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How to Make a Cape Out of Green Stuff

Modelers fall into three groups. 1) Those that never use green stuff. This group pretty much builds the model as it come out of the box. They may do a little customizing but without some type of sculpting media such as green stuff, they are really limited in customizing the model. 2) Those who are true artists with green stuff. They build intricate parts with green stuff and are true masters at sculpting miniature figures. They often display their work on sites such as this and I am impressed. I know how difficult it is as I have attempted such sculpture but I find that I cannot perform the delicate manipulation that is needed. The third group, of which I am a member, consists of those who use green stuff as filler. Typically, I use green stuff between a limb and the torso, smoothing it as good as I can but covering it up with shoulder pads and other bits so that the green stuff patch disappears into the shadows.

Nevertheless, with the right technique, making a cape out of green stuff is ridiculously easy, well within the skill of any modeler. The pictures below are of two models for which I have built a cape.

Tools: Assembled Model, Green Stuff, Plastic sandwich bag (sheet of thin polyethylene plastic resin), rolling pin, and scissors.

Step 1: Assemble the model. The model should be substantially assembled before making the cape. The model needs to be fairly complete because the cape will flow around the model. Here the models are finished except for their backpacks and some minor bits.


Victor Staghorn

Step 2: Obtain a sheet of polyethylene plastic resin which is a fancy way of saying, find a clear plastic sandwich bag. I have a pile of sandwich bags that I store bits in and from my lunch bags. You need enough plastic to cover both sides of the cape but the smallest sandwich bag is plenty big. I cut up the bag but kept intact a seam so that I could lay the plastic over the green stuff.


Cutting Sandwich Bags

Step 3: Make the green stuff. Green stuff is regularly available on line and at hobby shops. Just search green stuff. Green stuff includes yellow 'filler' and blue 'hardener.’ Use one part blue stuff to one part yellow stuff; mix until green. Avoid leaving yellow or blue lumps. Don’t make up too much. Make up more later if needed.


Lumps of Yellow Filler and Blue Hardener


Lump of Green Stuff

Step 4: Flatten the green stuff over the surface of the clear plastic so that it roughly is in the shape of the flattened cape. Don’t worry much about getting the edges smooth. The edges will be trimmed in a later step. I find it best to use small dots of green stuff and smudge them out. Then add another dot and smudge it out until it mixes together with the rest of the cape. The goal is to have a thin sheet of green stuff over the plastic sheet. Avoid holes or wrinkles as much as possible. Make the size of the area covered slightly bigger than the cape will be at the end.


Green Stuff Flattened the Clear Plastic

Step 5: Cover the exposed side of the green stuff with a second piece of plastic. I just fold the plastic bag over the green stuff. So now you have a green stuff sandwich with clear plastic as the bread and the green stuff like peanut butter spread in between.


Green Stuff between Two Sheets of Plastic like a Sandwich

Step 6: Take a rolling pin and flatten out the green stuff sandwich. This is primarily to even out the green stuff rather than make it thinner. Green stuff is too stiff to really thin out even with the pressure from the rolling pin.


Rolling Pin over the Green Stuff Sandwich

Step 7: With scissors, cut out the cape. This is almost as easy as cutting a piece of paper or fabric. Do not remove the clear plastic until the last step.


Cutting out the Cape


The Cape – Green Stuff between two sheets of plastic

Step 8: Mold the green stuff sandwich cape over the model in a pleasing shape. Have it swirl around any obstacles such as antennas and fenders. Put in some dramatic folds. With the plastic covering, the green stuff is easy and fun to handle. If it needs additional trimming with the scissors, do so now.


Green Stuff Cape over Victor Staghorn


Molding Green Stuff Cape over Jambalaya Bones


Green Stuff Cape over Jambalaya Bones

Step 9: Leave the model alone for 24 hours to let the green stuff cure. I am not sure how fast it cures but I usually let it cure for a day.

Step 10: Gently Remove the Cured Cape from the Model and Peel the Away the Clear Plastic Sheet.


Removing the Plastic Covering

Step 11: Replace and Glue back the Green Stuff Cape and any remaining bits. Here I put on the backpacks and some braids. Where did the braids come from? I guess I need to make another tutorial on making braids. Making braids is much easier than making capes but that is a tutorial for another day.


Top View of Victor Staghorn


Left View of Cape on Victor Staghorn


Right View of Cape on Victor Staghorn


Cape Glued on Jambalaya Bones.

Here I finished up the top part of the cape with some additional green stuff


Top View of Jambalaya Bones

This picture has a long piece of lint. I easily removed it but it is in the picture.

Step 12: Finish and Paint the Model

I will include some pictures when I finish painting the models.

Fantastic!!! Very innovative.

So simple but so effective. The foil tip is very usefull. thanks for sharing

Thanks for this i have never considered green stuff because I thought it was only for group 2 as you described! You might find my dark angels getting a few fancy robes from now on! thanks man!!

Nice technique