Plastilina

Plastalina is an oil-based, non-hardening modeling compound. Because it contains wax instead of water, plastalina remains pliable and can be used over and over again. It is smooth and does not stick to the hands and fingers, unless it is very warm. Our clay is made by combining various waxes with different properties - ranging from soft to hard and from plastic to brittle---and melting them until well blended in a steel vat. A powdered filler and pigments are added to the melted wax and then mixed together to form a finished product.

Plastilina is a wax- and oil-base modeling material used by sculptors for modeling pieces. Plastilina can also be referred to as plasteline, plasticium, and plasticine. The main ingredients are wax, oil, and clay flour that is used as a binder. All plastilina is produced hot, and then cooled and extruded into the shape that will eventually be available for sale in art supply stores. There are basically three groups of plastilina: professional grade, school grade and industrial grade.

The professional grade plastilina commonly contains sulfur, to make the smoother, more homogeneous texture required by professionals. ROMA Plastilina is an oil- and wax-base modeling material preferred by professional sculptors. A non-sulfur professional grade material in medium consistency, called Prima Plastilina, is also available.

The school grade, or amateur grade plastilina, does not contain sulfur and tends to be stiffer and harder to model with the fingers. School grade plastilina comes in a variety of striking colors and is used in the Claymation field of movie production and advertising.

The industrial grade plastilina is usually very hard and needs to be heated prior to use. This type of plastilina is most commonly used by designers in the automotive field for car models and is not available to the retail consumer. The large auto companies use batch lots of this plastilina in large quantities of 2,000 pounds or more; the plastilina is so hard it cannot be modeled at room temperature.

Plastilina is used as a modeling material only and cannot and should not be fired in any way. Plastilina cannot be made permanent. A mold of plaster or rubber must be made to obtain a finished piece.


Roma Plastilina Clay is the world's finest modeling material that is permanently pliable and the choice of professional sculptors the world over. This oil based clay is used by most professionals for sculpting prosthetic work, masks and other sculpture. It is permanently pliable, will not dry out. Colors are Grey-Green only. Available in four consistencies in two pound units.

* Number 1: Soft - This is an extremely pliable clay used for making large sculptures. It is easily scraped from molds.
* Number 2: Medium - This is the choice for portrait heads, busts, and figure work. It is stronger than Number 1: but works smoothly and is the favored consistency.
* Number 3: Medium Firm - This is a firmer grade of plastalina used in making models of smaller objects.
* Number 4: Extra Hard - This grade of plastalina is used in making extremely detailed objects with great detail such as medallions.

Prima Plastilina, like Roma Plastilina, is a premium-grade, smooth-working, oil-based modeling clay that never hardens or changes with air exposure. However, Prima Plastilina is sulphur-free and all-natural, with a neutral, non-offensive odor.

Visit our clay modeling store to view our plastilinas, self-hardening modeling clays, armatures, modeling stands and a wide variety of wood and steel sculpting tools and accessories.