Just started my first custom...

[Dragnskull]

no pics yet, waiting to get some progress made, just wanted to share this cause it pissed me off and made me laugh at the same time.

I want to make a [secret] that would fit well with the size of the NECA tmnt.

Been researching quite a lot over materials to use, methods, etc. purchased a figure to be the base, it got shipped and arrived, ohh how excited I was.

Opened the box, only to discover the figure I choose was COMPLETELY wrong, a figure from the Marvel Universe line, meaning he was like 4 inches tall T_T.

Mistake #1. back to the drawing board.

okay, so while I find a new base figure, I decided to go ahead and get the sculpting materials as there's deff going to be custom made pieces and alterations to the base figure. I go to the local walmart on valentines day after work. After a 2 hour drive in traffic and a horrible customer service experience, I find out they have nothing like what I need. 3 hours wasted.

So then I say okay, I know what will have JUST what I need, I drive to the local hobby lobby. another 40 minutes down the drain (keep in mind, this is valentines day and I got things to do!)

I get to hobby lobby, and AHHAH! SCULPY! PERFECT! I buy it and rush home to take care of taking care-of's. 4 dollars and another hour down, but at least im getting somewhere now!

I start working with the sculpy later that night, and after about 4 hours of learning-while-I-work (i've never sculpted/molded anything with any serious intentions) I finally finish the first piece of my project. Then I read how to make it harden. Oven bake? hmm...I was expecting air dry...but okay...

wait...oven bake? But I gotta use this stuff on a plastic base figure eventually...plastic will melt...SON OF A

all together: 20 dollars [including gas] + 7 1/2 hours wasted.

This project is coming along well.

[psychoandy]

Sculpey's instructions DO say that you need to oven-bake it, but that's totally not true. As you said, it will melt the base figure, but there's another way: Boiling.

Once you're done with your sculpting, gently place your figure in some boiling water (Use tongs! Don't burn your hands!), and leave it hanging out for 5-10 minutes. The plastic will get wobbly and malleable in the boiling water. Throw it in the freezer for several minutes to help re-harden the plastic. Let the toy dry off, and you're good to go! No melted plastic, and the detail in your sculpey will be maintained.

[TheMasterTurtle]

Sculpey's instructions DO say that you need to oven-bake it, but that's totally not true. As you said, it will melt the base figure, but there's another way: Boiling.

Once you're done with your sculpting, gently place your figure in some boiling water (Use tongs! Don't burn your hands!), and leave it hanging out for 5-10 minutes. The plastic will get wobbly and malleable in the boiling water. Throw it in the freezer for several minutes to help re-harden the plastic. Let the toy dry off, and you're good to go! No melted plastic, and the detail in your sculpey will be maintained.

I need to share this because of personal experience. I've done the suggested baking method as well as the boiling method. The baking method always works however I've seen failures with my boiled pieces. Years after I've boiled them I've found cracks in my sculpts.

I still find sculpey very useful and great for stand alone projects however when I'm working on projects such as this I use a 2 part epoxy. You'll pay more money but with the cost comes guaranteed results and a self curing material. Here is where I order from...

http://www.bhigr.com/store/product.php?productid=351&cat=0&page=1

I think with what you want a 5lb kit would suffice. All you do is mix an equal amount of both materials together at which point you can start your sculpting. One thing to note however is that with being an "air" dry or self curing material, your work time with this brand is about 30-45 minutes.

Id recommend to work with sculpey a lot to try and learn your own technique and then move onto this stuff. I would just hate for some of your work to get cracks in it down the road by simply using the sculpey boiling method

[Dragnskull]

thanks for the tips both of you. cost isnt too much of a concern (besides spending hundreds for such a thing ofc) so I'll be looking into the apoxie

but with a 30 minute timeframe...im really going to have to practice to narrow down to a manageable time lol D:

[TheMasterTurtle]

thanks for the tips both of you. cost isnt too much of a concern (besides spending hundreds for such a thing ofc) so I'll be looking into the apoxie

but with a 30 minute timeframe...im really going to have to practice to narrow down to a manageable time lol D:

Practice AND just in mix/work on small batches/areas. It can be sanded and dremeled very easily after the fact as well.

Id suggest asking your dentist for some of his old tools. They always sterilize and dispose of those but they work great for sculpting. Also a hobby knife and dremel would be very beneficial. One thing I've also learned about working with epoxie if it wasnt obvious, there is a chemical reaction to make it self hardening. I would invest in a pack of rubber/latex gloves for when you sculpt. It'll keep you hands protected and fingerprints/oils off your sculpts

[Wes]

I want to make a [secret] that would fit well with the size of the NECA tmnt.
You know, if you weren't so secretive, we could probably be more helpful with respect to advice! Sculpting is pretty cool and all -- and if you're good at it, great -- but I dunno... I prefer to just buy sculpted pieces insofar as there are already figures out there with stuff similar to what I need. (I'd recommend Apoxie Sculpt for sculpting, but yeah... the stuff doesn't come especially cheap.)

And I could totally have saved you that Marvel Universe figure purchase. :P

[psychoandy]

I need to share this because of personal experience. I've done the suggested baking method as well as the boiling method. The baking method always works however I've seen failures with my boiled pieces. Years after I've boiled them I've found cracks in my sculpts.

That's interesting. I've never encountered a cracking problem, and I have some pieces sitting around that I boiled more than five years ago. I wonder why we would get two different results? How long did you boil your figures for?

I'm absolutely not doubting you or calling you a liar or anything. It just strikes me as strange that I've been boiling figures for over half a decade, and have never had the same thing happen. I'd like to see if we can figure out what caused the different results.

[UsagiYojimbo]

no pics yet, waiting to get some progress made, just wanted to share this cause it pissed me off and made me laugh at the same time.

I want to make a [secret] that would fit well with the size of the NECA tmnt.

This project is coming along well.

Well this has all been one big tease! :twink:

[Dragnskull]

UPDATE:
I ****ING DID IT AGAIN FFS.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390389903360?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I bought that for the base. Saw it called "marvel legends" and bought instantly cause it was just about to end. a few days after paying for it (when it had already shipped) i read the description and saw:

ITEM DESCRIPTION

Size: 3.75 inch.

Accessories: No

Condition: In good condition with minor wear

JUST BID IT AND DO NOT MISS!!!

WISH YOU A HAPPY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE~~~~!!!

3.75 inches? but its a marvel legends...wtf?!

i really hate myself.

another 10 down the hole <.<

o well though, I suppose things are picking up. I'm finally finding parts that match what I need

[psychoandy]

Yup. "Marvel Legends Showdown" was Toy Biz's foray into the 3.75" market, before Hasbro took over the Marvel License, and made the Marvel Universe line.

That figure you bought is legitimately a Marvel Legends figure.

As confusing and unfortunate as that may be.