Folks! Long time no see. I'm back with my second stab at BJD making. Here he is 4 days down the line next to a 1:6th WWII dude. He isn't strung yet since I have no elastic, hooks, or bars, or anything except clay really, so pardon the stiff pose. (Yeah, he has one ear. Not sure how to explain that one.) In pieces, front and side views: Feet definitely in-prog. Still have to figure out how I'll sand those things... (any tips on how to sand tiny things?) Am debating cutting up the torso. I kind of like it the way it is, also jointing isn't my strong point. And generic sadly clumsy head sculpt: Might switch this head out later, depending on whether or not I feel I'm up to working in this scale again. It's my first time sculpting something close to 1:6th, so I haven't got a handle on using the tools vs my fingers yet. 34cm isn't the best choice but it's not going anywhere except my private collection, so I'm not too bothered. Doesn't really fit into the BJD aesthetic so I doubt that anyone would want it cast anyway.
Wow! He's beautiful! I love the muscle definition all over his body (especially the torso... those hips are HAWT!), and that amazing face! He looks like a seriously sexy badass. My one suggestion... he needs a bulge! Even if you weren't planning on giving him a penis and testicles, poor dear is too hot to have -nothing- down below. He at least needs a Ken-doll bulge crotch. For sanding tiny areas, try ripping off a small square of sandpaper and fold it up so you can use a corner or edge. You can also roll it into an itty bitty tube and use the end of the tube - or fold over the end of the tube. Sometimes I'll tape a tiny tube of sandpaper to the end of a wooden skewer to sand, too.
This fellow is breathtaking! Fan-freakin-tabulous job, I can't wait to see further progress! I really love his legs and feet most of all, they're so beautiful and elegant. *can't believe that you've only spent 4 days working on him...* Are you in art school or ? The attention to detail is so knowledgeable and aware. I wish I could see your 56cm sculpt now too, but the photos seem to be gone :[ Oh, not sure if this will help but you can use diamond tipped bits by hand to get into tiny places and sand. It doesn't get the clay totally smooth though, but if you want to shape it works good. I got a set of 20 or 30 different shapes for like $10 at princess auto (Canadian discount tool store). Oh wait, here, found it: http://www.princessauto.com/tools/p...cessories/8048993-30-pc-diamond-point-bit-set
*sits staring* errrrrr that is NOT generic... that is kinda eye popping. please can you do a mature msd size?!?!?!? plsthx XD
SD! He deserves to be a magnificent SD. He seriously is hotttt. I would definitely buy. (But on a layaway :dead ) This is the kind of doll I've been waiting for.
grnnnfff - am speechless how amazing! what a wonderful body and face - so sort of schvaseneggerish - action heroish, but oh my its wonderful.
Waitwaitwait, that's -4 days- of work? Criminy that's enough to make me want to just hang up my sculpting tools and call it a day. I've been working for the better part of a -year- on my doll and it doesn't look HALF that nice! Also the more I look at his face, the more he looks like Ralph Fiennes to me.
Cheers, everyone! @HystericalParoxysm That's a good point. I was thinking about it earlier and was leaning towards giving him a Ken Doll bulge because I really, really suck at sanding tiny things, but thanks for the tip, I've changed my mind now in favor of accuracy. Never thought about sanding like that for some reason... Also, awesome, I love Ralph Fiennes. I might steal his nose for this. @crowtree Thanks! I'm not in art school, actually headed for an entirely different profession; just like to sculpt every now and then. Thanks for the link! I'll have to see if I can find something similar at Home Depot while I'm getting sandpaper. @Maggs Haha maybe. Is at 45cm? Not too familiar with the terminology.
4 Days?!! I wish I could make something like that in 4 years, let alone 4 days! Congrats That torso is amazing, DO NOT cut it (if you value your life) and also, if my budget stretched, I woulld definitely buy a cast! Amazing muscles, you must have studied them a lot (please say yes, otherwise you are just too good!)
Wow... just A-MAAAAAZ-ING!!!! He's incredible! And just four days?! I'm all for posablility and jointed torsos.... but it just seems like a pity to cut into that perfect muculature. Ruining the line of that body for articulation... it might just be a crime! His legs look a little short to me. But that's probably just the fact that all bjds seem to have very elongated legs, so his are most likely perfectly proportioned.
