Kyle Reese bust (WIP)

[Alaneye]

I'm attempting Terminator's tragic hero, Kyle Reese... and man, this is hard. No torn up face to confuse things here, just an ordinarly face. Anyway, it's still very early days, but here's the work up to now including the armature... I got too involved with trying to eek out the likeness to take any very early pictures, so here he is now. I can see the likeness, but can anyone else?

Oh yeah, I've also discovered that these busts are closer to 1/2 scale than 1/3... actually about 5/12ths according to my son but I was always useless at fractions so I'll have to take is word for it.

[ScottDotNet]

well I for one can see the likeness. I think that it looks like an older version of him (i think it is due to the muscles around the mouth/nose - levator, masseter?).
Anyway looks great so far, can't wait to see the final product.

[Alaneye]

Thanks for commenting. Yeah I agree with you, the deeper lines do make him look older. The full on view reminds me a bit of Kevin Spacey lol Lots of refining to do yet though, so hopefully I can bring it together by the time I get to the end.

[Alaneye]

I've worked on him today, just refining the features really to try and get the likeness closer. Here's a few shots.











Al

[ScottDotNet]

I think the 3rd image on the last post shows the greatest likeness. I reckon I would be able to name the character from that image alone.

[Lokiem]

What clay are you using for this? It holds detail very well. o.o

[Alaneye]

It's super sculpey.

[Lokiem]

Just the regular blocks, or do you use a combination (Sculpey III etc) Sorry, for asking this in your thread. X:

Also, what tools are you using, if you don't mind me asking?

[Alaneye]

No, go ahead and ask away, that's what these forums are all about. I use plain super sculpey. I do have some 50/50 mix of SS and Sculpey firm, but I've not tried it yet.

I have a lot of tools, but only a few that I use on a regular basis. I have a set of wax carvers similar to the set you showed in your thread, but they are a bit cheap and I only use them occasionally.

The main tools I user are a couple dental tools... a pick, and one of these:

http://www.tiranti.co.uk/product.asp...s&Product=1147

I have the top three small wire loops on this page:

http://www.tiranti.co.uk/subdivision...ubdivision=321

I have a few paper embossing tools

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soft-Grip-Em...1935242&sr=8-1

And some 'clay shapers' of various shapes and sizes:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clay-Shaper-...1936318&sr=8-7

I got mine from the local art shop.

And then you will need a selection of brushes and some isopropanol for smoothing.

[Lokiem]

Isopropanol? Not really sure where to even begin looking for that. I googled it and didn't see anything to concretely identify it.

I used to paint warhammer things so I've got plenty of decent brushes, those paper embossing tools will probably be ín my local art store, but in general they're pretty useless. Can't even order in super sculpey from their supplier, so I dont hold alot of faith in them for anything but paint.

[Alaneye]

Isopropanol? Not really sure where to even begin looking for that. I googled it and didn't see anything to concretely identify it.

I used to paint warhammer things so I've got plenty of decent brushes, those paper embossing tools will probably be ín my local art store, but in general they're pretty useless. Can't even order in super sculpey from their supplier, so I dont hold alot of faith in them for anything but paint.

Isopropanol? I typed isopropanol into google and the first in the list was Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&k...l_15ay0or7an_b

But I got mine off ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_tr...panol&_sacat=0

You might even find it at a local chemist, or they might be able to get it for you. You can usually get it in 70% pure (also known as rubbing alcohol), which is good for detail work, or 99% pure which is good for knocking back very rough areas

The tools are the tools I use, you might not necessarily get on with them. You might find that the wax carvers are everything you need. It all depends on you and what you are sculpting.

TBH, I'd just get some sculpey and some wire and get started with what you have, it'll probably be more than enough. I used to do just about everything with the dental tool, and it is still my favorite tool, I couldn't sculpt without it. But as time went on and my work became more precise, I'd try to get into an ear or something and think, hmmm, y'know what? a small wire loop would be really great to have, and so I Googled and found some. And so it goes on. Don't worry too much about what tools other sculptors use, it's not the tools, it's the artistry driving them that matters. You need to find your own way and what works for you.

Al

[Lokiem]

Ah I didn't think I had the right thing, they looked like some heavy duty chemical. x:

How do you use that isopropanol then? Do you water it down or is it more gentle than something I read that basically turns sculpey to mud (I think they said turpentine, but not sure..)?

I'll probably be buying sculpey today, and some armature wire, if it turns out to be weak wire, then I'll be able visit town at the weekend, got my wax tools yesterday, they look pretty good for the job!

Note on your thread though: Those ears are amazingly detailed, how big is this bust?

Edit: Oh when I said "they're pretty useless", I didn't mean the tool! Sorry, should have been clearer, the local art shop is useless, it's like they only acknowledge painting as art. Very limited supplies in other areas.

