EVEN MORE MAKING OF REVENGE-BOT!

Now that the basic structure had been blocked out it was time to get into the sculpting. There were many parts to make and fit as well as getting the steel plate look going. My goal was to make the steel plating look dynamic, with various levels, rivets and other parts to play off the final texture. Sometimes when you're sculpting a character, think of how it will look in a flat gray color.

Would the shadows cast off of the levels and layers ad dimension and support the overall look and feel of the piece? Starting the sculpting with that in mind was the task. Also I had a width limitation. Since it had to fit through the front door of the gallery it could be no more than 30inches wide. This would work from a design standpoint but making sure that the plates hatches and other things didn't stick out too far.

I Had to put the body on a rolling dolly, as well as keep bolt holes so the legs could be secured. The foam circles were going to be the ports for attaching the front hatch, arms and neck. Setting up the sculpture every day was a chore. Wheeling it out, setting up the barrels, having some help to lift it up, then at the end of the day breaking all down again. The foam dust is a fine powder with a static charge that draws it to you. It sticks on everything, really an outdoor activity.

Once the body was in shape it was time to get into the claws, elbows, the soft looking rubber flexible joints at the ankles shoulders and neck. The sculpting of these was much the same techniques I would do with clay. Get it roughed out with bigger tools, carving knife, metal scraper. Then start to refine the shape, I found drywall sand paper worked well. The claws were going to be removable. Erik had welded brackets on the end of the claw that I would cut to size with an angle grinder then sandwich between the upper and lower half of the claw. The angle grinder is a great tool and it makes lots of sparks.

Next up finishing, priming and painting.