FU!UK Sculpting Contest Entries: Modern (and Sci Fi) Woman

Judges' Comments:

"Yep, everybody wants her. I would love to paint her skintones. Sculpting wise this depicts motion, some hip action, and has an excellent face and hair. Yeah, she's a bit chunkier than the accepted norm, and for someone that “large” her shoulders and upper chest/back area seem more suited to a skinnier woman—not realism here. Her legs look much like my own, but no way does the rest of her. She's idealized, but fun."

"She is great! Realistic proportions. I have no problems with her slighter upper body. Women don't necessarily put weight on all over - I think her proportions are very realistic. I'm sure if she were clothed she wouldn't look that chunky in her lower half. What I do have a problem with though is her ankles or should I say CANKLES!! And for this reason I know who sculpted this because he always sculpts cankles. (only joking, Kev!) This one is first in this group for me."

"One of the first entries posted and I knew instantly who the sculptor was. Few will bother to sculpt women of this body shape and no-one does it this well. I agree that women who put on weight, put it on different ways. Overall height, leg length, fitness and frame size can make a huge difference how and where we put on the pounds. My only nitpick is the that she is holding onto her hat as if there is a breeze, but the brim is dead straight. Still very minor though. I can almost see her striding across the beach amidst the wolf-whistles and catcalls with her large hips swinging. The detail is superb, even how the straps of her bikini bottom press into her flesh. Just… wow!"

"I love the pudgy thighs, belly bulge, and complete self-assurance of this mini—it's different enough from the typical ‘Beach Babe' piece to catch my eye. Hands and feet could probably be executed with more delicacy and accuracy, given the handling of the other details, but still charming."

Sculptor's notes: I took inspiration for this from the saying "Chained to the kitchen sink" and have decided to give it that title. I've tried to capture the look she has just after she has snapped from years of abuse and neglect. Well she has had enough and pulled that sink right off the wall and her husband better watch it when he gets in.

Judges' Comments:

"Does the sculptor really think a female would buy this? I get the joke, but the sculpting of the figure alone is static and unfinished. Not something a female would buy, rather the guys would think it funny and buy it for their SO, and wonder why they didn't laugh and want to paint it up for them…"

"Whatever this sculptor is trying to say, I'm not feeling it. I'm assuming a male sculpted. Maybe he thinks we will score him high for his empathizing with women's domestic suppression. Yeah right! Boobs look awful.

"Looks like he had a good bash at sculpting chain – nice buttocks too!"

"The sculpt isn't as bad as some of the stuff entered. Once I manage to get past the poor content, it's probably one of the better ones. The hair and legs are okay, but the breasts look really weird."

"The shoulder straps of her top are fairly thick and just kind of sitting there. To me this is trailer-trash humor. I don't like it at all."

Sculptor's notes: The basic idea is a Sci-Fi scene... a Mechanic specialising in Mechs, lookin up at her latest assignment, easily lugging around a massive tool box with her bionically enhanced arm...

Judges' Comments:

"First look, I like this little gal. It lacks the detail and finesse I'd rather see for this concept, not sure what is happening with that hairdo and hair band thing. It's a bit rough, and certainly not one of the best technical sculpts here, but sparks some interest."

"This one scores with me because it has loads of character."

"This is an excellent concept that could use a bit more work, especially on the mechanical bits, which need to look a little sharper edged and more consistent. The arms and body are fairly static and tube shaped, lacking femininity. I really like the idea behind this figure, but it could have been better executed."

"While the sculptor is obviously still getting the hang of the tools and materials, this piece so well captures setting and character that I can't pass it over."

Sculptor's notes: a Sci-Fi Pizza Girl (for cyberpunk, Bartertown Gladiator, etc.

Judges' Comments:

"Cool, if a bit cartoony, like the hair, can't tell on the face from these pics, but it looks too rough. The folds on the jacket and pants look forced and not very natural at all. Still well done without erring into “macho”. But where is the pizza?"

"Hair is pretty nice , otherwise there's not much else to her. Would have liked better pictures of her face"

"Why call it a pizza-girl if there isn't any pizza? Seriously though, this sculpt reminds me of the anime-styled figures by Shadowforge. The proportion are cartoony but seem to work together. The face, from what little we can see, is rough looking. The butt and breasts look nice and she's got an action-ready pose. Still wish I could see the face properly though. Oh…and the pizza."

