Monique - Caution- Could be considered 'RACY"**

[Kerry Pinkerton]

This thread was originally posted on the old site. The original thread with photos can be found here:

http://allmetalshaping.forumsdot.com....php?f=20&t=10

Please make all new posts for this thread on the new site...that is HERE. We will be working to get the photos moved over.



I took my new manniquin to Jim Spradley's meet and got started on her. I have the entire mannequin:


The plan is to do the entire body in aluminum and then make brass, bronze, stainless, and ??? clothes. Those of you who followed the Mandy Dawn build may remember my talking about this manniquin. I got her on Ebay and she is a very high quality manniquin with very nice body tone and muscle definition. She is a plus size model...supposedly a perfect size 14. The brand is a Patina-V, Bellisima collection # BE1A Shannon, designed for a 3" heel and size 7 shoe.


Her hips and legs, arms, hands, and torso are separate pieces so I won't have to haul the whole body around. At Jim's I took the torso and the first thing I did was make the flexible shape pattern.


Due to the tecture of her 'skin', regular transfer tape would not stick so I used blue painters tape. Turned out ok but it was a bear to get off so for the next pattern I'll use the purple painters tape. I've seen it at Wally World and it's a little less sticky than the blue stuff but a little more than sign transfer tape.



I decided to challenge myself a little and do her belly in one piece. What a bear! SEVEN reverses in one panel! This is, without a doubt, the most complex panel I've ever made.



The flexible shape pattern kept me straight though. I just kept stretching and shrinking where the pattern told me and after about three hours the pattern fit but it didn't look like her. It was interesting how the arrangement was WAAAAY off. A few twists and bends and she's looking like herself.

Notice the labels on the pattern. You might think it would be obvious what is what but you'll be amazed how little things look. I haven't decided yet how many pieces the upper front will be made from...at least two, split up the center. The shoulder is pretty complex. I'm using .063 3003 H14 aluminum.

This will be a long term project. Some of the smaller parts such as the eyes and fingers will require reposee' techniques and I barely know how to spell reposee' but do have some pitch and crude tools.

My long suffering wife named her Monique....

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Kerry Pinkerton

http://wheelingmachines.com


Kerry Pinkerton Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:27 pm

Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:38 pm
Posts: 247
Location: Harvest, Al Monique has been whining that I never paid any attention to her so I took her up to the yearly Bugly distributor kickoff meeting and got to spend some quality time with her...

I said in the first post that I wanted to do a little augmentation from the C cup. I used Johnny's doming dies and very quickly created a DD cup which was too much. These are my second attempt and are about a D cup according to long suffering wife. The DD will be a wall hanging for the shop.

I'll tell you right now, these things caused me more trouble than I've had since High School. She's standing in a bit of a 'saucy' pose...


so she looks unlevel without her legs on.... but I took a lot of time to make sure she was symmetrical. Tomorrow I'll weld, grind, and get back on the roadster. I still need to do a couple little details but I'll wait on that.



I've started thinking about how I'm going to do the whole body. The problem is that as I start adding panels, it's going to be more and more difficult to grind and metalfinish the welds. For instance, attaching the arms to the shoulders or her head and neck should be really interesting...still thinking about it. I've never done anything like this before. Mandy wasn't close in detail or complexity.

I can tell you for sure that smaller anvils are much harder to wheel over lumps than larger ones....

Progress.

Spent most of my time at Dutchs meet working on Monique's shoulders and back. LOTS and LOTS of shape! LOTS!

The front shoulder above the breasts is one piece,

the lower back is one piece below the waist and the upper back is two pieces split up the middle.



Shoulder blades, muscle tone, vertabrae....SHAPE! Lots and LOTS of SHAPE!




Still have a little metalfinishing to do but I'm really pleased. Trust me, as far as metalshaping goes, this makes fenders seem easy!

I did the flexible pattern for the head but didn't get any further. The face will be done with reposse' techniques as soon as I figure it out. I've got a pitch pot and some tools but I'm a rank amature to this type of shaping.

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Kerry Pinkerton

http://wheelingmachines.com


Kerry Pinkerton Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:31 pm

Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:38 pm
Posts: 247
Location: Harvest, Al Killing time waiting on engine parts to come in for the roadster so I decided to spend the day with Monique.

Been thinking about the face and decided to make a bondo hammerform to get started. I don't expect to be able to get a complete face with this approach but if it will get me close it will save me a ton of time over a pitch bowl.

I didn't want to put anything on her face so I stretched some Saran Wrap.



Then I mixed up some of the short strand fiberglas bondo...Dynaglas.



First coat was just to cover all the detail.



Then I made a cardboard dam and built it up a bit for strength.



To my surprise, it came off very easy. It doesn't look like the detail is there in the photo but it is.



I shrunk some aluminum in the basic shape to make things easier. The first one is a test piece. I expect I will learn what I need to do...or rather...what I DON'T need to do on the next one.



A variety of tools in my 4X rivet gun worked amazingly well.



