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Painting pedestals for figures

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Tarok
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Painting pedestals for figures Empty Painting pedestals for figures

Post  Jenny Ryan Wed May 20, 2009 9:54 am

Some people have asked me what I use for painting figures , I needed to make some more , so I thought I would share it with everyone .

Very simple really , you will need the following .

Painting pedestals for figures Figurebases2
First you will need two pieces of Balsa one piece square section 2.5 x 2.5cm (this will do up to a 1/35 scale figure easily . the next piece needs to be approx 3 x as wide & I am using a piece 7.5cm wide & it needs to be as thick as possible , I am using a piece 1.25cm thick . This second piece will form the base when you are letting the figure dry , so the thicker the better as when painting Pewter figures it will form a secure base .

You will also need some PVA adhesive , a razor saw , a set square & a pencil

Painting pedestals for figures Figurebases3
First measure the square section off into sections about the width of your hand grasping the piece , my hands are little but for Richies use these are measured off at 10 cm long ( try not to make them too tall or they will tend to get top heavy . Measure the base off so it will form a square ( ie. my pieces are 7.5cm wide so I made them 7.5cm long )

Painting pedestals for figures Figurebases4
Cut as many as you need , we would have 25 to 30 I guess . Depends how many figures you have in the process of being painted at any given time , you will want to make as many as the amount of material allows you .

Painting pedestals for figures Figurebases6
Put a blob of PVA in the centre of each base & attach the square section so it forms an inverted T . You will notice I also drew diagonals on the base plates so the pedestal is alligned centrally . Wipe off any excess glue with a wet rag .

Painting pedestals for figures Figurebases7

When you have pinned your figure , just push the pins firmly into the base . You can now undercoat & paint your figure without touching it ! For detail painting the pedestal is a handy hand hold & the base makes the figure stable to take a break for any length of time .

Once finished , put the pedestal in a dust free area with the figure on it until it is ready to be transfered to its display base . Keep the base handy for your next figure . After a hundred or so figures the holes in the top may make the base a bit wobbly for holding figures , get the razor saw and cut a centimetre off & Voila , a new one !

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Post  Sherman 18 Wed May 20, 2009 10:39 am

Cool, Thanks for posting
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Post  Tarok Wed May 20, 2009 10:45 am

Good tip, thanks Jenny!

Do you find painting the figure on, and handling the pedestal takes some getting used to? I've always found them a bit awkward, but that's just me and maybe I need to give it another go - maybe my pedestals have been too chunky or big...

Thanks again!!

Rudi

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Post  Jenny Ryan Wed May 20, 2009 10:48 am

No I find I only have small hands but these are okay , I guess you could sand the corners back & make it a little more ergonomic . I do not bother as we have 25 to 30 of them .

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Post  Kreighshoer Wed May 20, 2009 11:25 am

indeed a splendid tip jenny! your figure pedestals are better than my basic ones - i have to admit that!

i really consider to alter my pedestals! Very Happy
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Post  Kiwidave4 Thu May 21, 2009 12:16 am

I dont have such a high tech solution!

I pin all my figures to the base when finished so I make one of my first jobs when building a figure to drill a hole up each leg and glue in a length of steel wire, extending an inch or so out of the leg. Then to hold the figure I push the wire into the top of a cork from a bottle of methode champenoise. This gives a very inexpensive stable base, plus the enjoyment of emptying the bottle in order to get the cork, and a few spares....!

Regards Dave

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Post  john bowery Thu May 21, 2009 12:47 am

Jenny,
Thanks for the tip.
I am like Dave except that I drill a couple of holes in a piece of wood stock.one by one/half and cut off lengths from two inches up. American sizes of wood are the dimensions of the lumber. I also use the same pieces to tack pieces on with double sided tape for painting with the airbrush. These provide the stable base even for the metal figures and a hand hold as well without the extra height and extra wide base to stop it from tipping.
This works for me. There is a photo in my fantasy post of the last figure that I have done as it is still on this base.
Cheers
John

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Post  Richard Marchand Thu May 21, 2009 5:02 pm

Nice tip Jenny.

Being a little paranoid I would also strengthen the pole using a sewing pin or small nail.
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