Bushcraft Betty as a 3D figurine

[Mesquite]

... i see your a fan of clan of the cave bear books ...

Until you mentioned it I hadn't even noticed there were books on the shelf let alone who wrote them...

 

[Biker]

Until you mentioned it I hadn't even noticed there were books on the shelf let alone who wrote them...

My cunning plan worked poyfectly.

Harvestman. 3D animation? Hmmmm I know a few people that could probably take that little project on. At least a short cartoony movie clip. We'll see.

JAG009. Thanks mate, you being a carpenter makes your feedback even more appreciated. The whole thing's made out of softwood so working it wasn't too difficult but getting the right proportions was. Luckily I had access to a 11 year old boy - My nephew. So I had my brother measure him extensively at cardinal points and I replicated those onto a diagram which is what I used as the scale plan for Knothead.

dave53. Clan of the cave bear. Sorry that book's nt mine. I read it then gave it back to my (soon to be ex) partner However if you hit enough charity shops you can always find a copy of it. It's always see a copy on the shelves when I'm in the UK. Failing that, there's always ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Books-Comics-Magazines-/267/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=clan%20of%20the%20cave%20bear&_sop=15

RonW - Got pix of what you made? I'd love to see 'em. It's still very much a DIY project. I did find that my eye wasn't as sharp nor my hand quite as steady as I remembered, but I put it down to being out of practice holding a paint brush rather than early senility.

Shambling Shamen - Yeah I could be a producer of that film. I'd even pay to go to the cinema to see it

 

[mousey]

So I guess there's no chance of a life sized AND squishy version???



nothing wrong with extra lung capacity.

 

[Biker]

So I guess there's no chance of a life sized AND squishy version???



nothing wrong with extra lung capacity.

Sorry, not this side of christmas. Unless I find myself a living breathing Betty clone and nab her before anyone else does. Slim chance I know, but I live in hope.

Lung capacity doubles as natural bouyancy aids. Call it a win/win scenario.

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

Great work Biker. The shot of the tinder pouch lights my fire a treat.

 

[Shewie]

Phwoar, not 'alf misses

 

[John Fenna]

I used to make 54mm scale models of soldiers of all periods - I used to sell my excess to a shop in StAlbans - most were conversions from Airfix or Historex kits (I never did make up a straight model from the kit....)
I used an awful lot of Milliput in the conversions and found the white porcelain the best.
I never realy got on with bigger figures - but I am learning to love them

Actionman size...

this head is smaller than my little finger nail...

 

[HillBill]

any chance of making one life size?

Inflatable?

 

[John Fenna]

Inflatable?

Nah - that would not be nice!

 

[HillBill]

I bow to your experience John...

 

[Mesquite]

Nah - that would not be nice!

In which case you'd have to order a life size silicone doll version of her John...

 

[Biker]

I used to make 54mm scale models of soldiers of all periods - I used to sell my excess to a shop in StAlbans - most were conversions from Airfix or Historex kits (I never did make up a straight model from the kit....)
I used an awful lot of Milliput in the conversions and found the white porcelain the best.
I never realy got on with bigger figures - but I am learning to love them

That paintwork is seriously impressive! As Dreadhead often says "They're braw!"

I used to make and paint Tamiya kits as a kid but neever to that degree of detail you've got there and ALWAYS how the kit instructions showed them to be made. I wish I had the nerve to cutomise them like you did. nic work John.

Laughed out loud at HillBill's reply about the blow up Betty, just gald I wasn't sipping coffe at the time.

 

[RonW]

Here's a Patton in the Ardennes figure I once did. The thick jacket is made from milliput. Scale is 1/24.

And some German soldiers in 1/35, my preferred scale;

A 120mm WW1 British sniper. Stockfigure with a scratchbuilt trench. It never got passed this stage...

A 120mm US sniper experiment using real threads;

 

[Biker]

Da-yammmm those are really good too! Love that milliput flight jacket Patton's wearing. As for that scratch built trench section WOW!

Some serious model making skills here. Well bloody done!

 

[laro13]

Nice work Biker!

Can't you make a mould with some latex?

Cheers,

Jasper

 

[Shambling Shaman]

And some German soldiers in 1/35, my preferred scale;

Do like this.. WWII motorbikes just got something I like

One Day I would love to own something like this...

Ahhhh the dream

 

[TurboGirl]

She's loooovvvvely, Biker! We should have a 'Whittle a Betty'' competition on here, just imagine the amount of time John would put in, it'd keep him outta trouble for years

I wonder how much a small run would be to injection mould....

 

[John Fenna]

Well - that bad boy "Biker" called my bluff and sent me a copy of the base figure (as used in his transformation) and said (effectively) "OK big mouth - lets see what you can do!"
I spent a small fortune on Milliput and paint, fossicked around in the loft to find my old modelling tools etc and eventually built up the courage to start the transformation....
Now - it is a long time since I did any figurine modelling (clothing modelling is a different thing altogether!) and my eyesight has (for various reasons) faded since then and finally getting my hands on Betty (!) made my hands tremble a bit .. but I promissed stage by stage photos so here we are...
At this stage I have given her one boot and no socks (will she get more footwear? - I am not sure yet) added a belt to her waist and started remodelling her shorts to ones with a fly front and rear (and what a rear!) pockets...
I have started low on the figure so that hopefully my skills at modelling and sculpture will have been relearned by the time I get to Betty's salient points...
The bits done so far are at the first modelling stage and once the putty has hardened I will work into it with files, sandpaper, scalpel and a liquid polystyrene made from styrene melted in modelling solvent (liquid cement as it is called) to get crisp detail and a smooth finish.
I am praying that I do not screw it all up...
general view of stage one and tools

Boot

Shorts

Belt

 

[TurboGirl]

John, she's looking brilliant! The detail on the boots and belt is sooooo Bettyesque Pride of place on your mantelpiece for her after she comes back from modelling for the lifesized latex jobbie then

 

[Biker]

Looking VERY good so far Johnny. Well done! You're taking it to a whole different level than I ever did. I'm impressed.

Gonna have to have a long chat with you about this liquid polystyrene stuff.