![[Man of Steel | Superman with Ab Crunch Articulatio] Well I finally did it. This was originally Phase I of what I had intended for my ultimate Man of Steel Superman figure. At first I thought this would take 2 figures to make one complete figure but with careful cutting I was able to make it happen with ONLY one figure. The torso is scored using an xacto to define the new joint then the body is pulled apart into top and lower half. A 3/8 ball bearing becomes the pivot with a 1/4" button magnet on either side then the buttons are reinforced with 1/8" slices of hot glue added to their outsides. The inside of the body is then dotted with hot glue to create a connection point keeping all articulation internal with no external evidence of tampering.
The lower end of the upper torso is then dragged over 2 diverse grits of sand paper to round off the front and back to allow for smooth movement. Once complete I added the fabric cape as well as my normal adjustments.
Ahhhhhhh.... Time for a beer.](userimages/customs/50000/49622-1.jpg) Man of Steel | Superman with Ab Crunch Articulatio Movie Mastersby GeekSummitWell I finally did it. This was originally Phase I of what I had intended for my ultimate Man of Steel Superman figure. At first I thought this would...9 comments | ![[Man of Steel | Superman with Added Torso Articulat] I took another superman an scored the abdomen right below the emblem. I then heated up the lower torso so I could round it off to fit back inside the now hollowed upper torso. I then placed a button magnet in the top torso and a metal ball bearing in the lower torso. Then with much easier access I added the cape and BAM!!! Phase 1 to correct our mis articulated Super Hero. While I added range there's still some work that could be done to make it more controllable.
All the same tricks have been used on the body itself. The hips have been cut back to allow deeper movement of the legs. The knees akles and elbows have been bored out for a tighter close and the neck has been deepened for a better head tilt for flying.
I did experiment with a different head for a second but opted for the original for most shots.](userimages/customs/50000/49557-1.jpg) Man of Steel | Superman with Added Torso Articulat Movie Mastersby GeekSummitI took another superman an scored the abdomen right below the emblem. I then heated up the lower torso so I could round it off to fit back inside the...7 comments |
![[Man of Steel | Superman with Fabric Cape] I've done the cloth cape a couple times now and I've got it figured out for this new figure. I had to be much more precise with the holes for the cape to be pulled through. If your off it will show pretty badly. The entire figure is given a black wash to deepen the texture details in the costume and muscles. The silver banding also gets a detailing individually. Joints in the knees and elbows have been deepened for added articulation. The neck and hips and ankles have also been altered for better flight posing. I removed the lowest banding connected to the t-crotch to allow the legs to go further back and forward for added standing and flying poses.
That's really it.
Oh and the bank vault is made of foam sheeting and styrofoam.... And glue sticks... And a car part.](userimages/customs/49500/49500-1.jpg) Man of Steel | Superman with Fabric Cape Movie Mastersby GeekSummitI've done the cloth cape a couple times now and I've got it figured out for this new figure. I had to be much more precise with the holes for the cap...6 comments | ![[Man of Steel | Jor El with Fabric Cape] After seeking out my first set of MOS figures I quickly caught myself buying doubles since I planned in doing a bit of tweaking.
I bought a darker fabric for Jor El than I would use on Superman but then also dirtied it with some black spray paint. I didn't spray directly much, just enough to age it some. The armor is also gone over with a black wash as well as the hair. I a wanted to make sure to give the crest a nice detailing too.
Definitely looking good with a cape. All the pictures I've seen he DID have a cape. Oh well Mattel.](userimages/customs/49500/49499-1.jpg) Man of Steel | Jor El with Fabric Cape Movie Mastersby GeekSummitAfter seeking out my first set of MOS figures I quickly caught myself buying doubles since I planned in doing a bit of tweaking.
I bought a darker f...5 comments |
![[Dark Knight | Batman W/ Wired Fabric Cape] I have revisited this new application with Bats to let you in on a tutorial on my Tube Channel: GeekSummit.
This figure features the standard pull through cape now with wiring. This time I did accentuate some of the scallops by folding tape into the cape to give some of the points more definition when standing. Figure was also completely painted over with a mix of flat black and oily steel. It gave it a nice matte graphite tone.
Thanks again Fitz for the inspiration. Hopefully well see a revolution in our craft after sharing my process.](userimages/customs/49000/48634-1.jpg) Dark Knight | Batman W/ Wired Fabric Cape Movie Mastersby GeekSummitI have revisited this new application with Bats to let you in on a tutorial on my Tube Channel: GeekSummit.
