IMPACT! MINIATURES

Ewan · Guest

I've been asked what tools are used for sculpting and what are the basic odds and ends needed.

What you need -

Thin wire - For making the armature (wire skeleton) of the mini you want to make.

Corks - To 'hold' the armature while you work on it.

Greenstuff or Brownstuff - You're going to have to sculpt with some kind of material. There are a few different other brands but most of you will have heard of and understand how greenstuff works.

Tools - I use G.W's 'sculpting tool' - thats it. In the last few weeks, I've got a couple of other tools and although I now have a choice, I still keep using the Grandma Wendy one

. A pin is quite useful too for detail although I've only started experimenting with that recently.

I'm sure some of our other sculptors will have alternative tools/materials when sculpting but thats my 'set-up'.

If you do want to try sculpting out, there will be tutorials and advice coming soon - experiment away and please post your attempts here for compliments and advice

Cheers,

Ewan

Bonehead · Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 133 Location: Hamburg, Germany

Need good sculpting tools?

Ask your dentist!

Ewan · Guest

I do have more than just the one sculpting tool but I really only use the Grandma Wendy one the most often.

Chairface · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:59 am Post subject:

I swear by the sculpting kit that I got from Andy from Heresy.

I use the second from the left almost exclusively, and another is identical to the Grandma Wendy tool.

fen · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:31 am Post subject:

That's a set of Wax Carving tools, the same ones that I have. :)

Chairface · Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:14 pm Post subject:

Yeah! They're great!

Bonehead · Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 133 Location: Hamburg, Germany

I have this set:

http://www.gf9.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=160
http://www.gf9.com/images/gf9hobb...culptingset/gf9_sculptingset.html
It was very expensive and I usually use just one tool (not of this set

). But this set hopefully coveres everything I'll ever need.

Fubar · The Sculpting Supremo Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 124

That all sounds very sensible. See if you can pick up some corks from a home-brew shop (there's an excellent one near where I live). I have yet to work out what sort of wire is best to use, but I would advise against using paperclips, especially if you are hoping for the model to be multi-part!

Make sure you get some nice fresh greenstuff (not the stuff from Grandma Wendy that has been sitting on the shelf for the last few months) and keep it in the freezer to keep fresh.

I still use the tools that are available from Heresy, although I do want to get myself a really nice Wax5 tool - I just haven't managed to track one down yet! I would also advise you to have something small and sharp like a pin to pick out details. And a scalpel. However, my favourite tools are probably 'Clay shapers' - soft tipped tools that can be used to gently shape the putty.

A lamp to gently heat your models under is also handy - it speeds up the process no end (but you have to be careful not to soften the detail too much).

Mike

Chairface · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:17 am Post subject:

I went to a sculpting tutorial at Toronto games day last year by the Perry Brothers and they do EVERYTHING with one dental pick. I just wish that I could remember which one.

Sallacious · Logo Legend Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 267

I have a set of 4 different types of dental picks. I am going to buy the Grandma Wendy tool as well. Also, someone told me that an embossing tool (a pick with a little ball at the end) works wonders for sculpting too.

[EDIT] I can't wait for the tutorial

Norse · The One, the Only Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 2811

Klute · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Co.Durham,England

I use a dental tool called a Wax5 for most of my work. Other stuff I use are clay shapers (sort of a rubber tipped tool) which are excellent for smoothing. Other things like pins and needles for fine detail. All of these have greenstuff handles to make them more comfortable to use.
Vaseline for lubrication.

Darkson · Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:47 am Post subject:

Bodhi · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 195 Location: Stockholm Sweden

I use almost only clayshapers (rubbertipped tools) and x-acto knife.
I have quite a few metal tools (both dental and others - I have a set like the one Andy sells, though I bought mine from ebob. Same tools though) but use those only occasionally.
For holding the armature I usually use a pinwise.

Fubar · The Sculpting Supremo Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 124

@Klute, where did you get hold of your Wax5? I keep meaning to get one, but general slackness has resulted in me not managing to find one just yet... any suggestions where I could get one from?