Hello all

I've just come up for some air after having my head buried in ZBrush - a digital scultping program. Amazingingly powerful tool, check it out on youtube. I'm about as good at it as you are at typing Brad! But have finally had a break through with both Richard and I working on a method of achieving a likeness from photos for the last few weeks using a combination of 3 different programs. ZBrush is amazing and as I get my head around it and play more, the more fun I'm having and even managed to put a skull cap onto your head yesterday Brad, the start of one anyway. It's great for creating the detail like folds in clothing, creases and wrinkles on the face and just so much more. How many of those wrinkles would you like? The trick will be to cut one and see how much of the detail comes out and if it needs to be accentuated more or less in the 3D mesh.

But there's progress. The first 1/5 scale body was cut and moulded but because it was cut from a fairly thin block the mould warped a bit so it's now being recut as I type. I can't give you a weight yet sorry Brad but by next weekend we should have the mould made and the first 1/5 body out of that with a weight. I can tell you that the all up weight of the finished 1/4 scale pilot including boots, clothes, full arms etc weighs 230g and the 1/5 looks substantially smaller all round so will be obviously less. I'm not going to use the thinner wire, it is too flimsy and the weight difference is so small it 's not worth it.

I've got a basic pattern for the clothing but I need the body on hand to do alterations and fittings, measure the inside leg etc The life jacket needs some working on and the RAF version is different from the US one. The RAF one is like a modern day ski vest that you put on like a jacket and ties up the front where as the US one pulls over the head and ties behind, if I'm correct.

There's just so much trial and error with it all that it seems like nothing much is happening but for every finished part there'd be at least a dozen disasters or part disasters Makes it all the sweeter when it finally comes together tho.

The puppy sucks up time and energy - but she's worth it From 5.30am it's like a tornado in the house and definitely no rest for anyone, let alone the wicked.

cheers
Patti