Can anyone point me to a resource for figure conversion, modification, etc.?

What would you like to know? Historicus Forma has a wonderful sculpting section where many modellers, including commercial sculptors, would be more than happy to field any questions.

If you're looking for books, then Bill Horan's Masterclass Figure Modelling (I think that's the name - but either way it's his first book , not the second) has a nice conversion section as well...

If you can get a copy of the book`Conversion and scratch building of model figures` by Andrea Press it will take you through conversion to full sculpt.I believe it is out of press now but there are lots of copies around.
Ospreys `Modelling Waffen SS figures` by Calvin Tan also covers some conversion and modification and is simple to follow.

Also as Rudi has said drop by HFM and you will get all the help you need.

Steve

Hi,

i have some books about sculpting. They are really good for beginners and show how to convert Figures and to make them from the beginning with wire structure. Also converting of metal Figures in that Osprey book.

Here is a link with some of these books and the material you could need:

http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/supplies_folder/Sculpting/sculpting.html

Here is a also a good site from an netherland Sculptor:

http://home.planet.nl/~klink244/mcr.htm

I have Sculpting Military Miniatures with Kim Jones and Modeling and Painting Figures from Osprey. Also a great book from Bill Horan. It´s amazing what he can do.

Greetings

Stefan

Hi Stefan,

I must admit I was not that impressed with the Osprey "Modeling and Painting Figures". I think in normal Osprey style they went too light in certain areas due to forcing the authors to fit everything into 64 pages.
Bill Horan's book is a must for any modeller. "Bill Horan's Military Modelling Masterclass" is published by Windrow & Greene Publishing.
Sheperd Paine's book "Building & Painting Scale Figures" is OOP, but you can normally find it second hand online. It's also highly recommended.
I haven't read Kim Jones' book, but it's by Kalmbach isn't it? I've got another figure book of theirs, a painting book, which is excellent as well.

Rudi

Hi Rudi,

yes you are right. The Osprey book is a little light in Information but it is not expensive at all. Yes it´s from Kalmbach but hard to find and the one from Horan is exactly what i mean. I have found it on ebay some years ago. It´s a real tresure. The one from Paine is very hard to find and it´s very expensive when you are lucky to find it. The one from Andrea press is nice but not really great. I have seen it i my local shop. In my opinion it´s a little better than the Osprey.Kim Jones show you the start of the Project (planing with reference material and wire structure) to the end. The Figure on the front cover is explained step by step so you could "copy" this Figure by following every step on the sites. He uses material which he took in the oven to harden. Also he uses plastic stripes for belts. He shows you how to make a head and make the handgrip right on the pistol. Also some ground work for bases is explained and the hole Stuff he huses for sculpting.

Stefan

I'd like to thank everyone for their input. I've been looking for tutorials on the web and have found quite a few on war gaming and regular sculpting sites. I'll also check out the books you mentioned.