Pie clown

[moonmin82]

This WIP thread will document my first sculpt created for casting. I've been recommended a caster not too far away and as this is something I've wanted to do for a while I'm gonna just go for it. I'm continuing with my current theme of clowns and going with the consensus: the legendary custard pie.

Here are my other clown WIPs (with some relevant sketches):

http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/showthread.php?48745-Evil-Clown
http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/showthread.php?49085-Sad-Clown

...and some very quick concept sketches:

Progress so far:

The arms will be sculpted and cast seperately. I may have two right arms variants: one with a clenched fist and the other a can of squirty cream. The left hand will be holding a custard pie.

As this will be my first cast figure any ongoing advice regarding potential pitfalls etc would be very much appreciated!

 

[moonmin82]

Useful (The tie option gives me more options than collar or bow tie at least!):

Just plain sinister:

 

[Stewsayer]

Hi moonmin.

Great start so far mate. I'll be interested to see how you go about the separate arms. I have a piece in the works that I need to do the right hand and weapon of separately. so seeing someone else approach the separable parts will be helpful to me.

As far as sculpting for casting goes, have you spoken to te casting company at all yet? It might be worth chatting with their rep. and showing the wip figure to them even in the early stages. They more than anybody else will be able to pick up any problems in the sculpt that will impact the casting process.

 

[moonmin82]

I have indeed been in touch with the caster. Good advice though - it sounds a good idea to show him my WIPs as I go

 

[moonmin82]

Had a little sculpting time last night. The face is currently at a very crude stage but should be looking better today. If it doesn't suit I'll just have to chop it off!

 

[moonmin82]

If it doesn't suit I'll just have to chop it off!

Famous last words! On the day I said that, this happened:

 

[Paandrik]

Welcome to the club!

Can't be a miniature hobbyist without a scar to prove it... still glue it and get back to work (works wonders) LIKE A BOSS!

 

[moonmin82]

"So Moonmin82, what would be a typical day for you?"

"I sculpt, cut my finger off then die. Like a boss!"

 

[QuietiManes]

Did it go through your finger or did you just decide to even things up and get the top side afterwards (on purpose)?

 

[moonmin82]

Did it go through your finger or did you just decide to even things up and get the top side afterwards (on purpose)?

The car door almost went right through! The inside was cut all the way down to the subcutaneous fat (hence all the strips as it was squeezing its way out!). The top side wasn't too bad in comparison, but was still split right open! I do love my symmetry but this time fate did the work for me, lol ;-)

 

[moonmin82]

This update would have been from Tuesday the 3rd but life got in the way...

Nothing major, a little work on the trousers and face. The head will be like an oversized carnival mask. To emphasise the point there will probably be a zip or lace-up at the back of the mask. When finished the head will be oval, a little like this, haha:

 

[moonmin82]

Last night I sculpted the upper torso and bobbles:

...and tonight I widened his waistband and padded out the mask a little:

 

[moonmin82]

Arms now ready for action:

 

[moonmin82]

Started work on the right arm:

I'll need to rework the hand with another layer once cured. The head will become bigger - for now I'm just bulking it out with left over blobs of putty.

 

[sagh]

Very nice!
And what about the hair?
In the initial concept sketches, you have 3, maybe 4 options for the hair...
have you decided what you are going to do?

note: I'm not really a fan of clowns... never been... but yours are great... a very nice collection!

 

[moonmin82]

Very nice!
And what about the hair?
In the initial concept sketches, you have 3, maybe 4 options for the hair...
have you decided what you are going to do?

note: I'm not really a fan of clowns... never been... but yours are great... a very nice collection!

Thanks! Glad you like it.

I'll have to see about the hair. Once his arms are more or less done I can shape his head and neaten up the facial details before starting work on any hair. I say 'head' although it will be an oversized rubber mask. I'll add some minor details to try and accentuate this - the style of the hair may be one such detail!

I can also say at this point that when the moulds are made for this guy he will be cast as a single piece.

 

[moonmin82]

A little more progress...

...which of the two photos do you all find the clearest?

 

[QuietiManes]

That face is coming along nicely there, I can finally see the direction you're going in.

I think the photo on the left shows way more detail even though the light is a way harsher. Have you thought about getting a light tent?

 

[moonmin82]

I'd certainly consider something such as a light tent. I'd even make my own white paper lined box but I'm really struggling for work space / storage space atm (currently living with potential inlaws...). Currently I take photos against a white paper background with both flash and a lamp. The right hand picture is without flash. Ideally I'd like another lamp and a paper lined box.

 

[moonmin82]

Not much progress over yesterdays work but what the heck:

Again, two pictures (for now) for clarity.

I also spent some time today creating a press mould which I'll use to create a 'Mad Clown Miniatures' slottabase tag. Sadly, I forgot to take photos! That can (and will...) wait til tomorrow. Hopefully the end product will look alright.

In other news, I have linked my 'Mad Clown Miniatures' miniatures banner to my Facebook page, so click away!