Sculpting questions

[Argonor]

This probably has been covered before, but I have a few Q's about sculpting stuff:

1)
What 'putty' gives the best results?
I have fiddled a bit with green stuff, but it does not seem to dry up quite hard?

2)
What lubricants are needed to avoid the tools to stick onto the putty?
I've tried with water, but I think it's not quite enough when trying to smooth out a surface and/or make ridges/dents...

3)
...er... no, that's actually all for now, but I might come up with more as I'm playing along...

[Danny the Chimp]

As you probably know I'm a bit of a new starter and by far from an expert, but

1 I like a mix of Green/Grey Milliput and Green Stuff, about a 70/30 mix seems to work for me. it dries hard enough to carve and file, yet it has a bit more elasticity than Milliput on its own. I hear great things about Brown Stuff as well, but not got around to buying any yet.

2 Its probably not the best stuff to use, but I get great resiults with a little Vaseline on my sculpting tool. Just enough to cut through or shape a little better. It leaves the sculpt a little greasy, but a quick wipe when dry and it tends to be ready to paint. If its still too greasy a cotton bud with the wifes nail varnish remover does wonders!

Theres something special about getting something just so and knowing you did that.

Wow I tried to help, makes a change 

[Operator5]

1) I've used green stuff, brown stuff, Milliput, and ProCreate. For general sculpting I prefer ProCreate. It seems to work well for me. For sharp edge items like weapons or machinery I use either brown stuff or Milliput.

2) I use water. I have found that you have to keep your tools wet so I keep a small non-paint water dish nearby and use that. I tried vaseline as well and it works fine, I just hate the mess.

[Danny the Chimp]

1) I've used green stuff, brown stuff, Milliput, and ProCreate. For general sculpting I prefer ProCreate. It seems to work well for me. For sharp edge items like weapons or machinery I use either brown stuff or Milliput.

2) I use water. I have found that you have to keep your tools wet so I keep a small non-paint water dish nearby and use that. I tried vaseline as well and it works fine, I just hate the mess.

Listen to the expert, he knows of what he speaks..... Me, well, I'm just a Chimp!

[Operator5]

I would not say expert. I have not spent nearly enough time to be called that.

This has been the best I have gotten so far and it's not even done.

http://rattrap-productions.com/ImageGallery/main.php?g2_itemId=378

[Ramshackle_Curtis]

1. Ive used most putties and like Procreate the most(hence selling it on the site). Its a bit bendy at the end, but if you want it really hard you can mix with milliput. Also, using grey is easier on the eyes and reduces eye strain!

2. Spittle, saliva. Water isnt slippery enough, and saliva leaves almost no residue. Id avaoid vaseline as it will stop further layers sticking.

[Paul Hicks]

At the moment I prefer Procreate, quicker drying time and holds shapes and cuts better than Greenstuff. The best thing I have as a tool is a metal light box this cooks the putty in around 10mins. I don't use any lubricants at all, I find that manipulating the putty with a rubber clay-shaper. Then I use a metal tool that I have licked ever so slightly to cut in the detail.

Hope this helps

[vikotnik]

I use the backside of an old Confrontation Blister as a container for water. Simply put the sponge included to protect the miniature in the water in order to use it  as a reservoir. If mildew collects at the bottom, I discard the sponge.

I would not use vaseline or something similar as this prevents further layers from sticking.

Spit is the best separating agent, but I suppose that all putties are chemicals and I do not trust the fact that, just because they are tasteless, they are not poisonous.

Smoothing the surfaces of Your sculpt is easier with clay shapers made from silicone.

Edit: Just as I wrote this, Paul answered something similar about clay shapers...

[NECROSTONE]

Spit is indeed the choice you need, however while I never use anything else, I have never "licked my tool" as some suggest ( I know it sounds horrendous heh)
Absolutely no point subjecting yourself to chemicals when you dont need to.

When I am about to sculpt I have a tile next to me and I do one of those long spits (Like when you someone would spit over the side of a tall place to hit a chav below......except you dont have a slug of ribena first, so that when you hit it stains their ridiculous tracksuit combos).

Then when you are about to smooth some work or just to moisten the tool (This is turning out to be a filthy innuendo post) if its becoming too tacky to work, just dip it into the spit puddle, and continue work.



My regards

Necrotious

[Paul Hicks]

Licking my SCULPTING! tool never did me any harm!. That third arm I now have really has helped out holding the phone while working.

pAUL

[Argonor]

ProCreate sounds like it has some votes thrown in for it...

Where do I get the rubber/silicone sculpting tools? (I only have an overpriced GW-steel tool)

AND I forgot: Thanks, everybody!

[Hammers]

Putty:

It depends on what I want to do. I use them for their different properties. The terms we are looking for are elasticity and plasticity.

Greenstuff, Kneadite, Tamaiya blue or green epoxy putty and the like has more 'memory' meaning a shape somewhat bounces back when pushed. This is useful when doing rounded forms and putting details on an existing bit. These putties also set slightly flexible. I've seen the terms elasticity and viscosity used in reference to this.

Miliput, brownstuff, Procreate (I have heard), Tamaiya yellow epoxy putty (my absolute favorite) have properties more akin to clay. Ridges, indents stay as they are shaped which is pretty much the definition of plasticity. You are able to sculpt points and well defined edges. They generally set hard and the drawback is that they tend to be a bit more brittle and have little 'give' in them.


As for tools I use spit and water and and like Paul never worry about the chemical effect on my genetic makeup. Whit any luck I'll be able to join the X-men soon as 'Concretehead'.

[JollyBob]

Where do I get the rubber/silicone sculpting tools? (I only have an overpriced GW-steel tool)

Andy at Heresy does some, I have a few and they are really nice (even though I can't use them with anything like skill). Listed as Clayshapers, about half way down the page:

http://www.heresyminiatures.com/tools.htm

I think the free shipping and sale conditions apply to sculpting supplies as well, so get in there quick!

[Argonor]

Andy at Heresy does some, I have a few and they are really nice (even though I can't use them with anything like skill). Listed as Clayshapers, about half way down the page:

http://www.heresyminiatures.com/tools.htm

I think the free shipping and sale conditions apply to sculpting supplies as well, so get in there quick!

Alas:

"Please Note: due to the supplier running out of stock, the 5-piece sets won't be available until the last week of October. Sorry about that."

Well, due to some expected activities abroad, a lack of foam board, and an urge to buy a bunch of aquarium-stuff (plastic plants and deco-thingies), I'd probably be forced by my bank advisor to wait to get me some, anyway. Maybe I can combine postage by getting some ghouls and ghasts at the same time, then ... 

[JollyBob]

But if you buy singles, and a few other bits to make an order up to £25, with the discount you'd only actually be paying £20, and get the free shipping... Would that not work out ok for you?