I've tried using the wire from a twisty-tie from a bag of bread for sling attachments. The only problem I've had is trying to keep the wire completely straight...it always wants to curve no matter what.
On the Workbench
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I've tried using the wire from a twisty-tie from a bag of bread for sling attachments. The only problem I've had is trying to keep the wire completely straight...it always wants to curve no matter what.
Need to go up a gauge. I was doing a mic wire for the flight helmet I'm doing and I couldn't get the gauge of wire I wanted to work so I had to go up to a wire tie.
Well, I see the light at the end of the tunnel for one project. I'm having to reglue the lower torso as I dropped it. Hopefully I can get the damn legs onto the T-bar without shit goin' pear-shaped.
Well, I see the light at the end of the tunnel for one project. I'm having to reglue the lower torso as I dropped it. Hopefully I can get the damn legs onto the T-bar without shit goin' pear-shaped.
Thanks KT and Giga. What I want is something that can be carried by a large man, even if it's ridiculous.
Both of those look familiar, I didn't know the names or classifications. I swear I had something similar to those or a handheld rocket launcher… I think maybe from a set I got at Big Lots at one point? No idea where they went though. (Not an RPG or bazooka, I already have a couple of those in my Joe ranks…)
I'm okay with it being somewhere between realistic and silly, I just don't want that cumbersome nonsense that the vintage figure came up with.
Somewhere between these:
http://xbradtc.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/at4-johnson2004-02-03.jpg
http://dvdmedia.ign.com/dvd/image/a...mando-directors-cut-20070906032802293-001.jpg
I can't find the name now but it's actually a 3 barrel launcher and looks exactly like the one Backblast carries only it sits on a tripod that's at a standing height. I think it might have been 1950's-60's
The top one, AT4, I got from Big Lots but I don't think it's big enough for what you're looking for.
The bottom, ROC desert duke carries that but it's a ridiculously oversized spring loaded launcher.
When I get off work today, I'll look around at what I've got.
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Maybe a pair of M47 Dragons rigged up like Metal Head, War Machine or PoC Duke?
That one is based on the M202A1 FLASH incendiary rocket launcher Arnold used in Commando.
Couple of questions of my own. 1: Anyone have a method of stripping the factory paint from web gear? I have a lot of painting to do on a set and would really like a clean canvas.
2: Platinum blonde, how would you do it? Someone on HT did it last year and said they used sand-colored paint as a base, but I can't find the damn thread on there.
Something like this:
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Acetone carefully applied with a small, cheap paint brush, then wick (do not wipe) off with some tissue. Practice on something you don't care about.
2: Platinum blonde, how would you do it? Someone on HT did it last year and said they used sand-colored paint as a base, but I can't find the damn thread on there.
Something like this:
White base with a color wash.
Actually, the War Machine comment gave me the idea to take a look at 1:18 and 1:12 War Machines to see if there are any rocket launchers I can steal. I have 2 WMs (1:18 scale, 1 comic pack from the IM2 line and 1 regular IM2 version) that I won't steal from, but could always see if I could eBay one for cheap to take their rocket launcher… Or take something like the WHALE missile pod and convert the bottom with a handle/holding/firing mechanism from one of my billion ROC launchers or weapons I have in my "need to throw away but can't bring myself to" bag.
1: I would also like to know this, as I have webgear that is the base plastic color that I want, but it's painted black, and to reduce rub/wear, I'd rather just strip it than paint over it more and lose more detail. But my experiences with Acetone have left gummy messes on softer plastics. Anything not as strong, such as denatured alcohol won't work unless you REALLY scrub them, and that's not very easy on something flexible like webgear.
2: Sand-colored paint with a darker wash of a lighter yellow, gray, or light brown. Or if you want to go lighter, sand colored with a drybrushed lighter tone on top?
Something like a dual-rigged FGM-148 Javelin would work. I swear I have one of those in a fodder bin somewhere…
PERFECT for GI Joe!
PERFECT for GI Joe!