And here is the result of the test piece. Actually, it's more than I expected. The basic shape is all there. A little arrangement and work on the pitch bowl would get pretty close.

You can see a couple places where I tore the aluminum by going too fast. On Version 2.0 I'll go slower.


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Kerry Pinkerton

http://wheelingmachines.com


Kerry Pinkerton Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:32 pm

Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:38 pm
Posts: 247
Location: Harvest, Al Went to the Street Rod Nats yesterday and tithed but before I left I worked on her face some and did some more today. Decided to try and save the test face since it was a learning experience anyway.

I repaired the holes punched in the nose and chin.

All this was done without pitch into the buck or over the mannequin face. I drilled a hole in the back of the head and poured about an inch of bondo into the face to give it enough strength to use as a hammerform. The .063 aluminum is a bit difficult to work...even annealed.


Still have to do the right eye and then it's on to the pitch pot for some more detail and smoothing.

The photo is a little off center which makes her look lopsided but she's not.



I'm pretty happy with how it's coming out. I hope there is enough metal in the thin spots so I can finish the surface smooth....we'll see.

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Kerry Pinkerton

http://wheelingmachines.com


Kerry Pinkerton Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:38 pm

Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:38 pm
Posts: 247
Location: Harvest, Al I did some chasing into the pitch pot....actually an old skillet. I put it in the freezer compartment of the shop fridge overnight and the aluminum came off very clean. The white stuff is frost.



Someone asked about my chasing tools...here is what I have and most of them were made for this job.


Not perfect but it will do for now. Given the screwups I had to fix on this test face I'm OK with it. I may do another one down the road.

Next step is the head and neck.

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Kerry Pinkerton

http://wheelingmachines.com


Kerry Pinkerton Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:40 pm

Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:38 pm
Posts: 247
Location: Harvest, Al Got a little more done on Monique's head last weekend up at Grant's Meet.



total of 5 pieces. Top of skull, back of skull, top of neck, bottom of neck and two sides. Ears will be done in the pitch bowl and welded on.



The face has had a little more tweeking done. I still need to do eyebrows and some texture for eye shadow. A little arrangement and trimming and the face will fit the rest of the head perfectly. Still need the chin and front of the neck.



This is what I'm going to use for 'hair'. It is VERY fine copper wire from a welding ground cable. Each strand is close to human hair size. I'll probably epoxe it to a mesh that I can velcro to the skull.

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Kerry Pinkerton

http://wheelingmachines.com


Kerry Pinkerton Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:10 pm

Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:38 pm
Posts: 247
Location: Harvest, Al

Saw this bronze mermaid in Honolulu and stopped dead in my tracks. Monique is going to be a mermaid! Be a lot more fun to do and I can make her movable. I'll punch brass discs of various sizes and use them for scales...

Still lots to think about.

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Kerry Pinkerton

http://wheelingmachines.com


jhnarial Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:05 am
Site Admin
Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:38 pm
Posts: 166
Location: Excelsior Springs Mo. She's looking Great Kerry.

If you make her into a mermaid will you make some sort of buck first?I'm guessing it would be some sort of wire form with Burt Buck on it.

I think making her into a mermaid is a great idea. I think copper would be cool for the scales. With a nice patina on it. I watch Bill patina things all the time and I like the look of it on copper the best but I haven't seen him do brass yet.

I resized my avatar and saw the pictures of Monique on there. So I know you went through a lot of trouble to put this thread together. I want to tell you how much I appreciate it. The site will only be as good as we make it.

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Johnny Arial


BillH Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 1:00 pm

Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:57 pm
Posts: 28
Location: Kansas City That will be COOL Kerry!

I do not envy you making all those scales. Are you going to snip every one, or do a punch and die for it? Doug? over on MM showed a nice way to make leaves, that I tried and works very well. If you punch say a 3" disk, and insert two disks, into punch you can make two leafish shapes at the same time. I will assuem your going to use the turret you have for the initial flat?

Thanks for posting it here.

BH



mindover Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:52 pm

Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 6:08 pm
Posts: 26 I think this is very cool. I wish I had the time to do some artistic stuff. Nice work Kerry.

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Thanks Guys,

I'm PLANNING at this point to puch the scales on the turret punch. I have a 1 1/4 down to 1/8 now but I'll need to get flat bottom dies.

I DON'T plan on cutting them all by hand whatever else I end up doing...

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Kerry Pinkerton

http://wheelingmachines.com


BillH Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:52 pm

Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:57 pm
Posts: 28
Location: Kansas City Kerry,

When you did the sections for the back of the head, what was you approach to dolly the joint marks, join the front to the back seamlessly? Ive been having problems with enclosed forms. Thought about making a dolly stand arm shaped like a long(Z) with small planishing hammer dies for a dolly. ANy suggestions?


Also would you happen to have a pitch recipe? I just got some chasing tools from Gene O.,and will be making a few more, but have not done more than try them clamped to urethane. Makes it hard to do deep forms. Was working on a skull for a practice giveaway but did not work to well.

Anyway, your lady inspire me to make a larger more shapely and less flat version of one of my stylized humanish forms.

