I can never get my Green Stuff to do what I want , what's your secret ?
Me neither!
Thanks for the kind words.
I do not always get it to work, just look at the left side of the Crusader. I have just bought my third GW pack of greenstuff, I bought the first when the Fellowship of the Ring game came out, so I have not used it much.
Here are some rambling thoughts.
(Note, I will use the word sculpting, but in no way am I claiming to be able to sculpt anywhere on the same planet as Kev White or the Perry twins - it is just more efficient than saying poking clumsily with the pointy end of a scalpel).
I try and limit what I am sculpting, so, if I want some British back packs, I make an armature out of Evergreen square section strip and add a flap and straps from micro strip. Once that is dry I use green stuff to make it look less like a box. One of my Bolt Action Shermans has a couple of those backpacks. The Crusader has a tarp wrapped box on the left rear mudguard, I used an HO scale box as an armature pinned to the mudguard.
The other thing is that though greenstuff is sticky, it does not stick enough on flat surfaces. I drill the location and glue plastic rod to the surface to provide a firm anchorage point and an indication of the intended height (too much facial reconstruction on television ^___^). You can see examples on the Crusader.
Tools wise, most of the work is done with my trusty Swann Morton scalpel with a 10A blade and a Hasslefree blister pack containing water in the back (also used as a pallette). I do have an old pipe scraper tool, not mine I hasten to add which gets used for sculpting (proper tools are available).
I have previously used a piece of PTFE sheet taped to plastic card as a non stick surface, but after 20 years it is not very non stick. I have just started using an off cut of what I am told is PTFE which made rolling the greenstuff a lot easier.
The key things are:
Real examples- look at pictures of the real thing and models that look right. The Osprey modelling book on the US 76mm Sherman has some nice examples.
Placement - where is the item going, how would it flow. Is it clear of intakes and exhausts, hatches and viewing ports?
Gravity- yup slightly forgot that, fabric items will sag, think how gravity will affect the shape.
Fixings - related to gravity above. How is the item fixed so it does not fall off and how does that affect the shape.
Story - it is there for a reason, what is that reason: covering or holding something down or stopping something moving.
Time - greenstuff remains soft but not workable for a period of time, work on items so that you will not be putting finger prints on your previous work.
Simple blanket/tarpaulin roll on a horizontal surface:
Drill the surface in two or more places and glue in suitable lengths of plastic rod. Ensure they do not interfere on the underside.
Cut and mix your greenstuff. Roll it into a suitable diameter sausage of the required length (actually make it slightly longer and cut off square). PTFE material might make it easier, or use polythene. Remember some people are allergic to the epoxy, so gloves might be required.
Square up the ends.
Place the greenstuff on the surface and flatten it out, making sure the ends remain squarish.
With the end of the scalpel work your way round the end of the roll teasing the edge of the end out in a full squashed circle, this is the outer part of the roll. Then work your way in in a spiral. Use plenty of water.
Next, having noted where you are going to tie the roll to the surface, with the wet scalpel make two parallel marks for the strap. If the strap is attached beyond the roll, extend the strap.
Carefully, being careful to not 'tear' the surface, with the scalpel depress the surface at a shallow angle from the strap to give some depth to the strap. Add some creases.
Repeat for the other straps.
Now some rolls will have an exposed end, you need to make a smooth line along the roll, missing the straps, gently depressing the lower material while lifting the upper to make a nice edge. When you reach the end, tuck the lower part underneath the upper.