104

http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=105

http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=106

Has anyone given any more thought to what they are going to sculpt?
Here's my latest progress shot
http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=107

Amazing stuff, Jack! My subject will either be Scooby-Doo (that I promised to sculpt for my wife 2 years ago!) or Wile E. Coyote, to continue my growing family of Looney Tunes characters... More on that soon!

Nice work, Jack!
Domi, looking forward to your loonies too....

I need to get moving....sheeesh!

Dan

Here are a couple of progress photos

http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=108

http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=109

http://www.msnusers.com/KeystoneDesign/workinprogress.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=107

I've gotten my son to finish a drawing of what I want to do jack but I might have to tone it down a bit as it's probably a bit much for my first try I'll download the drawing later for your viewing pleasure.