JMGraham Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 My next crew is going to be a Dreamer crew, and I wanted to do something neat with the bases. As such, I decided on a nightmare theme. I was mainly inspired by the beast that I sculpted for the Walpurgis Night tournament, and the bases I had done for a previous Daemon army. I wanted to avoid spikes, as they can break off easily, and stuck with an easy-to-sculpt more 2-d design of eyeballs and mouths. I sculpted up the following bases in greenstuff and magic sculp (the black stuff). I didn't have any plans on using any 40mm bases, but reckoned Wyrd might come out with something in the future, and didn't want to limit myself. I have some RTV silicone left from a previous project, but wanted results fast, so I used a product called Amazing Mold Putty ( http://amazingmoldputty.com/ ). You can buy this for $20 at Michaels, or Hobby Lobby in the states. Given that you can easily get a 40 to 50% off coupon for Michaels, it'll cost you no more than 10 or 12 dollars for a fair amount of mold material. To call this stuff amazing really sells it short. It's an easy to use 2 part putty that you knead together in a 1:1 ratio, and press it on whatever you want to mold. It fully cures in about 25 minutes, doesn't stick to anything, and is completely food-safe. I could use this stuff to make "nightmare chocolates" or "nightmare soap" if I wanted to. Heck, now that I've thought of it, I probably will! I've cast resin and plaster in molds like these before with no problems. Not my go-to-mold for lots of detailed castings, but for simple things like this, it's perfect. Next, I cast up a slew of 30 and 50mm bases using a 2-part resin from TAP plastics. It has a very low viscocity, and tends to be pretty forgiving when it comes to bubbles - the stuff is ALMOST water-thin. The final casts have some bubbles, particularly around the teeth. For my purposes, it doesn't matter - they just make the teeth look more jagged and rotten. However, if I really wanted to do things right, I might use some talcum powder on the molds before casting or (better yet) use a vacuum chamber (which I don't have). The final bases look like this: All things considered, I was pleased as punch with how they turned out. It was a quick project, as well. I sculpted them in one evening, and made the molds and cast them over the course of one day, doing plenty of chores, quality-time-with kids, and errands in between. A really easy project, and I encourage anyone wanting to give casting a try to start with something simple like this! I'd love to do a Hamelin crew one day, and am already plotting what kind of vermin-infested bases I could do for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Alleycat Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Those look really spiffy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvatarForm Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 You should sell them on the side to players... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genetic Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 lol i just got some of that putty last week fot making my skull bases for hamlin.. the stuff works really well. I acually made a mold box out of legos insteed of the ball method they recommended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMGraham Posted March 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Not a bad idea to do a mold box - you might end up using a bit more putty, but you could really ensure a tight fit around the model without lots of excess manipulation. @AvatarForm : Thanks, but I think I'd need access to a vacuum chamber before I started selling these! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genetic Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 yeah you do end up using more, but you do get a good impression, and since Im doing skull bases it insures im getting into all the small spaces.. and it gives me a flat surface on the top and bottom of my mold so when I pour its mostly level already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMGraham Posted March 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 I flattened the tops of mine with a flat sheet of plastic to ensure they'd sit level when casting, but yours is the more elegant solution, I think. I ended up having to make one of the 30mm molds twice because the molding putty wasn't perfectly tight around the edge of the base. Do you just use flat-topped legos to line the bottom of your mold box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DireTrollJake Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Sweet! I've been looking for something quick and easy like this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dementation Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) I would absolutly buy some for my Dreamers crew if you were selling! :clap: Edited July 19, 2011 by Dementation typo :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMGraham Posted July 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I would absolutly buy some for my Dreamers crew if you were selling! :clap: Funny that you mention that... :cool: Black Cat Bases ( http://blackcatbases.com/ ) is likely picking them up and producing them as metal base inserts. I reckon that they might be available within a month or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inquisitor Wall Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Very cool design for the bases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redd.Cohen Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Those remind of the final moments in Berserk... God, the horrors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regnak Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Those remind of the final moments in Berserk... God, the horrors. Oh what a depressing end to a great series! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadilon Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) Wow! Black Cat Bases has some awesome stuff. Anyone know of a web store like this in the US so I wouldn't get killed by the shipping? Or what about a vendor that will sell this type of stuff at GenCon? Edited July 19, 2011 by Cadilon add Gencon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinncent Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 This is very nice, especially will be fit to Insidous Madness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannibalBob Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Wow! Black Cat Bases has some awesome stuff. Anyone know of a web store like this in the US so I wouldn't get killed by the shipping? Or what about a vendor that will sell this type of stuff at GenCon? I am wondering the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMGraham Posted October 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Yea! The base inserts are now available. I'm not ashamed to admit to a certain amount of giddy joy at holding something I sculpted cast in metal for the first time. http://blackcatbases.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=444_618_676 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huang Da Wei Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 First time I have heard of blackcat and they are only 45 minutes away from me. some great looking stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaehl Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Great work man loving it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterdita Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Really cool project, thatnks for all the info. Grats on having something picked up for production! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Those metal casts look great. Nice to be "published" I assume. : ) Good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMGraham Posted October 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Thanks, all! To me, Blackcat is the quintessential "didn't know I needed to have it until I saw it, now I can't live without it" company. Tons of crazy, unique, and inspired stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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