"Bowler Derby" Topic

Any tips for sculpting hats on existing figures? Particularly the brim.

Thanks

Not the best practice ever, but I usually start with a very tiny roll/snake of putty, wrap that around the head at the brim level, then flatten it out using needle-nosed pliers. Once I have flattened it to the thickness I want, I start shaping it with other tools.

Cut the head away above the hat line so that its flat. Optionally you can drill a hole in the centre and stick a short wire pin (like a fencepost) to anchor what follows. For the brim take a ball of putty and flatten it out into a circle. You will have to experiment to get the right size of ball to give you the right size and thickness of circle. You may have to wait a while to allow the putty to harden slightly so that it doesn't stick to what you are flattening it with, if it is use a couple of bits of plastic sheet to help this ( I use a ziplock bag and my thumb and forefinger. If intending to cast strengthen with miliput mixed into the putty.

Place that on the flat part of the head in the appropriate place, probably centred on the anchoring pin and push gently down.
Make sure your pin is cut so that its shorter than the crown of the hat. Place another ball of putty on the centre and gently push the edges down so they form egdes of the crown on the hat. Remember the inner brim and crown should follow the circumference of the head the hat sits on. Too big and it would fall down further, too small and it would sit much higher up the head. Use your tool of choice (recommend colourshaper) to smooth out the shape of the hat.