Sculpting and Casting a Resin Statue
Using Sculpey, Armature Wire, Acid‑Etched Brass and Rubber Molds
Chapter 11: Resources and Acknowledgments
I thank Dan Perez of Dan Perez Studios (http://www.danperezstudios.com/workshoppages/polymerclay.htm) who, via his website, selflessly gave me all the information I needed to get started with a minimum of fuss. Sure, I’d made use of Sculpey and Super Sculpey before, but this kind gentleman made certain that I did not waste any time on side-trips down dark alleys!
Perez is one heckuva good sculptor who has more to teach than just how to get the best results from Sculpey! Check out his website and find his tutorials and essays on sculpting. Especially useful are his instructions on how to get the most efficient armature. I will cover that material, but he shows that and more. He talks about molding and casting then, just to show what a renaissance man he is, he will sell you resin casts of his work. Make sure to visit, you can learn a lot from the work of others!
Joe Laudatti is a fellow I picked up quite a few tips from, plus an abiding respect for. Joe labels himself “Creator of Dragons” and he ain’t kiddin’ around—he’s the guy who created “Terry Dactyl” from PeeWee’s Playhouse. I was employed in a place where Joe would occasionally pop in for a job or something of his own and I learned a lot of “just get it done” from him. Over the past few years, he’s been making some of the most impressive original figures and dinosaur masters for resin-cast kits.
Another special thanks must go to David Merriman. Merriman is one of those legendary modelers whose career is varied and multi-layered. He has worked for big movies, doing super-duper subs for “Hunt for Red October” and most recently a Learning Channel special about the early American Navy submarine, The Hunley. You might think all he does is practical radio-controlled submarines, but that’s just how he makes some money.
http://www.caswellplating.com
This is a business devoted to all sorts of things, but Dave’s in there, mostly selling “SubDriver” kits—which are findable on that site.
David also does just about everything else, from fabulous one-offs to figure-work, metal casting, serious museum exhibits and on and on—here is his own site, check out “articles”
http://vabiz.com/d&e
What I revere about David is his all-inclusive, no one need be left out attitude. He tells you everything you need to know to do just what he does. If you dare! I have found that by taking what he shows you and “translating” it to your own needs, one can step up to a new level or sideways to a new reality! Mostly what he shows is that you must plan, prepare and be ready to do it until it is done right. His professionalism is contagious, his determination dogged and finally, his results are sublime. Poke around on his website.
This page of the CultTVMan website features an elaborate build of the starship Enterprise from TV’s Star Trek—The Original Series: http://www.culttvman2.com/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=110
What’s interesting about this is that it was done before “hard” unimpeachable reference was commonly available for that ship. Also, before the internet made such searches easy and before DVDs of the show.
Finally, this is a remarkable site, for all its diversity and range of interests. It’s still my favorite watering hole to graze near…
http://www.culttvman2.com/dnn/
Steve Iverson’s CultTVMan modeling website.