[Christopher Genovese]

Nice!!! Looks just like him, I aim to have your skill with matching likeness without taking a century. Just don't forget the stubble!!

[Alaneye]

Nice!!! Looks just like him, I aim to have your skill with matching likeness without taking a century. Just don't forget the stubble!!

Hahaha, thanks Chris, I take too long to do this stuff, but you do what you can eh? Hair is concerning me the most at the moment, and convincing stubble will be something of a challenge.

[Alaneye]

Ah I didn't think I had the right thing, they looked like some heavy duty chemical. x:

How do you use that isopropanol then? Do you water it down or is it more gentle than something I read that basically turns sculpey to mud (I think they said turpentine, but not sure..)?

I'll probably be buying sculpey today, and some armature wire, if it turns out to be weak wire, then I'll be able visit town at the weekend, got my wax tools yesterday, they look pretty good for the job!

Note on your thread though: Those ears are amazingly detailed, how big is this bust?

Edit: Oh when I said "they're pretty useless", I didn't mean the tool! Sorry, should have been clearer, the local art shop is useless, it's like they only acknowledge painting as art. Very limited supplies in other areas.

Isopropanol can be diluted with distilled water, but the 70% pure is fine for taking the edge off and smoothing without turning the clay to mush. You just brush it over the clay and is sort of melts it, but the chemical very quickly evaporates. In the US they sometimes talk about something called turpenoid, but I've never been able to track that down.

The bust is just under half scale, the ears being about 26mm from the lobe to the tip.

I had to read it twice, but I did understand you were saying the art shop was useless

Al

[Christopher Genovese]

I really don't think I need to tell you this, but don't forget his wicked scar!!

[Alaneye]

Oh yes Chris, the scar will be present

Started experimenting with the hair tonight... only roughed in as yet, but brings it a bit more to life. Unfortunately I had the ears a couple of mm too far back...tried to move them but ruined one in the process. I might redo both anyway:







Al

[Alaneye]

Fancied picking up Kyle again today... it's been a while. I think I made a little progress.

[eru]

looks too real dude everything real is creepy lol

[Alaneye]

Worked on him today, not a massive update, but something at least.

[Waipunga]

Really really nice work man. High class.
Are you going to detail the hair? Or leave as is?

[shrunkendesigner]

Excellent work. Its coming along nicely. Keep it up! I bet it will look really awesome when its done.

[Alaneye]

Excellent work. Its coming along nicely. Keep it up! I bet it will look really awesome when its done.

Thanks

Really really nice work man. High class.
Are you going to detail the hair? Or leave as is?

Much more to do on the hair yet.

I worked on Kyle at the weekend and I'm off work for the week so I hope to make some good progress. Here he is after the weekend.

[Alaneye]

Today's progress. Refined the face some and I've started trying some techniques for the hair...

[Alaneye]

Something new for me, I spent some of the weekend scratch building Reese's 1/2 scale Ithaca 37 shotgun with extended magazine tube and the stock sawn off. I used a few different references and the details seemed to vary, but it's as accurate as I could get it. Made from ply, doweling, Aves putty, and styrene. Still the trigger guard to do and I think it has a rear sight... I can see one on the photos I found of a real Ithaca 37m but I can't see one in the movie. The pump slider could have been a bit better, but over all I'm pleased with it seeing as I've never built anything like that before.



Balanced on his shoulder it looks like it has the right effect...

[Alaneye]

Well, I got some brass tube and made a new barrel and magazine tube... the dowelling I used was a little over size and I felt it made it look a little chunky. I wasn't completely happy with the pump slider either, so I got another shot at that and I feel it's a bit better this time. Someone on another forum pointed out that the Ithaca 37 in the movie doesn't have the rear sight or the ramped front sight, but I decided I liked them so I have put them on and there is also the trigger and trigger guard made from Aves putty.



I started the hand last week, it's not finshed yet but here's a in progress couple of shots.



Here are a couple of shots of Kyle with the incomplete hand (there will be a sleeve too) and the gun (the position/angle may need to be adjusted).

[Alaneye]

A little more progress. I think the face is as good as I'm going to get it... it's textured some but not finished. I've extended the right hand side of his body down a little as I felt like the hand and sleeve were a bit too disconnected from his body... I may extend it a little further yet. The hair is proably the biggest job left and getting the coat folds and creases to look right.

[Deon]

Great to see you're still delivering work in stunning detain, Alaneye!
I would just say that the index finger on that hand seems to be turned slightly too far out, but perhaps it the angle the pic was taken at?

[Alaneye]

Thanks Deon! Must be the photo, the hand is baked now.

Al

[mamulyan]

stunning work!
i am working on a bust with sculpey firm, what do you use for skin texturing? you have an excellent taste of work on details and textures, would appreciate some advice..