Building an Interactive Puzzle Statue for Dungeons & Dragons

📐 Tools & Supplies I Recommend: www.blackmagic...
⚔️Join the "Fellowship" on Patreon: bit.ly/JoinTheB...
👕Grab a BMC Shirt: bit.ly/BMCmerch
#BlackMagicCraft #Episode151 #DollarStoreChallenge
In this video I convert a cheap item from the dollar store into a usable bit of interactive terrain for Dungeons & Dragons. This statue spins and can be used as an
interactive puzzle.
The foundation for this build was a cheap dollar store item, but there were a few special items that really helped me change this thing so drastically. The all stars of this project were:
Some specific items used in this build:
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
GREEN STUFF
(USA) amzn.to/2SoezO0
(Canada) amzn.to/2BScDpV
(UK) amzn.to/2VgmgaV
(Germany) amzn.to/2GNRYJk
MILLIPUT
(USA) amzn.to/2RpCRd9
(Canada) amzn.to/2BOo7uE
(UK) amzn.to/2AoHV81
(Germany) amzn.to/2QZCczx
CITADEL SKULLS
(USA) amzn.to/2PIF8w6
(Canada) amzn.to/2LuM0Kz
(UK) amzn.to/2OcI7Au
(Germany) amzn.to/2Z4t3WF
---------------------------------------------------------------------
➳ www.blackmagicc...
➳ Facebook: goo.gl/hvNgQL
➳ Join the Tabletop Crafters Guild: goo.gl/RMMqoh

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

The foundation for this build was a cheap dollar store toy, but there were a few special items that really helped me change this thing so drastically. The allstars of this project were: (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases) GREEN STUFF (USA) amzn.to/2SoezO0 (Canada) amzn.to/2BScDpV (UK) amzn.to/2VgmgaV (Germany) amzn.to/2GNRYJk MILLIPUT (USA) amzn.to/2RpCRd9 (Canada) amzn.to/2BOo7uE (UK) amzn.to/2AoHV81 (Germany) amzn.to/2QZCczx CITADEL SKULLS (USA) amzn.to/2PIF8w6 (Canada) amzn.to/2LuM0Kz (UK) amzn.to/2OcI7Au (Germany) amzn.to/2Z4t3WF

[@superboo1319]

Have you Heard of hero forge custom miniature

[@Stargate404]

You should consider using parchment paper for rolling green stuff. I saw a video from tabletopminis and he showed his you can put the green stuff between the parchment, roll it, and, since it doesn't stick to the parchment paper at all, apply it nicely.

[@Katniss218]

What is this liquid you're spraying on the superglue?

[@Stargate404]

@@Katniss218 pretty sure it's super glue activator. Speeds up the reaction of super glue to make it almost instantaneously bond. Could be wrong but that's my best guess

[@kevinyoung6605]

Idea for a future video that would have helped in this project: build a putty oven. Easily done with $20-$30 USD at the hardware store.

[@rDunfee]

"How do mini sculptors do this crap?" Something I ask myself almost every time I try to convert a mini!

[@Stargate404]

Try sticking the green stuff between the parchment paper and rolling it. Miniwargaming did a video on it and he made some really convincing necron flayers.

[@jsseehorn]

@@Stargate404 Pretty sure that was Uncle Atom from tabletop minions not miniwargaming

[@Stargate404]

@@jsseehorn ah yup you're right, my mistake

[@MrSJPowell]

Yeah, I half converted a mini for Everchosen, and then said "screw it, she's dead anyway, let's say she was mostly dismembered", so I added a ton of gore to the "wound"

[@SideKickStudios]

Well, for one, we use polymer clay, it's way easyer to shape and sculpt. :)

[@CosmicDuskWolf]

It's really cool. Maybe just glue some moss, vines or rocks on it to disguise the pill bottle cap.

[@richardharrison4762]

I would have used Games Workshop texture paints like Agrellan Earth as well

[@dyrckhughes2463]

I love the starts and stops in the work. I don't feel quite as badly now about the restarts and total toss outs I have done. It does show that when you keep going and thinking about things, you can come out the other side with something great. Love the rotating base. Thanks for including the whole process.