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Did MB make that tiny ant picture for you? MR knows what I'm talk'n bout...
Something like a dual-rigged FGM-148 Javelin would work. I swear I have one of those in a fodder bin somewhere…
PERFECT for GI Joe!
HAH!!
Ended up using lacquer thinner on the vest I'm working on. It did a good enough job, so at least I can see what I'm painting up.
Current project is moving along. I have the helmeted head 95% complete, the helmetless head just needs irises and the hair to be completed. I'll do the vest today, then ponder what I'm gonna do about the legs, which are proving troublesome.
Only parts I lack are arms and hands, and I don't think they're gonna be easily remedied. I'd really like some hinged wrists, but I may have to do without.
My "militant heifer" project is pretty close. I need to do some Dremel work on the neck hole, get the MU legs onto the Joe T-bar and find some hands and accessories, but that's all.
Current project is moving along. I have the helmeted head 95% complete, the helmetless head just needs irises and the hair to be completed. I'll do the vest today, then ponder what I'm gonna do about the legs, which are proving troublesome.
Only parts I lack are arms and hands, and I don't think they're gonna be easily remedied. I'd really like some hinged wrists, but I may have to do without.
My "militant heifer" project is pretty close. I need to do some Dremel work on the neck hole, get the MU legs onto the Joe T-bar and find some hands and accessories, but that's all.
Got the bottom two segments of my action figure torso done, at least until the first printing. I think I'm going to go with two different types of upper torsos depending on what the character/style is. It will probably be a regular style for characters like officers and such, and I might borrow the Play Arts Kai shoulder cup idea, only bulkier, for the other style so that the shoulder can rotate over the chest cavity.
It's a change from what I originally designed but I felt because of printing materials, this will work better.
It's a change from what I originally designed but I felt because of printing materials, this will work better.
I pussed out and just went with the painting-over-the-thick-factory-paint option. :-\
Revised my older Rampart with a new head from AngelForge (old Slayer cast that carried over), but I modded it with a repro Heavy Metal mic from Marauders. Boy was I nervous drilling into the face after I'd painted it, but it worked. (I realized after I was done painting that he had no mic.)
Still debating on a few paint options on Backblast and Skidmark (ugh that name), and waiting on a part from Raginspoon to finish Backblast, too.
Backblast looks simple, but was actually a bit of a bitch. I took a K-Mart ROC Heavy Duty torso and dremeled off the neck, and grafted on a Retaliation wv1 Roadblock neck, then sanded/filled/blended them together. I obviously used the Roadblock arms (with a Tofujesse replacement hand for that stupid useless right hand)… The arms were my original reason for cracking apart the RB in the first place, but I crushed, or rather smashed, the torso because it's basically made of rubbery shit plastic. So I had a useless torso, and just decided to chop off the neck and use that. And I originally had a Mutt head, but after painting it, it looked weird so I looked at the vintage card art and realized that the Rockblock head actually looked a LOT like him, so I used that.
Backblast is also a hybrid of the V1 and V2 designs. I had the V2 as a kid, and always liked the intricate logo on his t-shirt, but hated some of the colors (like the pants and brighter green). So I kept the t-shirt color and logo (waterslide ftw!) but used the sleeveless design and most of the colors of the V1. I may change/paint the belt and gloves for brown ones, and I've got some cash-money Destro shin guards cast in black coming from Raginspoon, so that'll help replicate his armored-up lower legs. And I'm still debating on arming him, of course…
And Skidmark is obviously an LBC, with a painted head cast from TJ. Still debating on what details on his vest to paint (or whether to bother at all), but I went with more of a rust color instead of the bright orange on the original, so the vest ALMOST works with it as-is.
Still debating on a few paint options on Backblast and Skidmark (ugh that name), and waiting on a part from Raginspoon to finish Backblast, too.
