Smartypants,

I could sit here and tell you the stories of the disasters and successes in casting all night. But I won't.  I will tell you this, with each experiment casting and molding is another block in the learning process in this hobby. Keep a log of all your attempts and note all the successes and failures. This is chemistry we are dealing with. Just because the instructions say to mix this with that does not account for climate and humidity and any other elements that could affect the mold and casting process. I am still learning and asking questions everyday. I keep trying new stuff as soon as I hear about it. Once you find what works for you, practice that until you find something better. Hang in there, you're doing fine.  Also, see if your school's art teacher could help you out with some supervision until you feel comfortable doing it at home. And, as always, you can ask us for help anytime.

Good luck,

Jedi_Master_Ben

Hey everyone,

I just added the changes to the Verpine head. I narrowed the head, added more detail, added the manuables and the anttennas. Check out the latest image posted in the list. Now that I have this done, I can now focus on these female Twe'lik heads.

Until next posting,

Jedi_Master_Ben

Hey everyone,

Bantha5 is not on this thread. He visits Rebelscum.com forum. He is one of the master wax sculptors out there. Here is his Gargan up for auction today.

http://cgi.ebay.com/GARGAN-UNPRODUCED-POTF-Custom-Vintage-Star-Wars-Figure_W0QQitemZ6047202435QQcategoryZ52335QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

His website is: http://users.adelphia.net/~rshaw007/

I have talked to him many of times on consulting on our sculpture and getting me to look into wax sculpting as the next stage in sculpting and casting. His work is extremely professional looking.

I hope this helps.

Jedi_Master_Ben

Smartypants,

It does sonund like you used to much vaseline. I nomally use a mold release that is in a powder form. Almost like babypowder, but with out the shine. The other sollution is to get a mold release agent that is in the form of an airasol can. Its vaseline in a spray can. All you want to do is give it a quick coat, no more than one to two passes of the mold so you have it covered. No dripping, or pooling of this stuff or you loose detail. I hope this helps.

Jedi_Master_Ben

Hey everyone,

As I am sitting here sculpting my alien heads, I had a thought. Hasbro is leaning towards ball jointed heads on almost every new figure thats comming out this year as well as last year. I was wondering, would it be to our advantage if we had a neck post conversion kit that would make the older peg bodies into ball joint bodies. For example, look at the break  down of this Bib Fortuna figure.



Notice that the neck is a peg that also a ball joint. I propose that we take the mantel and make a kit that would do the same thing so we can boil and pob the older head, then place the neck post kit in its place and slap on a ball jointed head. The question would be, who will step up and take on this project. I think we could greatly benifit from this.

Jedi_Master_Ben

Yeah, baby, yeah !!! Thats so shagalicous

All kiding aside, that would be a good chalenge. This little hottie from Revenge of the Sith would be cool and this is the first I have see her from the neck down. All ofter images of her have been just the head. Great refrence photo. If we do this one, is there a back side of her so we get the full effect  of the costume?

I still say we should do the gladiators for the MCC challenge. If we decide to let this one slide in favor of the Vong, then is it OK we set the gladiators for May's MCC challenge?

Jedi_Master_Ben

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to update the list withh the Verpine head WIP image and not to waist a posting, here is a Verpine Jedi that I put together.



I used the Geneosius pilot body since that was the only one that had a ball joint. I used this body because it best fit the look of this alien that I saw in the refrence pictures. Now I know I am missing the attenna and manuables, don't worry, this only a WIP. Let me know what you think.

I will be working on the female Twi'lek heads this weekend and shoud be posting images as I finish a rough sculpt.

See you all later,

Jedi_Master_Ben

Hey everyone,

I have a quick update and image for you today. I have a WIP Cheyang head from Farscape posted over at the alien head progress thread. Here is the head on whats left of the Ask Aak figure. Consider this to be a Cheyang Senator.




This one I need your input on baddly. I sculpted the helmet off seeing that customizers would want the choice of helmet or non-helmet like the picture above. I found this poduction still of the mask under construction which allowed me to create a clean head without any accessories sculpted on it. Also, once casted I could go back and sculpt the helmet on and make a seperate cast and two versions. So, I am asking you all, what would you recommend I should do with this head?

Thanks for your input,

Jedi_Master_Ben