"Weapons!" Topic

One of my biggest issues with sculpting minis is making the weapons. Does anyone have any info/videos/blogs on sculpting weapons from Milliput, metal, or plasticard etc?

Would you consider is a cop-out to buy the weapons packs many manufacturers provide?

I'm certainly not clever enough to sculpt figures but I think the weapons (s-ms? poll-axes?) would be the hardest part.

I would consider that but then everyones weapons would look fairly similar ;) So I was trying to learn how to make custom weapons etc, the right way.

If I was to 3d print weapons do they stand up to the heat of the molding process? If I was to send a weapons sculpt to Shapeways for example. Does anyone also have experience with that? It takes a while for them to send you stuff but I would just make a slew of weapons in 3d ahead of time.

I would much rather sculpt them at home though.

Also, if I was to flatten Milliput, what does it NOT stick to? ;) I want to flatten it and let it dry. Baking paper?

here is a shot of the flattened milliput I am waiting for it to cure. Then I think the process is to use a jewelers saw, and maybe files (?) to carve in some details? Saw for a sword etc for example. Anyone have any info/help on this?

But what I am confused at is if I have an axe when do I put the metal tubing into the milliput? after or before it cures. Or do I carve out the blade of the axe then greenstuff the handle to the blade…?

Here is what I have so far. Smoothed it with water. I think the milliput I bought from Hobby Lobby is old.

the white material used by shapeways can be vulcanised in a low temp mould I have moulded several things from it.

Is that the strong flexible material? It seems to have little bumps all over it, but I think there is a better, more expensive version of it they have.

I use Magic Sculpt. It mixes and cleans with water. When dry it is almost concrete hard. Water will smooth it while you use it. When you are done with shaping it, put it under a 60 watt bulb for 20 and it is cured. It will be very hot. Cools down fast. You could also wait 24 hours for it to cure naturally.

Use wax paper to put the putty on while you work with it.

Then I think the process is to use a jewelers saw, and maybe files (?) to carve in some details? Saw for a sword etc for example. Anyone have any info/help on this?

But what I am confused at is if I have an axe when do I put the metal tubing into the milliput? after or before it cures. Or do I carve out the blade of the axe then greenstuff the handle to the blade…?

If you are making fairly large, thick weapons you can make the blades separately, then drill into them and attach them to the armature wire. That makes it easier to carve and file the cured Milliput into the shape you want. Just go carefully with the drilling – you can break them easily!

An alternative is to roughly shape the Milliput straight onto the armature, let it cure, then use files and sandpaper to smooth and shape it.
That's what I did here:

Oh, and if you are wanting to flatten Milliput, it doesn't stick to acetate – and acetate is flexible, so it peels off easily too.

cheers
Michael

Awesome! Thanks for the suggestions. I came back from lunch and the milliput is hard enough to be cut out. I have small files and I need to get some small grain sandpaper I guess.

I was able to go to hobby lobby to pick up this small detail diagonal cutter but I have yet to find a jewelry saw. I am going to try scalpels to cut through the milliput too so maybe the handheld jewelers saw isnt needed.

So far I have a bunch of cut up milliput and really nothing good forming into a weapon. lol

I recommend getting a few sheets of plasticard from a hobby store. The plastic sheets can be cut easily with a knife and glued together to form weapons of any kind.

But as always, it´s a matter of practice until you get the knack and the weapons start looking good :)

What era and scale are you thinking of? I have some sci-fi weapons packs in 15mm on my Shapeways store that you are welcome to use in your sculpts, even for commercial purposes.

link

I have some plasticard that I tried to snip or cut and it didnt work out too well. I think I need to cut out an overall basic shape and file down from there though. I am trying to get a detailed cut.

I've thought about making some weapons via shapeways as well. They would be things like axes and swords so I might model a few up and send them in. I am hoping they would take the heat from the vulcanizer though.

I make a rough shape with milliput with a chunk to hold on to when dry, I file it to a more exact shape then finish with an exacto blade as a scaper. they are better than a scalpel as they are stronger.
Robi Baker