1:48/1:50 figures needed

[bhouse]

I'm in the early stages of planning an airport diorama and for reasons too complicated to mention, I need to include Bob Marley and the Wailers (1974 lineup) in the scene - as passengers, not performers...

I have this Preiser set which would obviously need a substantial amount of reworking. Does anyone know of a more appropriate jumping-off point?

Thanks in advance,

Brian

[Sgt.Squarehead]

For Bob Marley and the Wailers, in 1/48.....Errrrr?

TBH I see Green Stuff and needle files in your not too distant future.

[bhouse]

I fear you may be right. My first go at a set of dreads in 1/48 had not been a great success...

[Sgt.Squarehead]

I'd be interested to see your progress and there are some very talented figure sculptors here who might be able to offer you some guidance (sadly I ain't one of 'em).....Maybe open a WIP thread and see what develops?

[James G]

I'd try some magic sculp worked with dental tools!

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Sculpt-Lb-Epoxy-Clay/dp/B003AL71FI

[bhouse]

Might be worth a go. Although thin cotton smeared with filler then painted matt black with a dry brush of gloss makes some bashy locks, man!

[Sgt.Squarehead]

C'mon we need a WIP.....It would be a class thread and we will probably mostly behave in there!

[bhouse]

I'll bear it in mind! At the moment is not so much a wip as a series of (mostly failed) abstract experiments. And the Preiser surgery going on would probably be banned under any reasonable system of censorship.

[bootneck]

Just an idea but, for the dreads, perhaps using the overcut from plastic strip? When I cut plastic sheet I find that there is ridge along the cut edge; when it is cut away it forms ringlets, perhaps these could be used. See the description and images below.

First cut a piece of plastic strip into two pieces. If you run your finger along the edge that has been cut, you should feel a slight ridge.


Using a sharp flat-bladed knife or chisel, run the blade along the ridge and it should come away and curl into ringlet shapes


A few of these cut at different lengths and glued together might give you something like dreads.

I use this method for making the coiled cables on military radios.

Mike

[Sgt.Squarehead]

Goddam I love this place.....Where else would you get ideas like that, sheer genius!

I figure if you add a little liquid glue to rough em up and bond 'em together they might well do the trick.

[bhouse]

Absolutely brilliant! Thanks for the idea. I'll have a go and see how they look at 1/48.

[matiwashere]

I usually make them out of a softer putty, like super sculpy or alike as it's the stuff I mainly work in. But on this particular figure I made them out of Pro Create ( similar to green stuff ).

The way I did them was quite simple actually, you roll a little sausage with the desired thickness, and with a hard bristle brush you just poke it gently until the surface has a roughed up look. apply it gently and eventually rwork the squished parts with the same brush. Do one by one and there you should have perfectly dready dreadlocks. The figure shown is at 1:32 scale, should work just fine at 1:48 too, just need to do thinner sausages. If you are going to use green stuff, make sure you knead it trough really well and it gets warm, don't let it set and start right away as it will be at its softest point like that and should take the brush poke texturing best. After that you can let it rest for a while so the texture doesn't get lost when applying it to the head. The paint in the end will make all the difference.

Edited March 9, 2016 by matiwashere

[Watcher]

Would a bit of guitar string be too thick?