Figure Scratchbuilding and Conversion 101 #1

[Fishcarver]

Hi Gang! In this thread, I 'll attempt to demonstrate the process of converting and scratchbuilding your own figures for your aircraft and armor pieces, using readily-available parts and common modelling materials.

Our project is going to be two (maybe four, if I get ambitious!) Imperial Japanese pilots, in both Army and Navy flying kit, in 1/32 (54mm) scale. These guys will look fine with 1:33 scale planes.

The first step is to assemble our basic materials: at rear, MOST IMPORTANT, our reference material (thanks, Mike!). From the foreground left, we have: odd leftover kit parts, brass sheet, fine wire, adhesives,a copper scouring pad (just wait, B & G!), epoxy putty, a set of Airfix Multipose Japanese Infantry figures (for the heads/facial expressions primarily), and an Alumilite mini-casting resin kit. Last but not least, common representative modeling tools. Not seen (my mistake) is a Dremel rotary tool. I have also made up a very rudimentary "cockpit tub" so that I can get the figure in a proper pose.

What I propose to do here is this:
1. Prepare the figure for conversion, including produce 1-off or unique parts
2. demonstrate 1-sided mould making
3. convert the figure
4. cast some replicas (2-sided mold)
5. Paint the original figure, plus one of the replicas.

Please check your blowtorches and spare garden produce at the door. I am going to learn as much from this exercise as you will, I hope.

The adventure will continue.......(and now, let us pray!)

Jim

PS: Yes, Dimas, it's the same old Tractor plant!

[dimas Karabas]

It is looking good! Did you get my email with reference stuff?

[Fishcarver]

Dimas: Check your PMs.
Jim

[Fishcarver]

We assemble some reference material first of all.

We will be using the AIRFIX 1/32 (54 mm) Multipose Japanese Infantry figure set as a basis.

Thanks to "Gremir Mike", we have a scale aircraft seat around which to work.

Now the fun begins!

Jim

[Lex]

Hooray! Scratchbuild figures! And Japanese pilots too!! I'm looking foward to this build!!

[Fishcarver]

Lex: Know this going in: these figs are gonna be plastic, epoxy and Brillo pads....I kid you not!!

Jim

[Fishcarver]

A representative 1:33 cockpit tub has been noodled up.


We are going to do this in 3 stages:

First: Seated Pilot Figure, IJN: (1/32 scale =54 mm = close enough for Gov't work in 1:33)

Background is 1/4" graph paper.


First, let's select a good pose from our Airfix Multipose figure set.

We also need a paracute pack to pad out the seat in our cockpit tub.

The first step involves cutting the figure apart and re-assembling it into a seated pose appropriate for the 1:33 cockpit tub.

The tan stuff is epoxy putty, which we use to fill and build up necessary areas.

[Fishcarver]

We use bits of plastic card to build up the life jacket.

[Lex]

Nice, this build is pretty small... Could we have an object to compare the scale of the figure? --Or, what size are the grids in the background?

[Fishcarver]

Lex: Sorry!! The figure is 54 mm = 1/32 scale, and the grid squares are 1/4 " = 6mm.

Should have stated this going in. I have edited my post accordingly.

Do not ever get old. It is a p****r.

Jim

[Fishcarver]

The "hachimaki" scarf is made from a piece of facial tissue,(Kleenex) that has first been impregnated with diluted white glue and allowed to dry. The "hinomaru" and characters were then done with a felt-tip pen. The hachimaki is then folded, dampened with diluted white glue, and set into place on the helmet.

The goggles are made from two pieces of 1/8 " (3mm) card punchings, glued to some strands from a Brillo pad, glued to the helmet and carefully painted.

[Stev0]

Fish... focus ... FOOOOOCUUUUSSS

=P

Shoot it further back.

[Fishcarver]

Steve:

I hear ya, bro.

So, somebody is actually reading this post?

Great!!

I'll replace all pix shortly!

Jim

[Lex]

So, somebody is actually reading this post?

Of course, we had long needed to stuff somebody into our aircraft's cockpits ^^

[Stev0]

Yeah these planes don't fly themselves... perhaps the Kremlin can provide you with a photography team. Great now we have pictures of a bunch of guys waving big red flags instead of figures.