Thanks.

BH



Kerry Pinkerton Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:13 am

Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:38 pm
Posts: 247
Location: Harvest, Al Bill, I did the head while up at Grant Leesers meet in NE Mo. last summer. SO FAR, I can still get inside the head to work the seams but it's getting tight. At some point I won't be able to finish the inside but as long as I can tap up the low spots and finish the exterior seam I'll be happy. I'll probably end up making some special hammers to get into the difficult spots...

Back in 2003 or so, I bought a couple 1/2 gallons cartons of pitch. Still using the first carton. Mine is a very dark green and smells like...well pitch. Coppretta Barb has some red pitch that doesn't stink.

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Kerry Pinkerton

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sugarmommachoppers Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:21 pm

Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:15 am
Posts: 8
Location: Jonesboro,Arkansas Kerry,Could you make the scales with something like a nureling tool on a lathe? Mark D



Boogiemanz1 Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:32 pm

Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:04 pm
Posts: 20 Kerry I have some punch presses if you want one..or two..........jb



Kerry Pinkerton Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:44 pm

Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:38 pm
Posts: 247
Location: Harvest, Al My turret punch can punch the scales. I'll just need to get some flat bottom upper dies. I currently have 1 1/4" down to near nothing in round punches.

I'm thinking I'll bend the end of the circles over a metal hoop. Somehow add another hoop of the appropriate diameter about a half diameter of the scale higher and bend on the scales, repeat many times...different size scales in different parts of the ???? What do you call a mermaids "legs" ????

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Kerry Pinkerton

http://wheelingmachines.com


Overkill Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:57 am

Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:48 pm
Posts: 34 Kerry,

Great work!

When you say you can make her movable - are you thinking of joining the scales together in a fashion that would allow the tail to 'swim' in some fashion. Wow, that would be a lot of work, but very cool if she moved with a breeze.

John


Kerry Pinkerton Post subject: Re: Monique - Caution content could be considered racy...
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:11 am

Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:38 pm
Posts: 247
Location: Harvest, Al I dont think I can get that degree of movement John. More thinking of being able to pose her in the roadster or a chair or standing...

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Kerry Pinkerton

http://wheelingmachines.com

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Been wanting to work on Monique for a while and spent some time on her at Dutch's meet.

The ears are interesting. I made a Bondo mold of the ears to get the proportions right.

Ear1.jpg

The actual detail was worked in with Reposee' techniques into pitch. This MESS is actually pitch. I used a heat gun to keep it at the proper softness. One trick I've discovered is to stick it in a freezer then rap it sharply to get it to release.

Ear4.jpg

Funny thing... Amy from DC was there with her short hair. I've never actually paid any attention to what the back of ears looked like so I asked her if she minded if I looked at hers. So now she's heard them all..

Ear2.jpg

The ear is actually three pieces, the side, the back, and the part that attaches to the skull in the back. Fortunately I could weld most of it from inside because the face wasn't welded on yet.

Ear3.jpg

A little filing and the face was ready to weld on. I'm really pleased with the look. The proportions look good.

Faceb1.jpg

Obviously, a lot of file work and polishing is in order. I've got a Dremel tool and some tooling that will help me get the hammer marks smoothed out.

Faceb2.jpg

Faceb3.jpg

I've got to make the neck and then the head will be able to be welded to the shoulders. I'm looking forward to doing her hair!

Oh, had a great conversation with Al Jewel and we came up with an idea for her leg spine that will work and be flexible! Think sockets and balls. I'm pumped about it. This has been a problem I've been thinking about for over a year.

[jhnarial]

Kerry the detail you captured in her face is just incredible!

I really enjoy watching her come together.I really can't wait her head attached to the body.

[brandonwillis]

wow, thats all i can really say. ive seen pictures of the body on the hamb i think. But the face and ears and everything are just incredible.

[Kerry Pinkerton]

At Dutch and Marty's meet I got a chance to spend some quality time with Monique. First was the neck. This was a lot harder than it looks. There is a lot of shape in there.

Neck1.jpg

Neck2.jpg

This is the part I've been dreading....hands. I wasn't too worried about the hand itself but the fingers were going to be a challenge.

I spent a whole day making the first finger (the pinky). I had made a hammerform but it didn't work well so I just made two halves and welded them together.

fingers-001.jpg

The rest of the fingers went faster, about 4 hours each. I filled the hollow finger with pitch and used chasing tools to make the indentations for the fingernails. They will be copper.

fingers-002.jpg

The knuckles were done in my pitch bowl. These things are about 50% metalshaping and 50% sculpture.

fingers-003.jpg

[Ben]

Looking good Kerry,

Women do need a lot of work

Ben

[Mark Fox]

Hi Kerry. What type of pitch do you use?

[Kerry Pinkerton]

I think it's from Pacific Pitch Works. It's not the Red German pitch.

[Z5Roadster]

Wonderfull work of Art, true creation. You wouldn't want to cost that by the hr.

Kerry, whats a pinch bowl ? surely not as used in the kitchen.