@Toruu Haha roger that, no cutting. I've spent a lot of time at staring at Classic Greek sculpture for my major, so it was inevitable that I picked up a few things here and there. @Miss Pygmalion Thanks for bringing that up! I was thinking that too, but I remeasured him and he comes out all right each time. I think it's the angle of the photograph. Update: I added more definition to his limbs, started on his hands, and started redoing his toes because they were weird looking. Also, changed the head up a little. What do you guys think? Still working out some symmetry issues but I'm pleased with the general idea. Is there a place to get doll elastic offline? I tried Joann's but it was the wrong type. Getting tired of working with loose pieces
I'm gonna cry! ;u; I want to have this doll. So hot~ and sculpted so nicely. I like the change of details to the face. Quite nice. Quite nice indeed.
see any fabric store i find it's more a matter of luck on who stocks what, then "you can buy elastic at____" :XD i like his arms Cx my only critique would be his uh... twinkie is set a tad to high lol
Wow, he is really great! I think you should reconsider casting - since he is so small it wouldn't cost that much so you don't have much to loose. There are plenty of people who collect 1/6 scale dolls. You might even was to consider porcelain, though I know it can be hard to work with and you might not want it to shrink that much. Look up Enchanted Doll if you don't know about it already. They are 34cm and people go crazy over them, so he would fit in very well!
He's incredible. It just blows me away that you did him in 4 days. O.O OK, now do one 65cm and cast it for sale!!
Wow, that's an amazing piece, especially given the short time you've been working! I am eager to see more as you continue him. The musculature is beautiful.
@firefly - I just might if I get enough interest! Mold-making scares the heck out of me, though. @everyone else - Thanks! Small update, uh, so what happened is I finished sculpting and then lost interest, as so often happens. Hahaha. Once it gets to the technical stuff and sanding and jointing I usually wander off... but this time around I'm determined to push through and finish, so I'm currently fidgeting with figuring out jointing and trying not to compromise the sculpt too much. My elastic's in the mail (sadly, I sent it to my college address so it'll be two weeks before I can get my hands on it) but I've started improvising with what I have. S-hooks made from paperclips and joints with sewing pins, hooray. I'll take some pics tonight.
Aaaah, drool! Can't you pump this gentleman up to 65 cm? He is just great! That is exactly what I am going for. By the way, his face reminds of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Great sculpt. By the way, no human face is absolutely symmetrical.
wow he's looking fantastic. good on you for your determination to carry on. it can be hard sometimes, but i think you can do it no problem! Can't wait for the next progress shots.
Thanks everyone for your comments and support. @Rozga I'm using paperclay over an (ill-advised) layer of Amaco air-dry craft porcelain. @Modelhorse I'm tempted, very tempted. It would be a lot easier working in a bigger scale anyway. Haha, the more I get on in life the more I find that my decisions are influenced more by laziness than anything else. I cut the arms and started jointing them, re-did the knee joints, started on the ankle joints, bettered the thigh joints, and started coating some parts in modeling paste, which is why they're nasty and rough... I wish I worked in a more linear fashion, purely for the sake of documentation, but alas this is not the case. Pic of everything with my tools: Without perspective: ~~~unintentionally dramatic shot Doesn't get to 90 degrees but at this point I'm just happy to have a decent-looking and vaguely functioning joint. Have never handled a BJD, so joints are somewhat beyond me. (Also, I am an idiot.) I am going to be disciplined and stop fiddling around with his face. oh my god I hate sculpting ears I'm still wavering (read: procrastinating) over whether or not to give him changeable eyes. If I did they would have to be 2-3mm, and I haven't found any in that size anyway. What does the peanut gallery think?
Glad you keep his face. For my 20 cm elf doll, I will give clear glass pearls a try and paint these myself as eyes. Perhaps there is somewhere a flat type resembling an eye-shape. I have never done this before and have no clue whether this works or not. To my luck, we own a magnifying lamp.
One peanut sez: You would probably have to make your own 2-3mm eyes? Those would be really small. I'm glad I'm working with 16mm eyes! Full-size human eyes are about 24mm. I'd have to use a jeweler's magnifying glass to change eyes that small, or even paint them. Are you sure you want changeable eyes that small? I'm blind in one eye and can't see out of the other one, so take that into consideration, okay?
