Miniature Modding

[Sjeng]

So I bought a Mordor Troll kit for 50% off today, and I notice you can opt for different arms, hands and heads. So I was thinking to try and copy the body a couple of times with instantmold and milliput.

Here's the sprue:


How do you think I could best make copies of the body sprue? Usually I use the Lego press method with instandmold, but that requires one flatsided edge to be very successfull, like a base for example. These body parts have a curving backside. Any tips?

[Ethica]

I couldn't think of a method. But you could also put more arms onto 1 body like goro from mortal kombat.

[Patroclus]

So I bought a Mordor Troll kit for 50% off today, and I notice you can opt for different arms, hands and heads. So I was thinking to try and copy the body a couple of times with instantmold and milliput.

Here's the sprue:


How do you think I could best make copies of the body sprue? Usually I use the Lego press method with instandmold, but that requires one flatsided edge to be very successfull, like a base for example. These body parts have a curving backside. Any tips?

Just try it Sjeng, it’s easy. Just use your fingers with no Lego for pressing. Press it with your fingers well until the instant mold gets thin about 5mm, and it will get all the details. Then put it on cold water to make it hard. Don’t remove the mold, just continue with the second part of the mold. Put it on cold water and you’ll have your two part mold.

Use a mix of green stuff (1/2) and milliput (1/2) and start to fill the first part of the mold by pressing it hard with your sculpting tools. Don’t put too much material. Put it slowly with small bits and use a lot of water on your sculpting tools to prevent sticking. Then continue with the second part separately. You don’t have to waste too much stuff (keep it thin about 2mm… is enough).

The hardest part is to glue them together. I haven’t found yet the best technique. But never try to press them together because some details (as the swords) will stick amiss. Let them cure first, and separately, and when they do try to fill the gaps. The mold line may be big but all the other details of the mini will be more than perfect.

[Sjeng]

I will try. But the thing with instantmold in my case is, that when you start pressing it on an object, and you follow the shape of the object, it comes loose on the other side. So when you make a "free-form" mold, it doesn't have the exact same shape as the original. With the Lego blocks, it's perfect, but you need more. But I think it might work if I mold one half of the body with Lego first, then loosely place the second half of the body on the other, turn the whole thing around, and press on more instantmold, so the whole thing is encased.
Then I cut the 2 halves of instantmold loose with a scalpel and fill them like you said with milliput/greenstuff. I didn't know you could mix the two? That's really weird aren't they 2 completely different substances?

[wolfie907]

ive used greenstuff and poured resin on top and that's how I made the recasts of the ice gremlins I posted on here I also used instamold to mold them I think you should give it a try

[Daedalus]

Perhaps if you pressed keys (such as a small marbles) close to and around trouble areas like swords they would align better.

If this works for you, I may have to try this, myself.

[Patroclus]

...when you start pressing it on an object, and you follow the shape of the object, it comes loose on the other side.

Don't press it with force... But with some practice I think you won't have problem. If I'll find some time I will try to make a video.

Perhaps if you pressed keys (such as a small marbles) close to and around trouble areas like swords they would align better.

It sounds possible, but I've try it and didn't work. When you make the two-parts you have to be fast and focused on the model. A wrong move and you will ruin the shape of the mold as Sjeng says.

If this works for you, I may have to try this, myself.

Instant mold is a must if you like miniatures. You can do a lot of conversions without wasting your original minis. But "sculpting" needs a lot of time and patience.

You have to know that 1 block of instant mold is enough for the one part of the two-part mold. But I think a pack of 6 blocks is the best, because you may want to keep some molds for more than one recasts.