WIP Sculpts

Since last year I start many projects. Today since I was photoshooting refs, I took the time to photoshoot all my work-in-progress sculpts. Some are not feauturing there because I choose to switch to digital art instead: Captain Harlock ship replica: Arcadia.

PDJ: WIP 003

WIP 002 - Armature updated (Added Joints and legs updated)

  I bought my last Y2-klay cylinders. So a total of seven Y2-klay blocks for that sculpture. Better more then less right? Don't want to go back to the store for an half of a block. In Photoshop, I add the wip002 on top of my father REF and find out that my legs were to wide. So, I decide to rework the position of the legs and lower the all armature in the same time.

REF + Armature

Armature joints

I also add joints for the arms, because you always have the plan the molding/casting stage. With my arms coming forward, I was aiming with a future problem of mold. So I decide to correct that now with the joints. I used brass tubing (didn't want to order square shape, so my joints trun a bit). Two size tubings so one enter into the other. I merge them with Epoxy Putty. I also solidify the armature in the center. Added an apple in the picture, as ref of scale (Sideshow Collectibles do that). So my scale is 1:3.

  For the head, I start with the Cx5 material, not so easy to work with. Maybe I do it wrong, but the material turn cold very fast, no time to sculpt with normal sculpting tools. I really need the waxer for it, but the tip that come with the Ultra-Waxer is not good like Adam Beanes say in his Youtube Channel. You need two others tips (video at 13min 15sec) : Small Denture (Pink) and the Half Hollenback (Black). The best price I found was on the Kerrlab site. Because you won't get charge for the shipping. 79USD a tip is like 30-40 dollars shipping on some sites. No way I will order a $100 tip. The trouble with ordering from the Kerrlab website is: they redirect you to a local distributor and mine restrict to Dentists orders only. I have a friend that is father is a dentist, so I hope I can use my contact for that. Free shipping would be the best.

  Adam do impressive sculpts with the Cx5 and a waxer, so I can do it to no? eheh. Here's the result for now. I dig the socket of the eyes to put two 12mm of wood balls has eyeballs. Should do the trick. This week, I finally plan to put the Y2-Klay on the armature and start posing it. I will let you know the result of my attempt of ordering from dentist my tips. Also soon, I will start buying for furniture for my art: jewelry workbench, magnetic lamp and a good stool, so I can remove my stuff for the dinner table. Few days off, so I should be able to do many of the thing I just said.

Cx5: Heat problem

Dorkfood Sous vide DSV

So guys, I test Cx5 look very cool in video but I try and can't get the modeling stage like clay. It's hard or liquid.

So I wrote to Adam Beane via his facebook page and he respond to me:

Hi Samuel, I have experienced this myself. Some frypans cycle hot & cold more than others. It can be very frustrating. Keeping the lid on it as much as possible can minimize the problem. Sometimes it is possible to find a "sweet spot" on the dial where the material will be just right. I recently found this device that regulates the frypan for you, to within +-1 degree. It may be interesting to you.

I listen to the youtube video Heat the Cx5 from him and find out that he use 1-1.5 lbs of cx5 in a 7 inch fry-pan. My pan is 14inch and I didn't have the equivalent amount in it. So I conclude that Cx5 is a Thermal sensitive and so it's need a proper space based on the amount we use.

Electrical Fry-pan: 7 inch

So I guess I need to find a new pan. Amazon got a 7 inch electric fry-pan for 20$. I will test it soon. Anyway, I also found out that my 14 inch fry-pan as a small gap between the top and the base. Like a molding issue. Itès not holding the heat of course because of that.

If I have trouble with the material, I will use it just for small piece, like making glasses for 1:6 figure. And I will switch to Wax like Castilene Wax. Stay tune

For now, I only got a 3" ball of cx5 as a result of the 1lbc cx5 bar I bought. 

New Tools

Adam Beane - Cx5

Hell yeah, Just receive my Cx5 material. Real fun just start. I will test it this weekend and tell you all about this new material for sculpting. If you want to learn more about Adam Beane Cx5, I advice you to check his channel on YouTube Pretty useful to give you an good idea of the possibilities.

I also both a waxer for sculpting in solid stage. I bought a Kerrlab Ultra-waxer 1 (Version 2 is available since 2010, but my store just have an version 1). Main difference between the two version is the hability for the ultra-waxer 2 to have two pens with two differents heat temperature, instead of the version 1 who has just one pen. The Ultra-waxer 2 heat to 500f but the Ultra-waxer 1 heat to 700f.

Kerrlab - Ultra-waxer 1

I also bought a electrical fry-pa, like Adam Beane recommended. Mine is 14 inch.

Proctor Silex - Electrical 14" Fry-pan