[@VikingFyre]

"How do mini sculptors do it?" I think every one of us who's played with Green Stuff to modify minis have said this phrase at least once.

[@MrBizteck]

In my case I usually add a few extra 'flavor' words 😂

[@Numerlon]

To answer this question: baking paper.

[@gregtheredneck1715]

You kinda reminded me of one of those mad scientist types just throwing odd body parts together and seeing what happens. Needed some maniacal laughter here and there. Cool statue btw!

[@dford4014]

Re-animator the movie.

[@cerethpainting6606]

Really enjoying how you change up your format. It’s not just a bunch of the same stuff week in and week out. To go from the sunken house to this just really puts your creativity on display. You certainly deserve every one of your subscribers.

[@AvgKsHunter]

I appreciate that you leave the re-directions in the video edits of your builds. I think it demonstrates the purest form of art as the concept organically transforms through the process of creating. Well done man.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

It’s the most important part.

[@AvgKsHunter]

Black Magic Craft without question

[@dragonan8459]

Think of it this way, the grooves in the pill cap will help your players turn the statue. Always have to look at the positive of it But dang bro that thing looks amazing.

[@kassy6373]

You can build a device for them to do that. A little gear wheel with proper size teeth and a couple of sticks. One in the center to hold the gear and one on the outside of the top of the gear to pull it along (or a couple). Think 20th century lettuce dryers. Inspiring stuff indeed.

[@spiderz8144]

If possible, could you take the time to talk about how you store, protect, and transport your builds. It would be very helpful and appreciated.

[@talbottabletop8370]

Jeremy has talked about it a bit between episodes so I'll try to summarize. Storage-wise he has shelves throughout his game room where all of his terrain and miniatures are placed. Protection wise he gives terrain a coat of miniwax polyurethane and miniatures a coat of sealant. As for transportation he simply doesn't take them anywhere his players play in his game room. Hope this helped! :)

[@DiningTablePrintPlay]

Others have mentioned wax paper for flattening green stuff, but the other big tip is that if you mix green stuff and milliput together you get a putty which has all the benefits of both of them put together. You can shave it or sand it after it's cured, it holds edges well, and sticks to the mini decently in the first place. Another cape tip: roll the green stuff out on a bit of kitchen foil. Wait for it to start to cure so it's a bit stiffer, but still flexible, and use the foil to help shape and support the green stuff. Trim to shape and size with a sharp knife after it's cured.

[@TheGameSmithsTable]

A great build. The result doesn't look anything like the original toy. Nicely done!

[@bassmanbailey]

Love the spinning base! A very cool concept, already thought of cool ways to use it in games I'm running!

[@bn-auric79]

I love Dollar Store builds. They're so entertaining. The beard is looking magnificent, by the way.

[@RokuroCarisu]

I guess you could say that this one in particular... was a Mega Win! Eh? _Eh!?_

[@brotherhoodofsteel4751]

When using green stuff use water on your hands, tools, and surface Vaseline can affect the green stuff sticking to the miniature also silicone brushes can help smooth it out.

[@michaelritzen8138]

I know that you like to make things out of cheap supplies and without a lot of specialist tools, to help people who don't have a lot to spare, but I just wanted to let you know, that it's okay when a project needs more tools/money to make and it's just awesome to see you work and learn, just like the rest of us.

[@richardlynn160]

You got the ultimate compliment during my vacation a couple weeks ago. I toured THE Weta Workshop and had some time with a sculptor there. I mentioned XPS foam as a material to use and he immediately went "You watching BMC too?" We then chatted a bit about our favorite creations of yours. I know you're awesome and wanted to let you know that even Weta designers love your work. Thanks for your continued inspiration.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Woah! I'm really thankful that you let me know this. This is really amazing and legitimately gave me goosebumps. That's crazy.

[@richardlynn160]

@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial Ha, you are human after all! (Kidding, kidding). I got some photos of his work but can't remember his name. Just know if you ever take a trip to New Zealand, they know you at Weta. :)

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Dear Weta, Can I come hang out and work in your shop for a few weeks? Sincerely, BMC

[@trenth.7053]

I actually love when you make the minifigs out of the book, so cool to see them come from the page and become real. Hope to see more of those in the future

[@talbottabletop8370]

I think we all need a flumph in our lives lmao

[@trenth.7053]

@@talbottabletop8370lol

[@cartoon80s90s]

Really nice project. Since bosses are usually taller than regular characters, I can easily see this model being an satanist mini boss on a 2x1 base instead of a statue. I agree about the base needing something more, but damn that was smart, turning it into a combination puzzle. Simply brilliant.

[@fomasfaith]

Heartily recommend Procreate or Brown Stuff. Green Stuff seems to always want to stick to everything other than what you want it to. Also an advantage of Procreate is that you can vary the mix ratio depending on what you are doing doing eg. flowing clothes or full plate.

[@andrewnicorn]

Imagine having a huge bronze spinning wizard statue at the entrance to your house.

[@DorklordCanada]

This was fun, thank-you for this! Back when I painted minis for WH40K, I used cut-outs from toothpaste tubes as capes; I could cut it to shape, and the material was the right thickness and was pose-able. Then I used green stuff to blend it into the model. It looked pretty good, so hopefully this idea helps someone.

[@MerryMagpie]

This is my first comment and I just wanted to say that I love your videos! I bought the proxxon through your affiliate link and I'm having a lot of fun with it! I would love to know some ways to make a better fence. But as for this video - my kids have a couple of Lion King plastic figures from McDonald's that they forgot about playing with about 10 minutes after they got them, so I have taken them and I'm planning to do a statue type of refurb like what you've done with this Power Ranger. :-) Thanks again for sharing your processes with everybody!

[@berserkersheepbeers5433]

FYI: When using green stuff use lots of water. keeps it from being overly sticky and takes longer to set up.

[@Garouwerks]

I am thrilled I found your channel. I used to think it would cost me hundreds of dollars to paint and create my mini's. Now with your tips, hints, tricks, and (best of all) advice, I can make houses and mini's for my games on the "cheap". Keep going strong!

[@christophermurray9777]

Best green stuff advice...Start small and build up to what you want. Great video

[@jaye1967]

You may not have enough decorative pieces for games, but you make up for it with your selection of paints, which is way cooler.

[@glorfendell2967]

Serendipity in all its glory. Great puzzle idea. Loved it, thanks!

[@charlotteroberts]

Thank you for a realistic show of what it's like winging it sometimes. Awesome video.

[@mattf9096]

I like the spinning base idea. If you decide to do something similar in the future it might be cool to have the spinning base be connected to a dimmer of some sort. You could use the spinning function to light up torches or glowing eyes or any number of cool things with LEDs.

[@EricWilliams-ms3ro]

This came out so good. Great job

[@ryanyuhr2087]

Like Bob Ross said, “ ...happy little mistakes.” Good build man, green stuff is a tricky thing that needs a lot of practice to get looking right. Again love when you do these smaller builds as your talent really shines through.

[@rednecknation]

Love the way the paint looked at 19:44

[@SilverAlce]

These repurposing videos are fun to watch. I love all your builds but watching the transformation is very satisfying.

[@martinprince7773]

Wax paper is how I like to flatten green stuff, put it on top and bottom

[@TheMonyarm]

That symbol wouldn't be super recognisable as it was only used in megaforce/goseiger. So you'd be fine if you decided to use it.

[@joehough838]

Nice conversion! The Dollar Store Challenges are always great!

[@WakkasLove]

This was such an inspired idea! Just making an interactive piece was really cool! To hide the pill bottle band, you could have added a thin strip of clay textured to look like rock or more runes.

[@austibon]

Your conversion ideas surprise me. I can never look at stuff like that and say "That's my next project."

[@leadbadger9543]

This organic build / video style really works for me. It's very Bob Ross in the journey of crafting more than a tutorial A+B=C style. Any one popping off that it's a cop out is't using a statue on the table right. Heroic Iconography gives the players something to aspire to, if its the statue of the local despot then its an ominous foretelling.

[@shaunventura6043]

Clay shapers are a great tool when smoothing out green stuff.

[@marendur]

I like how the ideas he has on making the figure leads his game plot.

[@bretts2356]

I really like how you did not hesitate to change directions mid-build when you weren't happy with how the original concept was coming out. The end result was pretty astounding! Love the spinning mechanism for it- Would be a great piece for a lock/secret passage encounter.

[@mattdutton2094]

Great build, really like the improvisation with the spinning lid!!

[@TT_Veteran]

I’m not big on the dollar store builds, but this one was beyond cool. Your mind is way more creative than mine, I would have never thought of the fact the lid could make a cool turning statue. I agree on the ridges on the edge of the lid. The whole time I was thinking “man I hope he smooths this out and cuts some chips into the lid”. Either way the end product was amazing! Love the idea and it’s definitely inspired me to do something similar.

[@davidcollins2648]

Truly creative and inspirational. Shows the process that everyone can do with some patience and persistence. Well done sir!

[@beowulfthecool8443]

Man, the last dozen vids have been absolutely wonderful. PLEASE KEEP IT UP! I love it and I love the channel!

[@Tysto]

This is fantastic. I’ve seen regular minis used as statues, & they scale is wrong. Statues are made larger than life. This was a great choice, & the revolving base makes it super cool. Players will go crazy for the puzzle!

[@kibblesgirl]

This was amazing! I love how you went from making a simple statue to a full on interactive puzzle. That was such a wonderful strike of inspiration.

[@matthewludivico1714]

Very nice design. Texturing the base with carved tile or cutting the base to look eroded would be a plus

[@TsuiIzumi]

You are right, this is my favourite type of video

[@Capng123]

Couple of Green Stuff tips (assuming they're not already in the comments): 1) Try mixing GS with Super Sculpey (the peach-y stuff not the grey stuff) in a 1-1-1 ratio (yellow-blue-sculpy) to make it less tacky without impairing it's sculptability (if that's a word). Bonus of this technique is it stretches your GS supply out considerably (which is good because that stuff gets pricey sometimes). 2) Coffee can oven: Google it. I probably wouldn't ever get any sculpting done without it!

[@wonderwend1]

I love these types of video. Its fantastic watching you problem solve and even hit the " PLOT TWIST" stage and push on.

[@oneleghendo5239]

Fun puzzle aspect, make the staff removable, and put 2-4 holes in the back of the statue. Make one of them the unlock, and the other(s) traps. Require a strength roll to remove staff, perception to determine correct hole, and combined strength total to move statue on base. That way it requires at least a party of 3 to work out the puzzle, having a person as the spotter.

[@GradualGhost]

Love seeing the creation process go down. I definitely get anxiety when creating pieces and often feel frustrated if things are not working out as I envisioned. It's a new lesson I've learned so I have to internalize it, but I need to remember to pivot and go with the flow. Great work as always. 4:39 Past-uh!? You're killing me smalls.

[@jeremydanchuk1897]

This looks really cool, I love that you did not cut out the problems you had, it was cool to see your problem solving skills and the creative ways you made it work.

[@emoemi907]

This is SO COOL. Love the ingenuity and feel better about all the times I scrapped my sculpts in the middle of a project

[@failureblanket8559]

Even though the stuff you used was not dollar store stuff when we do projects sometimes we have things acquired such as s dremel tool. Still a good build from a cheap toy.

[@Ruinstad694]

I've found it's easy to get thin sheets of green stuff by rolling it out between two sheets of parchment paper and then handling it with lots of water on your fingertips and tools really helps keep it from sticking too everything you don't want it too.

[@BongzillaBrutus]

It's awesome how you find the most random stuff and make it into an interactive piece of Dungdon Art. I just started watching your videos about 2 weeks ago and I just wish I wouldve seen them all sooner. I've learned a lot from you in a very short time. Keep up the amazing work.

[@bigbossignition]

This was fun to watch. I liked seeing you repeatedly screw up and be unhappy with how something looked, forcing you to change direction. It made me feel a lot more comfortable screwing up myself. I normally feel disheartened, now I’ll just take it as a challenge to improvise. Thanks!

[@GeekzAnonymous]

Try using parchment paper (NOT wax paper) instead of the oil when smoothing greenstuff. If you're going for a flat item like a cloak/cape, put the parchment paper on both sides of the green stuff and roll it over that so it doesn't stick to your roller. Love your videos, keep up the great work!!

[@timandshannon03]

That's a pretty cool Statue! Looks good next to the Mini.

[@357Dejavu]

I love the green stuff. It can be a huge pain but once you get a feel for it, it becomes alot easier to use. For that statue I would of rolled it flat then let it cure for a bit. Its alot easier to work with once it sets a little.

[@Matt-md5yt]

Seen these minis in my Dollar Tree. Man you with these Challenge builds make me want to do one.

[@robertwyatt720]

A technique you may want to explore for making capes in the future (if you ever have to again) would be to take a rectangle of thin styrene (also called plasticard) with a semicircle cut out for the neck and heat it up with a heat gun or even a lighter to get the waves of cloth, attach to the model with glue. I've seen it done before a lot on Blue Table Painting's youtube channel back in the day when I used to watch it all the time, but couldn't find a video to link you to since their video history is so huge at this point.

[@chadbodine336]

I love it!!! It's so kool. I also really like your dollar store builds. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@Winterydee]

Tip for rolling out Green Stuff... put it in the middle of a sheet of parchment paper then put another sheet of parchment paper on top and start rolling. The silicon of the parchment paper will keep the Green Stuff from sticking to it and you can easily roll out to whatever thickness you desire.

[@marimars1047]

I love these cheap projects, Im relatively new to this hobby, this makes it SOOOOOO easily accessible for me! I grabbed a couple of batman figures from the dollar store to do something similar. Fingers crossed it comes out just as good!

[@slushosaur]

I love the bigger scale, it really helps it stop looking like just another figure painted up to be a statue. The fur texture on the green stuff works great! I really need to think about getting myself some of those molds! A quick and easy way to help you get rid of the "pill bottle lid" is to maybe try adding some overgrown vegetation, tufts of grass or moss to help break up that flat surface. I know GW also did an interesting set of bendable vegetation for adding to scenery and bigger miniatures for added effects. Love the finished result and really clever hidden puzzle game mechanic!

[@Peacefrog88]

looks great! this is my favourite type of dollar store video. Start with something from the dollar store, and use all your tools and abilities to make it epic!

[@Xaltotun]

I love the conversion tips you bring here! The green stuff and skulls ended up very cool even though you needed to try some things out first.

[@thehumbletabletop2115]

Hey Jeremy, I'm not an expert sculptor by any means, but I have a few tips that I know have helped me. -You can mix other mediums into the Green Stuff to remove some of that chewing gum-like consistency, and it will still cure solid. I've used Super Sculpey, and I know some other folks use FIMO or other polymer clays. In theory Milliput should also work fine. Start with a 1:1 mix at first, then play with the ratio until you get a consistency you like. -Get yourself some Clay Shapers. They're almost like a paintbrush, but instead of bristles they have a silicone head in different shapes. They act like your finger when it comes to nudging the medium around and smoothing it out, but they're smaller. You can get them at Green Stuff World, and your local craft/painting supply store might have them too. Look where they keep the paint brushes, it's where I found mine. -For actually sculpting cloth, avoid the temptation to start off with a big sheet of material. It can be hard to work with that much material at once without smashing details. Start with a little bit of medium, make little snakes/ropes pressed against each other, and smooth out the seam between the pieces until it's cohesive. Let it cure and work your way down a bit at a time. Also, reference is your friend if you're having trouble. Cloth can be a bit tricky to get looking right. And, as with any skill, patience and practice are key. Hope this helps.

[@rayslover8526]

For the cape, you can roll greenstuff by sandwhiching it in parchment paper and it won't stick to ther paper. You also could have used cheese cloth and watered down PVA to sculpt the cape.

[@MrParcivous]

The key to sculpting green stuff, imho, is a good range of silicone (soft to stiff) brushes and water. the water kind of breaks down the green stuff and makes it way easier to smooth and shape. still requires some patience, but I swear it makes a difference.

[@Uatemysoul]

Greenstuff doesn't like to stick in warm water. Your best bet for getting it to spread is keeping everything wet when it starts to get tacky you add a little more water. It's not exactly foolproof but it does the job most of the time.

[@jean-marclabonte2844]

Nice Job !! What a great looking project. Like you, I am not too thrilled with the obvious pill bottle lid. But, I still like it. Eventually, it might bug me enough to go back and add some moss or vines or tile patterns. Thanks for posting the build. Keep Posting and I will Keep Watching.

[@ritinkornas5336]

A good thing to make capes is to us some paper, shaped and reinforced with PVA glue coats ;) can be a bit tricky though to manage the ripples. But otherwise nice for pieces of fabric, and resistant! Regarding the lid, you should actually add something like horizontal wood sticks, that the character could use to rotate the statue (like on a pirates ship), because now... there is no realistic mechanism :s

[@hushmush8419]

For the green stuff you could use some plastic sheet underneath and peel it off afterwards

[@jameslangham9854]

Really nice. I can see this as a statue of Vecna concealing a secret door.

[@combustible7267]

I've heard nothing but good things about milliput for crafting, just need to try to find some locally. thanks for the video!!

[@nordh1980]

It's great to see you fail successfully. Instead of just seeing everything going correctly it's nice to see how you are struggling and changing ideas mid project.

[@danielturner444]

cool video! you can use baking parchment paper to roll green stuff flat easily, it won’t stick

[@tennetrynighthawk3844]

So, Green Stuff is interesting, as you mentioned its great for sculpting high detail miniatures and the like especially where rigidity is concerned. The issue is that its kinda sticky and becomes more so as heat is applied, just from working it, room temperature and from your hands. To deal with the stickiness, dip your fingers in water, and any tools you want to use with the stuff, Green Stuff wont adhere to wet surfaces but wont loose its properties either, you can even suspend projects in water to extend its working time by an hour or so. I hope that helps.

[@jasonrhome710]

Passing along info I got from a video on Tabletop Minions, put Green Stuff between pieces of parchment paper when using a roller to flatten it out. The silicon in the parchment paper prevents the sticking.

[@rhino5419]

Hi. I use heavy duty aluminium foil for flowing robes and capes. It does not crinkle like normal foil but stays smooth and can be bent into form easily. All the best.

[@yager6627]

Dude, I absolutely love your creativity. I so want to you to produce a video on building a modern craft room.

[@rathowyn]

This is brilliant. So much potential.

[@Znobishtucon]

It's fantastic. But before anyone says "Add more to the base!" (myself included), think of the fact that this mini can be modular... as BMCJ plays future campaigns or invents the puzzle to go with it, he leaves the base open for further modification depending on his needs.

[@jonsmith7320]

For things like those capes use sculpey get the detail and hold in boiling water... Quick cheap and effective once painted

[@Artisanprophet]

Simply genius .....I've always wondered what I can make at a dollar store

[@RobertMeush]

Friggin cool man! Creative juices are flowing now!

[@testsubject7350]

slopping on some Agrellan Earth technical paint from citadel onto the cap bottle part could give it some texture

[@RvnKnight]

An idea for a cape: Start with cheese cloth and cut it out the way you want it to look. Dip it in resin or a type of glue to harden it. Maybe that would work? I've never tried it so I don't know.

[@vincentstella5131]

Great conversion. I'm more into Historical and Scifi gaming but I love watching your videos because you have some really good ideas. Keep up the good work.

[@JonMendenhall]

If you're looking for some cheap post-apocalyptic projects, I'd love to see you take on Gas Lands. Either terrain or cars.

[@maxwelljames2178]

I have just watched about ten of your videos and my mom is going to order some stuff from Michaels to get all the supplies! I love your videos.

[@jamestrotman3238]

I've been on an sculpting hiatus for a while now, decided to watch the video by chance really, but that setup in the background lit my heart up xD thanks dude

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Very cool! The emblem from the back of the mini stand, I would cut it in half, turn to top half over, and use to bracket some big skull on a wall for a temple.

[@eleftheriapinakoulaki9754]

Great video as always, Jeremy! Loved the idea of the base.