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Hi all!

Ever the modelling Icarus, I've decided that one of my modelling challenges in the new year is gonna be sculpting - namely a freaky chaos-y mutant arm onto a 30k figure.

I've made a tentative start - I've got the beginnings of a wire skeleton for the arm slowly taking shape on the side of his torso.

My thoughts currently are to flesh this out with epoxy, and build a beefier foundation for the arm, before finishing the other layer with green stuff skin. Am I barking up the right tree?


Additionally, when is a good point to do 'semi-surface' details, such as musculature, veins and biomechanics like plugs and cables?

Cheers very much for looking!!!

I am by no means a sculpting expert, but the times its gone best for me is by taking it in layers as you are suggesting. I dont think you need to use epoxy for the core, unless you are just wanting to use cheaper bulk for the middle bits. An arm probably doesnt need much bulking though, and if you are also wanting to use GS as the outer layers you might just be better off using GS all the way through from the armature.

Do you have colour shapers to work the GS with? If not then I can highly recommend them.

colour shapers are a good shout! I can indeed, but had never thought of them much. Thanks very much for the suggestion!

The epoxy core thing is more a cost/convenience thing. It's cheap and reliable out here, whereas GW stuff takes at least a week to arrive, and is kind of expensive. I'm saving my GS for when I need it for detailing, because it's just that bit more malleable, but dries slower.

I wouldn't buy your green stuff from GW. Japan has a big local modelling scene. There must be a local equivalent. Alternatively you can surely get kneadite from ebay for much more cheaply and faster delivery than from GW

FLinty is right. You can generally find a tube of kneadadite/green stuff on ebay for cheap.
As to sculpting, I do a lot but am no expert. I also recommend layers of greenstuff. I have pictures of work in progress I'll try to post of arms. You really do have to work it up.
For what its worth here is my basic armature with a first shaping layer (legs but whatever)



Here is another showing when I jumpeds to the detail layer:






I have another set of work in progress pictures on this page (and many more sculpts there)

https://edwardmystcreations.weebly.com/imperial-guard-sisters-of-steel.html

I'd use a mix of greenstuff and milliput for the final layer.