The McGraw Gang... 15/28mm scifi aliens

[CookAndrewB]

Does the Sprue ever snap off, or is the bond between the two part and the base substantial enough to hold it together?

I think that when I push mold figures I have always created an integrated base, which helps me pull the miniature out. I also sculpt so there is very little undercut to the miniature. as an example:


Front row is all sculpts directly onto a base, and the back row are all push molds with an integral base.


But so far I've only ever done this with critters, and never with a figure that is more upright. My bipedal (or at least upright walking) figures tend to have legs with a lot of gap, which would mean the mold would fully enclose the miniature from the crotch upward. Your sculpts work well because they are stout and represent more of a solid mass being molded, with the pointy bits being sculpted on after the fact. It is really genius work!

[zrunelord]

Thanks Cook,
Glad you like them.
You make nice stuff also.

The sprue does not snap off & even if it ever did just superglue it back. I used plastic bases for this sort of thing so they're stronger. Mdf might come off, coins are not good.I sometimes do integral bases also.
Like on these Barabou Cattle.





Or this dino


As you say it is much easier to mould a part of the figure then sculpt the rest.This gives you more variation unless the figure is flat as are those in pics you showed.
Having said that it is possible to do a 2 part mould with the blue stuff also

There is a huge difference in the different moulding processes. I prefer the blue stuff when doing putty minis as it is more rigid & the part comes out easily enough once dried. If the part is flat & has straight edges & not too detailed , say a backpack you can also make a press mould out of sprue.

If you are casting in resin & the part is complicated then you will have to use a softer rubber.This will allow you to Cast a whole figure even if it has undercuts.

As always there is no substitute for experimentation & trying things yourself  in order to learn and you have a knack for sculpting which is the most difficult part.

Hope this helps
Z

[War Monkey]

That's a pretty nice gang of trouble, looking forward to them being painted

[zrunelord]

Thanks WM....
soon... have to finish the whole gang 15+ leader or 20 + leader...... I'll take it where it goes.

This post is to show how it's done.... honestly not too difficult. Creating a unique mini is very rewarding even if one is not a pro.

Here is the start of the 3rd lot. These are the press mould made out of 2 different types of rubber.
As you can see only the top part was moulded so you have repeatability and still have individual minis.



 Weapons, spanner & other stuff are superglued in place & hands sculpted on them. I use Milliput for bulk & brown stuff for detail , which I prefer to Green stuff.



Enjoy

Thanks for your comments
Z

[zrunelord]

And here are the finished lot.....
16 in all.. including Leader, a medic & a mechanic..

Thanks for your comments.
Z

[ragbones]

They’re adorable.  Full of character.  You sir, are very talented!

[zrunelord]

Thanks for the praise Ragbones,
Glad you like them.

Full of character definitely , adorable as minis yes but as characters I don't think so...
.... imagine having one's foot caught in a bear trap !!!... ouchhhh!!!

Z

[zrunelord]

Hello again all,
Here they are all painted up..... "Smile & wave boys Smile & wave" .... Thank you for your comments. Z

[CookAndrewB]

Nice to see the gang get some paint!

[War Monkey]

Wow, those turned out great! I especially like the guy with the smoking pipe!

[Cacique Caribe]

Impressive.  Definitely.

Dan

[zrunelord]

Thanks guys, glad you like them.
I think yellow does suit them well ....
WM the pipe came out by chance , I was stretching sprue on a candle & the last bit turned out like that.
Would have been a pity to throw it away .