advice?

Lucien Swift · Post by **Lucien Swift** » Thu May 20, 2004 9:22 pm

for all of you experienced figure assemblers out there, if someone were making a figure and it had an arm which was a seperate cast, what sort of join shape do you think is most effective at allowing both a strong, effective joint and positioning options for the assembler?

1) flat shoulder point, flat arm point (like the space marine metal figures with plastic arms)

2) shoulder bump & arm scoop (like the plastic skeletons)

3) arm bump & shoulder scoop (if i remember correctly, the metal eldar dreads were like this, or maybe their legs at least)

Snorri · Post by **Snorri** » Thu May 20, 2004 9:35 pm

Well I think you should do num. 3 because that allows more positioning options.

Xtreme · Post by **Xtreme** » Thu May 20, 2004 9:46 pm

I prefer the flat. With a little green stuff I can get any angle I want.
and its all about me after all.

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Thu May 20, 2004 10:03 pm

I would go for #3 myself.

Melifaxis · Post by **Melifaxis** » Thu May 20, 2004 11:56 pm

I like flat becuase pinning is so easy and you can greenstuff to fill in any gap if you want to change the angle...

Dragoonkin · Post by **Dragoonkin** » Fri May 21, 2004 12:17 am

The metal Eldar Wraithlords actually have "pins" for the arms and "sockets" for the shoulders, like a fastener. They're not really "ball-sockets" in any way.

I personally prefer flat joints for ease of assembly (see: Space Marine), but ball-shoulder and socket-arm joints are very nice too (see: Tau Crisis Suit).

Lucien Swift · Post by **Lucien Swift** » Fri May 21, 2004 12:20 am

my only concern with a flat on flat is that an all-metal figure like this would not be particularly sturdy without pins... the socket at least provides a partial pin. however, the flat on flat definitely would likely look best... it's a hard choice...

Snew · Post by **Snew** » Fri May 21, 2004 1:21 am

Yes. You're right. Flat on flat is weak without pins. Unfortunately, the ball and socKet usually mate up so poorly that the contact points are so few, they're weaker.

It's a tough call.

Post by **Dave** » Fri May 21, 2004 4:50 am

I prefer flat due to the better positioning possibilities ..
the other joints might be stronger but the flat one is waay easier IMHO

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Fri May 21, 2004 9:31 am

flat on flat.
I find that slight roughness from castings can sometimes mean that extensive prep is needed to get moulded joints to stick together properly, which is loads easier on flat surfaces.

and like people say, green stuff can be used to change the pose to how you want it.

just make sure the flat areas are not too big on body and arm - the size of the flat sections on SM is far too big IMO!

Anthony_TBBF · Post by **Anthony_TBBF** » Fri May 21, 2004 4:30 pm

#3 for sure.

Deathwing · Post by **Deathwing** » Fri May 21, 2004 5:05 pm

Option 4: Tiny little skeletal joints that are near impossible to pin.

Post by **Dave** » Fri May 21, 2004 5:11 pm

that's nasty woody ..

very funny though

Lucien Swift · Post by **Lucien Swift** » Fri May 21, 2004 5:17 pm

hey, _i_ didn't sculpt the bodies

well, it certainly seems there is no consensus, but one option at least is out...

from a purely selfish standpoint, the flat on flat would be easiest to make, heh. my instinct was to go with a bump & scoop (that sounds dirty) to help the pinning-impaired, i'll think about it, don't need to decide for a few more days anyway...

Post by **Dave** » Fri May 21, 2004 5:25 pm

perhaps you could make them flat, for uz exzperienzed meddlerz with leadz but with a small bump and scoop (don't have a clue on the real words for this but I mean pre prepared pin and a hole for the pin to go in ) for those that are less 'handy'