This figure features the standard pull t...5 comments | ![[Man of Steel | Superman] I got a hold of a couple VERY early releases of the Man of Steel Superman figures and decided to jump in swinging. I did my standard black wash first to knock the blues down and give the silver ribbing a bit more depth and the moved on to the cape. The cape features wiring for total control as well as a little hot glue to firm it up around the shoulders. The hips were modified to make up for the lack of articulation in the upper torso as well as the neck for added angle for flying poses. Supes is looking pretty super now.](userimages/customs/49000/48596-1.jpg) Man of Steel | Superman Movie Mastersby GeekSummitI got a hold of a couple VERY early releases of the Man of Steel Superman figures and decided to jump in swinging. I did my standard black wash first ...19 comments |
![[Indiana Jones | Vintage Collection II] I took another swing at my vintage collection styled Indy if only to be able to work a new head into it. I left the old one untouched but I may revise it to these specs as well.
The new head is a combo of the hatless KOTCS head scalped to fit under the ROTLA hat. It's a tighter for and looks more natural. The KOTCS heads typically had a better sculpt and paint job so I wanted to get the best of both worlds in one head.
All the same we used the Origins Logan figure again with a tighter fit on the arms and replaced the hands with German soldier hands. They just look better.](userimages/customs/48500/48328-1.jpg) Indiana Jones | Vintage Collection II Indiana Jonesby GeekSummitI took another swing at my vintage collection styled Indy if only to be able to work a new head into it. I left the old one untouched but I may revi...8 comments | ![[Superman | Young Justice III] I just can't let this guy go. For my third attempt I decided to modify the DCSH Supes with enhancements to the knees, hips, elbows, neck & back. These are the same modifications I made to my classic superman revision but this time with the added wired cape.
I topped it all off with another Evergreen Batman's Superman 2 pack head. I really dig the cartoonish scale I get out of that head.](userimages/customs/48500/48327-1.jpg) Superman | Young Justice III Young Justiceby GeekSummitI just can't let this guy go. For my third attempt I decided to modify the DCSH Supes with enhancements to the knees, hips, elbows, neck & back. ...2 comments |
![[Superman | Young Justice II] After pulling #1 together I quickly noticed the Evergreen Batman line had a combo pack with Killer Crock and Batman in black with yet another variant of Supes included. The head just had an awesome look to it and I knew it was a comparable scale. I got home and quickly popped the head off, set up a new body and it was rock n roll time.
This body also features the smaller Byrne Superman emblem in cut vinyl "Heat-Synched" to the chest. This head fits nicely with no extra drilling. It makes a great substitute for the Superman that never was.](userimages/customs/48500/48243-1.jpg) Superman | Young Justice II Young Justiceby GeekSummitAfter pulling #1 together I quickly noticed the Evergreen Batman line had a combo pack with Killer Crock and Batman in black with yet another variant ...1 comments | ![[Indiana Jones | Vintage Collection] This ones been on the shelf for a while. I took the body if an Origins Logan and swapped out the arms and head and popped the jacket and gun let on and it was Hi Ho Indy!!
I may return to this with one of my custom headsets.](userimages/customs/48500/48151-1.jpg) Indiana Jones | Vintage Collection Indiana Jonesby GeekSummitThis ones been on the shelf for a while. I took the body if an Origins Logan and swapped out the arms and head and popped the jacket and gun let on an...6 comments |
![[Superman | Young Justice] I picked up the target exclusive JL figure and sized it up kinda eyeballing Batman's head from the batman unlimited. It was clues enough but he's got a huge jaw so it takes up a lot of scale.
The emblem is actually a smaller version of a John Byrne Decal I made a few sets of. I just trim them out an place them and heat them in with a lighter. It will conform to the figure pretty well as long as you get it hot enough to lock in. But don't burn it!](userimages/customs/48500/48048-1.jpg) Superman | Young Justice Young Justiceby GeekSummitI picked up the target exclusive JL figure and sized it up kinda eyeballing Batman's head from the batman unlimited. It was clues enough but he's got...3 comments | ![[Arkham City Batman | Easy Hip Articulation] Bought a couple over the last couple weeks as I saw them available. I didn't want to be without one if something bad happened. I first scored over the tops if the hips trying to trace the inner ball with my exacto. I made a notch as wide as my metal cylinder dremmel bit. I bored into the hips knocking the notch free to move. That released the ball from the socket. Then I cleaned up the joints with a trimming of the exacto and then repainted using "oily steel" in a mostly black mixture. I painted both upper thighs and the briefs. The color was a pretty dead on match.
