A sculpt in progress. Here we have a figure in the making and I shall attempt to describe the various work done as each stage of the figure is tackled. The picture on the left is of my basic tool set. I do of course use many other oddments but here is my preferred set and really could attempt most projects with them.

Surrounding the tools in an optivisor magnifying attachment which I have to use, my eyesight not being what it was..The top gadget is a vintage calligraphy pen which has a hollow tip, great for buttons. Secondly two clay shapers. Third in the list a 'Tiranti' 47. I have had this tool for nigh on 25 years and would not be without it. Next a scalpel, used for cutting and shaving back areas(expect to use lots and lots of blades). Followed by another knife with a blunted tip and blade. Lastly a pin embedded in milliput for a handle. Used for creases and other things.

The figure to be modelled is an American from the American War of Independence, Standing casually holding his hat.

Material throughout will be Kneadatite 'Green Stuff'.(hereafter referred to as gs) Exceptions will be noted. Firstly a large paper clip was bent to form a torso and two legs on which the first layers  of of gs have been added  to form a thin stick figure. When this has dried the first layers of clothing have been added and a face modelled. This is the stage we have reached with the chap on the left. Now I personally, unless I get it right first time, I have to 'work' on my figures. it is obvious that work needs to be done on the face and the right leg is not correct. Some errors will obviously disappear as clothing etc. ... is added.

In the second picture the face has been slightly remodelled with the scalpel. His crotch cut away(ouch) and the legs reshaped again with the knife and addition of some gs smoothed into place with the blunt scalpel, water and a chisel clay shaper. I still don't like the shape around his crotch but I will come back to that later. His coat has been added plus the turnbacks. Again the same basic tools. Some rough spots on his back were shaved and sanded with fine emery paper . His face still needs work but I will leave that until later.

In the picture on the left the ears have been added and the face slightly remodelled. As I type this I notice one eye is higher than the other. A cross strap has been put across. I like to add these after but if the result can be envisaged they can be cut into the wet material of the coat and then worked into shape. A third method is to make the strap separate(on a flat non stick surface) and then fix it on. Which ever method, straps are tricky to get right. A buckle was cut into the wet material, this will be tidied up later. An oblong piece of gs was placed for the beginning of the cartridge pouch. Despite being very careful with the strap it still had to be shaved to flatten it out. When making figures some straps will have to made giving the impression of sinking into the cloth. These type of uniform jackets tend to be fairly tight where the straps cross and I have left them, literally sitting on the surface. This gives a good sharp line when they are cast. Perhaps a note of caution at this point. If a figure is going to be cast the rubber casting material picks up everything so imperfections will show. Perhaps I can illustrate this better. If a mould is made from a piece of material  that has a strip of sellotape across it, believe me that the cast article will show clearly the difference in texture where the sellotape was!

In our next pic more straps have been added. Lapels on the coat with buttons punched in with my button tool and the lid of the cartridge box(this will have to be trimmed) I used a blob of gs that was going off and the whole idea was too ambitious. I will probably pull it off and do it again. The shoes were modelled, left to dry and then the gaiters, basis shape with the 47 tool, smoothed with the shaper(chisel) which I also used for start of the creases. As the material starts to go off a line is cut where they button together, a row of buttons punched in and more creases added with the needle.The needle is also used to carefully put creases against the line, this gives an impression of sharpness(note where I have also done this on the waistcoat around the buttons and against the belt.

Some close-ups to illustrate previous points. The ammo pouch looks ok from this angle but the cover is too thick and I will be thinning down the face a bit. All my figures start with fat faces, I can't seem to avoid it. Probably because I have a fat face! Note where I have pressed the needle in under the joins to form creases, this gives a better impression of the join and looks more realistic.

Arms have been formed by drilling a hole in each shoulder and inserting wire. As mentioned earlier I en visage the chap carrying his hat but the concept at the moment is still not a 100% clear in my mind. The wonky eye cured itself in that a minute piece of gs fell off one eyelid.

In the two small photos on the left I have started to work on the sleeves, the face has been tidied and his chin remodelled . I feel that his face is still somewhat full but I have decided that this makes his expression somewhat of a determined one. His eyebrows have been added. His cartridge box is ready to be remodelled and I have added the hat and hands. The hat was modelled in two stages , front and back and the two hands separately. A cockade or a very small part of it shows under the left hand. One of his sleeves is torn at the elbow(this is done with a pin pushing apart the material, it is easy to do and looks effective).

The top of his head was filed flatter and the hair added. Again the strands of hair and the ribbon are modelled with a knife as the material hardens. there is a critical point when this is done, if left too long the gs will resist the cut. This is something that experience and continuous practice dictates as the best moment. His haversack  strap in one place has been tidied and a new flap added to the cartridge box. The hat still has to have a crown inserted where the material appears rough. The hands were put on in a block, cut and formed to shape with the fingers pushed in with the knife. Fingernails were added, I tend to make a representation of this although they could be made better. His fingers are perhaps a trifle stubby but so are mine!.

The figure is finished, apart from a final check over and a wash and brushup with an old toothbrush. The last stages were the crown on the hat, his cuffs and the base. Also some sharpening on the various straps. The base was simply a blob of gs pushed into shape dotted with a pin and the wire on the feet inserted. The figure is going to be cast and should be available from Historifigs next month(May)