All right, everyone...

[ApertureScience]

I took on a big project last night involving lots of sculpting, and the result sucks majorly.  I've asked for help in certain areas of this thing before but now I need all the advice you could ever give about sculpting and sanding!  Tell me all that you know, and all that you keep secret (please? )!

Even though I'm at the point of no return on this current project (unless I go for a second baking), it would help for later customs.  And sanding advice could help on these because they are really rough.  Here's one specific question that I have:  how can you sand properly on flat, fragile pieces like fins and ears?  Both around the edges and on the surface.  Is there a better option than just elbow grease and regular sandpaper?

I'm using Sculpey, if it helps to know that.
Also, is there a softer, more malleable sculpting material that I can use?  I think part of my issue may just be how hard Sculpey is. :/

[CarnationTwirl]

Get the cheap no-name polymer clay.  Seriously that stuff is extremely soft and squishy.  I mix it with my hard old sculpey/fimo to get a consistency I like.
Sanding takes patience.  Some people prefer the by hand approach, some people invest in a rotary tool and sanding bits.  It is however very easy to go too hard with a tool and end up creating gouges.  It is a great time saver though, and can also be purposed to carving and drilling.
All sanding, either by hand or by tool, you should just gently glide the abrasive across and let it do the work.  You may need to frequently swap out to clean paper because polymer seems to clog up the paper very quickly.
Also, try to get the smoothest finish you can before baking to minimize the work needed later.

[jupiternwndrlnd]

Sculpey is meant to be kneaded so that it is soft and pliable. if you knead it and it doesnt get soft and workable, then its old, and its probably best to not work with it
i work my sculpey for a few minutes before starting the sculpting, then as I am sculpting I make sure to smooth things as best as i can. a little moisture on your finger tips can help with the smoothing. then careful sanding after the baking process. 

[Alatariel-Silimaure]

I used to use sculpy but just couldnt get what I wanted and refused to bake plastic. I switched to apoxie sculpt and never looked back, I love it!

[Kazzellin]

I'm in the same boat as Jupi - knead the sculpey for a few minutes (make a ball, turn into a snake, back into ball, over and over again...) until it's soft a pliable. If it starts hardening up while you're working, you can rest your hand on it (of if it's not attached, cup it between your palms) to warm it up again. The plus side with all the clay prepping is it kinda massages your hands at the same time.

Or yeah, switch to apoxie. I've used that too.

Lotion has been used to smooth areas as well as water; I generally try to get things as smooth as possible before baking/letting the clay set.

Good luck!

[ApertureScience]

This is great advice; thanks, everyone!  I'll look into the off-brand stuff, and I completely forgot about lotion.  I've got a ton of that stuff so I'll try using it.

One more question that kind of deviates from the sculpt/sand stuff:  How do I remove the plugs from the bodies of standards size G4s more easily?  I read to use a Xacto knife, which I do, but it doesn't always go through easily and ends up gouging the plastic around the neck...  Would softening the pony with boiling water help?

[LadySatine]

Make sure your xacto knife is not dull or broken. It makes a world of difference! Then just go slow. I start at the back of the neck and kind of angle the knife in, then slowly slice. I hope this helps! It gets easier as you do it.

[JoshsPonyPrincess]

Here is a good tip for softening sculpey - pop a little of it in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Just put it right down on the turn table. I use 15 seconds per oz. This will make the sculpey warm and super easy to knead and easy to work with.

Sculpey 3 is much softer than super sculpey and comes in an array of colors. This is what I used to make my charms with.

On the lotion side of things - I have never had good luck mixing sculpey with lotion -it works great with apoxie but I prefer plain old water when working with sculpey. I have had some of the lotion i work with actually smolder off in the oven.

[Diamond]

Actually it is not a good idea to use lotions with anything because the inert indgerants can cause a reaction with the materials you are using. 

Water works well to smooth the clay or some pro artist I spoke with use rubbing alcohol, but make sure you are done because it can cause a thin skin to form. 

As to sanding, use wet dry and make sure it is super fine.  You can also use sanding sponges, they help absorb some of the pressure to sand and can be cut to fit tight spots.

I have used both apoxi sculpt and now Magic Sculpt and I am changing over the magic, it is even nice to use then Aves Apoxy.   It allows way more freedom then clays as you do not need to bake it and it is much harder and durable and actually easier to sand.  Smooths easier too.

[Zaphy]

I use rubbing alcohol to smooth, the way it works is by dissolving the Sculpey (unbaked!). If you overuse it, it will leave a white film, however I haven't found this to be a problem as I always paint my sculpting xD Using stronger (91 or 99%) alcohol will dissolve more, so opt for the 70% alcohol if you have lots of fine details you don't want to lose But it's very, very effective! Just put a little on a Q-tip or a cotton ball and rub it gently across the part you desire to smooth.