Sunday 14 April 2019

" ALL ABOUT THE TOOLS "

I get asked a lot about how many tools for sculpting I would recommend, as with a lot of things in this hobby there is no right or wrong answer just what you yourself find comfortable.

In the above picture you will see I have a Tiranti SG sculpting tool, a couple of different shape scalpels, a compass, and some readily available texture materials.
The Sg does the bulk of the work with shaping detailing, the scalpels are for more detailed details, such as sculpting eyes adding fine lines. The compass is for making round indentations and also useful on some short hair sculpting. The textures are very useful for adding all those extra little details, things like skin detail and membranes.
Another useful piece to have is plastic packaging with interesting shapes, curves are very useful as a former while you sculpt on top ( if your glue has a plastic covering this is a great shape ), also acetate sheets which you can sculpt on top and then bend to the desired shape.

As Greg asked to know more I'm going to post the stages on the plane as I get them done rather than one article as I may forget in the mean time !
STEP 1

First I made a side elevation piece of plasticard, then made a plan at the widest point of the plane and glued it to the elevation at the widest point. you will notice I made a cut out in the bottom for the bottom set of wings to sit in.

STEP 2

Next I cut two pieces of 1 mm thick plasticard for the bottom wings and glued the two pieces together, you could cut a single piece of 2 mm thick instead but I find it a lot easier to use the 1 mm and stick them.
Once dry, they were sanded to shape, rounded off at the front and tapered off at the rear, once this was done they were stuck to the bottom of the former.
Once they had set hard, I mixed up a large lump of Milliput ( remembering to use rubber gloves), this was added to the former making sure to only go as wide as the former and add curves where needed.
Once this is dry I took a sanding wheel on my Dremel and ground off any high spots and continued to work the shapes.
You will notice the areas of green added in and this will be explained in the next instalment, hope you found this informative, until next time have fun !
Cheers Dave

12 comments:

  1. Many thanks for the insights Dave, and straight off the bat I'm amazed at how few tools you actually use - I dunno why, but I expected there to be quite an array of specialist bits of kit. The Tiranti SG sculpting tool is obviously an equivalent of the Swiss Army knife :-)
    Looking forward to further installments of this aspect of your creative process as they appear.
    Reply
  2. Thank you Greg, sculpting is a lot like painting we all have our own ways were comfortable with. For me I find the one tool does it all so definitely my Swiss Army knife ! It was the GW and Forgeworld sculptors that recommended it to me.
    Will hopefully have another instalment soon
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  3. Very interesting Dave, I too was surprised by the lack of tools you use, but was particularly surprised that you don't use any colour shapers. I find these indispensable and probably use then more than anything else in my tool kit. As you say each to his own, I know Bob Olley uses a lot of cut down wooden clay sculpting tools, so great to see what other people use. If you are interested I posted up my "weapons of choice" a while back when I was asked what I used...

    https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2016/06/18/thats-all-i-ever-wanted-to-be-a-hero/

    Cheers Roger.
    Reply
    Replies
    1. Thank you Roger, have tried clay shapers, but found I could get the same result with the blunt end of the SG. I found that only having the one tool speeds up the process by only having to turn from one end to the other.
      Sculpting like painting is a very personal activity and what works for one person won't work for someone else, but we should never stop trying new things, it's how we grow as hobbyists and improve.
      Thank's for highlighting your blog will have a read through, and can see you like a variety of tools
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  4. Amazing to thinks that with such humble tools your amazing sculpts spring forth. I have only really tried to do the smallest things with regards to sculpting and I am just never pleased with the end results so I have nothing but admiration for those that can.
    Reply
    Replies
    1. Thank you Michael, like with painting and scenery making , you get better with practice, we all start somewhere far from where we would like to be, and if we keep practising and trying new things we develop to where we would like to be, starting with small details added to models is a great place to start
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  5. Very useful post Dave. Thanks for sharing the information.
    I'm going to buy myself one of those clay shaper tools, Roger mentioned, to see if it will help.
    Do you use any sort of substance as a lubricating agent? I've been using plain tap water, but this last time it looks to have left a white powdery finish in places on my sculpt. I'm sure I've seen some sculptors using vaseline or lipsil for the purpose.

    No rush for a reply - post-Salute will do
    Reply
    Replies
    1. Glad you found it useful Roy, as a lubricant I use saliva which I guess makes me a tool licker ! ROFL you can also use the grease from your forehead to get a shiny surface. Happy to organise a day to show you some tricks with sculpting
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    2. Thanks for the reply Dave. In all honesty, at the moment, I've not had the time to work on sculpting practice. Painting things for me and other people has taken up my time, as well as sorting out my own and business orders.

      I'll keep in mind your offer about the demo. The problem is the distance between us, really. Unless a few of us friendly bloggers came together to show and play for a day, the travelling for you (or me, etc) would make it non-viable in my opinion. Oh, I've been known to spit on the WIP sculpts on occasion - though never in disgust, just to lubricate :) [During my youth, I have thrown a WIP painted figure across the room, however. It was going badly!]
    3. Understand we have to do what's needed, where are you based as I end up travelling a lot so could tag it on to a journey for you.
      Do like the sound of a bloggers day meet up and workshop
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    4. Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. Turn off the A1 a couple of miles south of Scotch Corner, before you reach signs for Richmond and then Darlington. That's where I'm at at present. About 45mins south of Durham. An hour and loose change from the Newcastle area. Two hours north of the Nottingham lead belt.
    5. That might be a possibility as I come up to hull for painting courses from time to time Roy
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