how to sculpt a hat with brim

[StefanBerlin]

Hi at all,

i´m stil trying to sculpt boonie hats for my 1:35 Vietnam Resin Figures. I don´t like the old Dragon ones in their shape. I use hornet heads and want to add some boonies in different shapes. What is the best way to start right and get the correct form. I have try it out but i´m not pleased with the results . The most problem is the brim of the hat and the right form. I use magic sculpt and it worked fine for me in other conversions like bandoleers, arms etc. But these hat´s are terrible for me.So i need some Expert tipps .

Many thanks

Stefan

 

[Einion]

You might consider doing the hat brim first using lead foil or another metal foil, cutting it to shape with a hole in the centre and then pulling it gently down over the head, doing the cap portion of the hat in MS afterwards.

Another option is to remove the top of the head at the right angle to leave a flat and lay the cut shape of the brim onto the flat area - this would work just as well with rolled putty as with foil.

One thing with putty for this kind of thing is that at this scale it's very easy for it to look too thick, but if you work thin enough to be in-scale it's very delicate and too hard to handle well. So I would advise working thicker for ease of handling, then after it has hardened scrape and sand the edge from the underside to give it a better scale thinness.

Einion

 

[1969]

I would go for the foil option as mentioned by Einion, this way you can create some creases and contours into the brim by manipulating the foil with some tweasers, this will give you some variety to each hat, scale thickness will look much better also.

Steve

 

[Anders Heintz]

Here is what I would do:

Roll out Magic Sculpt or Aves Apoxy sculpt to a paper thin sheet. Let it set up for about an hour or so and take a circular cutting guide thing (like a ruler with different diameter holes cut out to be used as template), and select the appropriate diameter circle and cut it out using a sharp scalpel blade. Now take a hole punch or metal tubing, something which is a little smaller then the diameter of the head you are using and punch a hole in the center of the cut out putty 'disc'. Mix up some fresh putty and put aside, take the putty disc, or brim, and stretch it over the head so it is nice and snug, use a few drops of super glue if you need to keep it in place. Take the fresh putty and sculpt the top of the hat, then bend the putty brim to the desired shape.

It sounds a lot more complicated then it really is. I normally roll out way too much putty anyway so I usually cut out a few brims incase one doesnt work out.

Lead foil is a way to do it too, but it will never look as much like clothlike material like thinnly rolled out putty will. It will not stretch over the head and unless you cut out a perfect fit for the head in the lead foil it will not fit properly without major putty work.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Here is what I would do:

Roll out Magic Sculpt or Aves Apoxy sculpt to a paper thin sheet. Let it set up for about an hour or so and take a circular cutting guide thing (like a ruler with different diameter holes cut out to be used as template), and select the appropriate diameter circle and cut it out using a sharp scalpel blade. Now take a hole punch or metal tubing, something which is a little smaller then the diameter of the head you are using and punch a hole in the center of the cut out putty 'disc'. Mix up some fresh putty and put aside, take the putty disc, or brim, and stretch it over the head so it is nice and snug, use a few drops of super glue if you need to keep it in place. Take the fresh putty and sculpt the top of the hat, then bend the putty brim to the desired shape.

It sounds a lot more complicated then it really is. I normally roll out way too much putty anyway so I usually cut out a few brims incase one doesnt work out.

Lead foil is a way to do it too, but it will never look as much like clothlike material like thinnly rolled out putty will. It will not stretch over the head and unless you cut out a perfect fit for the head in the lead foil it will not fit properly without major putty work.

Anders suggestions is great, I will only add that adding a part of mixed Duro to the already mixed Magic Sculpt, about 20-40% will make it easier to roll out really flat.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[garyjd]

Here's another method that works on small and large scale figures. The sbs is for a tricorn, but should work for floppy hats as well.~Gary

http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13120&page=4

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Here's another method that works on small and large scale figures. The sbs is for a tricorn, but should work for floppy hats as well.~Gary

http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13120&page=4

Thanks for reminding me about that thread, Gary!

Theres lot of stuff to be learned from it.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

 

[Anders Heintz]

I was looking at that head and tricorn the other day! Need to finish that project really, its a great head !

 

[garyjd]

I was looking at that head and tricorn the other day! Need to finish that project really, its a great head !

You remembered!

It will be nice to see what you do with it. ~Gary

 

[StefanBerlin]

Wow, so many answers in so short time. Many thanks to all of you. I love this forum. You guys are great. Great link Gary. I have exatly search for such a to do guide. Thank you very much. I have try out the lead foil method and the fit is a little problem. It´s great for weapon slings or weg gear etc. but I think it´s more work with that foil for the brim than to make it with putty. It will try out Anders very good user guide . Sounds very good to me and i will try it out. I have seen many great work from Luc Klinkers, Vladimir Demchenko etc. who´s work is great or from you Anders and your other guys. In my opinion it looks so naturally and smooth with putty at all and i´m fascinated how you make these thinks. The how to do Info from Anders is great so it´s on me to try it out. So far I have taken the old Dragon bush hats and use only the brim and than made a new top from Magic sculp. It looks very good for me and was a great improve. But they look identical. But now i will try out to do a brim or better a whole hat by myself but with your great infos gentleman i´m confident to have success.

Many greetings to all and once more thanks for the help.

Stefan

 

[carl reid]

There is couple of ways you can do it;

You can either make the peak seperate and add it to the piece, or cut the top of the head off made flat sheet add to the head and replace the top of the head or remake the hat.

Peaks are always difficult to add afterwards. I would remove the top of the head add the peak and rebuild the hat.

Another way would be to make a paper template, roll out your medium to the desired thickness. and cut out the same shape using the template, when the medium is just going off (hard) bend into shape, tack it to the head, leave it to cure fully, then clean it up using files and variuos tools.

I hope this helps a little. But with the replies you have recieved you be able create the desired effect.

Carl