| | Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' | |
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clive_t
Location : Portsmouth, England
| Subject: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:15 pm | |
| Reproduced from GSM, apologies if you've already seen it - the comment was made in response to the 'weary traveller' thread that other figures besides Preiser could be used. This thread describes my exploits with changing the LGB oil monkey figure. I mentioned in my other sculpting thread about the possibilities of sourcing figures other than Preiser. Well, yesterday evening I settled down to have a go. If you have an LGB starter set of any kind, you'll doubtless have this figure (ignore the fact that I have attempted to paint mine): All very nice, but I thought I might try to alter the pose a little: Well that shut him up! So in the now time-honoured tradition, I set to drilling holes at the desired joints, and reconnected him using florists wire (single-strand copper wire will also suffice). Oh, and just to prove a point, I gave him a new Preiser head: A quick once-over with some blobs of Milliput, and this morning we have this: OK not finished yet, but it doesn't look too shabby now. Still to be fully repainted, and maybe a hi-vis vest and some other minor tweaks perhaps, but I think it looks OK. About a couple of hours work to get to this stage I would reckon. | |
| | | Carl Hibbs Admin
Location : Haute Normandie - visitors welcome
| Subject: Re: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:55 pm | |
| I think his older brother works as a Gendarme. It looks like he is actually stretching his muscles Clive. Good stuff. | |
| | | clive_t
Location : Portsmouth, England
| Subject: Re: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Sun Nov 09, 2008 2:08 pm | |
| Cheers Carl
Actually I think he has acquired 'child-bearing' hips along the way, but no matter. I might flesh the legs out a bit more to obscure that. Plus a more British style of hat, mybe a hi-vis vest and sweat rag round the neck etc. I'm tempted to do something about the oil can itself too. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility for some facial hair to suddenly appear.... | |
| | | bruce
Location : Derbyshire, England
| Subject: Re: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:34 pm | |
| Looking good! I carried out some minor surgery on my own "oil monkey" and he's now a fireman on a footplate - but not such drastic work as you've done, Clive. I'm interested to see how well the Preiser head blends in - was that difficult? I bought some of the Preiser kit figures a while back so have some spare heads! Must get some better filler though - I am using a tube of Humbrol filler that must be well over 10 years old and isn't very effective any more, strangely enough... | |
| | | clive_t
Location : Portsmouth, England
| Subject: Re: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:54 pm | |
| Hi Bruce,
The head seems to have blended in well, although I haven't sanded it flush yet. Interestingly I didn't have to do any 'paring away' of plastic from the head or the 'neck' to make them flush - I think I just got lucky with my choice of head! Normally I find myself doing that so that the filler defines the neck shape. I think having a piece of wire securing it to start with gives it a better chance of staying put whilst the Milliput hardens off. I will hopefully be making further progress this evening, the results of which I will share with you all in due course. Even if it doesn't look 100% right, I'll probably disguise the join with a sweat rag round the neck, made from Green Stuff. In any event, I defy you to spot it! | |
| | | clive_t
Location : Portsmouth, England
| Subject: Re: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:00 pm | |
| On the matter of Milliput, I can't praise it too highly for this job. One thing I've learned though is to mix small amounts at a go, say a 'large pinch' of each stick, mixed together to a consistent shade of brown, then use it all and smooth it as much as possible in the first 20-30 mins. After that, it starts to go off, and thereafter smoothing it only makes for a 'ragged' finish. Not a huge problem, as you can always sand/dremel it after about 18 hours anyway and it is really smooth. Once sanded and spray primed, you'll not see the join - guarantee it! | |
| | | clive_t
Location : Portsmouth, England
| Subject: Re: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:38 am | |
| Well as promised earlier, I have spent the evening generally sanding/dremel-ing, and thereafter applying some Green Stuff in the fashion of a hi-vis vest and a British-style loco-man's hat. I had a bit of green stuff left over, so I built up the soles of his boots, which were looking a bit thin after I had cut him free from his base. Same stage, from behind this time: Tomorrow I shall endeavour to give him a spray with the grey primer, and maybe give him a sweat-rag round the neck, and maybe even a beard/moustache... maybe. | |
| | | Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:45 am | |
| - Quote :
- I had a bit of green stuff left over, so I built up the soles of his boots, which were looking a bit thin after I had cut him free from his base.
Excellent sculpting Clive .... but what is this green stuff of which you speak ? Also, regarding the removal of bases .... instead of sawing across the bottom of the figures shoes, I always cut downwards around the shoes which then gives a flat base to a thicker shoe. I find this easier but of course, I am not altering any poses. |
| | | clive_t
Location : Portsmouth, England
| Subject: Re: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:52 am | |
| - MzB wrote:
- but what is this green stuff of which you speak ?
Andy, the trade name is 'Kneadatite Blue/Yellow' - it's a two-part epoxy putty that when newly-mixed, it is very soft and pliant, and with care can be stretched very thinly to represent loose flappy layers of clothing. Even when fully cured (after about 18 hours or so, it is still flexible so that there is less risk of these extraneous layers breaking off with handling. It's available through Games Workshop outlets and indeed Hobbycraft stores - a bit pricey though, a fiver for a 6-inch strip - and that was about 6 months ago when I last had occasion to buy some. You can find it cheaper on the internet, for higher volumes, indeed if you do a search for Kneadatite green stuff, that will become very apparent! Mind you having said that, because I only use it for itty bitty details, a little goes a long way. These days I tend to stick to Milliput for the 'high volume' gap filling, body building etc. - MzB wrote:
Also, regarding the removal of bases .... instead of sawing across the bottom of the figures shoes, I always cut downwards around the shoes which then gives a flat base to a thicker shoe. I find this easier but of course, I am not altering any poses. Duh! Easy isn't it, once someone else points it out to you! Cheers, I'll remember that one for next time! | |
| | | clive_t
Location : Portsmouth, England
| | | | clive_t
Location : Portsmouth, England
| Subject: Re: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:44 am | |
| Another quick update: Added a bushy old beard/moustache last night... I also tried to make a pair of specs out of thin gauge copper wire, but it looked naff so I won't bother with that! | |
| | | clive_t
Location : Portsmouth, England
| Subject: Re: Sculpting a new figure from an LGB 'oil monkey' Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:06 pm | |
| So last night I put the finishing touches to this figure: A sweat rag round the neck, and with a modest amount of leftover GS I made some back pockets for his overalls. Then on to the paint shop: Finally, here's a shot of our man doing his rounds of the line's U-class whilst the driver looks on: So there you go, it doesn't have to be a Preiser figure to start with! | |
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