Help with a conversion... need to make a hat.

[Chris '75]

I have a 1/9th give or take bust that I would like to basically add a pope's hat (papal tiara, I believe is the proper name). The bust is sanded to a bald scalp. I have some experience scratch building 1/32 - 1/72 armor/aircraft dioramas, but this is a bit out of the norm for me. I'm curious as to suggestions for medium/method to do this any one may have... plasticard sheet cut and wrapped around? apoxie sculpt? a fabric of some sort? some combination of the aforementioned?

Link to the actual head wear in question: http://img06.deviantart.net/7a69/i/...___hellfest_2013_by_wild_huntress-d6bhbta.jpg

Thanks in advance.... lite poster, but long time lurker and have learned so much from all the talented artists here and it's much appreciated from all of you!

 

[Nap]

Hi Chris ,

I am no sculptor for sure but I would probably form the inside which actually sits on the head then roll out Magi sculpt , let it nearly go off , bust a basic shape and form round the head itself , then when totally dry carefully sand to the shape you want .

When rolling out the MS it's a 2 part putty so mix well till all one colour , to stop sticking to work surface I use baby talc lightly dusted over it .

There are sculptors here ...Jimbo is rather good at hats! ....sure others will see this and give better ideas and suggestions

Don't forget to share this WIP

Happy modelling

Nap

This is the putty


And this is the type of roller

 

[Scotty]

If you google mitre you'll get better images, I'm playing with putty myself so I'm not really in a position to advise but Nap knows what he's talking about that sounds good.
All the best with it.
Scotty.

 

[Dan Morton]

Nap's suggestion is on target. You may find it easier to sand the top of the head flat and then score it. That will help hold the tiara when you get to that point. If you want to put the tiara on a scale head, I would make four or five castings of that head and work with a casting, safeguarding the original.

Hats of all kinds are pretty fun to make, but you've picked a real challenge. Do you know the actual length of the papal tiara? Probably that measurement is out on the web somewhere. Before doing anything with putty, I'd suggest using Photoshop or some other similar software to create an image of the tiara in 1/9th scale. You can use this scale image as a kind of blueprint to get the size and shape right.

Since the papal tiara is complex, if I were making it, I'd use a 50/50 mix of Kneadatite and Magic Sculpt for the basic tiara and then 80/20 for the various decorative bits. When you combine these two air-drying putties, the resulting mix has good strength, stickiness and holds shape well. I'd also suggest using lead foil and/or cardstock paper for some of the decorative parts. If you're a good carver, plastic card stock for some of the parts could be used. Many of the separate decorative parts are repeated and, rather than trying to duplicate them in putty [impossible!!!], I'd suggest having them cast in resin. There are several guys on PF who offer this service.

All the best,
Dan

 

[Nap]

Dan is the man .....

Nice one lots of great suggestions

Nap