Painting pedestals for figures
+3
Tarok
Sherman 18
Jenny Ryan
7 posters
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Painting pedestals for figures
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 .
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
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 )
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 .
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 .
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 !
Jenny
Very simple really , you will need the following .
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
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 )
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 .
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 .
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 !
Jenny
Re: Painting pedestals for figures
Cool, Thanks for posting
Sherman 18- Tank Commander
- Posts : 892
Join date : 2009-02-28
Re: Painting pedestals for figures
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
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
Tarok- seasoned veteran
- Posts : 391
Join date : 2009-04-20
Re: Painting pedestals for figures
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 .
Jenny
Jenny
Re: Painting pedestals for figures
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!
i really consider to alter my pedestals!
Kreighshoer- Platoon Commander
- Posts : 2962
Join date : 2008-11-19
Age : 53
Figure mount
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
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
Kiwidave4- Be nice to me I am new
- Posts : 60
Join date : 2009-03-27
Age : 78
Location : New Zealand
Re: Painting pedestals for figures
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
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
john bowery- seasoned veteran
- Posts : 259
Join date : 2009-01-06
Age : 85
Location : Indianapolis
Re: Painting pedestals for figures
Nice tip Jenny.
Being a little paranoid I would also strengthen the pole using a sewing pin or small nail.
Being a little paranoid I would also strengthen the pole using a sewing pin or small nail.
Richard Marchand- General
- Posts : 1619
Join date : 2009-04-06
Age : 63
Location : Quebec, Canada
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