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1/6 Spacebase 2000 Inspired Astronaut Sculpt


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Okay so this is a project I've had in mind for quite some time, basically when I was very young me and my brother had the Spacebase 2000 book, which is a collection of stories but the only reason we used to look through it because it had some really fabulous art in it of all kinds of spaceships.

I think flicking through the pages of that book is what first inspired my interest in all things sci fi, and one particular image always stood out as my favourite, and after doing some internet searches a while back the image popped up in the results and I just thought "that would make a great model" and then I started to think about sculpting one.

So fast forward to now and thats what I'm going to have a go at, I'm not intending to copy it 100% (thus the "inspired") but I want to recreate it as best I can, although I want to change the helmet design so you can see the full face. Below is the image, after doing a bit of research managed to find out it was by an artist called Peter Elson.

 

35092903373_2c2823ffd2.jpg2125678203_a68191d874 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

My idea for it is to have the same mid air pose, but one of the arms will be grabbing the foot, which will allow me to support it. Its a pretty ambitious project for me, but thats one of the reasons I'm pretty excited about it, I always like to push myself into trying new techniques and things that scare me a little! And I haven't done that in my last few projects.

I have done a bit of figure sculpting before, but nothing crazy, just a couple of space guys in a ma.k diorama I did last year - http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234979624-120-mak-fireball-split-suit-space-diorama/

So I started by making my armature, first thing I did was print out a picture of a skeleton that I sized at 30cm to get it at the 1/6 scale. And then cut a long piece of wire so I could get it done in one continuous piece so I dont have to muck about with joints in the wire.

 

35844115926_b255e1d99e_c.jpg20160127_132223 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

35844103056_745dca0fb4_c.jpg20160127_132807 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

35497001180_fa84b04c15_c.jpg20160127_133644 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

I went a bit short on the arms, this is because I'll sculpt up to the wrists and then make separate hand armatures later, and lots of extra off both feet for now to give me plenty of freedom later when I'm locking down the pose.

Thats where I'm at for now, I normally like to start topics with a bit more progress but I'm pretty pumped about this and just wanted to kick it off asap.

Next up I've got to get some supplies to build my armature stand, then I can get the pose locked down and bend it into shape, then it will be a matter of blocking out the limbs and core with some foil.

Thanks for looking, more soon :)

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Wicked idea, is Spacebase 2000 related to the TTA books? Lots of Peter Elson in those too.

Edit: To answer my own question, it's the combined volume of Great Space Battles and Spacecraft 2000-2100 AD. Glad that everyone seems to have had the same formative experiences as me :)

It strikes me this would really benefit from some lighting, do you think that's a possibility?

Cheers,

Will

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My cousin had that book and I remember that picture (amongst others), so I shall be watching this with great interest

Given your previous works, I reckon it'll be awesome

Si

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I'm really looking forward to watching this progress HR.

Love the artwork.

Thank you Blastvader! :)

Wicked idea, is Spacebase 2000 related to the TTA books? Lots of Peter Elson in those too.

Edit: To answer my own question, it's the combined volume of Great Space Battles and Spacecraft 2000-2100 AD. Glad that everyone seems to have had the same formative experiences as me :)

It strikes me this would really benefit from some lighting, do you think that's a possibility?

Cheers,

Will

Cheers Will, yeah I think the artwork in all of those is just beautiful, really hoping I can do it justice!

Well as it stands (ie before the reality of doing it sets in!!) the plan is to have either shoulder mounted lights, or lights in the helmet (a-la Alien) so you can see the face, and some leds in the engines and laser for effect. So yeah plenty to chew on!

My cousin had that book and I remember that picture (amongst others), so I shall be watching this with great interest

Given your previous works, I reckon it'll be awesome

Si

Thanks for the kind words Madhatter, I hope so!

Its cool I wasn't sure if anyone would have heard of the book before but its nice to see others enjoyed it as much as me as a kid!

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Okay so i got my armature stand knocked together. Cut down a bit of scrap wood i found at work for the base

 

35045398314_88b20a68ed_c.jpg20160202_131959 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

And bought some threaded rod and nuts, and after drilling a hole got the upright rod attached.

 

35844102706_5346c002bc_c.jpg20160202_133003 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

Need to have the rod that goes into the armature attached to the upright, looked at some other online people have made with metal brackets and modifications, but i figured the easiest thing was to just have a bit of wood with 2 offset holes perpendicular to each other.

 

35045414114_be95f964e6_c.jpg20160203_133009 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

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Trimmed the but of rod down and bolted it on to see how it looks

 

35715726962_a5246b403f_c.jpg20160203_133156 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

35075755863_3a4814c4c9_c.jpg20160203_133449 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

And thats my cheap and easy armature stand done, I always enjoy making use of scrap materials!

 

35496965060_1b6e1682fd_c.jpg20160203_133506 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

Now i have to bend my armature into its pose get in place ready for blocking, so that's up next

Thanks for looking, more soon :)

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That looks beefy!

