readybuilt armatures question.

Illustranger · readybuilt armatures question.

more specifically reaper's armatures (basic, heroic and the other set.)

as Im getting ready to get back at sculpting (last sculpt was over a year and a half ago.)
while for (original) creatures (wich in the end will be my main focus.) Id prefer scratchbuilt (either produced or wireframe.) armatures. for humans Id much prefer to use more bulky armatures to have a steady scale going on.

3 questions :

Id asked around before but never had a concrete answer (at least.. I have forgotten wether I had actually contacted reaper and had a response.) but can you use reaper's armatures for production ?

if yes, Ive rarely seen these used, and Im wondering is this a moral reason ? do people see it as cheating in a way ? personally I dont see it as cheating because if you cant do the basis of those armatures the end sculpt would be amateurish anyway, I know I can get to that level of anatomy its just that Id prefer to skip it on humans eventually arms and head etc. will be replaced by wire anyway to allow for more freedom.

lastly, is there any stockist out there that takes paypal and has the reaper armatures ?

thanks in advance :)

Bonehead

I couldn't find the Reaper armatures on their site when I last checked (I got mine from ebay) but when they where there I'm 99% sure it said that they were allowed for miniature production and casting etc.
I think it would be no problem with whatever you use if you cover all the parts with green stuff.
I use them for the same reason you mentioned. But I can't compare because it is my first sculpt. The bad thing is that (as I think) one leg broke off. I mean the armature inside. Would not have happened if I had used wire I guess.
When I finish my mini I planned to ask Reaper again if it would be ok if I let it get cast and sold by an other company.
The item number for the beginning dollies is 75001. 75002 for the advanced dollies. Could help you find the items when you are looking for them.

Bonehead

Found them.
http://www.reapermini.com/store/customer/home.php?cat=29
But nothing about the legality to sell minis sculpted with these.

Edit: Not sure if Reaper accepts paypal but TheWarStore does.
http://www.thewarstore.com/kneadatiteputtyandsculpting.html#4035

Bonehead · Re: readybuilt armatures question.

Illustranger

cheers for that :)

that only leaves the question why so few do it.. tough in the end it limits your freedom more than anything I suppose.

Bodhi

fatgoblin

this doesn't answer any of your questions but I just saw it on frothers and thought I would share it. Its an etched brass "sculpting frame"
http://www.nimin.net/xyz/etched_frame/

Illustranger

@bodhi,
expected it to be something like that :) problem is I cant seem to find the wire everyone is using, Ive found two kinds that is appropiate.. the thick one is too sturdy to even twist around (like in Fg's example.) funny enough the unflexibility of the wire seems to be making the sculpt more fragile.
the other one is just way to thin, it can be bend in the wanted shape.. but when the sculpt is being built it collapses, just slightly, but enough to be damaging. I found sculpting relaxing but these wireframes after effects frustrated me enough to have me stopped touching my tools for almost a year I think. (that and old greenstuff due to my own fault :))
didnt think the premade armatures would be easier, as you have to pin and pose them still, probably a hard job :)
the problem is mainly with humans, as smaller stuff (goblins etc.) can go with the thin wire (done it and it worked.) and big stuff (like my yeti ages ago.) works well with the thick one.

@fatgoblin
interesting, followed to frother's threat when you mentioned it, its a bit on the expensive side of things but Im willing to try it out, its a fine line between a dolly and a wireframe.
the thread also explained a bit of my questions too ;)

Ive some other questions popping up, but dont know wether I should start a new threat.
- anyone uses rubber gloves when sculpting ? I both like to take care of my health and prevent fingerprints instead of cleaning them later (even tough its not difficult, more than once Ive proven my clumsiness by pressing too hard when cleaning.) but like to know the disadvantages.

ofcourse I could always find all of this out by experimenting, but I always like to be well prepared, so if it turns out crap its at least a proffesional piece of crap :p

Bodhi

What I do is I cover the wire thinly with brown stuff, magic sculp, pro create or some other material that hardens rockhard on drying, then let this first layer set. After that bending of the underlying wire (regardless of type or thickness) more or less ceases to be a problem, except under quite hard pressure - that would cause the hard putty to crack instead.
Green stuff doesn't work for this as it hardens to a rubbery consistency and will bend with the wire.

I don't use gloves. I should really but I just can't stand working with gloves on. For those that can it's probably a much better idea.

readybuilt armatures question.

Re: readybuilt armatures question.