Sculptor / Model Maker / Character Concept
London UK
Making of - Fighting figures
Reinforced steel armature- heat bent and welded together. Bolt welded at an angle and screwed onto strong base for balance.
Welded steel tubing to act as socket for removable parts - compressed to create oval - and solid wire filed to fit so it doesn't spin in place.
Anatomy blocking out to get the basic forms laid out.
added sockets for the heads to attach and remain removable for casting.
development of sculpture porgress - refining form
close up of detailing in feet
adding texture and final detailing before preparing to mould.
facial expressions are a challenge and I went through several iterations to land an expression I was happy with - the smallest alteration can change the mood of the character.
removed heads and set into plasteline with bleeders at the back of the heads to allow air bubbles to escape when casting.
the remaining core structure has reduced undercuts so will be achievable as 2-part mould process.
removable limbs placed to be efficient in space and appropriate for casting to reduce air bubbles.
walled up using buff clay, bleeders at high points to reduce air bubbles, have also allowed for two pour holes in case of restriction in joining area.
once fully moulded, the original sculpt is removed and stripped of clay. Then the original armature is placed back into the mould to give cast strength
Cast in fast cast - very few air bubbles and detail picked up well.
Some small air bubbles but came out to a high standard - can be fixed using milliput.
silicone mould to pick up detail and fibreglass jacket for strength.
Details that would otherwise have not worked in the moulding and casting process due to undercuts are added later using milliput.
floaty fabric made with copper mesh. All primed in grey the spray painted off-white.
For weight and strength the core of the base was aluminium so piece is balanced evenly
