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Thursday, August 08, 2013

Sculpting Linna - Drapery

Here I will be making drapery for the Linna Babe™ for Bombshell Miniatures.
Ordinarily I use the same method for each figure I sculpt. They may be shaped differently but it is essentially the same process.



Here I have mixed ProCreate putty with the same amount of Aves Apoxie sculpt. This 50/50 mix creates a much stronger and stiffer putty once it has cured and will hold its shape better under the molding process.

I let this mix sit for about 20 minutes as a I work on something else. When you first combine the two different putties the mix is very soft. allowing it to sit for a few minutes allows it to cool from the mixing process and firm up a bit.

I flattened out a section of it using the plastic sheeting to keep it from sticking to my flattening block. It is trimmed to shape and folds are scored into it.


Using the edge of my #64 Scraper Tool, I flick the edge of the putty wedge to pop it off of the plastic divider. This takes quite a bit of practice to do properly without marring up the surface of the piece. It is placed agains the back leg of the figure and pressed lightly into place with the chisel shaper tool.


The putty is carefully positioned by the edges using the chisel shaper tool.


Using my scalpel blade I cut the excess putty from the back of the leg.


The edge of the cloth is blended into the figure.


It is carefully rounded a bit using the chisel shaper tool.


I check the profile of the draper ti make sure it shows from all angles.


Another wedge is cut from a flattened slab of putty.


This wedge is then smoothed out by pressing on it with the plastic sheeting.


It is now smooth and rounded.


I peel this wedge off the plastic divider and apply it to the back side of the leg the same as the first one.


It is feathered along the back of the leg as well using the chisel shaper tool.


Small folds are added to the top of the drapery since this particular piece will be visible on the final model.


Here the first session of the basic draper is finished. This is placed under the lamp to cure it in a short amount of time. The model is positioned so the putty will not sag under the heat of the lamp. Once this part has been cured it will create a form to add the rest of the draper over.


After the first section has cured fully, I repeat the same process adding wedges if putty to fill out the draper over the existing form. these wedges are then scored to add folds and wrinkles. The putty that I use for this session of the process is ProCreate with a tiny bit of Fimo added to help blend it into the cured areas.


On the back side you can see I covered a section of the existing drapery with more folds.


After the drapery has cured. I slice a belt from another flattened slab of straight ProCreate. Over this a bit of armor and decoration is added by layering more flattened and trimmed slabs. Once these slabs are in place they are textured using the tip of my #64 Scraper Tool.

This all goes into the putty oven for curing again.

In the next segment I cover Sculpting Linna's Hair.