Found tiny, tiny glass eyes! http://glasseyesonline.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=39 Beats making them by hand, for sure. @Modelhorse wow, good luck with that. You must have a lot of patience. @kwmelvin haha, sure.
amazing progress. grats on the small eyes. How do you get everything looking so smooooth and proffessional??? The joints look lazer cut! Cant wait to see him cast (are you planning on casting?)
you can get cut beads that are just domes, i shall look and see if i can't find you a link as i have some on my ebay watch list somewhere if you wanted to make your eyes
Wow! That is a really nice glass eye site! Thanks for sharing it. If you do business with them, I'd be interested in a follow-up. I see that the small eyes are on wires. That should make them easier to handle.
Thanks guys! crowtree, I'm flattered that you remembered. I finished his body a few months ago, but the project dragged on because I wasn't satisfied with his face and was indecisive about whether or not to cast. Currently it's sitting in storage on the east coast, thinking about its sins. I only had the room to bring one project back to the west coast with me, and unfortunately I chose my most recent one, a girl.
It would be hard to forget this fellow. When I see him it makes me want to try harder and learn more to improve my sculpting and anatomy knowledge.. he's very inspiring Ahh you must be a perfectionist! I loved all the stages of his face you shared. Even so I can't see anywhere he might be lacking.. personally think he'd be brill cast. I hope you can come back to this guy some day. Ah now I'm curious about your new project too. No pressure (I also have projects not ready/willing yet to show on the forum), but I'm sure we'd all love to see her too when/if you can. Thanks for replying so quickly, btw!
I would really love to see your new project too. this guy is awesome - would have loved to see more pics!
Long time no update! Thanks for all your comments. Well, I went back home last summer and found this guy again, after taking a couple of months off of sculpting. I strung him together and he stands pretty well, although his legs or something about the joints is uneven (his right leg is slightly taller than the left.) I couldn't find where I put his old head so I put a practice head on for now. Coming back to this after a long time I can see more clearly what needs to be changed. His limbs need more muscular definition to match his torso, his hands and feet need to be scrapped and redone, and I think his hip joints should be moved up/his legs made longer. Not sure. Either way... feels good to get my hands all clayed up again. I have also been looking into casting (it's about time this guy was cast, whether or not he's perfect) and have decided upon trying plaster and Flumo. Ultimately I would love to cast in porcelain some day, but I don't have the funds at the moment and Flumo seems to be a good alternative.
Sailor- I remember lurking on this thread when he was in WIP stages- he looks AMAZING. Really- and that's coming from someone who's a perfectionist as well. I thought that his previous faces looked great (he was starting to look a LOT like my ex. lol) but I can DEFINITELY see the level of detail you were shooting for- this face that's on him now is beautiful. Very life-like! Do you have a close up of his face? Did you decide to hand paint the eyes or did you get the small eyes instead?
Japanda, thank you! It was a head I had lying around (hence the bad pencil face-up, and the hastily sculpted hair) from some other project, but I will be cleaning it up and using it if I can't find the original. I haven't decided yet if I should use the small eyes, they lack the amount of detail that I want and at that scale the eyewells would have to be quite thin to look right; but on the other hand, I like removable eyes as a staple of BJD-ness. If I sell casts (optimistically speaking) then I will probably make it an option to have removable eyes, and avoid deciding. Face pics: Just noticed his ears are lopsided. Bother. Welp, back to sculpting
Oh wow, he looks amazing! I love his face. At first glance he looks real, even without a faceup or anything. I can not wait to see him finished.
god thats amazing!!! I love his face too. I can see the items you pointed out and agree that his legs need more definition and to be longer.
Wow~ he turned out beautiful! I hope you can find the other face, i like both of them a lot. :3 I hope you decide to cast him in resin~~ ;3;// the flumo or plaster would be so delicate and prone to breakage. it seems a shame to go through all that trouble to make such a beautiful sculpture and then have the frustration of the finished break on you. You wouldn't need a lot of resin per cast, and some places sell smaller jugs of it if you're worried about money.
My gosh, that face!!! It's sooo... My mind. She is blown. It's so delicate and detailed and masculine. It's just perfect!
He has very real qualities. I like his softened expression as now it seems as though there is some tangible emotional intent behind him. I have very much enjoyed seeing your progress!
OMG! He is absolutely fantabulous! So handsome and very well done! I have BJD envy! LOL! Great job! :0)