'Sculptor's notes: The name of the sculpt is "Dancing Princess". I was inspired to sculpt her after seeing a really snazzy music video of a Korean pop star. Don't understand korean but the song was really nice anyway! Her name is BoA and the music video was "Do the Motion".

Judges' Comments:

"With a little more sharpness this figure could really stand out. Decent face, but her arms look like they little definition. The hair looks like it had a problem, indented in the back and sides as if she was meant to have something on her head. Lacks the personality to appeal to the gamer chick in me."

"I like this one. It's quite stylized which appeals to me. It also has some movement and a little bit of attitude. Feet/shoes need work and the face would benefit from a smile. Places second for me."

"Like the sense of motion and the girlish figure. The face is better than most but the eyes look odd. Worst feature of this sculpt is the shoes, they're barely recognizable as such."

Sculptor's notes: It's a finished green of a sci-fi figure of a female space marine in a hard vac suit and a P-900 assault gun.

Judges' Comments:

"Ah, something out of the Honorverse maybe? Really like this one, sharp, detailed, action pose, but the face is a real let-down. Looks like an old asian man, not a female spacer at all, and not sure if I'd buy her because of that. The pics make her look good, but once you see the front face shot you want to cry. Doesn't do the rest of the figure any justice at all."

"I just can't get past that face. I'm actually not that impressed with the rest of the sculpt."

"I didn't think this model came across as particularly female, until I noticed the odd little fedora-like hat. Just incongruous enough to make me like it. Face and weapon details could use some work, but overall fairly pleasing."

Sculptor's notes: In deciding on a sculpt that a woman would like, I thought about some women that I found inspiring -the female milicianos in the early days of the Spanish Civil War. As far as I know they have not been sculpted in 28mm before. I was also inspired by the fact that the first 'international' killed in the war was a woman and a sculptress. The British communist Felicia Brown, who died on the Aragon Front, caught by machine gun fire while attempting to blowup a Fascist munitions train.

This is sculpt is supposed to represent a militia woman of the Durutti Column in 1936. This is my first attempt at a female sculpt, so I knew there was no point trying to do some semi-naked fantasy type with a hard body and perfect teeth!

Judges' Comments:

"I commend the sculptor on his intention. Work harder at the details, sharpness and body proportions though. I'm looking for an appealing figure, romantic historical action- sadly the figure does not inspire me as much as the story behind it does."

"I very much like the idea behind this, but the sculptor needs to put in some time to develop his skills, and plan for better proportions."

Sculptor's notes: The intention was to do a pastiche of classic spacesuit designs from old pulp fiction, and to some extent I think I succeeded with a few of the details, and the face looks at least vaguely female, as the veteran spacer, removes her helmet after a long days work. Pictures say a thousand words, and the included pictures do indeed say it all. This isn't a good sculpt. My technique is poor, and attempting to bring out the finished details in the translucent FIMO I used a dark wash, but this just muddied things further. The arms, and head are Greenstuff.

Judges' Comments:

"This is a good concept, but is lacking in sharpness, definition and detail."

"Much more patience is the key here, and more experience with the putty will smooth out the roughness we see here"

Sculptor's notes: Working titles for this one were "Old heroes never die, they just fade away", "Frontier granma" and "Don't fret little one, granma will keep the big bad aliens away". With all the female space marine models around I was wondering what they do when they are old. Well, one scenario I could imagine is them getting a patch of land (like the old legionaires) on some frontier planet (unlike the old legionaires) for them to develop. Here is an old veteran/matriarch overlooking her land and keeping an eye on those pesky aliens that try to mutilate cattle... and her grand child.

Judges' Comments:

"Reminiscent of a certain dwarf figure in the competition. I'd really like to know what the heck is on her head?

"Good face work, but the rest of the details let it down. Hands especially look chunky and puffed. Decent enough, but that gun needs more attention than it has been given."

"I like the bunny wabbit the little person is holding."

"Cute idea, bit rough in execution. The thingy on the top of her head is distracting along with the very raw looking gun. Gramma's right eye looks twice the size of the left, but the face isn't all that bad. Sculpt looks puffy all around, lacking sharper edges."

"A rather sweet concept that could have been done better."

"Nice face and great idea. I'd love to see this same concept revisited by the sculptor as s/he develops further skill. I give this an honorary mention."