Greenstuff armour detail techniques

[jimbothemagnificent]

Hey dudes and dudettes, heres a how-to on some of the techniques I use with greenstuff.

 

I'll start with how I put detail and designs on shoulder guards, if you guys like it then I'll add a few more techniques that I use.

 

Heres a couple examples of my modeling to get you motivated:

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/100820121373.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121391.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/100820121372-1.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/nob6.jpg

 

So, for shoulder pads insignia I use a mould, so that the whole squad can match exactly. I make them out of a blob of greenstuff stuck to whatever I'm using as a palette/cutting mat at the moment. Let it dry overnight. Yes, I know it's exciting, but you'll just have to wait, patience is a virtue. Here is a couple, I'm using the one on the right for this example.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121395.jpg

 

Step 2 is to cover it in the non-stick substance of your choice. I use olive oil, because it's cheap, there's always some in the house, and because the guy in the pharmacy keeps winking at me when I buy vaseline.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121398.jpg

 

Next, mix up some more GS and slap it over the mould, press it in good. Then remove as much of non-stick stuff as you can from the back, as it needs to stick to the model.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121399.jpg

 

Peel it up oh-so-carefully.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121401.jpg

 

Admire your skills.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121402.jpg

 

Stick it to the armour, in this case a shoulder pad. Press it down to form the shape of the armour. On a complex curve like ths I find it best to put your tool at the edge of the design and pull back away from it. Take your time on this stage, it's easy to deform the design by rushing.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121403.jpg

 

Use shaping tools to repair and marks or imperfections. I like to sharpen up the edges a bit at this stage.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121404.jpg

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121405.jpg

 

I normally cut the outside edges off, just to preserve the step around the edge of the armour and have less GS to smooth out. I drown the blade in olive oil before cutting, then use a chopping motion instead of sliding the blade (cut down, not pull along), with this thin a layer of GS it's easy to crease it by pulling the blade.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121407.jpg

 

Smarten it up a bit more with your sculpting tools, lean back and bask in your own magnificence.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/120820121417.jpg

 

 

Experiment and have fun!

 

The tools I'm using in these pics were dead easy to make. Look for a youtube tutorial by Zombiesarecool painting (credit where it's due), they're just nails and pins hammered flat and stuck into bits of sprue.

[jimbothemagnificent]

Well, people seem to be reading this, so I'll keep writing.

 

Are you all sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.

 

Today I've been working on some more moulds. Since in my last post I was somewhat vague of the details of this stage;

I make them out of a blob of greenstuff

I thought I should use the opportunity to take some pics and elaborate.

 

These moulds will be squad insignia and shin decoration.

 

This first example is similar to the mould I used in the previous post, although it's for leg armour. It's also smaller and more detailed. "Good grief! Smaller?" I hear you cry! Yes, just use a smaller tool to carve it, and don't try it when you are pressed for time or in anyway suicidal/prone to violent depression. I roll the GS out thinly, and dot the basic pattern on roughly. Then, using infinite patience, join the dots, and smooth it out the best I can.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/150820121453.jpg

 

The other technique I use is significantly less frustrating and murderous-rage-inducing. I start with credit card (always ensure you have the card owner's permission), and cut it up with a sharp knife into the shape you want, in this case a thistle. I use a nailfile to shape the curves, because I'm Scottish and therefore resent spending money on tools. Roll out some greenstuff and smother it in lube.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/150820121442.jpg

 

Use a toothpick with a spot of blutack to move it into place

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/150820121444.jpg

 

Once you're happy with the positioning, press it down with the other end of the toothpick.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/150820121447.jpg

 

Carefully lever it out, I used a pin. Give yourself hearty congratulations, and leave it to dry overnight.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/150820121457.jpg

 

I'll post the results tomorrow, probably. I'm not entirely sure this will fit on a shoulder pad....

Edited August 15, 2012 by jimbothemagnificent

[jimbothemagnificent]

Here's some of the results.

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/170820121474.jpg

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/170820121477.jpg

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/170820121478.jpg

[Sanguineus]

I realized this was posted a long time ago, but none of the pictures appear to be working. Any chance of updating links so the few of us late to the party can still see what you've done?

[jimbothemagnificent]

Working now?

[HellChyld]

yep excellent tut. planning on using it for several conversions of my own

[J!MM!L!C!OUS]

I can see them all

 

Nice tute :)

[Sanguineus]

Working now! Thanks.

[Wicced]

damn, wish i had thought of that before :D

 

thanks for this nice tutorial :D

[spartan_b555]

Is there anything easier to use than Green Stuff to make the molds? I'm not too good at rolling it the right way and it never sets correctly. And when it does, It comes out much too un-detailed for this tip.

 

Thanks Olisredan. Now all I have to do is find some.

Edited November 20, 2012 by spartan_b555

[Olis]

Maybe some Blu-stuff?

[Token]

Could you show how you make the cloth parts? How to make it look like actuall clothing?

[mikethemutalisk]

yessssssssssssssssss

[drsergen]

i need to make eagle-wing motif to go on someones shoulders

[jimbothemagnificent]

Wow, not been on here in nearly two years! Blast from the past.

 

My armies have been packed up for ages due to multiple house moves, but I'm settled again now and have some more fun things to share. I do need to make some more cloth parts and random armour details soon, so I'll take pics as I go.

[drsergen]

Wow, not been on here in nearly two years! Blast from the past.

 

My armies have been packed up for ages due to multiple house moves, but I'm settled again now and have some more fun things to share. I do need to make some more cloth parts and random armour details soon, so I'll take pics as I go.

awesome thanks . .  sorry im not very good at letting threads die.

[jimbothemagnificent]

I realised that I didn't post a picture of my chapter emblem painted.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/6_zpswgv5dsf9.jpg

[jimbothemagnificent]

Some more recent work for inspiration:

 

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/10_zpsgm0exo4a.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/9_zpsnoeep5m4.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/11_zpsulaeuswm.jpghttp://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/12_zpsckjsjbwo.jpg

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w496/jimbothemagnificent/The%20Damn%20Few/11_zpsulaeuswm.jpg

 

To make all of these I put blobs of greenstuff on and sculpted from there. I made my own tools using bits of sprue and nails hammered into different shapes. Remember; Always use wet tools and fingers!

[jimbothemagnificent]

My usual technique:

 

Mix and immediately place greenstuff.

Press into position with a wide tool.

Let putty harden up a bit.

Smooth it by dragging a wide blade across the surface.

Create edges using flat tool.

Smooth it out, again and again and again....

Add detail.

Sharpen up edges with brand new knife blade.

 

Allow to set completely.

Fill any fingerprints/mistakes with liquid greenstuff.

Smooth and sharpen.

Repeat.