Can polymer clay be used to model bigger sculptures ? If so, what‘s its advantage over other types of ceramic clays ? easier to carve the facial details maybe ? I just start to learn polymer clay and see if it is suitable to be used to my projects. I have been using both water and oil based clay for figure sculpting (about 1/4 to 1/2 of real human‘s height, which then casted to bronze or resin)and never thought about trying polymer type, as it seems to me polymer clay is popular only for hobbyists or those who make dolls and small sculptures. Is my assumption correct? Is there any professional sculptors using polymer to model for bigger pieces of projects before casting them to bronze or other materials ? Also is it true that polymer is better than other types of clay for detail carving in a small face ? Thanks in advance for any information you can share.
If I think of a figurine as being smaller than a Barbie doll and similar to the 6-8 costumed statues sold to display cute scenes or national costumes, I think you will find working directly in ceramic clay to drive you buggy. The commercial versions of these are almost always hollow, at least in the base and made of porcelain clay slip molded in plaster, cleaned up and fired at high temp and hand painted. More recent versions are cast resin, also in a mold. For direct work, I would say that polymer clay is a far more viable, and stronger once baked.
You can buy the rebuilt half shaft for around $60 exchange. Installation will run about $200 (and the price of the part will double, so installed cost is over $300), or you can buy the HAYNES manual and do it yourself in an hour, if you have a jack, jackstand, and starter set of wrenches.