Backblast looks simple, but was actually a bit of a bitch. I took a K-Mart ROC Heavy Duty torso and dremeled off the neck, and grafted on a Retaliation wv1 Roadblock neck, then sanded/filled/blended them together. I obviously used the Roadblock arms (with a Tofujesse replacement hand for that stupid useless right hand)… The arms were my original reason for cracking apart the RB in the first place, but I crushed, or rather smashed, the torso because it's basically made of rubbery shit plastic. So I had a useless torso, and just decided to chop off the neck and use that. And I originally had a Mutt head, but after painting it, it looked weird so I looked at the vintage card art and realized that the Rockblock head actually looked a LOT like him, so I used that.
Backblast is also a hybrid of the V1 and V2 designs. I had the V2 as a kid, and always liked the intricate logo on his t-shirt, but hated some of the colors (like the pants and brighter green). So I kept the t-shirt color and logo (waterslide ftw!) but used the sleeveless design and most of the colors of the V1. I may change/paint the belt and gloves for brown ones, and I've got some cash-money Destro shin guards cast in black coming from Raginspoon, so that'll help replicate his armored-up lower legs. And I'm still debating on arming him, of course…
And Skidmark is obviously an LBC, with a painted head cast from TJ. Still debating on what details on his vest to paint (or whether to bother at all), but I went with more of a rust color instead of the bright orange on the original, so the vest ALMOST works with it as-is.
I posted this in what's everyone up to...guess it really goes here....
Got some bench time today. got to work on some customs and take pics of my officer custom contest entry. Finished up by making some "LBC s" for my boys... they picked the parts..I added some paint here and there. They are happy...they got a new joe...been since Christmas since that happened. 
Hopefully toy fair this week shows us some new toys....got most of the brother in law project done...need to make a display case now. Finished a modern Duke and desert Sgt. Slaughter too. Modern Destro in works and a pair of jungle range viper too.
Got some bench time today.
got to work on some customs and take pics of my officer custom contest entry. Finished up by making some "LBC s" for my boys... they picked the parts..I added some paint here and there. They are happy...they got a new joe...been since Christmas since that happened. Hopefully toy fair this week shows us some new toys....got most of the brother in law project done...need to make a display case now. Finished a modern Duke and desert Sgt. Slaughter too. Modern Destro in works and a pair of jungle range viper too.
Uhh, may I suggest, 100% brown figure?
Seriously though, did you have to do backblast and Skidmark at the same time?!...you nasty!
I think BB looks the best...that waterslide looks more like a tampo...
Uhh, may I suggest, 100% brown figure?
Seriously though, did you have to do backblast and Skidmark at the same time?!...you nasty!
I think BB looks the best...that waterslide looks more like a tampo...
I didn't even think of that. I'm actually working on like 12 customs right now, those are just the 2 I chose to show because they're the farthest along at the moment.
Yeah, I wasted 4 waterslides doing that, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Good thing I got like 10. I got one perfect on the first try, then clear-coated it and it made the shirt look like all cloudy, so I stripped it off, tried another one but didn't use hot water and then it curled over on itself and ripped, then I did the one you see pictured… And I just now realized it's fucking crooked from the photo, so my OCD-self just redid it again. I still need to find a good safe way to clearcoat it, though… The Model Masters matte that I use goes on cloudy onto that base plastic.
I just finished painting some more ZV heads from Bantha5 (I also apparently need 4 more ZVs because I have 4 more unique ZV heads without bodies), I've got Sub-Zero that just needs a lot of paint (you've seen it), Salvo, Scrap-Iron, Sparks, and a couple others I can't think of right now.
Don't bother clearing it...it looks great as is...I mean, really, how much wear and tear is that area of the figure gonna get?
Nice!
digging the mix of parts
digging the mix of parts
Revised my older Rampart with a new head from AngelForge (old Slayer cast that carried over), but I modded it with a repro Heavy Metal mic from Marauders. Boy was I nervous drilling into the face after I'd painted it, but it worked. (I realized after I was done painting that he had no mic.)
Still debating on a few paint options on Backblast and Skidmark (ugh that name), and waiting on a part from Raginspoon to finish Backblast, too.
