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Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







I know it could be done. But The Hut is done, it is on the shelf and it's time to do new things...

On that note, I have completed the tutorial for said Hut. I noticed it got onto the front page, so thank you all for liking it and thanks for the help, ideas and kind words throughout the build.

Stick around and I'll continue to build more things with minute attention to detail.

Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in us
Battleship Captain






 Dr H wrote:
I know it could be done. But The Hut is done, it is on the shelf and it's time to do new things...

On that note, I have completed the tutorial for said Hut. I noticed it got onto the front page, so thank you all for liking it and thanks for the help, ideas and kind words throughout the build.

Stick around and I'll continue to build more things with minute attention to detail.


Yes!
   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







Thanks Comrade.

and on that note, where was I before I got distracted by this hut thing...?

...Ah yes, Hands.

Tricky little putty hands...

However, after the success of the wood and bottles and plants and flowers... I had a thought ...

What's easy to work with?
Fairly forgiving?
Easily repaired?
and compatible with the Sprue Swords?

Why, Sprue of course...

and considering my new title (I never asked, do I get designatory letters with that title? It would be nice to add to my collection) of Spruemeister General...

SPRUE HANDS!


Still a wip at the mo, and requires some cleaning up and sharpening some features (like the tips of the fingers) but not bad for 15 minutes...
What do we think? Am I on to a winner?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/08/14 15:06:11


Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in us
Is 'Eavy Metal Calling?





Affton, MO. USA

(Mad) scientist (spruemeister) using raw materials at hand to emulate foreign technology in order to take over the world (Internet).....seen this somewhere.....can't seem to put a sprue finger on it......

Well yes, I think you are on to a WINNER

Here I thought the spruecrons were awesome.

I'll give you an hour each and see what you come up with .

LOL, Theo your mind is an amazing place, never change.-camkierhi 9/19/13
I cant believe theo is right.. damn. -comradepanda 9/26/13
None of the strange ideas we had about you involved your sexual orientation..........-Monkeytroll 12/10/13

I'd put you on ignore for that comment, if I could...Alpharius 2/11/14 
   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







Thanks Theo.

When the day comes, and I have some Necrons to look closely at, I will knock out a spruecron to rule all spruecrons...and in the darkness...bind...them...?!

Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in us
Is 'Eavy Metal Calling?





Affton, MO. USA

I suggest that you do a self sculpture of sprue. One where you have ourself made of sprue hunched over a desk of sprue cutting a sculpture of yourself carving sprue. Of course you'll need. Sprue knife, and sprue doctors with a sprue jacket to haul you away in a Sprue van to a room of sprue padded walls, but I know your up to the task.

LOL, Theo your mind is an amazing place, never change.-camkierhi 9/19/13
I cant believe theo is right.. damn. -comradepanda 9/26/13
None of the strange ideas we had about you involved your sexual orientation..........-Monkeytroll 12/10/13

I'd put you on ignore for that comment, if I could...Alpharius 2/11/14 
   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







I'll have to work up to that in time. Not enough hours in the day and so much modelling to do...

Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in de
Shroomin Brain Boy





Berlin Germany

would you mind showing exactly what type of knife you use for that work???... my own scalpels and razor blades or carpet knifes sure never let me do this amount of detail when trying something (far far far away) along these lines...

the sprue hand is a good start... tho i actually wonder why you didn´t start with a bended sprue piece... thus you could have gotten the fingers longer and already bended to a more fitting posing?

and also... you do remember me challenging you to make a sprue horse?

   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







 Viktor von Domm wrote:
would you mind showing exactly what type of knife you use for that work???... my own scalpels and razor blades or carpet knifes sure never let me do this amount of detail when trying something (far far far away) along these lines...

No prob's

These are what I use for all my sharp sharp-implement needs (as opposed to my not-so-sharp sharp implement that I used for putty work).
The upper one says "Swann-Morton" and the lower one says "Dahle" (I assume that's the company name, says nothing else).
They are both number "3" handles and I use number "10" blades. I prefer curved blades for all my modelling.

The top scalpel has a slightly stronger blade than the other one, but I have a box of (what's left of) 100 of the thinner/weaker blades, so I use the top scalpel for heavy duty cutting (like removing things from sprue or cutting sprue to length) and the lower scalpel for all the carving and scraping.

the sprue hand is a good start... tho i actually wonder why you didn´t start with a bended sprue piece... thus you could have gotten the fingers longer and already bended to a more fitting posing?

It's a good point, although I've had an idea about the hand sculpting that should solve most problems. That is to sculpt fists... because an open hand I'd only have to try and bend around a handle so why not sculpt a closed hand and glue the sword to the hand. Although the axes will require an open hand.

