Marvel Universe: Rogue & Nova + The New Warriors Complete... pg. 15.

[Andy]

Great idea. Once I get pics of my display up I'll be looking for suggestions of how to create levels, as it really needs it.

Awesome again Jack.

[JackKnight]

My pal Titansfan over at the Doosh sent me this a few weeks back. My first thought was to turn it into Battle Cat w/ removeable armor and an alternate head so he could turn into Cringer. Being Mattel recently announced Battle Cat is on his way; I decided to just make Cringer instead. Here he is so far. Thanks for looking.

[Andy]

Very nice! Look forward to the progress reports!

[FB]

That's looking good Jack,be keen to see how it turns out.What are you using for sculpting the Head?

[JackKnight]

I always use SuperSculpey. Some people have problems with it; but I love the stuff.

[FB]

I always use SuperSculpey. Some people have problems with it; but I love the stuff.

Really?I was always curious about that.Living in the Tropics i find time is at a premium when i'm sculpting with the epoxies.I often find i'm rushing before the stuff really starts to set and i can't get in the details i want.So ultimately i have to really work in small sections at a time.

So how do you cure it?I'd love to know.Do you have any problems with it crumbling as i've seen some complain about?

[Xander]

I think the ideal way to cure sculpey is boiling water.  Oven are too shifty and run the risk of melting something.  With water the heat is more evenly distributed.  Cringer looks great so far!  Really like the head sculpt!  Can't wait to see what you do with paint.

[JackKnight]

Thanks Xander. 

FB I only had a crumbling problem recently. And even so that's 2 out of over 400-500 customs. Not really bad odds. And it had more to do with me transporting them while moving. Ragman's hood died and Firefly's head did a three way split. (The latter I glued back together and repaired) The biggest problem Sculpey faces is temperature change imo. Small stress cracks will appear from either this or extreme heat. I always keep my apartment air conditioned in the summer being I hate the heat so my only experience with this has also been during moves.  Those are easy fixes when they do occur however; just slap some superglue over the crack and paint the spot. I think most customizers come to the realization that their work is going to require a little maintenance here and there anyway; so to me it's no biggie.

As for time constraints; you hit the nail on the head as to why I hate using any epoxies or mighty putty; etc. I like to be able to sculpt at my own pace and get all the little details I want in each piece. I find using something that gives me a time limit to work in ends with me making an inferior product as a result. Also sculpey is much more malleable and easy to smooth to get a nice clean surface. Most epoxies I've used have been very rough by comparison. And don't get me started on Mighty Putty. ugh. Not to mention the waiting for them to cure. I'm far too impatient for that.

Xander is correct about curing. Trial and error made me decide boiling water is the best method. I heat a cup of water for 5 minutes and then place the figure inside it. It usually cures the piece instantly; though bigger parts take a few seconds longer. Also if you're doing say a 12" figure; besides needing a bigger tank than a coffee mug; you also have to up the cooking time to get the water hot enough. Just watch out cause occasionally the water does bubble out when you place the toy in. It's never burnt me though. This method also has a zero percent chance of melting the figure; which is always a risk when curing it in the oven. I did that on occasion. 

Well; hope that helps and I wasn't too long winded.

[FB]

Thanks for such an in-depth reply Jack i really appreciate it.I may just give it a whirl and see how it goes.So would you say warmer weather can be a problem for it?As i said before i live in the Tropics so heat is a factor all year round.And when you say boiling water do you mean you actually bring it to the point of boiling and then dunk the piece?
I don't paint in the Summer months here[which is now] because the humidity plays merry hell with my paint.

Once again appreciate your help,point for you.And thank you too Xander,i'll give you a point too soon as i can.

[JackKnight]

Yeah. Bringing it to a boil and then dunking the piece. 5 minutes in the microwave is usually sufficient. Not sure if it's boiled or not; but it's hot enough anyway.

As for heat; I used to live in Florida and didn't have a problem; though I also kept the room air conditioned. The few times it went out though they were okay. Maybe if kept in constant heat they'd be alright; it could just be the temperature change itself that does it. But giving it a try seems like the best option. And yeah I had to keep my paints away from the window or they'd be cooked. ick.

Also Andy lives over by you I think and he's never expressed a problem with it; except when they lept off the shelf and committed suicide. (Likely because he doesn't think they're the #1 pieces in his collection. Poor guys.  )

[FB]

Also Andy lives over by you I think and he's never expressed a problem with it; except when they lept off the shelf and committed suicide. (Likely because he doesn't think they're the #1 pieces in his collection. Poor guys.  )

Yeah Andy lives in a place where it gets really Cold,but i'm sure it will be fine.He needs to rethink the order of love for pieces in his collection methinks!
I really appreciate your help and i'll definitely give it a whirl.What a dream it will be,not having to rush to finish a sculpt!

[Andy]

I love all the customs in my collection for different reasons. My most beloved custom will always be the SA Phantom Girl Jack made for me because she is my favourite character and the first custom I ever comissioned, so get your G-string out of a twist, Jack. 

As for the sculpey, yep no melting problems here, just a cat attack that sent a few of them back to the Dr. 

[JackKnight]

Ah I didn't hear it was a cat. Just a collapse. Damned Streaky. 

And don't you know by now I have fun messing with you on occasion. 

[JackKnight]

Okay. I haven't mentioned this here; so I figure this picture requires a little explaining. A couple weeks ago I read on another board that you could dye figures with RIT dye; which is used for fabrics. I was somewhat skeptical; but if it worked this would be great for customizers. I mean at the very least joint rub could be well, rubbed out. So after losing the first packet I bought somewhere in this new apartment; I bought another today and chose Cringer as my first victim.



Now he didn't fit in the largest tub I had so I had to turn him over after a bit. This is him after 10 minutes on either side. I'm leaving him in overnight tonight to see how that works out. But it looks promising to me. 

[Coffee Joe]

Wow, that DOES look promising.