I popped the legs back on it was good to go. It was a good attempt so I made 2 more while I still had paint mixed.](userimages/customs/48500/48013-1.jpg) Arkham City Batman | Easy Hip Articulation |
![[Boba Fett | Blackwash] Plain and simple... Just ran Bobes here through the black wash. Paint on... Wipe off...
Good DanielSan](userimages/customs/48000/47988-1.jpg) Boba Fett | Blackwash | ![[Superman | New 52 • Wired Fabric Cape] Well... Back again with number 4? This is my second take on the wired cape. The first was exaggeratedly long to give it flight and posing length but this one is shorter and wired on all three sides. I found it very hard to control as the wire that designates the bottom weight is always trapped between the other 2 corners making the cape bunch up. So I found that this "S" shaped roll helped keep it in good behavior. I really dig the wired cape look and definitely look to figure this out once and for all. I really see this coming into play with a certain caped crusader. I may even revisit a Reeve Superman or 2. I have since released the bottom wire to make the cape more agreeably collapsible.
Thanks Fitzmaurice & Son!!!](userimages/customs/48000/47922-1.jpg) Superman | New 52 • Wired Fabric Cape DC Universeby GeekSummitWell... Back again with number 4? This is my second take on the wired cape. The first was exaggeratedly long to give it flight and posing length but t...2 comments |
![[Blue Thunder | the Guardian of Metropolis] This was entered in the Sight Unseen contest. The premise was to present something we hadn't seen before. As I do from time to time I chose to read between the lines and found justification to reincarnate our very familiar Man of Steel as described by the witnesses of his first overt public super feat. I gave my description in the form of an article written by Lois Lane. Throughout the article you will see this Amazing Stranger is more powerful than a locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Perhaps it was too clever or simply to thin an attempt to create a new perspective on my favorite hero:
Early Friday evening saw an unusual turn of events in what looks like a remarkable act of absolutely fantastic vigilantism on the Metropolis suicide slums outbound L-Train.
Witnesses say two armed gunmen subdued the conductor, raided the first passenger car demanding money and jewelry and assaulted 2 passengers. Things were already franti](userimages/customs/48000/47913-1.jpg) Blue Thunder | the Guardian of Metropolis DC Universeby GeekSummitThis was entered in the Sight Unseen contest. The premise was to present something we hadn't seen before. As I do from time to time I chose to read b...1 comments | ![[Superman | New 52 • Wired Fabric Cape] Same trick as on my latest Batman. I painted the body solid black excluding the hands and neck and let dry. Then I came back and scrubbed off the highlights with a magic eraser. The cape was a narrower cut since superman has less of a glider quality to his cape. I did finally manage to get that seen black "S" on the cape this time in hand cut vinyl.
The cape looks pretty sharp. I used the wires that form the cape tobdrawvthat fabric into the body and sealed it off with hot glue and te formed it over the shoulders and back.
Crack A Boom!!!!](userimages/customs/48000/47873-1.jpg) Superman | New 52 • Wired Fabric Cape DC Universeby GeekSummitSame trick as on my latest Batman. I painted the body solid black excluding the hands and neck and let dry. Then I came back and scrubbed off the high...6 comments |
![[Batman | New 52 • Wired Fabric Cape] I have tried my hand at wired capes before but always as an afterthought. I figured I should investigate that and make an intent effort out of it. This cowl base is one piece with the cape. The neckline is secured and formed to the neck with hot glue. A wire runs the entire front edge of the cape giving the entire cape a oneness that really sets it off. Any way this cape is bent it looks pretty sharp. I look forward to trying this again.
The figure itself has been completely painted black, left to dry and then scrubbed to give it a slightly different texture. It just seems with this metallic body should have more depth to it. Once all is done figure is given a coat of matte finish.](userimages/customs/48000/47869-1.jpg) Batman | New 52 • Wired Fabric Cape DC Universeby GeekSummitI have tried my hand at wired capes before but always as an afterthought. I figured I should investigate that and make an intent effort out of it. Thi...3 comments | ![[Gotham City Rooftop | BàTman '89] I took on a commission to produce a diorama like my Ghostbusters Firehouse. I was nervous to create anything that large and ship it so I struck a deal to make it within the size of a medium flat rate box.
