Now that I've made up my mind on a concept for the next piece I can get start figuring out the design, materials to be used and the procedures that will be required. The first thing that needs to be established is the correct size of the final product. This kind of goes hand in hand with selecting materials because not only is one looking for stuff that will look right, it also has to be workable. Seeing as how I like doing smaller figures this can be important.
Mother Nature does all sorts of neat things to metals when they've been exposed for a while. Roughly 95% of the stuff I use is what you would call "reclaimed". I like how pitted and rusty old iron looks like after it's been cleaned or buffed or beat with a hammer or heated or whatever. I also use store bought stuff for some smaller dimension rods and bar stock. With a bit of work this can also be made to look good.
Once I've snooped out the metal that I think will work and I get my sizing done, I'll draw out the project so I've got something to follow.
At this point I usually just get started. In construction there's a process called "design build" that basically means to go along by the seat of your pants confident in the knowledge that you can figure out all the un-for-seen problems that will likely arise. This is also about the time that I start thinking of what to name the upcoming piece.
I think I'm going to call this latest one: ICARUS DRAGON SCOUT