|
|
Post by ImmortalKings on Oct 23, 2003 17:42:56 GMT -5
Hey guys/girls just thought I'd start a thread for all of us to leave some tips for others to try out.
I read that PsychoJOhnny had baked his figure while using sculpey. Well here's a little secret I have only shared with a handful of people.
Don't put the figure in the oven, you don't even have to bake the sculpey.
Once you have your shape cut out mold it onto the figure and (here's the BIG secret) harden it using a common household hair dryer! Just don't burn your hands. It's actually faster than the oven. About 5-6 minutes depending on thickness and you're all done and ready to paint. DO NOT PUT SCULPEY IN THE FREEZER!! The hair dryer is good to make things malable as well, so if you want to bend or shape something heat it up, shape it and hold it in front of a fan or the A/C vent. (if you can reach)
Always use Acrylic paint.
If you mess up it will wash off with some scrubbing.
I applied this technique on my Gil-Galad shield.
Rather than try and paint all of the little nooks and crannies I just painted the whole thing blue and let it sit for about 2 weeks, then I took some hot soapy water and the coarse side of the dish sponge and POOF I have all the areas covered except the raised portions! Came out quite nice.
Always shape your sculpey on wax paper, so it's easier to get up without messing up the work you just did.
I prefer to use an X-acto knife kit to cut with.
That's all for now!
Chao....
IK
|
|
|
|
Post by Jimli on Oct 24, 2003 0:41:27 GMT -5
I always bake the sculpy on my figures in the oven. It works fine so long as you don't over cook them.
I'd use the hairdryer but since I cut off all my hair a couple years back, I don't have one any more. And my wife would kill me if I tried to use hers!
|
|
|
|
Post by IronCow on Oct 24, 2003 6:49:09 GMT -5
Well, for what it's worth, I used to use Sculpy when I first stated out, but after melting a figure or two.... Actually, the stuff I use now is called Kneadatite. It's a 2-part epoxy compound that not only air-dries, but it's more durable than Super Sculpy once it cures. It's a little tricky to get the hang of at first, but I'm totally sold on it. If you're interested, you can check it out here: www.polymerics.comGreat stuff, definately! Matt aka Iron-Cow www.ironcowprod.com |
|
|
|
Post by IronCow on Oct 24, 2003 6:51:10 GMT -5
I posted this in another part of the Lair, but I'll stick it here as well, just in case. If any of you are interested in hand-painting fabric patterns on figures (plaids, pinstripes, etc), there's an article I wrote on how to do it. I was very intimidated by the thought at first, but once I actually tried it, I was surprised how fun (and painless) it really was. Hope this helps! www.coolcollecting.com/customs/articles/artcl012.htmlMatt aka Iron-Cow |
|
|
|
Post by Red Dragon on Oct 24, 2003 18:29:01 GMT -5
Great Tips Guys! I'm going to make this thread a sticky so it always stays at the top of the board, this way we can all add tips and hopefully someone will learn something!
|
|
|
|
Post by ImmortalKings on Oct 24, 2003 18:48:02 GMT -5
Too late! I already did that. ;D ;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Red Dragon on Oct 24, 2003 18:49:35 GMT -5
LOL....looks like someones taking the initiative!
|
|
|
|
Post by ImmortalKings on Oct 24, 2003 18:59:28 GMT -5
Here's a few more of the things I do when customizing my LOTR figures. I use a wallpaper wheel to even out the sculpey on the wax paper. Anything that rolls will do I guess. For those of us who don't have the steadiest hands in the world, I use a toothpick to paint eyebrows, mustaches and small areas that I'd otherwise mess up. I also use a hot glue gun when I need to apply something, cuz it dries faster and I can always re-heat it and fix it if I need to. Plus it's clear and can be trimmed. No white mess or unfixable mistakes. It's also a good tool cuz you can drop some hot glue on your girlfriend and watch her squirm, if you're into that sort of thing that is.   ;D That's all from the house of IK for now. PEACE!!!! |
|
|
|
Post by IronCow on Oct 24, 2003 19:02:37 GMT -5
Hey guys, if you have a moment, check out my FAQ section. It's got LOTS of helpful hints on materials and such along with links as to where to buy the stuff. Of course, it's also got some totally non-related information in it as well, so you might be subjected to why I chose the name "Iron-Cow" and such, but for the most part it's got a lot of customizing suggestions. Hope this helps! Matt aka Iron-Cow www.ironcowprod.com/plastic/faq.html |
|
|
|
Post by Red Dragon on Oct 24, 2003 21:20:54 GMT -5
Heres an easy little tip for ya....If you ever want to give a figure articulated wrists or just change hands all together.....Cut off the hand and find yourself a paper clip....straighten it out and grab a lighter....heat up the end of the paper clip and insert it into the arm as deep as you wish....cut the paper clip, leaving yourself enought to attach the arm....heat up the other end and attach the Hand!
Its pretty simple, but it works great!
|
|
|
|
Post by ImmortalKings on Oct 24, 2003 22:20:20 GMT -5
Good idea. I usually just pop the pins out or the ball joints, but if I break them I'll try that. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Jimli on Oct 24, 2003 23:50:53 GMT -5
The most important tip I could give would be, buy a dremel! The customizers best friend!  |
|
|
|
Post by los5o7 on Nov 17, 2003 13:09:10 GMT -5
goooood stuff!!!!
I especially liked the dripping hot glue on the gf and watching them squirm.. lol... if you're into that sort of thing that is.. hehe..
can you get kneadite anywhere else other than the web?
|
|
|
|
Post by PsychoJOhnny on Nov 17, 2003 19:03:52 GMT -5
A question about sculpey. Can you bake the sculpey in the oven for 5 minutes, take the figure out, and putting it in the oven again for another 5 miutes 'till it's cured ? I want to do this mainly because I want the figure to cool off, I don't want to melt another figure   . ;D JOhnny ;D |
|
|
|
Post by los5o7 on Nov 18, 2003 13:55:13 GMT -5
melting..... BAAAAAAAAAD!!!! |
|
;D
. ;D