im trying to make a figure but i just don't know what to make it with

[Mouse droidz 21]

so basically im trying to make a articulate action figure, i have drawed diagrams of what im going to make but i don't know any resources to make it out of. im not sure if clay could help but i think you can only make ball joints with clay i just don't know any resources to make the figure out of. the figure im making is the guy in my avatar. i think i know someone on the forum who has made figures but i have forgot his name :(.

i would try to use clay, before i used crayolas air dry clay but then i didn't know about articulation meaning the figure was a solid sculpture. Is it a good idea to use air dry clay when making a figure? or using modeling clay? i just don't know the resources to use.

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[Georges]

Use Legos. :P

[ßlöükfáce]

Use Legos. :P

But what if he doesn't have the right legoes for this?
I certainly do though :3

[Mouse droidz 21]

Use Legos. :P

i don't want to use lego in particular because first lego is easy to brake second it won't really make want im trying to make.

i think i remember that guys name now... was it lama? that guy who made his own figures?

[Lalam24]

i don't want to use lego in particular because first lego is easy to brake second it won't really make want im trying to make.

i think i remember that guys name now... was it lama? that guy who made his own figures?

Actually the ABS used on lego is ridiculously durable.  It isn't on par with POM/Celcon, but it's certainly good for what it's meant for.

I know I have a lot of advice posted in some topics, I'll have to hunt them down and post them here.  Joint setup, contrary to previous advice, shouldn't just be "let's buy some revoltech joints and pop them in all over!", you need to take the time to figure out what you want and make sure you have sets of durable, more easily placed joints that work for what you're doing.  Almost all of my modern stuff requires gluing/heavy modifying of previous pieces to make joints that work.  I have a lot of scrap tamashii/bandai of japan figures which have some really nice quality POM plastic, separate (or close to it) joints that work really well.  However, I assume your inventory isn't at all like that, so to begin with, you should probably check out HLJ, Hobby Search, or Amiami, because they'll have separate joint packs (just look up joint, you should get several different listings), and pick out what you think works for you.  Problem is, none of these use POM -- In fact, the quality on some older ones are horrible, so I'd suggest you make sure you look at only items from 2011+.

Here's a joint setup that can act as a half assed guide.


Now for sculpting, it's really about what medium suits you.  The ideal figure will have its parts casted into resin, meaning you could use whatever material you want.  However, assuming you're out for something amateur (though you insist legos are too weak, which this'll go against), you can use super sculpey and make sure you bake it properly.  Obviously, you cannot bake any plastics with it.  On the other hand, you can use Fixit/Apoxie sculpt, Milliput, or Green Stuff, which are all duel compound air dry epoxies, which are more durable, but a lot more difficult to sculpt with.

[BlueCacti]

-snip-

Sorry lalam that was some really good advice but this guy is 12 years old, i don't think he can get all those materials.

[Lalam24]

Well he asked me over a PM, so I thought I'd post.

[RaR]

you can get desktop 3D printers for reasonable prices now

[Lalam24]

you can get desktop 3D printers for reasonable prices now

You can't produce quality plastic with modern 3D printers yet.  No printed ABS is going to hold up for stuff, so the only reason for using a 3D printer on this sort of thing would be for stuff you plan on modifying/casting.

Again, POM is the ideal plastic for joints and the like.  Even metals aren't as efficient, as they slowly expand due to the friction, while POM is extremely friction resistant, and actually tightens the more you move it.

[Tom Gunn]

you can get desktop 3D printers for reasonable prices now

He'll be putting a lot more money into that than what he's probably planning. Thats a bad idea.

You can't produce quality plastic with modern 3D printers yet.  No printed ABS is going to hold up for stuff, so the only reason for using a 3D printer on this sort of thing would be for stuff you plan on modifying/casting.

Yes you can. Good material however is way to expensive to be practical. He's better off like you said with the sculpey/alternate materials though.

[Lalam24]

He'll be putting a lot more money into that than what he's probably planning. Thats a bad idea. Yes you can. Good material however is way to expensive to be practical. He's better off like you said with the sculpey/alternate materials though.

You can't get POM, and the ABS will never be lego quality ABS, which is the most durable mass produced ABS I'm aware of.  I don't know what other plastic you'd use for joints that don't immediately break.

[Tom Gunn]

You can't get POM, and the ABS will never be lego quality ABS, which is the most durable mass produced ABS I'm aware of.  I don't know what other plastic you'd use for joints that don't immediately break.

The ABS (depending on where you buy) can be if not the exact same stuff used in legos. I have in fact used these materials. It's the same plastic but it will never hold up to the structural integrity of a mold injected lego. It's merely how the plastic is built up. Manufacturing standards is what it's more about.

You are correct in the long run. 3d printing is not practical for fine and finished figures. It's a prototyping machine.

[Mouse droidz 21]

-snip-

the websites that you gave me are from japan. how ever i have managed to find ball joint pieces on amazon. but instead of buying ball jointed pieces is it possible to make the ball joints in clay? Ive seen some people do this before. and what about the swivel piece because i have never seen that piece before. is it also possible to use model magic to make the figure or you can't.

He'll be putting a lot more money into that than what he's probably planning

who said i was going to buy a 3d printer?

Sorry lalam that was some really good advice but this guy is 12 years old, i don't think he can get all those materials.

first it does not matter about the age, i know a few people around 12 and 11 who have made sculpts before. these materials are for sculpting. its clay a 9 year old could use clay its not like if im going to buy aluminum or iron to make something huge

[Tom Gunn]

the websites that you gave me are from japan. how ever i have managed to find ball joint pieces on amazon. but instead of buying ball jointed pieces is it possible to make the ball joints in clay? Ive seen some people do this before. and what about the swivel piece because i have never seen that piece before. is it also possible to use model magic to make the figure or you can't.
 
who said i was going to buy a 3d printer?
first it does not matter about the age, i know a few people around 12 and 11 who have made sculpts before. these materials are for sculpting. its clay a 9 year old could use clay its not like if im going to buy aluminum or iron to make something huge

Re-read. I'm speaking hypothetically.

[Caribou]

I think you should model the figure online, and then make a replication of it in real life out of LEGO's or clay.