Chris G - One more time

[daGoz]

So here we go. My thought was a biker type dude tossing a molotov, done in the scale/style of GW 40k. I am trying for a game piece and think I would be better off going robust instead of true scale.

Don't be mislead by the clean desk top, its only that way because it is new. Yes my name is Chris and I am a Tooloholic (or just a tool if you ask my wife).

I formed my armature with a loop with a twist for the torso and then fed the arm wire through the loop at the top and gave it a squeeze. Since I lack artistic talent I figured I may be doing the head seperate so I can pick the best of many attempts to use.
I then proceded to mix too much of my white marine putty (I figured I would use cheap stuff to make the bulk up with) so carried on to the thighs and upper arms.
I will likely need to tweek the postitioning of the arms once this putty is cured because it is fairly hard to be your own model.
Now I wait to see if this is good or if teacher tells me to do it over.
Chris

 

[cybersquig]

Awesome! how many tools do you have?! it's looking really great so far dude. Is the cheap putty quite rough and grainy in texture? how easily does it smooth? THe reason I ask is that there seems to be quite a rough finish to the putty right now. I can't spot any soft tools in your arsenal there - am I missing them? If it's not the putty, but the fact that your metal tools don't smooth the putty as well, it may be worth investing. However, the pose looks like it could work, the proportions look good, and it's almost all spot on. My one comment with the limbs would be the upper arm - bones can only go straight, so straightening up that now might help in the long run, unless you counter it at the bulking out stage.

Looking good so far, wish my desk was that tidy!

James

 

[daGoz]

Well, as a toolaholic I can tell you that there are over 2 dozen of the dental type sculpting tools on display. My origional trade is Instrument Mechanic which, back when I got into it, meant actually fixing little doodads and gizmos, like gauges and clockworks, so there are more that were used to seat springs, prawls and the like. I have tools for working on just about everything from bulldozers to watches, but things are biased more to the teeny end (I just don't have much need to put tracks back on a D7 anymore). There is even a jewlers lathe somewhere about.
There is one of my colour shapers right next to the blue handled pliers. I have 3 of them but they are all the grey (medium) type as I have not discovered anyplace stocking the black ones yet. The cheap putty is quite grainy, but I was able to get it pretty smooth, and then went and put finger prints and such back on it, because I figured (?) that the better putty would stick to a rough surface better. The upper arm is pretty crooked looking. I could straighten it out (and may, depending on how tough lesson two is), but I was just trying to cover the bare wire with this putty since I had mixed too much up and am too cheap to toss it when the armature needed covering anyway. And I lazily left some extra on the ends of the arms where the hands would go (I am hoping that will help me with proportions) so it kinda looks 'creepy'.
And the desk is only a couple of days old so it will get 'less tidy' fairly quickly, don't worry.
Chris

 

[Onemonk]

I was just going to ask you how you keep your desk so organized. I'd have destroyed it in 15 minutes :tongue:

Anyway, I thought the same about the putty adhering to a rough surface better. That's why I left my bulk up fairly rough.

I like the split holder tool, those are quite handy.
JIM

 

[cybersquig]

Yeah, you're right the putty will sstick better to a rough surface - I'm keen that you can get that smooth finish though, and you clearly can, so thats good. Sorry, I missed the shapers in the pic! desk messy yet? btw, you job sounds awesome!

 

[daGoz]

I stopped by Princess Auto last Saturday, I am so weak! I bought even more dental tools. They were on sale and I managed to buy ONLY 10. Sad really...

So here is a story: I am in a meeting discusing ways to solve a problem, blah blah etc. So we get to the end of the meeting and someone says "We need someone to champion this project." Talk about deafening silence, so what does the rocket scientist say? "Looks like I'll dig out my cape." Duh, like I wasn't busy enough already. HOWEVER the silver lining is a far better idea for a sculpt. Project Champion, he is dressed in coveralls, work boots and a hard hat etc. Posed in a reagle manner with hands on hips, chin held high cape blowing in the breeze, he champions projects with ease. Maybe even get it cast so I can hand them out as desk decorations, who knows?
My first try was fairly sad anyway, so I figure I am not loosing much by setting it aside and whiping up a new one and catching it up to current assignment progress. And since I am changing projects like a school girl changes cloths, I decided to try out some Super Sculpy, since I have a good quarter key of that and not much (good) Epoxy Putty.
I baked the initial wire covering layer to give the skelly a bit more body. It was pretty flexable, especially the arms. Now that the basic core has been baked it is much more workable.
What is pictured here is the second layer over the base core. I am starting to fill out the legs, torso and arms as if there are coveralls hanging on his frame.
Hopefully this is viewed as an improvement over #1.
Chris

 

[mickc22]

That's looking pretty good so far Chris

I think I have some tool envy now tho :laugh:




Mick

 

[cybersquig]

yeah dude, he is looking great so far. I think you are quite right to start again, not because your previous efforts were bad or anything like that, but simply because you learn so much more the second time you do something like this, and I think that's pretty apparent here. You have good proportions, and the pose certainly works, as does the concept. Love it! Grab yourself some sandpaper (I'm sure you have some already, but if you don't then maybe this is a good opportunity to go out and buy some, I know you're itching for more tools) and sand down any rough patches, to give yourself a good base to work from later. Your limbs are rather sick at the minutes, and as you say this is because they get that going to be wearing overalls. However, you still want to give yourself freedom to add another thin layer of clothing without it precluding work on the creases in the outfit.

He is looking good, roll on the next instalment and the next step!

 

[daGoz]

Your limbs are rather sick at the minutes

Sorry I only understand Canadian :talktohand:, and bad Canadian at that.
So I apparently forgot to post my previous pics before I went down with sinus problems, and until today even sitting up really sucked. These are where he is at now.
Since only the core is baked, I can still put creases and folds right down to the bones on the legs and arms. I can also remove the cape.
My issue seems to be similar to scale creep. I spent a long time measuring a guardsman to get my skelly just right, but it seems I screwed up some how since he is quite a bit taller than the dude I measured. I had the shoulders come out in the middle of where his arms should be and the same for the hips.
Individually every thing seems bang on, but when taken as a single entity it seems too big.

 

[cybersquig]

sorry! I've been trialing Dragon Naturally Speaking in an effort to reclaim some of the hobby time that this project is taking - apparently with sporadic success - that should have read that the limbs are a little thick at the minute. Sorry for the confusion!

What you describe doesn't sound something like scale creep, I think it sounds exactly like scale creep! Oh dear! Never mind, for what you're sculpting, if it's not quite 28mm it doesnt matter does it? It comes down to a half mm here and there on each component, all of a sudden it is totally off. Having said that, your sculpt is looking great! You're the most ahead as well, I've only just done the lab coat on mine yesterday! The overall shape of the cloak is great, showing his bum well an all. Try not to add too many smaller creases, it only needs to be here and there to illustrate the fact that it is cloth rather than being a faithful representation How did you get the cloak to stay? with sculpey I have to use foil to reinforce it. How didyou do it?

Great work dude, looking great!

James