This is only a practice fist, so doesn't look too good at the mo.

and also... you do remember me challenging you to make a sprue horse?

I do. Have you had an idea?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/08/14 21:10:09


Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in de
Shroomin Brain Boy





Berlin Germany

no, currently no idea...but seeing you do all those wonders with sprue... i thought this might be the man to charge for that mission

and well... do you use a magnifying glass at all? i think this might help you get the sinews of the outer hand more in line... but the current work is almost perfect anyway...also... as you have worked by the DE hand... you could have gotten a more easy start by using SM hands... i bet these are more easier... but no sir... you had to go the full mile ... and it keeps getting better...

curved blades... i had the slight suspicion already that you don´t use straight blades... somehow i can´t imagine this would work that well with a straight blade... tho i´d be damned to put my finger on the why...

and starting woith clenched fists... there is a nice idea...

   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







 Viktor von Domm wrote:
no, currently no idea...but seeing you do all those wonders with sprue... i thought this might be the man to charge for that mission

I have made sure that it is on my (ever growing) list of things to do, so one day, when the right inspiration hits and the time is right, it may become a thing.
I would also like to see your take on a robo-horse as well. I know you have a nice starting piece too.

and well... do you use a magnifying glass at all? i think this might help you get the sinews of the outer hand more in line... but the current work is almost perfect anyway...also... as you have worked by the DE hand... you could have gotten a more easy start by using SM hands... i bet these are more easier... but no sir... you had to go the full mile ... and it keeps getting better...

curved blades... i had the slight suspicion already that you don´t use straight blades... somehow i can´t imagine this would work that well with a straight blade... tho i´d be damned to put my finger on the why...

and starting woith clenched fists... there is a nice idea...

I do have a magnifying glass yes, but it requires a hand to hold it so I only use it to check what I've done and not what I'm doing.
I have to use Dave Lister's special human "zoom mode" and move my head closer to the object...

Yeah, I was saying earlier that it would have been so much easier to do SM hands. But if I was doing a SM, I'm pretty sure I still have plenty of hands spare (although not left hands I don't think, they're all open "cradling the gun" hands).

I think the point of a straight blade would be too pointy and so the "scraping with the tip sideways" (which is how I did the wood and the grooves on the hands) probably doesn't work so well.

Edit: the main way I use the scalpel for carving is like a chisel and slowly taking away small slivers and adding notches.

and I've done another, better, fist.

I even remembered to leave a piece in the fist for the handle (which I didn't in the previous one) and got the thumb looking right.
Needs a little more attention to the back of the hand to round off the ridges.

These are all looking shiny because I'm using brush-on poly' cement to smooth the rough edges.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2013/08/14 22:17:43


Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in gb
The Hammer of Witches





cornwall UK

Insane post from theophany there. Sprue taken to the next level.

Good luck with hands Dr H they are the test of the artist.

And going back a bit I should like to say that taking part in a competition has raised me to new levels of insane competitiveness. I hope.

   
Made in de
Shroomin Brain Boy





Berlin Germany

good idea to use the poly cement to smooth the edges... i have done so in the past too... it is a really good way around a problem!

i think i will soon invest in a new scalpel... these do look interesting for certain jobs i yet tried to avoid...!

the new fist is looking genius!... a very good solution to have the handle already carved !!!

by the way... do you aim for "just" the fist or the whole arm too?... in my view that would be a bit OOT as arms galore are just a chop-job away^^

   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







weetyskemian44 wrote:Insane post from theophany there. Sprue taken to the next level.

Good luck with hands Dr H they are the test of the artist.

And going back a bit I should like to say that taking part in a competition has raised me to new levels of insane competitiveness. I hope.

Thanks. So far I still think heads are more of a challenge than hands, the head I did on Venus was ok in the end and took so many attempts to get it that far (and it's not even small enough to use on a not-statue). I have a great respect for people that sculpt heads.

Your work since that competition has been really awesome so I'm looking forward to you pushing the boat out for another one.

Viktor von Domm wrote:good idea to use the poly cement to smooth the edges... i have done so in the past too... it is a really good way around a problem!

i think i will soon invest in a new scalpel... these do look interesting for certain jobs i yet tried to avoid...!

the new fist is looking genius!... a very good solution to have the handle already carved !!!

by the way... do you aim for "just" the fist or the whole arm too?... in my view that would be a bit OOT as arms galore are just a chop-job away^^

I do have a selection of different shaped blades for these scalpels but I could never get on with the straight ones, they require different hand movements to work right and I'm used to the curved ones.

