Hinges for G.I.Joe type figures

[HUNMARINE]

Hi guys!

Inspired by F1/18th's custom figure by Obi...I decided to try to make my own.
So before doing it..there are 1 main question: how the hell make your figure - poseable? Right - hinges!
But how I can make it?...Well I've tried to find out..what is the ideal shape of the hinge...so it can give as much poseability to the figure as possible.

This is what I've used for my idea (cheap sturdy and reliable):

DSCN3360 by HUNMARINE, on Flickr


Well the ideal shape is this:

DSCN3361 by HUNMARINE, on Flickr

It can give you 360 in X and Y...and give 180 in Z. In simple words - give the same articulation as a normal articulated figure.

For demonstration I used a Generator Rex figure...it was a 5 POA figure with a saw hand, wich I used for other projects :animal:

DSCN3362 by HUNMARINE, on Flickr

 

[HUNMARINE]

In the uppr part - I've drilled a hole for the self-made hinge...And pushed it up there. Pushed - to give it a 360 rotation around the leg...Sure you can glue it up there so Only the knee will bend without rotation. The rotation hinge you can put inside a bit higher like most of MARVEL 3.75 figures...or like in the F 1/18th's figure. Its up to you to decide =)

In the lower part - I cutted a place for the ring of the hinge...and drilled holes for a hardened toothpick..wich will hold the lower leg through the hinge to the upper leg and give a bending articulation:

DSCN3363 by HUNMARINE, on Flickr

DSCN3365 by HUNMARINE, on Flickr

DSCN3366 by HUNMARINE, on Flickr

DSCN3371 by HUNMARINE, on Flickr

DSCN3369 by HUNMARINE, on Flickr

DSCN3367 by HUNMARINE, on Flickr

Its my first attempt of such a thing..so yeah...not so clear work..but with some creativity like
adding a knee pad or so - you can hide some minor mistakes =P

Anyway - I hope it will be helpful for you. Have a nice weekend and thanx for watching =)

 

[HUNMARINE]

P.S.:
So this type of the hinge..with some little-modifications will be ideal for shoulders, knees and elbows..even for ankles. For wirsts - I don't know for sure.

 

[WVMojo]

For a scratch built joint and a first attempt that's not bad at all man. I'm still at the painting stage of customizing...with minor greenstuff sculpting here and there.

I'm too much of a chicken shit to do anything like this yet.

 

[K-Tiger]

It's my intention to get one of those Keaton Bats and see about getting Joe joints in where necessary.

 

[HUNMARINE]

I'm too much of a chicken shit to do anything like this yet.

Thank you! =)
And I can absolutely understand you. =)
Thats why I used this figure..I was putting him in a trash bin after I deattached his saw...but than I realized - that I can use him for such a testing. All the Joes I have - with little "tweets" but fully articulated -so I have no reason now to do such a modifications on them.
I just wanted to test this idea...before I will start my own figure molding project.
And this is what I've got now =)...Maybe somebody can learn out of it

It's my intention to get one of those Keaton Bats and see about getting Joe joints in where necessary.

Why not? =)
I started thinking about custom made hinges when I saw those cheap SW 5 POA figures. Later I saw Obi's F1/18th figure...and decided to figure this out.

 

[Raimondo]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and precious tips !!!!

 

[HUNMARINE]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and precious tips !!!!

You're welcome =)
But as Obi mentioned in 1 of his threads, if you would like to use a pre-made hinges, you can use/buy the hinges for anime figures. They have a different size hinges so...you can choose any of what you need or want.

P.S.: For my suprize - they have the similar shape as mine :trollface:
I know I wasnt the first one who invited it....but its always a pleasure when you came up with an idea by yourself. =)

 

[Monkeywrench]

Thanks for sharing this