Modifying plastic elasmosaurus

[PhilB]

Bonjour!

I've got my hands on a Bullyland elasmosaurus figurine (intended as a toy, no doubt) and want to chop it up a bit. Here is the original figurine:


What I want to do is cut it at a 45 degree angle just above the front flippers, so I can mount it on a base as if it were emerging from the water... but if I do that, the bend in the neck is all wrong.

So what I'm asking is, can anyone give me any pointers on how to bend and adjust the semi-flexible plastic neck of this elasmosaurus into a different pose. Will boiling water do the trick? heat, adjust, then clamp in new position to cool? I'm afraid to take an open flame to it, figuring I'll just ruin the outer finish without making the inside any more pliable.

As a last resort, I could make several cuts and rotate the neck at each one until the desired result is obtained.

What I'm trying to make is this very pulp-esque critter, Black Magga from a Pathfinder adventure path:

But I want to keep most of it submerged, and mount the tentacles separately. The tentacles will come from a similar figure, but they should pose fewer problems, as their poses are already fairly close to what I'm shooting for.

[MalcyBogaten]

Hi

Try the Hot Water technique! As hot as you can the water while avoiding burning yourself!!!

Apply to the model part! Then bend and hold. When it is the shape you want! Get the model into cold water as fast as you can! This may set it into the new shape.

It doesn't always work for me? But, I think it depends on the plastic type!

Other than that. "Cutting" as you have already said, then I would drill the cut sections and use some flexible wire and putty! But that could stretch your sculpting skills or indeed improve them!

Friends of mine suggest boiling water!  But I tend to like my skin on my digits! Be careful and keep the cold water handy to plunge your hands into! (Avoid the burns!)

Be careful either way! Looks a good find.

Luck!

[fastolfrus]

If the water is hot you could use rubber gloves

[PhilB]

It worked!



Step 1) After 2 minutes in boiling water, the figures were quite pliable, and after being plunged in cold water, held their new shape quite well.



Step 2) A few slices with the Dremel, and everything was suitably dismembered.



Step 3) The elasmosaurus head was superglued to an old CD, and the 8 tentacles to standard 1" washers - so that they can be moved, or even used separately.



New dilemma: since the plastic is still quite flexible, I am loathe to paint everything, for fear that it will just flake off at the slightest bend. The tentacles will have to be painted (the orange just doesn't cut it for me) but perhaps the elasmosaurus head will keep its original paint scheme, and I'll do up the tentacles to match - and hope that they don't flex enough during use to shed any of the paint.

Any further pointers about how to deal with this semi-flexible plastic and painting are very welcome.

[MalcyBogaten]

Looking fantastic and glad it worked!
Wish I had thought of the rubber gloves beforehand!

Painting wise? Game Colour White Primer, Or White itself! I have used this on 20mm soft plastic Napoleonic soldiers and it works!

Washing the figs in mild soapy/washing up liquid helps.

A layer of this paint though gives a good base I have found!

It is basically Vallejo paints in another label. But I always use them from the Game Colour Range! As that was the one I was told about by a much more advanced modeller than myself!

Hope it may help! But looking good and the seperate tentacle idea is fab!

[Supercollider]

I've had some success with using Plastidip as undercoat on flexible items.  It doesn't crack, even on very flexible stuff (I made a Starlord mask out of yoga mats, and that has held up really well).

[Commander Roj]

I've had some success with using Plastidip as undercoat on flexible items.  It doesn't crack, even on very flexible stuff (I made a Starlord mask out of yoga mats, and that has held up really well).

I hear tell that gesso makes a perfect flexible undercoat.

[PhilB]

Well, I got pretty much what I was looking for: a useable figure for Black Magga for my game this Wednesday. Could be better... but the suckers on those eight tentacles really tired me out.

First, I decided to throw caution to the winds and do my standard black spraypaint as undercoat.



After a quick paintjob, it looks OK. Thought of going for a more involved scale effect, but chickened out. Maybe later.



Here is Black Magga with a sample victim...

[MalcyBogaten]

Looks absolutely splendid to me!

Love the Tentacles and the swirly water painting. Aways a hard effect to achieve.

[beefcake]

Very nice. You've done a superb job. I love seeing prepaints put to good use

[von Lucky]

Yeah, really nice painting. Looking at the $3 dinosaurs at the Reject Shop* for possibilities now.

*Yeah, I know.

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Marvellous!

[Andym]

That's a nice piece! Brilliantly executed!

[pbjunky1]

Really impressed with the way you've put the finished model together from the original  toys. It does look the part. Regards painting semi flexible stuff either emulsion from those tester pots or put a bit of PVA in with your acrylic paint. Either of these oprions allows a non-flaking paint job on a flexible surface.