The idea was to create a rooftop scene that a 6" figure could stand on. I started with 1.5" styrofoam for the base and .75" for the second tier. The windows have "glass" and panes and ledges and I used silly straws for the drain pipe. I started out with a primer layer to create the grout in the crevices and then came back with a mix for brick red. The ledges were left primer gray and once painting was complete I over sprayed the windows from behind to haze them over a little bit.
Then came time for the signature piece... The Joker Brand billboard. I wanted it to be almost like a Coke ad so I dropped in Jacks's face with the little joker logo and then tagged it with a line from the commercial... I think.
Once completely completed I came back and dry bru](userimages/customs/48000/47765-1.jpg) Gotham City Rooftop | BàTman '89 Movie Mastersby GeekSummitI took on a commission to produce a diorama like my Ghostbusters Firehouse. I was nervous to create anything that large and ship it so I struck a deal...8 comments |
![[Superman | Superman Returns 7"] This ones been on my shelf for a minute. Being Superman Returns hit before the era of Movie Masters their figure releases were kinda stale. The 5" figures were ok but the missed opportunities with articulation left us with a set of various semi ideal figures. The 7" figures were even worse. I took the "anti Gravity" figure and the heat vision figures and swapped out parts to create this figure with articulation only 4 points over my 5" customs. The head came from a craftily procured glider figure with a less squatty and dopey head.
So all in all we have hinge ankles, hinge knees, double hinge/swivel hips, cut waist, ball joint shoulders, hinge elbows, cut fists, and ball jointed head.
Figure is pictured next to my upcoming 6" DCU version and my original 5" figure from WAAAAY back for scale comparison.](userimages/customs/48000/47764-1.jpg) Superman | Superman Returns 7" Superman Returnsby GeekSummitThis ones been on my shelf for a minute. Being Superman Returns hit before the era of Movie Masters their figure releases were kinda stale. The 5"...2 comments | ![[Batman | Dark Knight Rises • Cloth Cape] Well I picked up a couple 2 packs on a BOGO weekend and decided to do just some body work for once. It was cool that Mattel finally did a cloth cape BUT it was so dinky. But the worst was this paint job... Gold? In the Sewers? Is it Pee? Either way I decided to paint over the gold dry brush with just regular black just to bring it back down to a standard coloration.
Next I proceeded with my regular upgrades. I added articulation to the head, elbows, and knees. I also trimmed the backs of the shoulder pads to increase the upper arm movement. Not adding the cape made this a pretty quick job BUT wouldn't you know it I drilled through his knee joint on accident so I had to replace both legs below the knee with a pair of Bàtman Begins shins. They are a little slimmer and they look pretty good. They almost make him appear taller.](userimages/customs/48000/47733-1.jpg) Batman | Dark Knight Rises • Cloth Cape Movie Mastersby GeekSummitWell I picked up a couple 2 packs on a BOGO weekend and decided to do just some body work for once. It was cool that Mattel finally did a cloth cape ...2 comments |
![[Robocop | Kotobukiya 3.75"] I finally bought one of these under the suspicion that they had pretty decent articulation. OK it's Japanese... OK it's an import... OK there was a time when Robocop was scarce. So for $20 I got this little guy from China/Japan and to my surprise... Articulation count: Next to none.
I had a wierd alien skateboarding figure put back that I was waiting to use to articulate a '77 stormtrooper but the project kinda dried up. So I took those same parts and transplanted the articulation to Murphs.
He has original swivel head, ball joint shoulders (360/90) ball joint elbows (360/90) swivel wrists, swivel hips, ball joint knees (90) and swivel ankles.
To finish him off I took my trusty black wash and gave him a black bath and wiped clean.
Freeze Creep!!](userimages/customs/48000/47730-1.jpg) Robocop | Kotobukiya 3.75" Robocopby GeekSummitI finally bought one of these under the suspicion that they had pretty decent articulation. OK it's Japanese... OK it's an import... OK there was a ti...1 comments | ![[Bizarro | DCSH] Well I circled back to my classic Supes so I had to swing by the square planet Bizarro for his negative counterpart. I deepened the inner thighs and the knees as well as the inner parts of the elbows. He's got a massive upper body so the arms still don't close as tight as Superman's but it is a noticeable difference. I didn't do a fabric cape for this one but I did want to augment the articulation identical to Superman but in leu of the fabric cape I opted for the black wash. Bizarro is this huge crusty character so I figured the wash would bring out the depth in his size as well as filthy him up a bit.
