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Alien Chest Burster

DarenDaren ✭
in Sculpture
Hello,

  I am really new to sculpting with clay. However, I recently purchased some medium Monster Clay to give it a try. Since I was a kid, I have been a huge fan of both Aliens and Predator franchises. With that being said, I am wanting to attempt to sculpt a version of the Alien chest burster from the 1979 film. Since I am a visual learner, I decided to 3D printout a full size Alien chest burster so I have something to reference as I am created this sculpt. I have watched numerous video's on sculpting with clay and know I need to start with a armature made of wire etc. However, with this particular project I really am not sure where to start. Reason is, I want to sculpt the alien with it's tail so I can make a mold to cast the finished piece. Attached is a picture of what I am using for my reference. For my sculpt I am looking at making the tail straight so I can cast a piece in silicone. Ultimately the goal is to make a chest burster like the one scene in AVP where the Scar Predator catches the chest burster mid air and snaps it neck. So what I am in need of help to do is advice on how to start this project via the wire armature. 

Thank you in advance for any advice, Daren 

Comments

  • Chris EllerbyChris Ellerby Admin
    edited June 26
    You can use thick aluminum armature wire, and if you want the clay to hold on a little stronger, you can wrap that with thinner armature wire in a spiral with around 1/4" to 1/2" spacing between coils.

    To anchor it to a board, you could have the head/torso portion upright, with the thick wire coming out the bottom into a hole in your board that allows a snug fit.   Then have a second wire attached to the first that extends out for the length of the tail.


    Here's a quick sketch.  The lighter blue is the thick armature wire, the darker blue is the thinner armature wire wrapped around to provide extra surface for the clay to bite into, and to help hold the tail armature wire in place.  The thicker tail armature wire wraps around the "torso" armature wire a couple of times as well.  And the brown represents your sculpting board with a hole for the armature wire to anchor to it.  You can also ball up aluminum foil in the head/torso area to bulk up the armature so you don't need as much heavy clay.

    When it's time to mold this, you would want to cut off the anchoring section of armature wire and then patch that area of the sculpt.

    Hope that helps.

    /Chris
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