Backblast looks simple, but was actually a bit of a bitch. I took a K-Mart ROC Heavy Duty torso and dremeled off the neck, and grafted on a Retaliation wv1 Roadblock neck, then sanded/filled/blended them together. I obviously used the Roadblock arms (with a Tofujesse replacement hand for that stupid useless right hand)… The arms were my original reason for cracking apart the RB in the first place, but I crushed, or rather smashed, the torso because it's basically made of rubbery shit plastic. So I had a useless torso, and just decided to chop off the neck and use that. And I originally had a Mutt head, but after painting it, it looked weird so I looked at the vintage card art and realized that the Rockblock head actually looked a LOT like him, so I used that.
Backblast is also a hybrid of the V1 and V2 designs. I had the V2 as a kid, and always liked the intricate logo on his t-shirt, but hated some of the colors (like the pants and brighter green). So I kept the t-shirt color and logo (waterslide ftw!) but used the sleeveless design and most of the colors of the V1. I may change/paint the belt and gloves for brown ones, and I've got some cash-money Destro shin guards cast in black coming from Raginspoon, so that'll help replicate his armored-up lower legs. And I'm still debating on arming him, of course…
And Skidmark is obviously an LBC, with a painted head cast from TJ. Still debating on what details on his vest to paint (or whether to bother at all), but I went with more of a rust color instead of the bright orange on the original, so the vest ALMOST works with it as-is.
Working on a winter dio with Team Whiskey, The OathKeeepers and Crusader X.
Cleaned up Whiskey, Gave them more of a Tactical jacket look that could blend in with society if forced but fully adaptable and functional down range.
Catfish, Ship, Beranger and Tracker.
Cleaned up Whiskey, Gave them more of a Tactical jacket look that could blend in with society if forced but fully adaptable and functional down range.
Catfish, Ship, Beranger and Tracker.
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I tried some of the Model Master flat clear myself with varying success. It's very rubbery and doesn't thin well. You might get away with using a lacquer base or enamel on that ABS plastic, though. Another thing you could try is water based polyurethane, which, I have used and been very pleased with the results. I have only used High Gloss, but a satin finish might do you.
I think it looks good, but for future reference the serious manufacturers generally have decal-specific fixatives and clear coats. Humbrol DecalFix, as well as Vallejo Decal Fix/Medium and Model Air Matte Varnish, for examples.
I've heard laying them on a glossy surface is helpful, though using a Fix may eliminate the need for that.
I've heard laying them on a glossy surface is helpful, though using a Fix may eliminate the need for that.
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Yeah the MM flat clear usually works for me, but on bare plastic it sometimes gives mixed results, especially on dark surfaces. Whites can sometimes yellow too.
I'll have to look into it, KT. The problem is I ordered these online from some silly fingernail accessorizer on etsy. So I have no idea what she used. If they're interchangeable, then I may need to invest in some. Right now it looks fine, but if it gets scratched or something it could come off. Luckily the webgear is pretty secured at the shoulders so there's nothing on the immediate figure that should damage it.
I'll have to look into it, KT. The problem is I ordered these online from some silly fingernail accessorizer on etsy. So I have no idea what she used. If they're interchangeable, then I may need to invest in some. Right now it looks fine, but if it gets scratched or something it could come off. Luckily the webgear is pretty secured at the shoulders so there's nothing on the immediate figure that should damage it.
I picked up a 90% Resolute Scarlett, and while I ponder if I want to track down her noggin, could anyone tell me if her right arm peg is naturally short or do I have a busted one? She did have her right hand, and the peg that is there doesn't look broken.
Thinking of just switching her lower arm and "hand" with that of a 25th Scarlett.
Thinking of just switching her lower arm and "hand" with that of a 25th Scarlett.
I repainted a partial Outpost Defender set I got...three years ago on eBay. It's missing one set of sand bags, but I found a cheap replacement. I want to add a different MG to the post. I had an MK19 that I wanted to add, but the feed box wouldn't fit.
