Old Schooler New to Lizzies

[strewart]

Wow thats awesome!

 

[Arli]

Looking good.

 

[Krox_v.2]

I'm really impressed by your chameleon skinks. I love the dynamic poses.

 

[T`hinker`er]

Thanks guys! Been a busy week for me, so I am only getting around to posting an update now. Looking forward to reading any comments over the weekend. The little tree hugger now has his face and legs in rough form...pretty close to being done. Have a look:



And a couple of other views of the mini:

 

[Raein]

Looks good mate can't wait too see a finished product

 

[DanBot]

They way you make such long sleek realialistic muscles is very impressive. You make it look easy doing it over and over. I've used green stuff and it is so hard for me. I couldn't imagine making anything more than a simple conversion.

 

[totzro]

the skink chameleon is turning out real nice!

 

[T`hinker`er]

I have a major deadline at work this week, so no time for sculpting until Thursday (and I worked all day Sunday too - blah!), but just wanted to check in and say thanks for the comments

DanBot, I'm not sure what your trouble is, but if you post some WIP photos maybe I can help.

 

[The Red Devil]

That is some amazing work on the camelons!

 

[DanBot]

I have a major deadline at work this week, so no time for sculpting until Thursday (and I worked all day Sunday too - blah!), but just wanted to check in and say thanks for the comments

DanBot, I'm not sure what your trouble is, but if you post some WIP photos maybe I can help.

I have this terrible conversion I did. That vine looking thing on his crest was suppose to be rectangular and flat.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/Chibi_Mushi/Lizardmen/Champion.jpg
My problem is I can't even land the basics. Most of my WIP end up scraped so I don't have much. If you could give me a few pointers on how to make scales, and flat spines that would be great help. I did a krox conversion and I tryed something I read on how to make scales, and they didn't turn out so well. Roll a "snake". Pitch off a little ball, stick it on there. Then squish it down and shape it. Always ends up making them U shaped because I squish the sides in shaping them.

Also not proud of these claws/nails i did either. I can't seem to shape green stuff at all.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/Chibi_Mushi/Lizardmen/axe.jpg

 

[T`hinker`er]

Hey guys! Hope you're all enjoying getting ready for the holidays and celebrating! I've had a busy couple of weeks to be sure, but managed to squeeze in a little hobby time and have been looking forward to updating this blog for a while now. The Chameleons are all done and ready for final photos before I prime them for painting. Stay tuned for that - a little birdie told me that I may be getting a new camera for xmas

Meanwhile, I thought I'd toss out a few pictures of one of my Kroxigors, which has been cut apart so that it can be placed into a mold for eventual casting. Here's where I'm at with the first one, and I'm pretty happy with it so far:



I am going to leave the areas below the knee, the abdomens, faces and arms essentially free of scales. The sides of the torso will have some minor texture, building up to the pronounced texture you can see down the back. There will be no mistaking the "croc" part of these Croc-ogres. Let me know what you think!

DanBot - I took a look at the pics that you linked to. I'm not sure what tools you are using or what medium you use to prevent the tools from sticking to the tools. I think this is where your problem lies. I use vasiline (petroleum jelly) and spit, and this seems to do the job. The other comment that I would make, concerning the hand holding the axe, is that the anatomy of the thumb seems off to me. When I make a fist, the thumb curves downward over the other fingers. You seem to have the thumb going straight like the other fingers (just heading in the other direction). Does that help?

 

[DanBot]

Yep. That is a Croxigor alright. Love it. I think i may have a problem with patience. I'm glad you are going to leave most of his body alone. Seems like you put to much work into the muscle texture to just cover it up. How much time did it take you to do the scales? I use the 3 pack of tools that army painter sells. How much jelly do you use? I use just water.

 

[Lord Tsunami]

that is really amazing. your skills have truly developed during this project alone. i am very jealous

 

[T`hinker`er]

Thanks guys, fiddling about some more with this fellow last night and hoping to put some time aside this weekend to "get 'er done"... thinking I will finish this one before I start the other one so as not to get their arms and tails mixed up

To answer your questions Danbot, I did these scales in just about an hour. That's pretty much the working time of epoxy putty. After 30 minutes putty is very hard to blend and after an hour it is nearly cured. As a result, try to work in broad strokes as the beginning - at this stage you can use your fingers if necessary. Roll up and add "sausages" of putty where you need mass, or cut away bits if the mass is too big (xacto blade or loop tools are good to have on hand). The putty will be soft enough in the beginning that you can blend and smooth it readily, so really go at it. Once it looks right from every angle, be sure to remove fingerprints and blend old putty to new. You should have your basic masses in place before you do any detailing work or texturing.

Water is not sufficient to prevent sticking - I think this is probably what's messing you up. I wipe some petroleum jelly on the tools, using the back of my hand. Just don't overdo it, because you want to be able to see what you are working on and not have a thick layer of jelly obscuring your work. A tiny square of paper towel is all that should be necessary to wipe it off after the putty is cured.

As for patience, I find that concentration itself is a skill that needs to be developed. We live in a world permeated by mass media and distractions. You need to practice sitting still and visualizing the results you want. Sculpting is very much a form of active meditation, like yoga. I find that my choice in music is very important. In any event, the television should not be on and it's best if you do your sculpting at a time and in a place where you will not be interrupted. Right after I put my kid to bed is ideal. Good luck!

 

[Krox_v.2]

@ T`hinker`er, given the crocodile theme, will you be making the tails more like those of crocodiles?

 

[T`hinker`er]

Some more WIP photos showing the smaller scales on the sides and the texture added to the belly:



from the rear:



and a last photo showing the tail as it will look when attached:



Sorry this last photo came out a little dark, but it should answer your question Krox_v.2,. I am not planning any spikes (or other weaponry) on the ends of the tails. If you want to add that stuff it would be an easy conversion.

 

[Lord Tsunami]

get this guy TrollForge-ed and ill buy a copy for sure

 

[Raein]

If you get this forged I'd be in to buy one or three

 

[T`hinker`er]

Started work on the other one last night, but no photos yet. I absolutely intend for these to be commercially available within a month, most likely with Troll Forged. I need to take a set of definitive photos and shop these around and see who will offer me (and all of you) the best deal. Meanwhile, here are the arms and weapon, which should cast as a single part:



I also fixed his feet and some other small imperfections. I need to put it back together now with blue tack and take new photos from all angles. Comments welcome

 

[totzro]

Theese are fantastic! Your sculpting skill is unbelievably good. I would love to see some more dynamic poses.