Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Sketch a rough drawing of the soldier you would like to create. You do not need to be a professional artist, but this will give you an idea of what you are looking for in the final product. It is best to use graph paper so that the drawing appears even.
Take two pieces of wire anywhere from 22 to 24 gauges. One piece needs to be longer than the other one and long enough to fold in half. Place the shorter piece inside the folded, longer piece and hold with pliers.
Keep the shorter piece in the center, and wrap the two longer pieces around the shorter piece three or four times, creating the torso of the miniature soldier.
Cut the longer wire off of the top with pliers, creating just enough wire for a small head. Do the same by cutting the two outside wires to create the arms of the soldier. Cut the remaining wire or "tail" and separate the loop at the bottom, also cutting, to create legs for the soldier. Make sure the wire of the legs is a little longer than normal because you will place the legs into the cork, making them shorter.
Bend the wire of the figure to position the arms and legs of the soldier into the desired pose.
Place the wire figure into a bottle cork, keeping the figure stable and prepared for sculpting.
Tear off a few pieces of the Super Sculpey. Knead the clay until it softens and is easily moldable.
Begin to create the general shape of the soldier by applying an exaggerated amount of clay to the wire frame. Shape the basic musculature of the soldier by using small pieces of clay for different muscle or skeletal areas.
Use the small tools to create detail to the soldier such as muscle lines and the face. It is generally a better rule to first sculpt the soldier nude before creating clothing, which you may add later. Use small tools, a toothpick, sandpaper or any other material that will assist you in creating a more life-like figure.
Tear off a few more pieces of the clay to mold and soften. Because this process is a bit more detailed, it is useful to use the magnifying glass. Place a small piece of clay on the figures head with a pair of tweezers. Shape the clay into a helmet with a small tool.
Flatten several pieces of clay and shape into the army uniform you drew in the beginning of the project. Carefully layer the clothing onto the figure.
Bake the figure for 10 minutes to harden it, preparing it for the mold.
Take the pieces of cardboard and form the four walls of a box. Be careful to have at least a half inch around the miniature that you have made.
Make a thick pancake out of the Plastilina clay. Firmly place the soldier halfway into the clay. Place the box over the miniature, into the clay, making sure that there is enough room on all sides of the figure. Push the box all the way through the clay until it reaches the surface of the table.
Place four marbles into the clay, surrounding the figurine. This will keep the mold in place so that it does not become uneven.
Place a toothpick under the arm to allow the flow of the plastic to cover all parts of the soldier. If any other appendages bend or appear out of proportion to the body, place toothpick under them as well.
Mix the rubber by pouring the two components into separate containers and then pouring both of these slowly into a third container. Carefully stir the mixture with a stick or spoon, being cautious to not create bubbles.
Pour the rubber mixture slowly and in a thin stream into one corner of the mold. Eventually, the mixture will cover the entire figure. Fill the mold until it reaches the top of the box. Lightly tap on each side of the box to release pockets of air in the mixture.
Let the cast set for up to six hours.
Remove the clay from the box when the rubber is solid, and throw it away. Use an X-ACTO knife to remove excess rubber and clay. Let any toothpicks and spheres remain in the rubber. Spray with mold release.
Repeat steps 17 through 19.
Open the two halves of the rubber mold. Use a sharp knife to remove any excess rubber. Remove toothpicks, spheres and the miniature soldier from the mold.
Take the two rubber sides, and place two pieces of cardboard on opposite sides. Fasten the cardboard with a rubber band. Place on a flat table with the base hole facing in an upward position.
Separate the two components of the plastic mixture into two separate containers. The components need to be equal in amount. Pour these, in the same moment, into a third container. Slowly and gently stir the mixture. Be brief, as the mixture will dry quickly.
Pour the mold into the base hole of the mold, tapping as you pour. Pour the mixture all the way to the top of the mold. It should only take a few minutes to dry. You can use the rubber mold again to create other soldiers for your army or you may start the entire process over to create soldiers with different uniforms or poses. Paint the army men your desired color and you are ready to play war.