I'm a bit worried about how heavy this'll be at 1/6 scale and how much (potentially off-balance) weight the wrist of zombie hand will have to support. Will you build the connection into the armature?

Mind you, it all worked out for your Ma.K suit pilot with a much finer connection :)

W

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That looks beefy!

I'm a bit worried about how heavy this'll be at 1/6 scale and how much (potentially off-balance) weight the wrist of zombie hand will have to support. Will you build the connection into the armature?

Mind you, it all worked out for your Ma.K suit pilot with a much finer connection :)

W

Beefy is the new skinny! (thats what I tell my wife :lol: ) but I am going to trim down the wood connection, dont want it obstructing me too much. And yeah Ive been thinking about support too, I'm planning on blocking with a lot of tin foil, so it should be surprisingly light but at that size its still going to be at least a couple of pounds, so now its going to have two arms grabbing him for double support..

Not 100% on the final pose yet but I was thinking about it last night and I think rather than just alien arms, I want to have the torso, and the laser beam (which out of interest will be made from a 1/48 beam saber I have in the spares) will be going through his now mostly exploded head!

The two wires will extend from the feet, I'll bend them forward so they are coming from the toes at an angle, and the backbone of the torso which it will all connect to will be a bit of threaded rod, that I can then bolt through my final base so it should be strong enough. I will be strengthening the support bits by slipping brass tube over it, thats what I did on the Ma.k dio, and yeah that just about worked out, but more by luck than judgement! :)

Coolio.

I've never seen something like this done before, so it will be pretty cool watching this progress.

Also, when are you going to build the Drocken Labor? I want to see that too.

Glad to be showing something a bit different here, thanks for the interest! And wow yeah good spot! The Brocken was bought ages ago, still waiting for inspiration on that one, was never intending to build it OOB though. I bought it to do as a spectral knight golem with a cape and dark filis gris armor with a tiny 15mm knight on a quest riding at him! But I only do one project at a time and it just kept getting pushed back

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this is going to be a spectacular build

I hope so! :)

Looking forward to seeing more progress.

Should be some soon Matt, slow start on this as the family has a does of flu including the little one which means no sleep on top of it! But tomorrow I'll start the blocking process and get the ball properly rolling on this

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Thanks mate!

Just a couple of pics to show a little progress, ive wrapped thin guage armature wire around it for added strength.

 

35075726493_456a09c10a_c.jpg20160209_133047 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

And I've started blocking it out with foil, wrapping it as tightly as i can so its not soft which can cause cracking later.

 

35496967500_5772dbc755_c.jpg20160209_135001 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

Not going to bulk him out much more than this, just a bit more round his middle and a ball for his head.

Basically the purpose of this is to keep the amount of clay you need to a minimum, which obviously saves clay but more importantly ensures an even bake by avoided thick layers of sculpey.

Next I'll finish off the blocking then attach it to the armature support after I've bent it into its pose.

Thanks for looking, more soon :)

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Quick update! Got the armature finished, finished blocking it out and wrapped a bit more wire tightly around the abdomen for added strength and to keep the foil in place.

Then i bolted him on to the stand and bent him into his pose, and im really happy with it.

 

35715672632_41d36aafb7_c.jpg20160210_134217 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

35753590071_eed29e49e1_c.jpg20160210_134237 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

35496949990_9e7c791f46_c.jpg20160210_134247 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

So I can start adding clay, im going to start with the head and torso, so next up will be the head.

Thanks for looking, more soon :)

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Started laying down some clay,im using sculpey firm and an array of tools! Still waiting on some loop cutters to arrive though but there not necessary at this rough stage.

 

35884828985_f1ffdaf62e_c.jpg20160211_132717 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

Sculpey is quite solid and a little brittle when you first get a piece off, in cutting strips off with my scalpel and working it in my hands till its soft and not cracking when bent.

 

35715649162_678762b00b_c.jpg20160211_133310 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

Then i started adding the clay to build up the head and neck

 

35715667432_cb8d7f906c_c.jpg20160211_134618 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

35075686163_2405605c9b_c.jpg20160212_131115 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

Then marked out my facial proportions just as a guide, and begin shaping the face.

 

35884784475_4aec080793_c.jpg20160212_132957 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

35753528161_49be3da155_c.jpg20160212_133714 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

35844013326_207a151db2_c.jpg20160212_134714 by Nick Frost, on Flickr

 

Its very rough at this stage, this is basically me sketching and getting a feel for the clay, will add the mouth and eyelids next and begin shaping the brow into a scowl.

Have to say im having so much fun doing this, its very relaxing and nice to know if you screw up you just rework the clay.

Thanks for looking, more soon :)

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thanks for showing us how you do your sculpting. Right now, it looks a little.....creepy, but I know it'll look a lot different later on.

One of those pictures where you've marker out where the facial features will go reminded me of the character from Dead Space.

Looking forward to seeing more of this

MH

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