miniatures

[Darius]

i want to sculpt 15mm ww2 miniatures for war gaming.but i never tried sculpting such scale miniatures could you help here by giving me some tips on how to make such scale armatures and what kind of tools i should use.

[GlennT]

I have created one work at that scale, a leaping stag with a jump ring connected to its forefeet, all carved directly from a piece of steel.
I had not attempted this technique before the commission, which was to produce a pattern from which a mold for a silver jewelry piece could be made.

I used what happened to be on hand with the right thickness, which in this case was a steel washer. I used dremel tools to rough it out... first a thin cutting wheel to carve the rough outline and remove the form from the washer. Then, more work with that wheel to refine the outline. Then small carbide bits to shape the form, and then very thin jewelers files and sandpaper.

Another option would be to carve it in hard wax with wax carving and dental tools.

GlennT

[WeiMingKai]

If you want to get into miniature building you may want to check out online sources from others who are into it.

This guys blog (http://www.lyzrdstomp.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=216&Itemid=1) /web-zine has an excellent article describing his techniques in creating models from everyday household items and styrene. You can read his opening paragraphs and get the names of some truly great modelers who were his inspiration - google them - and learn a lot - including some WW2 themed stuff.

For creating your own miniatures Morgan Keith Studios (http://morgankeithstudios.com/minis.html) has information and excellent tip links on armatures & putty. I have never used putty or enjoyed working at super tiny scales for table top miniature gaming but the tutorial pages at MKS were an excellent read just the same.

good luck and come back & post photos when you create some minis.

[Darius]

thanks for the links they realy helped im gonna use fimmo pollymer clay for my minis

[rhendriks]

I work with airdry clay.Maybe it is also useful for you to make terrains,vehicles and structures.

for example;
http://www.reliefs.nl/forummap/maasland.jpg

Rob

[Darius]

man you didnt even read what i want to make.WARGAMING MINIATURES and not reliefs

[Kaffredrik]

Hello Darius, firstly, sorry for my English, I am from Sweden. Knaedatite, also known as green stuff, are widely used by professional wargames sculptors (although I think new techniques involving 3D-programming and -printing are being used more and more... ) and I have some experience with that myself. The only thing to remember is to keep your tools wet when sculpting with this material or else it will be like sculpting with chewing-gum. Also, there are pre-made armatures (shaped almost like skeletons with extremely thin joints, like no knee-caps and necks etc... ) available from a few companies. Though the only one I know is called eBob and he is sculpting in the 25-28mm scale.

Again, check the web for tutorials (search for "green stuff tutorial" or similar), so can read about how mixing the green stuff to get variations in the clay (normally you just cut a piece from the roll and just blend it). I have also, in vain, tried to sculpt minis with super-sculpey and other polymerclays, but those clays didn't work for me since small details weren't easily kept (too soft, and not to mention the heating procedure which "rounded" off the face so it looked like it had melt).

If this sounds interesting, please feel free to ask about more details.

[Darius]

well im sorry too i shouldnt react that way.thanks for the wet tip but have you heard tamiya epoxy putty cause that is the best thing i found yet.oh and im skulpting orks for warhammer 40k so i dont think the ebob miniatures website will help me

[rhendriks]

It is ok Darius,all conflicts in the world should be dissolve with kind words and with miniatures army's from clay.
Forget the reliefs,just wanted to say air dryclay is fine to work in miniature for me.

Rob

[Darius]

well im gonna make the most important stuff out of fimo like face hair and body then im gonna add details using tamiya epoxy putty details like pokets buttons and other tiny stuff

[Kaffredrik]

Ironic... Darius, you asked for help but ended up giving me tips :) I googled the brands you mentioned and they seemed fair enough. You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of the mentioned sculpts for the wargame 40K? They are in the 28 mm size, yes?

[Darius]

yes 28mm i found this tip at http://www.miez.nl/putty-n-paint/tutes/sculpting_tut01.pdf it helped alot