Sculpting a 1/32 Figure in Polymer Clay from Scratch

[The Smythe Meister]

Neil,
I`ve had a right old catch up on this,and it`s blowing me away mate!!...... Superb work,and a top,top commentary along the way,
Thanks for making the time and effort with this SBS..... it is an invaluable guide for the likes of me,who want to give it a try in the not too distant future :thumb2:,
Cheers,
Andy

[Neil Merryweather]

Neil,
I`ve had a right old catch up on this,and it`s blowing me away mate!!...... Superb work,and a top,top commentary along the way,
Thanks for making the time and effort with this SBS..... it is an invaluable guide for the likes of me,who want to give it a try in the not too distant future :thumb2:,
Cheers,
Andy

Thanks very much, Andy. I'd be dead chuffed to think somebody actually made a figure as a result of it!

[GerryW]

The boot laces should be fairly simple (for you!) as they shouldn't be crossed, but straight across

[Neil Merryweather]

For the laces I used 0.2mm solder.
It's only recently arrived which is why I hadn't done them, but it now occurs to me it would probably disappear in the oven, so it's an ill wind...
I had made holes in the sculpt with a needle but I need to be sure the solder will fit happily so I drilled 0.3mm holes in the boots and stuck short lengths of solder in one side with CA


then I bent the laces across the boot and trimmed them slightly beyond the holes. I flattened them as best I could and then with my best tweezers I bent the ends over and poked them into the lace holes.
GOD it was fiddly!
I ran some CA in and it was 'Job Done'!

I might try modelling them with clay next time.

Here is the new hand compared with the old, out of interest


and here he is finished(almost)

All he needs now is a new tin hat with a straight brim from brother Dave, so he no longer looks like Bill & Ben the Flowerpot Men.
Thanks everyone for looking
Neil

[JR]

Mind blowing Neil, your love of cloth really shows with the folds. His poor arm its been attacked that many times I'm surprised the armature wire hasn't fractured. Interested in the use of Vaseline with the mix. Then into the oven, or have I got that wrong?

[GerryW]

Incredible work! Perhaps one day I may attempt a figure - though hate to think what it will look like!

[Neil Merryweather]

Mind blowing Neil, your love of cloth really shows with the folds. His poor arm its been attacked that many times I'm surprised the armature wire hasn't fractured. Interested in the use of Vaseline with the mix. Then into the oven, or have I got that wrong?

Thanks John
Vaseline is just what I use as a release agent on the solid part so that the new part doesn't stick to it. The second arm was a fresh one altogether, armature and everything.

[Neil Merryweather]

Incredible work! Perhaps one day I may attempt a figure - though hate to think what it will look like!

Go for it Gerry. Nobody needs to see it if you're not happy with it. You might surprise yourself:thinking:

[GerryW]

Go for it Gerry. Nobody needs to see it if you're not happy with it. You might surprise yourself:thinking:

I'd have to look at it - and it'd probably give me nightmares! :tears-of-joy: :tears-of-joy:

[Neil Merryweather]

Well he’s finally finished, and the observant will note that I have re-done the jerkin buttons. They are supposed to be large but they were just too big and cartoon-like.



This meant putting the boots with their 0.2mm solder laces in the oven, which I didn’t think of until it was too late…


I am happy to report that 0.2mm solder WILL survive temperatures up to 120 degrees C for 30 minutes!

As I said at the outset, this was a learning experience for me as well, so what have I learned about sculpting in polymer clay?

• For me the big fear of using Polymer Clay was modelling to a finish rather than being able to sand and carve and file, which is how I work with Milliput. I clearly have a way to go compared with some of the masters I see on other forums, but I feel I have made a reasonable fist of it. I found that I used the silicon clay-shapers almost exclusively- much more than I do with Milliput. In fact I only used 4 or 5 tools for the whole job
• 
  
• The syringe needles are what I used as cookie-cutters for the buttons, with a piece of wire to push the putty out if it gets stuck
• I do like the fact that the clay doesn’t cure until you want it to means you can leave the work at any stage- for days if necessary-and pick up where you left off, so the clock is not ticking like it is with epoxy clay.
• You can cook the same piece many times without adverse effect, especially if you lower the recommended temperature. The boots must have been in the oven at least 9 times, and the legs only one time less.
• I’m not wild about the glossy finish, but I suppose it doesn’t matter much.
• As a finished surface for painting on I can’t comment yet, although I should point out that it is more flexible than Milliput and MUCH softer, as I found out when I broke his leg with too much rough handling. But it does glue with CA….

Thanks for all the interest, I hope you have found it helpful .
I‘ll put up a completed thread with some more views

Thanks for watching

Neil

[JR]

Neil a great SBS, with artistic sculpting skills .
Definitely a winner of the dogs award.

Congratulations from the Committee here at Race Towers.

[GerryW]

This was a superb step by step, it might even encourage me to try something different! :thumb2:

[Jack L]

A fantastic follow Neil, you have made it look far too easy and achievable. I think I would be overjoyed if I achieve a version of 'Morph' after a week trying to get anything similar. I will have a go though!

[Mark1]

A great read and a great end result.

[wotan]

Excellent job Neil. I have never used Bees putty but I have worked with Sculpey and Fimo both of which seem to be similar. Good luck with the future casting.

John