Toy Soldiers ... --- Starting from scratch.. (1 Viewer)

[theBaron]

Sure is a great idea, especially when we see commercial makers producing mannequins at 20 Euros apiece (so, about $24?). Pegaso is now selling such figures.

If you can make them yourself, you're better off.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Deitz]

Great thread, very interesting for a complete novice like me. I will be following this thread.

 

[Wolfgang]

Hallo,

I have come back to resin-casting the dollies I sculpted. I got a new resin that seems to hold some new opportunities I would like to try out. First of all I simply have to cast the dollies in resin again. I will then emprove the casting by reworking/refining each of the six figures and make new, hopefully better mold of them. This time it will be one mold for one figure. Once they are done I will make some castings and play around with the poses a bit. I hope it will work. More of it later here in due course. I almost finished my first Toy Soldier using one of the metal dollies I have casted so far. It still needs a bit of grinding and sanding, but I will post a picture soon. I also close to finish another master for new dolly. A figure at the "Stand-Still". Unbelieveable difficult to catch the pose correctly, can't believe it myself. Another master Toy Soldier is also in the makeing and two out of six resin dollies are subject of the refining stage right now. Comeing up there will be another 8 molds to be made. Enough work for the meantime. I will keep you updated. Still counting on your interest.
Best regards
Wolfgang

 

[aujj65]

Hallo,

I have come back to resin-casting the dollies I sculpted. I got a new resin that seems to hold some new opportunities I would like to try out. First of all I simply have to cast the dollies in resin again. I will then emprove the casting by reworking/refining each of the six figures and make new, hopefully better mold of them. This time it will be one mold for one figure. Once they are done I will make some castings and play around with the poses a bit. I hope it will work. More of it later here in due course. I almost finished my first Toy Soldier using one of the metal dollies I have casted so far. It still needs a bit of grinding and sanding, but I will post a picture soon. I also close to finish another master for new dolly. A figure at the "Stand-Still". Unbelieveable difficult to catch the pose correctly, can't believe it myself. Another master Toy Soldier is also in the makeing and two out of six resin dollies are subject of the refining stage right now. Comeing up there will be another 8 molds to be made. Enough work for the meantime. I will keep you updated. Still counting on your interest.
Best regards
Wolfgang

Wolfgang,

Well you certainly have mine . This is all new to me and it’s amazing what you have done so far.

Thanks

Jeff

 

[Wolfgang]

More Pictures

 

[Wolfgang]

Here finally the pictures of my first sculpted Toy Soldier. I used the metal casted dollies as underground for the further sculpting with green stuff. It is supposed to be a pilgrim on his way to the holy land. Very nice subject - and no difficult weapons to sculpt. I am not to happy with the sculpting material, I rather use Miliput again next time. But the idea of useing a dolly has proven to be a good one. Nice sculpting over an skelleton like this. I have no idea how to manâge to do the mold and casting. Would love to do castings in metal but I am not sure if it will work out. Anyway I will try both ways metal and resin. Hope it will work out.
Your comments as allways more than welcome.
regards
Wolfgang

 

[thebritfarmer]

That is simply outstanding Wolfgang. I would be happy with those figures if they were mine, you really are very good at sculpting, perhaps Britains should employ you as a sculptor !!!!!!!!!

 

[Wolfgang]

That is simply outstanding Wolfgang. I would be happy with those figures if they were mine, you really are very good at sculpting, perhaps Britains should employ you as a sculptor !!!!!!!!!

Thanks a lot, but there are a lot of things I have to improve on. I did play around with the castings a bit and started on a few other projects just to get used to the subject.
It is little more than a sketch so far but you might spot the subject the figure is based on ...
regards
Wolfgang

 

[Wraith]

Wolfgang,
That pilgrim is superb. You have an enviable talent where it comes to sculpting, my hat is off to you, and thanks for showing us the 'how to'.
Cheers
Simon

 

[Wolfgang]

This time a trial to get close to the King & Country style of sculpting. Not happy with the head - it will be resculpted. Also trying to use photobucket for the upload of pictures. See how that works.
regards
Wolfgang

[/IMG]

 

[Wolfgang]

Here is the split up new mold. I still have to check where to add additional venting. The green bits you see are peices of pre-cured green rubber which I added as additional mold locks. It has proved to be a not to brilliant idea since orange rubber does not like the green rubber and got stuck on it at some places. They had to be cut apart with a hobby-knife.
Hope to do the casting tonight

 

[Wolfgang]

Here is trial Nr. 2 soon after vulcanizing, mind the rubber that squeezed out underneath the covering moldplates. The first trial was not a sucsess due to a too small mold frame. Hope it will work out better this time
rgds
Wolfgang

 

[Wolfgang]

[/IMG]Castings look funny due to the pattern of lighter and darker surfaceshades, but it is all there - nice and smooth surface.

 

[Wolfgang]

[/IMG]

 

[Wolfgang]

[/IMG]

 

[Wolfgang]

[/IMG]

 

[Wolfgang]

Hallo,

on the next 4 pictures you will see the casting process. Still this is NOT a perfect mold. But again good for gaining practise and learn. Not to happy with the rubber, a bit too soft which can have negative efects on the casting - it might flatten the whole figure. Still superior to rtv - there is no gasing of the mold etc. With the Prince August Model Metal I used (good but damm expensive) casting was no problem. Sucess rate was 7 out of 10 - which is good. I screwed up the area around the base in the mold, due to not leaving enough space to the lower mold edge. Will not happen again. Since this is all "Testing" so far it remains ok, but for a standad production mold there where too many mistakes in it. Send an order for some new rubber today, it is like the search for the holy Grail, ther are firmer rubbers, but they need more temperature (heat) which will not permit to use certain sculpting material and plastics. Hope to receive it before the weekend. I am busy on three other figures right now, more hopefully coming weekend.

As for this pilgrim I will clean up the castings, rinse them and prime afterwards. And then I hope eventually the fun part PAINTING will start - thought something up there as well.
As for now, thank you for your interest ----- aaaand your comments are still more than welcome.
Regards
Wolfgang

 

[aujj65]

Hallo,

on the next 4 pictures you will see the casting process. Still this is NOT a perfect mold. But again good for gaining practise and learn. Not to happy with the rubber, a bit too soft which can have negative efects on the casting - it might flatten the whole figure. Still superior to rtv - there is no gasing of the mold etc. With the Prince August Model Metal I used (good but damm expensive) casting was no problem. Sucess rate was 7 out of 10 - which is good. I screwed up the area around the base in the mold, due to not leaving enough space to the lower mold edge. Will not happen again. Since this is all "Testing" so far it remains ok, but for a standad production mold there where too many mistakes in it. Send an order for some new rubber today, it is like the search for the holy Grail, ther are firmer rubbers, but they need more temperature (heat) which will not permit to use certain sculpting material and plastics. Hope to receive it before the weekend. I am busy on three other figures right now, more hopefully coming weekend.

As for this pilgrim I will clean up the castings, rinse them and prime afterwards. And then I hope eventually the fun part PAINTING will start - thought something up there as well.
As for now, thank you for your interest ----- aaaand your comments are still more than welcome.Regards
Wolfgang

The only comment that I have is this is a most interesting and informative thread, and thanks for taking the time to explain the process.

Regards

Jeff

 

[Wraith]

Wolfgang, I admire your patience and perseverance. I think I'd have got frustrated with different mold materials, but your 'patience and practice' philosophy is commendable.

Simon

 

[thebritfarmer]

Yes most fascinating and you have the patience of a saint. I would probably be in the hospital burn unit covered in hot metal LOL

Great stuff Wolfgang looking forward to seeing more of your work.