Conversions
This page gives tips about converting miniatures, and modeling weaponry and clothing.
Modeling fur on a cape or a hat is simple enough.
First you model the basic shape of the cape (or whatever you wish to look like fur). Next you take a cocktail-pick (aka a toothpick) or something else that has a sharp pointy end (I strongly suggest NOT using samurai swords!). And poke in some holes in the cape. When you poke in a lot of holes, its gonna look like fur.
On this Orc I made the cape in the easy method:
You can also model something a little more difficult, but with a better result. First do the above (model shape, poke holes). Next you take the tool you used before and stretch the holes to where you want the 'grain' to be. Start at the bottom of the grain and work your way up. This is a time-consuming business, but it's worth it in the end.
This cape is done using the advanced method: (Yeah, I know the cape looks crap, but lets focus on the fur shall we?
You can also do it the hard way, and model the separate hairs of the fur, but this is time consuming, and only gives a slightly better effect.
Modeling chainmail is very identical to modeling fur. So we start out in the same way: We put on the basic shape of the chainmail. Any folds you want in there should be modeled right away. It'll be very hard to put them on later.
Now take the sharp stick you used on the fur and punch a hole in the lower right part of the green stuff. Slightly push this hole towards the right. A small round edge should appear right of the hole. This may be slightly over the edge of the chainmail, but this doesn't matter.
Next poke another hole just to the left of the one you already created. Also push to the right a bit. If continued along the green stuff, this will create a line of round edges that will look like links. Once you finished the first row, it's time to move to the next one. This time well push (and start) left.
Again work your way over the whole of the green stuff and it'll look like linked rings.
I've used this technique on my Army standard bearer:
Making a helmet can be done in a few different ways.
1: Take a helmet of an old miniature (preferably one you didn't paint, and was lying around for the interesting bits), which looks like the thing you want, and place it on your new models head. Then make sure there is no joint left, by filling it up with Milliput. Then start modeling new things onto the old helmet, like some horns or for newer model, some camouflage. What I once did was model a skull as a nose protector (again, dunno the real name).
2: Model it yourself. Do this by building it up in layers. First model the basic shape of the helmet, then add strips of Milliput around the lower edge, to make it look firm. Next you again model the horns, camouflage etc.
This is a helmet I made, I sculpted a skull on the front for decoration:
Modeling wood is easy, just take a piece of Milliput, roll it on the top of your working area, until it becomes the length and thickness you want it to be (for longer branches, put some wire in it, for support). Then place it onto the model or terrain you want it on. Then using a craftsknife or modeling tool just carve the structure into it. You do this in the length if the material, and don't make straight lines because this will look unnatural.
The shaft on this spear is modelled as I described above:
Modeling a cape onto a model is an easy and very nice way of personalising your miniatures. The easiest thing to do is model the cape directly on to the back of the model. This is much easier than making a cape in thin air (which requires either pre-forming the cape with green stuff or making an armature for it).
The first thing to do is to take some green stuff or milliput and roll some object over it to create a flat puddle of putty. Next cut the shape of the cape out of this putty and hang it onto the mini. This doesn't have to be very precise, because you'll probably have to remodel the whole thing. It just gives you a beginning point for further sculpting. Once you've done this fill up the space between the back of the mini and the cape with the left over bits of modeling putty. Then generally remodel the shape of the cape giving it a natural flowing look. You should also consider the places where folds are lickely going to be in a cape and model them on. Of course you don't have to do this like a profesional sculpter would do this, but at least let everybody know you've had a very good intention towards doing it right :) Well, that's actually it. Nothing more to be done but let it dry and give it a final work around with a sand paper to smoothen it up a bit.
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The medallions on the the cape are from the old skeleton warriors sprue from waaaay back.  And this is how it looks with paint on it.  |
