super sculpy question

[tactile2]

Hi all...I have a quick question....

I read over the tutorial in Captain Dunsel's web site (awesome by the way), and I am just wondering...for those that do sculpt their own heads and use the originals (don't cast), how do you push the heads onto the bodies? Isn't that difficult? I have sculpted with polymer clay before, and once it hardens, it's pretty hard! Unlike the original mego heads whose neck plugs have some give considering they are made out of rubber.

I would like to begin sculpting a few heads, but I wanted to run this question by all of the experts first. After all, I want the head to be attached securely, and I want to be able to turn the head from side to side.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Kevin

PS: I have a few ideas for some customs already...what would some of you like to see?? Any obscure characters not yet customed?

PSS: They used to have a customizing section in Wizard magazine....I had two of my submissions published, and I actually won a competition with my Galactus entry which I customized out of a 12" GI JOE figure! That was back in the early 90's....yeesh...gettin' old!

[chalwa]

Ideas...

How about the original Guardian or the Clock or the Red Bee.
Hey, a nice Spirit of '76 would be cool!
What issue were you published?
That sounds familiar.

bestest

[Mego Milk]

I've been practicing with Super Sculpy too. As far as the hardened heads, I usually have to carve and chip away at the neck plug until it fits the body. Sometimes it fits perfect, yet sometimes, I have to glue the head in place so it doesn't fall off when I pick up the figure. I'm not sure how to make it fit so it can still turn...maybe a long neckplug? Hope I helped ya.

[BlackKnight]

I would like to see a cool Catman head from Secret Six.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I use Super Sculpey to make the base for a lot of my heads, then I build it up with epoxy putty, run a mold, and cast the actual parts I use on a figure out of resin. S. Sculpey gets REAL hard when it's cured, and I find it tough to work with.

I usually notch the plug on the final head and just sorta work it into the neck hole. For ones that absolutely WILL not fit I screw a small eyebolt into the neck and tie it off to the hip piece cross bar with elasticized cord.

Don C.

[Mikey]

When I used to do customs .......

After the head was painted and ready to go .....

I would disassemble the body (usually a T-2 body) ......

Put a bowl of water in my microwave and cook for a few minutes .....

Take the water out and submerge ONLY THE TORSO of the body ... (usually takes a good 5 minutes)....

When the torso is soft (after about 3 minutes) --- plunk the head on.

DON'T re-assemble the body until everything is totally dry .... maybe a few hours.

Always worked for me... but don't burn your fingers

[Bizarro Amy]

I really wouldn't use the original Sculpy heads. The hardened product is too fragile.

[tactile2]

Hey all!!

Thanks for the replies! Firstly, I donot remember the issue my Galactus was in...It was in between 93 and 95 I think. If I dig out the magazine I will scan and post.

Another question....what do artists generally charge to create an original head?

Thanks!

Kev

[Dave Mc]

Hey Kev,

I'm with Don (CTC) and Amy (Del) on this one. Cast it after you've sculpted it. It's much easier to work with, paint, and attach. Plus, if there is an accident, a sculpey head is bound to shatter, where a resin head will probably only get the paint chipped. Even if it does break, you have the mold to just cast another.

As for what artist charge to do a head, I've heard a few working in the range of $300-$400 per sculpt.

[tactile2]

Good point Dave...

[tothebat-tricycle!]

once I sculpt a neck-plug on a head I just shove it in the body and it works perfectly every time, though sometimes it's too big and I need to chip away at it a little