11 replies to this topic

[BaronWVS]

Hey guys,

I'm a old D&D mini fan from way back in the day (early 80's) who is just coming back to the hobby after a 25 year hiatus and having a blast with it.

Anyways, I've been wanting to convert one of these beautiful Reeve the Pious minis by Bobby Jackson to make him look like a Shifter (the half-werewolf race in Eberron and D&D 4E).



What I was considering was taking a cast of the faces of one of these other minis...






... and then using part or all of it to attach to the Reeve mini's face. Like maybe give him some mutton chops or other features that look rather werewolf-y. The ultimate effect I'm going for is something like this:



Obviously it's going to be tricky, given that his face is at an angle and in a hood. Still, I've got my first batch of Green Stuff and am game to give it a try. Any tips or suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

B

[mjacobson]

Instead of trying to put a new face on that figure, why not trying just adding green stuff to the face for sideburns and paint the fangs on. That might be easier.

[BaronWVS]

Instead of trying to put a new face on that figure, why not trying just adding green stuff to the face for sideburns and paint the fangs on. That might be easier.

I'm actually considering that, but I don't have much (any, really) experience sculpting with Green Stuff, so I'm not quite sure how I might achieve the proper look of hair. Still, might be the way to go.

Thanks for your input!

B

[Stubbdog]

Based on the mini that you are starting with, the first thing i see is that the area you have to work with is small and already a bit shrouded from the cloak. I might suggest simply making your "conversion" with paint. If you are going to paint his face in the shadows of the cloak, you can just add some of those changeling features in your color choices.

Its easy to paint sideburns and eyebrows without actually needing them sculpted.

[Qwyksilver]

Replacing the whole face would be a lot more work than it's worth because of the hood.

Unless you're planning to have him look fully shifted, you could easily get away with using paint to mimic the thick heavy side burns as Jason mentioned.

If you are using green stuff, you wouldn't need much to build up the area. You're really just trying to extend the edge of the jawline out.
Add a small amount to the edge of the jaw, blend it into cheeks and under the jaw. Then add texture.

Most of the texture you would probably add with paint, but you could also use a small needle to make some texture once the greenstuff has started to set, but before it's fully cured.

I'm presuming you're playing an Avenger?

[BaronWVS]

Based on the mini that you are starting with, the first thing i see is that the area you have to work with is small and already a bit shrouded from the cloak. I might suggest simply making your "conversion" with paint. If you are going to paint his face in the shadows of the cloak, you can just add some of those changeling features in your color choices.

Its easy to paint sideburns and eyebrows without actually needing them sculpted.

I actually tried doing that with this figure, but it just didn't look right. Obviously my (rather limited) skills as a painter were probably a major factor, but I finally just decided to paint him as is and then got another copy of the figurine to experiment with.

[BaronWVS]

Replacing the whole face would be a lot more work than it's worth because of the hood.

Unless you're planning to have him look fully shifted, you could easily get away with using paint to mimic the thick heavy side burns as Jason mentioned.

If you are using green stuff, you wouldn't need much to build up the area. You're really just trying to extend the edge of the jawline out.
Add a small amount to the edge of the jaw, blend it into cheeks and under the jaw. Then add texture.

Most of the texture you would probably add with paint, but you could also use a small needle to make some texture once the greenstuff has started to set, but before it's fully cured.

I'm presuming you're playing an Avenger?

Longtooth Shifter Paladin, actually, but close enough.

But yeah, I think what you've suggested is probably the way to go. I think I'll experiment with carving textures into the Green Stuff and then give it a whirl.

Thanks to you, and everyone who has responded, for your input!

[Ironhammer]

You might want to consider decapitating the mini entirely, attaching a choice head and then sculpting a new hood from there.

This guy might have kinda of the look you want, though you'd probably have to be fairly careful cutting down a portion of the collar (though leaving some of it would probably be a great start for creating a hood).

http://www.reapermin...re/latest/02136

This guy might work even better, and has the bonus (or minus, depends on how you decide to do it) of no collar

http://www.reapermin.../sku-down/02221

[BaronWVS]

You might want to consider decapitating the mini entirely, attaching a choice head and then sculpting a new hood from there.

This guy might have kinda of the look you want, though you'd probably have to be fairly careful cutting down a portion of the collar (though leaving some of it would probably be a great start for creating a hood).

http://www.reapermin...re/latest/02136

This guy might work even better, and has the bonus (or minus, depends on how you decide to do it) of no collar

http://www.reapermin.../sku-down/02221

I actually have the second mini you suggested. However, I have no experience with swappin' noggins. Can you recommend a good tutorial on mini head transplants?

