Feathers

[Spiritbw]

Hi guys, haven\'t really posted but have been lurking for a while. Usually I can find what I\'m looking for without starting a new post but this one has me a bit stumped. I\'m trying to do a aztec theme for one of my armies. Most of it goes pretty well in the research dept but in gathering supplies and bitz I have found one thing lacking, feathers.

Not to say there aren\'t alot of feathers out there but most I find are more plume like than what I am wanting. I\'m trying to find some tips on sculpting them but there seems to be very little out there on doing such things. Does anyone have any links for tutorials that might help or even tips on how to do feathers really well?

Any and all help would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Baz]

I find that the surface detail on feathers is way too fine to bother representing on a model. I would just use fine plasticard with a bit of wire for the spine and then paint on the detail.

 

[Einion]

If you want to sculpt them it just takes a fine tool (needles are good) a steady hand, patience and dedication. Practice off the model, shouldn\'t take more than a handful of attempts to get a feel for how it works.

I prefer to \'build\' feathers as much as possible, I use metal foil as they can be almost scale thickness. I\'ve collected foils from various food containers - jar seals, flavour packets from noodles etc. etc. so I have a wide range of gauges and materials; most are aluminium or alloys based on it, some have a plastic membrane on one side which you might want to remove (if you can!) I cut them to shape carefully with a knife, steel straightedge and scissors and then score in the texture of the vanes with the back of a #11 blade tip and/or with needle points. Then if you want you can add a shaft by glueing on a thin plastic rod or something similar, this works best if you can only see one side of the feather; if you need to see both sides then I\'d add it from putty in two steps letting the first step harden before adding the second.

Einion

 

[Mick]

HI there heres a good start:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1listSculpting/

lots of great sculptors on there..ask Sandra Garrity she does the best around.
Mick

 

[Ebonbuddha]

Thanks.My problem was trying to sculpt rope. Feathers eem a little easier.