The area inside the lines will be carved down.

The arm reattached with some of the material on the arm carved away.

Using the photos as a reference i draw in or darken in the areas that have folds. These are the areas that will be carved out.

Sorry I used too light a background for this one.

The razor blade was ued to remove material in the creation of the deeper folds. While Aves carves easily care still must be taken when using new (or old) blades. Always try to care or position the blade where it is away from you. The X-acto was used for smaller folds and the files for smaller deeper folds and creases. The rougher sandpaper helps to contour the sleeves quicker and the finer sandpaper takes out the texture left by the rougher paper.

Though the arm does require some fine tuning here it is on the figure.

Note the fullness in the elbow.

Another view.

Gary,
Pretty cool. Thanks for posting, I'm looking forward to seeing more of the figure come together. These large scale figures are really interesting to me, but kind of scary to think about doing because I have this feeling that they are much more demanding than the small stuff I'm used to.

Ray

Gary your are truly a great sculptor.... Thanks again for all your hard work on this and answering all of the personal request (the eye and mouth sbs's)

Tor

I think as long as you pay attention to the figure's proportions you should have not trouble. You're using a lot more material and have to have a gameplan. especially if you're using putty.~Gary

Tor, Thank you very much. I help out where and ever possible. Though sbs's can be of some help, it's what works best for you that counts.~Gary

I hope to be able to post more pictures sometime later this week. I've had all this week taken up remodelling my bathroom and do not see things slowing down until possibly this weekend. This is on top of working 3rd shift at the P O. ~Gary

Gary,
I've been thinking about large scale figures, (maybe dreaming) a lot lately so I may just have to try one sometime. Have to be a 'perfect' subject and simple post though for a first, perfect being none-too-complicated in equipment and clothing.

Thanks,

Ray

Ray, There are several simple subjects with little or no equipment that would make nice miniatures. I would not limit myself to just military subjects. Given the variety of fashons available a civilian figure could be just as interesting.~Gary

Gary - Sculpting the arm separately to achieve a specific effect - - WHOODATHUNKIT? Seriously - you're teaching me that sculpting is 4/6ths thinking and planning, 1/6th materials and tools, and only about 1/6th actually sculpting, carving, etc.

Have you ever tried making arms/sleeves by (1) first roughly sculpting the arm itself trying to get the muscles more or less right and drying that thoroughly, then, (2) making the sleeve from a thin, rolled-out sheet of putty? After the sleeve is nearly dry, then I go back and put in folds, etc. Maybe it's wierd but it works for me.

All the best,
Dan

Dan, sounds like an idea. the problem for me is not only getting the putty to scale thickness but to get the folds to imitate the fabric you're reproducing. What might also be a problem is when you start sanding or carving into it. You're going to have to backfill areas you break through. I just think it ends up looking too much like what it is, a sheet of putty draped over a body or rolled around an arm.~Gary

WOW !! thank you that Excellent technique !!!. :lol:

Gary - I haven't run into problems with backfilling yet, but probably will. I think sometimes it results in putty in masquerade as clothing, but, I dunno, sometimes it seems to work OK.

All the best,
Dan

Gary,
Thanks for the tip on sculpting large scale figures. Civilians are really my specialty, I've done dozens, (mostly for the Model Railway crowd), and have only come back to doing more military stuff lately, and that mostly for a change of pace. I'll post some shots of a few of my civilian figures soon a I find the time ( read; energy) to take them.

In truth I guess the scariest thing about sculpting a large scale figure for me is the time it takes to finish anything so large. I mean how long have you been working on this particular figure? And you're by no meens unusual in needing so much time for these guys. Still, as it's another challenge I'll have to give it a go sometime.

Thanks for the posts and reply,

Ray

Dan,
I kind of like the roled putty method you mention for clothing too, mostly on the torso, and when the wrinkles are wide and large. It's also handy when you want to leave the bottom open. Adding additional wrinkles isn't a probelm either, I just sculpt 'em right on using the sheet putty as a kind of 'clothing armature'. So just as you, I like the method, but not for everything.

Ray