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Total noob with scuplting (though you couldn't tell from my exquisite lamp conversion sculpt), but I find myself needing to make a Star Wars action figure-sized Space Marine for terrain purposes.

My goal is to take a couple of cheap-o action figures, cut off all the limbs and glue them into the positions I need them in, then build up power armor around the existing models and glue the various parts back together. Depending on the success (or failure) of this venture, I may do this for other Imperium characters as well, down the road. I will be using actual Greenstuff. The blue/yellow strips.

So, my questions are:

1) I know from my limited forays into greenstuff sculpting that it is far too soft when first applied. At what point do I begin sculpting details into the greenstuff? Like the ribbing of the under armor sections behind knees and in elbows? Another example would be the little rectangular and circular shapes cut into the upper edges of the thigh armor or shoulderpads?
2) Should I let it harden some before I affix it to the model? For about how long?
3) In areas that are not straight and even lines, like the bottom arch of the greaves right above where they meet the foot, what's the best way to cut that arch? Would I roll the greenstuff out to my desired thickness and cut out the shape (including the arch) before I attach it to the shin on the model?
4) Should I build thicker armor parts like the greaves or chest plate in one fell swoop, or in a couple layers?
5) For the amount of greenstuff being used and the properties of the figure underneath (the cheaper ones tend to be hard, shiny plastic), would it be adviseable to insert small lengths of pin all over the figure like a porcupine to give the GS something to stick to, ala rebar in concrete?




Ghidorah

Wow. Nobody? Come on peeps. Make with the answers!



Ghidorah

I would not use Green Stuff for something like this at all, because its properties aren't suited to making large smooth surfaces and sharp edges. Milliput or Fimo might be better, those respond better to sanding.

Sounds like an ambitious project. I don't claim to be an expert at green stuff but from my experience I've never had any luck with letting the green stuff cure before starting to work with it.
For me the key to making decent sculpts is lubricated tool. Some people make a case for water but personally I use vaseline. It gets a nice shiny finish and it keeps the green stuff from sticking to the tools.
For making hard lines at the scale you are aiming I would consider sculpting as close to a straight edge first and then cutting it.
The arches I would build up as I go along just eyeballing it.
Thicker parts would definetly be good to build up in at least a couple of layers.
Question five is tricky though, I have absolutely no experience in working at this size of a model. I don't think it would be necessary from reading old White dwarf articles about sculpting but hopefully someone can provide a better answer.

Good luck and please post pictures as you start sculpting sounds like an awesome project.

Agamemnon2 wrote:I would not use Green Stuff for something like this at all, because its properties aren't suited to making large smooth surfaces and sharp edges. Milliput or Fimo might be better, those respond better to sanding.

Well, I hadn't planned on sanding anything other than the action figure base to give the greenstuff a little better surface to adhere to. What I had planned, as I have done in the past with Sculpey, was to lay the greenstuff out in flattened sheets, sandwiched between two layers of lubricated plastic wrap and then rolling it out to the needed thickness.

Savis wrote:For me the key to making decent sculpts is lubricated tool. Some people make a case for water but personally I use vaseline. It gets a nice shiny finish and it keeps the green stuff from sticking to the tools.
For making hard lines at the scale you are aiming I would consider sculpting as close to a straight edge first and then cutting it.
The arches I would build up as I go along just eyeballing it.
Thicker parts would definetly be good to build up in at least a couple of layers.
Question five is tricky though, I have absolutely no experience in working at this size of a model. I don't think it would be necessary from reading old White dwarf articles about sculpting but hopefully someone can provide a better answer.

Good luck and please post pictures as you start sculpting sounds like an awesome project.

Sound advice. Duly noted, thank you. I will certainly be posting WIP pics.


Anyone else with some pearls of wisdom? I'd love some advice from some of you people with the mad skills...



Ghazkhull