Building figures from scratch

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9 February 2011 at 21:27 #6700
Who Boot
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@whoboot
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9 February 2011 at 21:27 #29818
Who Boot
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@whoboot
There are a wealth of figures available in some scales, you’ll know which ones are the most popular, those ones to do with the military like 1/72, 1/48 and 1/35. When it comes to other scales there are fewer choices, I had a job getting hold of any 1/144 scale figures recently. When I did, they weren’t sailors but with a little bit of sculpturing I turned them to look like sailors. It wasn’t hard. Has anybody else by the way ever ordered items from the German company called Preiser and had to wait an unresonable amount of time before their order arrived? I ordered mine through Gaugemaster in Sussex in August last year, and despite several enquires and protestations later they still haven’t arrived. I enquired with another dealer but he was out of stock as well. Apparently if you order something from a Preiser dealer and that item is out of stock goodness knows how long you will have to wait. I wanted the 1/144 scale NATO flight and ground crew.

Moving on to scratch building larger scale figures for my scratch built model boats, the choice can be pretty scarce. However, scarcity of commercial figures has turned me to want to build my own figures and I enjoy making them. I have so far used a mix of polystyrene, clay, plaster and wood to make figures in scales of about 1/15 to 1/10. I have found some useful references on how to make figures from scratch in MB, but have found scant else either on the Web or in books. I would be interested in works that tell me how to use wire as an armature, that makes figures sturdy and helps covering materials to adhere to it. Perhaps an armature made of wire could be covered in a plaster soaked cloth carefully wrapped around to model the human figure. In this way I could model any figure I choose in any pose. Does anybody know of any books or items on the web about this, or who themselves might be willing to share their ideas about scratch built figures using a wire armature?
9 March 2011 at 10:32 #30038
Richy
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@richy
Hi Who Boot,

I have done a quick look on the net, and think that this site might be helpful:- http://www.satyrsculptingstudio.com/pages/sculpting-article.htm It contains a 22 page booklet in pdf format “The Beginners Guide to Sculpting Miniature Figures from Scratch” could this be the kind of thing you are looking for.

Regards

Richy

Edited By Richy on 09/03/2011 10:34:21
10 March 2011 at 12:00 #30045
Armando Loni
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@armandoloni78860
There are lots of videos on Youtube on how to do this sort of thing using Sculpy, Fimo thermo-settings clays, etc. Why not post some photos of your figures? I’d be interested in seeing the 1/144 scale ones you modified. Were these Preiser?

A.
10 March 2011 at 12:05 #30046
Armando Loni
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@armandoloni78860
Just found your larger-scale figures! I modified some HO/OO scale Preiser figures for my Clyde Puffer (can be seen in my photos) – very thin mouldings. I’d like to attempt some 1/24 US Navy figures from the Vietnam era, for my PBR, as the ones available from Deans Marine aren’t up to much.

A.
15 March 2011 at 07:43 #30086
Dave_P
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@dave_p
Have you tried N gauge railway figures they are very close to 1/144?

The scale is 1/148.
17 March 2011 at 08:41 #30100
Who Boot
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@whoboot
Hello and thank you to everybody who’s gone into the bother of reading my post and replying – you are much appreciated. When I have the time I will study and follow up your advice and suggestions. The references you have given look very good and i look forward to studying them. I think they are just what I’m looking for.
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