Automobile Clay Sculpting Techniques

[Terra-fx]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and am just amazed by the work and info I have found here. Kudos to everyone.

I was hoping to start a thread for the discussion of the sculpting techniques the are used in auto design. I recently read an article in Amazing Figure Modeler by Bob Dullam and how he approaches his sculpture and the art of "precision" costume making. I have found very little info on this type of sculpting and short of finding a class at a university have almost given up hope. Until I found ConceptArt. Looking through everything, I'm sure some of you have some great info you might be willing to share.

I'm not looking for specifics on how to sculpt a car, but rather peoples approaches to sculpting very technical, symetrical surfaces of all kinds. As well as preferred materials, tools, etc.

Any info would be much appreciated. :^^:

[SolitaryMan]

Ummmmm.....I am not sure how much help I can be, but I have often thought of how I would sculpt a jet, tank or something like that. I guess a few things you would need are a straight edged cutting tool, some rulers, tape-measures, and other basic sculpting tools....and maybe even a level(if they have em small enough).

A technique that may work(I haven't tried it yet). If you are sculpting with oil-based plastilina clay, get a brick or just make a brick, measure it to the correct dimensions, and when you have the basic automobile shape, you get a soft brush, and some isopropyl alcohol(at least 90%), and brush the sharp edges of the car and the alcohol will dissolve and curve them. You would then keep doing that until they are the shape you want them.

someday, I WILL try a tank though.

Hope that helps!!!!

[Junorion]

Hello Terra-fx,

I am currently attending The Art Institute and studying for bachelors in Industrial Design. Having made a scale model of a Ford Explorer for one of my projects, maybe I can help.
I understand that your not looking specifically for car related techniques (I'm not even a car-buff), but the techniques I was taught and used to make the Explorer relate to symmetrical and smooth surfaces. I have included a few pictures below.


Tools and materials I used:

Chavant Clay (sulfur based)---This clay works well for achieving a very flat hard surface that can be smoothed to a dull shine. It was a bit difficult to use because it must be heated to soften the clay before use. While it is soft you can apply or "schmooze" the clay into a form, once the clay cools it becomes quite hard which helps to achieve smooth surfaces and a good amount of detail. The clay must be worked into itself by pushing Small amounts into and around each other, If the clay is applied in large amounts and not worked together as a solid form, it can break apart when detailing or with future working; chavant seems to become somewhat "dry" and brittle when cool. I'm sure there are many types of clay that would work, this is just what I used and what Ford also uses.

Drags---If at all possible it is very helpful to use a "drag"; drags help with symmetry. Basically a drag is an outline or rough perimeter of your form or a portion of your form. A drag can be made out of many things; I used 1/4 inch Masonite. Let’s say you want to make a symmetrical shaped pear. On paper you would draw half of the pear's outline from a front view as though it were standing on end. You would then paste the paper to a strong thin material and cut out the Negative shape of the pear. While standing vertically, this drag can now be pulled, in a circular direction, around a very rough pear shaped glob of clay. As the drag is revolved around the clay a few times, it will remove the excess amount of clay that is larger than the drag's cut out shape, eventually a symmetrical pear shape will emerge. There are other details to using drags but that’s the basic idea.

Steels & Pickles---steels and pickles help to smooth the clay. Steels are usually round on one side and straight on the other, they range in size from 10 to 2 inches, depending on what you’re working on. The steels are made of "spring” steel (does not have memory if bent; very flexible) and are used to scrape a fairly refined form in order to smooth out almost all bumps or irregularities. Pickles take this process one step further and are used to finish off the form. Pickles are made primarily out of plastic and are usually custom made, cutting small pieces of vertical window blinds works quite well. If enough time is spent, a pickle can make the clay "shine" almost like burnishing a piece of wood.

Hand Tools---Your basic clay tools can be used for details and defining lines or "material" breakups...see pictures. Also small square objects, wire, and exacto blades work well too.

Also in my opinion Pictures & concept sketches are VERY important when working on any project. While being able to revolve something 360 degrees in your head and imagine it in 3D can work, it is always helpful to have a visual reference.

I could go into more detail but I think it would get to vehicle related, overall I think using the drags were the most useful technique in achieving symmetry and smooth shapes. Even when using drags you will probably only get a rough overall form or shape, some detailing and manipulating will probably almost always need to be done but having that basic and solid form helps a lot. Also I would think the medium you are working in will determine what techniques will or will not work, chavant works great for vehicles but might not for other objects. These techniques (and many others) are used for automobile design specifically because you can produce a form that is very exact. FULL SCALE clay models of almost any vehicle you can think of such as; tractor trailers, construction eqipment, 747 jets(in parts), boats, ect. are made because of the precision of theses techniques. Just as an example of what can be produced, many of the new model and "concept" cars seen in car shows are actually a solid clay model on a rolling chassis with a few add on plastic parts as eye candy :)

I hope this information helps, have fun with whatever future projects you work on!



Hand Tools
http://img83.exs.cx/img83/9413/claytools.th.jpg (http://img83.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img83&image=claytools.jpg)

My Explorer, not as smooth as it could be and a little rough for wear but Im happy with it as my first "scupt" and Chavant experience
http://img80.exs.cx/img80/6114/full2x.th.jpg (http://img80.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img80&image=full2x.jpg)
http://img80.exs.cx/img80/5387/front1x.th.jpg (http://img80.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img80&image=front1x.jpg)
http://img80.exs.cx/img80/3913/back2x.th.jpg (http://img80.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img80&image=back2x.jpg)

[acuna_read]

Check out www.cardesignnews.com they have alot of useful info and a forum to post on if you get really stuck.

http://www.claymodeller.com/index.htm These guys are very helpful, send them an e-mail and they reply with useful info.

Sorry, never tried to make a car out of clay so not really much help.

Junorion seems to have covered most of it though. ;)