Metal Armitures for sculpting

[Aliengod3]

Ok here is my dilemma. When I make an armiture and try to apply the first sausages onto the metak to start the bulking process, I have a hard time trying to get the putty to wrap around the armiture without losing its grip (and stretching) on the metal. Can anyone explain to me how to properly apply the first strips of putty to an armiture the proper way? Thanks so much!

 

[freakinacage]

what putty are you using. i bulk mine out with greenstuff and it stick just fine. make sure you let it cure before adding more

 

[Aliengod3]

I tried Fimo a couple times and it was difficult getting it to stick. I tried milliput and it was a little easier but was a little brittle. I have also used GS and my problem with it is that when I wrap it around the metal it is hard to get it evenly around the armiture.

I hope this makes sense. It is hard to write out what my problem is.

 

[green stuff]

*) Fimo : wrap tin foil around your armature before applying that putty;
*) Milliput : dosing the amount of water is essential;
*) GS : as Tim said layers are the solution.

 

[Jakob Nielsen]

A good advice for getting the putty to stick is to file the metal wire with a hobby file. It makes the wire a little rough proving a good surface for the GS to bond to.

The trick also works well for pinning btw. Just rough\'n up the wire and the glue bonds a lot better.

 

[uberdark]

Add more yellow to your greenstuff mix.

at least thats what i do. hope it helps.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Aliengod3
Ok here is my dilemma. When I make an armiture and try to apply the first sausages onto the metak to start the bulking process, I have a hard time trying to get the putty to wrap around the armiture without losing its grip (and stretching) on the metal.

First off you could roughen the surface of the wire, I think this is particularly important if you\'re using something very shiny like chrome-plated paperclips.

Another method I use (in addition usually, not instead of) is to dot superglue over the surface, dip or sprinkle the armature with baking soda. The soda instantly sets the glue and produces a rough surface which putty adheres to very well.

Even with these methods I think it\'s still a good idea to build up in at least two layers of GS or MagicSculp since the fresh stuff sticks so well to the hardened counterpart. Obviously this is different for something like Fimo but I don\'t use that so can\'t really help.

Originally posted by Aliengod3
I have also used GS and my problem with it is that when I wrap it around the metal it is hard to get it evenly around the armiture.

That\'s very common, not to worry. If you look at a lot of pro/semi-pro sculptors their first layer of putty might not be that neat!

It\'s just a solid base for the later putty to adhere to so it doesn\'t need to be perfect (although if you can get it even that is better, but no need to be too anal about it being flawlessly even). I think you should also find that with practice you\'ll find it easier and easier to get that first layer even simply due to experience.

Einion

 

[freakinacage]

i learned a great trick for fimo sculpting from a pro here (although i forgot his name!! he did stuff for urban mammoth i think) put a thin layer of greenstuff on first and while it\'s still \'wet\' add the fimo over the top. the gs will adhere the fimo to the armature. as mentioned, roughing up the armature and adding more yellow will help.

 

[moonmin82]

just be sure the surface isnt too greasy either - or too wet for that matter! otherwise the greenstuff wont stick

 

[Aliengod3]

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. I do not think I will ever have any problems with putty application again :bouncy: