This is the armature of the maquette, which was made with a combination of 16 gauge hardware wire, floral wire and hot glue. To get the proportions right, we made a drawing to scale of the character in pose and cut wire to size.
Next, to bulk up the "skeleton" we added aluminum foil (and some more hot glue) to give it some form. This also prevents the sculpture from getting too heavy and breaking at narrow point s when the sculpey is baked.
And, here it is with some sculpey slathered all over it. It's not much too look at now, but in a week or two, it should come out halfway decent. :)