semi-new to sculpting

[Cretaceous Crab]

Okay, so I did a little sculpting in college, which was 13 yrs ago. But it really wasn't my focus and the only figure I made with a wire armature (which was a human figure), we didn't finish.

I'm working on a series of repainted figures, but unfortunately for one of the genera, Paralititan, there just isn't a current figure on the market that I like. So I think I'm going to try and sculpt one. It would probably be approx. 1:40-1:50 scale, comparable to the Safari LTD Carcharodontosaurus and the new Schleich Spinosaurus.

Any advise or insight would be much appreciated. Right now, I'd like to hear preferred choices of clay, what kind of wire to do for a frame-support.

[Justin_]

How big would a Paralititan at that scale be?
If it is too big to fit in an oven that will rule out polymer clay like Sculpey or Fimo etc. although Sculpey is probably the nicest clay to work with.
For the armature, what tools and materials, including glues, do you have around at home already? Coat hanger wire would be good if you've got tools strong enough for cutting and bending it. Lengths of thinner wire can be twisted together to make them stronger if necessary. You could use wood for the torso and drill it to insert wires for the limbs, tail and neck.

[indohyus]

Analyse the fossils. Start with the skeleton, then work out the musculature and organ placement, then finish with the skin.

[Kayakasaurus]

It's worth getting aluminum armature wire for the ease of bending it. I buy 1/8" and 1/16" Jack Richeson wire on amazon. Then pack it with tin foil to finish the armature. Super Sculpey Medium/firm is one of the best polymer clays for details, other Sculpey clays are too soft. But before that step a layer of Original Sculpey is good for going directly onto the armature because it sticks well and is less costly.

For tools: ball tip, rubber tip, dull blade like tip, needle tip, or home made texture stamp.
I find and print out skeletals by googling them. If the neck doesn't fit in the oven you could bake it on its side after the body has been baked.

[Newt]

Paralatitan is a big beast. A 1:40 or 1:50 scale one would definitely not fit in my oven. If I were making this sculpture, I would plan on making it in pieces - at least three, with the head and neck as one, the tail as another, and the torso and limbs as a third. The limbs might need to be separate too, depending on your oven's size.


There are several ways to do this. You could just make a one-piece armature and cut the sculpture apart when it's ready to bake. My preference is to make joints with square brass tubing that you can easily slip together and apart.


Alternatively, you could avoid the baking issue by sculpting in an epoxy medium such as Apoxie or Magicsculpt. They're more difficult to work with than polymer clay, but you can get good results (I think this is what Doug Watson uses).

[Takama]

How big would a Paralititan at that scale be?
If it is too big to fit in an oven that will rule out polymer clay like Sculpey or Fimo etc. although Sculpey is probably the nicest clay to work with.
For the armature, what tools and materials, including glues, do you have around at home already? Coat hanger wire would be good if you've got tools strong enough for cutting and bending it. Lengths of thinner wire can be twisted together to make them stronger if necessary. You could use wood for the torso and drill it to insert wires for the limbs, tail and neck.

Well 1:40 is a scale we often see as being 1 inch = 1 meter.  And Paralititan is a variable when it comes to size etimates, due to its fragmentary nature.

from what i read this dinosaur is anywhere from 26 to 32 meters in length, depending on who you ask.

That being said, at 1:40 it would be anywhere from 26 to 32 inches long, or 66 to 81 Centimeters

[Tyto_Theropod]

This is speaking as someone who's only ever modded figures rather than made a full original sculpt, but don't underestimate the value of ordinary household objects when it comes to sculpting detail.  One of my favourite weapons of choice is the humble wooden cocktail stick/toothpick.  They're cheap and very versatile in the textures you can create with them.  Also, because I am sculpting onto existing figures, I work with two-part epoxy such as Milliput and Green Stuff.  I'd think something like that would be a great option if you're making a big figure that won't fit in your oven.

[Justin_]

One of my favourite weapons of choice is the humble wooden cocktail stick/toothpick.......

Yes. They're softer than metal tools but firmer than silicone. Easy to sharpen or file down. The tips can be used for horns, claws or teeth. Also good as precision glue applicators or for painting neat little dots. I even use them in armatures for small sculpts.