Tools

 

Figure Sculpting Tools

(Show No.3)

Every sculptor will find there own favourite tools and generally once they have a tool they like they will use it for virtually all of their sculpting. I personally, am always looking for new sculpting tools, they and I know alot of sculptors are continously looking for the Holy Grail of tools, thast one tool that will give them the edge, make them a better sculptor and help them raise their sculpting to the next level.

Well, unfortunately, it doesn't work that way, as with all things it is the skill of the sculptor not the quality of the tool that really counts. That's not to say that good tools are not important, they are, and when you find a tool you are really happy with, look after it and make sure you have a spare one.

There are many sculpting tools available and they come in all shapes and sizes. I usually pick up any new ones I see to give them a try and see if I enjoy using them. Consequently I have piles of tools lying around that I do not use.

The main tool I use is actually home-made, and this is very often the case with professional sculptors. They will have an idea of exactly what they are looking for but as they can't find it they will make their own.

To make my sculpting tool I took a piece of 2mm thick stainless steel sheet and using an industrial guillotine I cut a strip around 5mm wide by 120mm long. Then using a file I shaped one end into curved, knife like blade, that came to a nice sharp point. I filed the curved edge to a sharp knife edge and then sanded and polished the whole tip on a silver-smiths polishing machine to a smooth shiny finish.

There are many commercial tools with a very similar shape to the one I made, but they are either too broad or the handles are too long and they are not well balanced when I hold them. Obviously equipment like the guillotine or polishing machines are not available to everyone. So it is perfectly reasonable to take a bought tool and alter it to your own preferences. With a good file and fine wet and dry paper it is fairly straight forward to alter the shape of your sculpting tool to your own taste.

I have very often used a craft knife blade, that has been re-shaped a little, and this works very well.

Clearly, until you have gained some experience with sculpting your own figures there is no point in trying to make your own tools. So what is available commercially?

Games Workshop have a very good sculpting tool, that I have used quite regularly and is pretty well designed, it has a knife type blade at one end that can be used for most sculpting jobs and a small curved shape at the other end that is great for getting into tight spots.

Many craft shops will sell what are known as "wax carving" tools, and these are generally ideal for figure sculpting.

Another option you can try, is to speak to your dentist when you next have to visit him. Many of the stainless steel tools dentists use are ideal for sculpting with, and very often dentists disgard tools that have lost a point, or are slightly blunt. If you manage to get some old dental tools, just try not to think about where those tools have been used before you got them.

 

The Pin Vice

(Show No.2)

Over the years I have found a humble pin vice to be a invaluable tool for many projects. A pin vice is a small hand held tool that is more or less just handle. The basic pin vice is a metal tube that, at one end (or occasioannly both ends), has a collet which can hold small drills, taps, reamers, scribes or wire. The pin vice is usually supplied with a series of different collets to allow it to hold various sizes of drill bit etc.
For model makers the pin vice is a vital tool for drilling small holes that are too awkward or to delicate to use a power drill.

For example, I am converting a figure. I cut the figures arm off and want to re-sculpt a new arm on in a different position. Where I have cut the arm off I use the pin vice to drill a 1mm diameter hole into the torso of the figure. I can then glue in some 1mm diameter wire that I can bend in to shape to sculpt the new arm over.

There is a good article on how to drill and pin figures on the Total Model website (that is TotalModels.co.uk).

There are various designs of pin vice available, as I mentioned before, some have collets at both ends. Some have a simple knurled shaft, that is designed to go into larger power tools.

The best kind, I have found have a swivel head or ball shaped handle that fits into the palm of your hand and allows you to hold the vice between your fingers. This gives you great control over the pressure you are applying with the drill bit.

I bought my pin vice from Squires Tools, who have an excellent model makers tools mail order catalogue. However they do not have an online catalogue at the moment so for a selection of different pin vices you can check out Shesto Ltd in the UK or in the US Galeforce Nine (www.gf9.com) has a nice ball handled pin vice or Micro-Mark (www.micromark.com) have some alternatives.

Electric Toothbrush Sander

(Show No.1)

I saw this gadget on a German modelmaking website some time ago and had to try it out. I went down to the local Poundland shop and bought a cheap electric toothbrush. I then cut off the bristles with a craft knife, leaving the vibrating head intact. To this, I stuck a 10mm long piece of aluminium rod with epoxy adhesive. Then using double sided tape I stuck some wet and dry paper on the end of the rod.
There you have it a miniature electric sander, I have used it several times to clean up plastic kit pieces that I could not get to in any other way. Give it a try and see how you get on.