Thanks. Yeah, added handle for the win.

I'm just doing the hands and I'll stick them on the arm that I have set aside for this chap.
and I can do a hand for each potential weapon quicker and easier...

Edit: and good news. Mum has just given me a clip-on-the-desk magnifier that she wasn't using so this may help future work.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/08/14 22:47:48


Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in us
[SWAP SHOP MOD]
Decrepit Dakkanaut






OH-I Wanna get out of here

This sprue work is crazy! Can't believe I haven't checked out you blog before, will give it a good once through as time permits.
   
Made in gb
The Hammer of Witches





cornwall UK

You are right of course - when it comes to this scale heads are the hard bit. I'm tempted to give my sculpt an enclosed helm to get round that!

   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







whalemusic360 wrote:This sprue work is crazy! Can't believe I haven't checked out you blog before, will give it a good once through as time permits.

Lo WM, welcome. Cool, take your time and enjoy it.

weetyskemian44 wrote:You are right of course - when it comes to this scale heads are the hard bit. I'm tempted to give my sculpt an enclosed helm to get round that!

That's not a bad idea. I did find a nice tutorial about sculpting people, including nice tips about the head, a while ago. But not had the chance to try it out since.

Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in us
Is 'Eavy Metal Calling?





Affton, MO. USA

You should try to sculpt a sprue version of the new space marine centurions. It can't come out worse than the pics we've seen. It could be part of one of the lost chapters......the "sprue hands". The emperor had run out of raw material after 18/19 primarchs so he had to use the leftover material and created this chapter. Their primarch Daned Evihto was mocked so much that he quit the crusade and became an actor.

LOL, Theo your mind is an amazing place, never change.-camkierhi 9/19/13
I cant believe theo is right.. damn. -comradepanda 9/26/13
None of the strange ideas we had about you involved your sexual orientation..........-Monkeytroll 12/10/13

I'd put you on ignore for that comment, if I could...Alpharius 2/11/14 
   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







Ha ha, where do you get your ideas from Theo?!

I did think when I saw the pictures of the Centurions that I would rather make my own and they would look different to what the official models do. Will have to wait for them to be released and see what they involve (construction and rules wise) before I can plan my own version.

In other news; I have done 4 fists now and may have rescued one of the putty hands, so I will look at attaching hands to swords tomorrow (after all I only need one to work really) and I'll need to think about the guards for the swords as well.

I have taken enough pictures for a mini hand-carving tutorial, If people are interested I can show tomorrow as well?

Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in de
Shroomin Brain Boy





Berlin Germany

Yes, most definitely!!! Sculpting is not really me, but carving I could see...

   
Made in gb
Omnious Orc Shaman





A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away...

So many fisting jokes, but I will not go down that back alley

Suffice to say, they look great and your love affair with sprue knows no bounds, interested to see what else you come up...

   
Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka







Lovely work mate. I definitely don't have the patience for carving sprue, very impressive.

   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







Viktor von Domm wrote:Yes, most definitely!!! Sculpting is not really me, but carving I could see...

K. See below.

Ruglud wrote:So many fisting jokes, but I will not go down that back alley

Suffice to say, they look great and your love affair with sprue knows no bounds, interested to see what else you come up...


Thanks Ruglud.
As they say, when God gives you lemons, make lemonade. So when GW gives you sprue, make things from sprue... It's free building material...

Casey's Law wrote:Lovely work mate. I definitely don't have the patience for carving sprue, very impressive.

Thanks Casey. Well see it as an example of what is possible. Start small and simple (like bottles) and the more complicated pieces can come later.

So by popular demand ( ) here is my quick tutorial of how to start along the path to sprue fist joy...
This is for an Eldar Guardian's left hand, that is holding something like a weapon. My point of reference was a right hand that was holding a gun so I had to reverse most of the details.

First, square off the piece of sprue. Those cut sides will become the top and bottom of the hand. So turn the piece to one side and start the fist shape by cutting one corner off (Green line) then cut only a small amount off the other corner (Blue line), just enough to "round off" that corner. Make sure to leave a short section of the original flat end of the sprue between the two cuts so you get 3 angled sections that get progressively smaller from green to blue.

Then you need to carve away at (what will become) the back of the hand. You want this to be as flat as possible. The final shape you want to achieve, when looking down at the fist should be similar to the line drawing shown (where yellow is the original, untouched sprue shape).

The next step is tricky to do and tricky to explain. I plan out the shape of the thumb with a few scratches (as indicated by the light blue lines in the inset). These scratches are to show where you start your carving down into the sprue.

