all is about good tools
 

You know Don, with the good tools and paste, that type of customizing can be easier than you might think.

Here 's a little pic of the only tools I need to make that muscles. A metal sculpting tool (quite expensive when I bought it, about 30USD, but now it's easier and a lot cheaper to find since a lot of wargame minis companies sell modelling tools) to make the rough shape, then I finish the job with a "colour shaper" wich is a rubber/silicone brush.

The paste is some "green stuff" also called "duro" or "kneadatite". Easy to find in wargames/minis hobby store or eb*y.

The other thing is to try to "read" the figure before making the muscles. Even if you're not a anatomic specialist (I'm not one too), simply try to follow the natural line of your figs arms. A straight arm will not be the same than a bended arm.


The last key is to practice, again and again. Like all other things in the world, and even if some people are more gifted than other, with hard work anyone can obtain good results IMHO.

Hope it helps !

muscles stage completed
 

Hi,

I finished the muscles sculpting ! Now I just have to make Sopoaga hair, and the figs will be ready for undercoating.

I didn't make any sculpted chinstraps...make me save about 1 day of work :eek:


Here 's some pics. The 2 first figs : cornerbacks (1: right 2: left), the third : strong safety.

Dmitri, I have those exact same tools. I'm going to have to listen to you and practice, practice, practice. thmbsp$

Like we say in France...
 

AU BOULOT, DON ! :D

hair cuts
 

Hi,

TOnight I made the hair cuts of the long haired athletes.

I did sopoaga (first pic) and Goldson (second pic) hair cut. If some 49ers specialist knows other long haired defense players (see my roster in first page of the topic), please indicate it thmbsp$

you are going to have to test those guys for major steroids!

they look awesome!

they 've got a famous soviet doctor...Doctor Frankeinsteroid ! :rtfl:

Undercoat
 

Hi,

the figures has been undercoated this afternoon. More or less undercoated, I should say, since I didn't have enough spray undercoat to cover them perfectly. But anyway, I'll just make more paint coats :D


to be continued (tommorow, when the coating will be dried). After all, perhaps I'll achieve my objective (to finish the whole defense squad before 2010) !

speed painting
 

Hi,

today I started the painting of the figs. I'm trying to make it as fast as I can ;)


As usual, I'm making the skin the easy way. So I 'm making one tone for white skin, one tone for black skin and one tone for taned skin ( Sopoaga, wich is certainly from fidji island or something like that, I presume).


I think I'll achieve the basic coats tonight, and tommorow, I'll make the effects (highlights, shades, etc...)

I have to design and print some decals too. By the way, I'll paint the defense team in the "conventional" white "away" jersey, to make it simplier to play.




to be continued...

First 2 coats has been done. Now, I'll paint the jerseys, socks and shoes ;)


Here's a little pic of the Hulks ! It's my idea of good defense : intimidating :D

I'm "half-joking" (not sure of the expression...) : as a former wargamer, sometimes impressive pieces make great things on the battlefield, only because the opponent will be focused on them.

So the same in MF I hope ! Put an impressive defensive line, and the opponent will be afraid for his QB integrity, and so, will modify his schemes to protect him for example....etc, etc....you get the idea :D