[dks]

I actually have the second mini you suggested. However, I have no experience with swappin' noggins. Can you recommend a good tutorial on mini head transplants?

Don't know of a tutorial, but here's what I would do:
1) Remove the head from the "body" miniature. If you don't care about saving the head (putting it on another mini, using it in a diorama, etc), then you could slice it off piecemeal, like eating an apple, leaving a spindle of metal at the neck & center of the head -- i.e. a "pin" on which to impale the new head. If you do want to use the removed head, then take it off cleanly and drill down into the neck to set a small length of brass wire.
2) Since you are planning to add a hood, carefully cut away the hair at the top of the new head, down to where the scalp would be, before you remove the head from the body. A hood made of Green Stuff will look strange and perhaps silly if it is sculpted on top of the metal hair, because the thickness of a layer of Green Stuff is much more than 1/48 the thickness of a real hood.
3) Carefully remove the new head from its original body. Use a saw or flush-cutters at the neck.
4) Drill up into the neck of the new head, so it fits the pin/wire in the neck of the "body" miniature. Check the height of the head on the neck; if the head is too high (long neck), then drill more or cut down the pin/wire a little; if the head is too low (short neck), then just remember to raise it a little when you attach it.
5) Attach head to body, at the proper neck length and orientation, with glue or Green Stuff.
6) Use Green Stuff to sculpt a new neck.
7) Use Green Stuff to sculpt a new hood, visible hair, collar, armor, etc.
8) Post pics here and bask in the praise.

Good luck,
Derek

[BaronWVS]

I actually have the second mini you suggested. However, I have no experience with swappin' noggins. Can you recommend a good tutorial on mini head transplants?

Don't know of a tutorial, but here's what I would do:
1) Remove the head from the "body" miniature. If you don't care about saving the head (putting it on another mini, using it in a diorama, etc), then you could slice it off piecemeal, like eating an apple, leaving a spindle of metal at the neck & center of the head -- i.e. a "pin" on which to impale the new head. If you do want to use the removed head, then take it off cleanly and drill down into the neck to set a small length of brass wire.
2) Since you are planning to add a hood, carefully cut away the hair at the top of the new head, down to where the scalp would be, before you remove the head from the body. A hood made of Green Stuff will look strange and perhaps silly if it is sculpted on top of the metal hair, because the thickness of a layer of Green Stuff is much more than 1/48 the thickness of a real hood.
3) Carefully remove the new head from its original body. Use a saw or flush-cutters at the neck.
4) Drill up into the neck of the new head, so it fits the pin/wire in the neck of the "body" miniature. Check the height of the head on the neck; if the head is too high (long neck), then drill more or cut down the pin/wire a little; if the head is too low (short neck), then just remember to raise it a little when you attach it.
5) Attach head to body, at the proper neck length and orientation, with glue or Green Stuff.
6) Use Green Stuff to sculpt a new neck.
7) Use Green Stuff to sculpt a new hood, visible hair, collar, armor, etc.
8) Post pics here and bask in the praise.

Good luck,
Derek

Hooo-weee! Thanks for very detailed post. I'm afraid that sound waaaay to ambitious for someone of my skill-level (which is to say LOW). But who knows? Maybe I'll give it a shot just to see what happens. Thanks for you input!

Cheers,

B

[dks]

Hooo-weee! Thanks for very detailed post. I'm afraid that sound waaaay to ambitious for someone of my skill-level (which is to say LOW). But who knows? Maybe I'll give it a shot just to see what happens. Thanks for you input!

Just do one step per day for a week and you'll be done!
Steps 1-5 should take about 15 minutes each. Steps 6-7 should take 30-60 minutes each. (Or maybe double these numbers for the "first time" effect.)
If you have the right tools -- flush-cutters, a hobby knife (X-Acto or other), a pin vise with small drill bits, some brass wire, Green Stuff, and a tool for sculpting -- then I would rate this as "moderate". It depends on whether you imagine yourself doing more conversions or sculpting in the future ... you may as well start learning now! Still, I can identify with being daunted by conversions and sculpting; I did almost none for the first 15 years of painting.
I encourage you to try it. If you're really uncertain, then make a "Works in Progress" thread here on the forum, take in-progress photos, and ask for confirmation at each step of the way.
Anyway, you're welcome!

Derek