The shape that is to represent the handle in the hand is carved to a rounded shape. A groove is scratched (with the side of the scalpel tip) to indicate the extent of the fingers and the thumb is carved with reference to the original model thumb. Try not to remove too much material and only slightly round the edges of the thumb just so it doesn't look square.

With that done (don't worry about it looking rough at this point), you can move onto the back of the hand. The first job is to create the raised knuckles of the Guardian's gloved hand. I create a ridge with some careful carving (the inset shows a top down view) and the individual knuckles are created at the next step.

Starting in the middle of the hand, scratch a line up to (but not over) the ridge that you just created, again using the side of the tip of your scalpel (I also switch the blade over to give an even shape to the groove). I'm actually holding the blade of my scalpel between finger and thumb for maximum control at this stage, so be careful of cutting yourself. Once that line is straight you can do two more lines at equal distances either side of the middle line. These lines should taper towards each other at the wrist end, but that's very hard to achieve.

The knuckles are then shaped by cutting little "V"s in line with the lines that you just created and then you can carry on scratching the grooves, through these "V"s and down the next section of hand.

You then need to extend these lines round the corner and all the way to the tips of the fingers.

Once you are happy with the shape of your hand then take some brush-on liquid polystyrene cement and make sure most of the glue is removed from the brush (just wipe off on the side of the bottle neck) and lightly brush over the hand in the direction of the grooves. This will dissolve the rough edges and gently round off any square sides. don't get too carried away with the glue or you will destroy your hard work.

And you're done, cut it off at the wrist and use as you see fit.


Hope that is helpful.

I'll update later once I've done something...

Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka







Dr H wrote:
Casey's Law wrote:Lovely work mate. I definitely don't have the patience for carving sprue, very impressive.
Thanks Casey. Well see it as an example of what is possible. Start small and simple (like bottles) and the more complicated pieces can come later.
I've done a few bits for my project but I'd much rather sculpt if I have the opportunity. Give me a colour shaper any day!

   
Made in gb
Screaming Shining Spear





Kent

Dr - that's insane! Loving it!


"Pit Crew! Take this box out back, throw in a rabid Honey Badger and SET IT ON FIRE!"

If I were an Eskimo, I'd build my igloo next to a supermarket on a tropical beach. 
   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







Casey: I've found that a lot of my putty sculpting ends with me doing a little dried putty carving anyway...
...That's probably why my carving skills seems to be improving quickly...

 finnan wrote:
Dr - that's insane! Loving it!

Thanks Finnan. Welcome.

Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in nz
Yellin' Yoof





NZ

I go away for a few days and you do models made entirely out of SPRUE?!?you are a true sprue mainiac.


Keep it up mate.

 
   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







Thanks da waaagh.

I'm only using sprue to fill the gaps when I don't have a model piece that I want to use... I don't have any left hands holding things, so I make my own.

Most of the rest of these Guardians will be actual model and not sprue.

Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in gb
Mastering Non-Metallic Metal







Right, so this is a test of the sword concept.
It's a little rough...
It's not quite square in some places...
and it might not work / look right when attached to an arm...

But, you don't know if you don't try.

This is what I've been aiming at throughout this whole Sprue Sword / scratch built weapon thing; a complete sword/weapon attached to a hand with a guard and pommel ready to be attached to an arm of Guardian #10.

I started with this sword as it's the simplest in it's "look". Others will get more intricate/complex looking guards etc...

Maybe I'll need to carve a hand that's holding a "thing" at an angle rather than straight like the current ones...

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions?
[Thumb - Sprue Sword with Hand 1.jpg]
Sprue sword complete with hand (final concept)


Mastodon: @DrH@dice.camp
The army- ~2295 points (built).

* -=]_,=-eague Spruemeister General. * A (sprue) Hut tutorial *
Dsteingass - Dr. H..You are a role model for Internet Morality! // inmygravenimage - Dr H is a model to us all
Theophony - Sprue for the spruemeister, plastic for his plastic throne! // Shasolenzabi - Toilets, more complex than folks take time to think about!  
   
Made in us
Is 'Eavy Metal Calling?





Affton, MO. USA

I think the bead is a little large for the hand, but otherwise it looks like an excellent midevil sword

LOL, Theo your mind is an amazing place, never change.-camkierhi 9/19/13
I cant believe theo is right.. damn. -comradepanda 9/26/13
None of the strange ideas we had about you involved your sexual orientation..........-Monkeytroll 12/10/13

I'd put you on ignore for that comment, if I could...Alpharius 2/11/14 
   
 
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