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Other Stuff => Workbench => Tutorials => Topic started by: Golan2072 on December 08, 2010, 11:52:14 AM
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I'm thinking of trying my hand at some simple sculpting and/or conversion for the 15mm scale. I intend to buy some Green Stuff (or the local equivalent, which is grey or yellow) and a sculpting knife and try sculpting simple things such as maybe a giant serpent, giant worms and so on (later I'll try a giant toad).
Once the sculpt is done and hardened, can I prime and paint it directly or are there more steps to be done?
Do you have any advice to share with a sculpting newbie such as myself?
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Most sculpting putties can be primed and painted as soon as they're fully cured. Curing time ranges from 2 to 24 hours, shortened by modest heat (150 F or 65 C). If you're not sure how well you can control the heat, just spend the time and let the stuff harden by itself.
Good luck and enjoy the process!
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Thanks! :)
By the way, it was suggested to me on another forum that I should lubricate my tools. What kind of a lubricant do I need?
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If you check out Matakishi's Tea Room it has a really good 'how to' sculpting section.
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Thanks :)
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spit works fine as lub, vaseline works too but needs to be cleaned off before the next sculpting step,I just lick my tools works for me. as for sculpting tips check out Ebob he has a couple of easy to follow tutorials
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spit works fine as lub, vaseline works too but needs to be cleaned off before the next sculpting step,I just lick my tools works for me. as for sculpting tips check out Ebob he has a couple of easy to follow tutorials
Got any link? :)
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http://www.ebobminiatures.com/sculpting/sculpting.htm
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Thanks! :)
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Use your own saliva, you cannot get a better lubricant.
Read lots of articles, the only way forward in anything is to just read as much as you can on the subject.
Someone told you to get the 'cylinders' of Greenstuff, I actually prefer the strips. You have more control over how much you use that way. I cut the strips into 1CM long (roughly) sections, and put one half of the box in the freezer and keep the rest out. Putting it in the freezer stops it 'going off' and keeps it fresh to work with. It doesn't have to 'defrost' either, you can work with it as soon as you get it out of the freezer. Just don't eat it! ;D
Here is a Q&A with myself, not sure how much of it is useful!
http://orcsinthewebbe.co.uk/index.php/flintloque/miscellaneous/504-sculpting-a-qaa-with-rob-alderman (http://orcsinthewebbe.co.uk/index.php/flintloque/miscellaneous/504-sculpting-a-qaa-with-rob-alderman)
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Thanks for the info :)
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I like the strips too, though I don't bother to cut out the centre line as any hardened bits tend to get pushed onto a base along with leftovers to become a boulder or whatever in due course.
I just keep mine in a cool cupboard but I tend to get through it quite quickly.
I lubricate with tap water, using a piece of kitchen paper (a bit like a wet palette).
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Thanks for the tips! :)
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There are ongoing discussions about the relative toxicity of Greenstuff, so I would avoid licking your tools (you're liable to stab or cut your tongue anyway). :o Some sculptors do use their facial oils, but another common lubricant to use is chapstick. Simply rub a little bit of chapstick on the heel of your off (non-tool-using) hand and then rub the points of your tools in the chapstick when they start to stick.
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I would also suggest going for a darker mix of green, rather than the 50/50 that the roll suggests.
Any tips on smoothing out the GS? Any particular tools better for it?
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I prefer a lighter shade of Green Stuff. I normally smooth out green buy using a round part of a tool and using this to roll it flat on the figure.
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I've received my first set of sculpting putty and sculpting tools yesterday:
(http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/7497/suppliesa.jpg) (http://img829.imageshack.us/i/suppliesa.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
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smoothing putty I use my wet fingers the use tools to make the folds make sure that the tools are smooth and clean, every spot on your tools will also come in your sculpt.
@ golan
from your tools I use 3 and 5 the most going from left to right, the last one I have never used, wen you get more in to sculpting its a idea to get rubber tipped tools the firm ones, they are great to get nice folds, the spoon part of #5 is also very useful for that
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Thanks for the tip!
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May I recommend Walshes for a range of tools?
They're very helpful in the old fashioned way, and have branches in SE London and central-ish Brimingham if you fancy a gander, which is often the best way with tools as it's difficult to ask for neat things which you don't know exist...
http://www.hswalsh.com/ (http://www.hswalsh.com/)
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Thanks for the link.
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I use cooking/olive oil to smooth putty. Also you should definately try a clay shaper.. very useful. I find a 50/50 milliput/greenstuff mix is the best to sculpt with :)
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Gah! I hate the 2 tube green stuff! You always end up mixing more than you need!
Otherwise cool!
Also, use saliva, don't be a wuss! :)
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Gah! I hate the 2 tube green stuff! You always end up mixing more than you need!
I just pinch off little bits with my fingertips 'till I've gotten the right amount I need. I can get very precise amounts that way (I like to use a gram scale to determine proportions).
These days I like a 50/50 mix of Aves and GS. I love clay shapers too, but I use the soft ones way more than the hard ones. I've found the flexibility allows them to follow contours and create flowing organic shapes and folds very easily, and also gives them a wider range of finesse. The soft ones are "analog control", while the hard ones are "digital control" (like metal and wood tools), if that makes any sense. I usually only end up using the hard ones during the very last leg of the curing process, where the putty's too firm for anything less.
Everyone has their own favorite putty mixes and tools to suit their own personal body of techniques. What works for you may end up being miles apart from what I or any one else may recommend, so IMO the best advice is really just to dig in and start hacking things out for yourself. You'll figure out how to use what mostly through experience.
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You can sandwich the green stuff between bakers paper (greaseproof paper) - it tends to stick inside those tubes and its annoying. I make little strips. Avoid the double strip packs as there is always crusty little bits where the two putties meet- very annoying.
Try adding a small amount of super sculpey to your green stuff to begin with- about 1:6 sculpey to green. This takes off a little of the stickiness, makes it easier to blend into existing surfaces and you can get a slightly sharper edge. Downside, too much and it goes spongy. It vulcanises fine too. Great for cloth. Dont use this for chainmail or fur though, you need that memory to get a good loop going.