Here he am not!!](userimages/customs/48000/47665-1.jpg) Bizarro | DCSH DC Superheroesby GeekSummitWell I circled back to my classic Supes so I had to swing by the square planet Bizarro for his negative counterpart. I deepened the inner thighs and ...2 comments |
![[Legacy Millenium Falcon | Expanded Edition] Well... I said I'd do it... so I did!!
I happened across a half pallet of these the first time they sold and clearanced. It was quite a find since I wanted to wait until the prices dropped on these. Apparently price as well as size kept a lot of these out of collector hands. I picked up 3 @ $36 a piece!!!
So on to the business. A long time ago I took this model and dusted it in black an accented some areas that needed some life. I never thought I'd get back around to my full intentions but yesterday I ran the entire trilogy through the old Xbox and got cracking.
First I completely disassembled the falcon into top bottom and interior... Bye Bye electronics... You will be missed. I took all the interior pieces and gave then a deep black wash. Then I got to trimming out pieces. This was such a huge playset but you really only had half of the interior to interact with. I wanted to remedy this to justify the size of this beast. So with only my exacto I started to score away at t](userimages/customs/48000/47659-1.jpg) Legacy Millenium Falcon | Expanded Edition Star Warsby GeekSummitWell... I said I'd do it... so I did!!
I happened across a half pallet of these the first time they sold and clearanced. It was quite a find since ...9 comments | ![[Superman Classic | 70's Styled] I had this one sitting back for a minute. I took an Aquaman head and reculpted te hair on it. I got tired of the features in the running superman heads. It just seemed like the likeness was over used. Aquaman has sharper features and unwanted to experiment with that.
The chest features a cut vinyl decal of the 60's-70's Curt Swan style "S". I also went for articulated hands in this one from a wwe figure. And as per usual I inckuded a pull through cape. I just hate the vinyl ones. They throw the figure off balance and restrict movement.](userimages/customs/48000/47535-1.jpg) Superman Classic | 70's Styled DC Universeby GeekSummitI had this one sitting back for a minute. I took an Aquaman head and reculpted te hair on it. I got tired of the features in the running superman head...2 comments |
![[Secret Wars | Dr Octopus • Marvel Universe] So I'm not a huge marvel guy honestly but when Marvel Universe came out with the Secret Wars 2packs they seem to have left out a big bad!! I corrected this for my collection using the green wrecking crew guy and a current Dr Octopus from the Spider-Man 3.75 line. I dremmel led out 4 workable spots in the torso and transplanted these bendable tentacles!!
Now my grown man's toybox is complete...](userimages/customs/48000/47534-1.jpg) Secret Wars | Dr Octopus • Marvel Universe Marvel Universeby GeekSummitSo I'm not a huge marvel guy honestly but when Marvel Universe came out with the Secret Wars 2packs they seem to have left out a big bad!! I corrected...2 comments | ![[Batman | Dark Knight Rises • Cloth Cape] Just another revisit to cloth cape making. This cape is a lot longer and fuller and really sits well on Bàtman. I have continued to evolve my methods in cape wrangling and finally did a tutorial on this figure in theGeekSummit blog. It's another pull-through cape sealed into the body and then shaped with hot glue under the neck of the cape.
The neck has been altered for added movement ( for batpods n such). The back, knees and elbows have been deepened as well for a lower crouching position. To finish off I sprayed him down with matte finish.](userimages/customs/48000/47509-1.jpg) Batman | Dark Knight Rises • Cloth Cape Movie Mastersby GeekSummitJust another revisit to cloth cape making. This cape is a lot longer and fuller and really sits well on Bàtman. I have continued to evolve my m...6 comments |
![[Han Solo in Carbonite | POTF II] Well. I've done a Slave I so I guess I should go to work in some cargo. I took a POTF II Hansoko Carbonite Block and have it the old faithful black wash. Wiped it clean and jumped back into some layers again. I guess it's on to a Boba Fett](userimages/customs/48000/47508-1.jpg) Han Solo in Carbonite | POTF II Star Warsby GeekSummitWell. I've done a Slave I so I guess I should go to work in some cargo. I took a POTF II Hansoko Carbonite Block and have it the old faithful black wa...2 comments | ![[Boba Fett's Slave I | Class II] So I was strolling through Target this week and just happened to get there on stock day. I look down and there's Jango Fett's Slave I sitting right on the front of the shelf. Just $19.99 but wow the box was tiny!!
I'll always take another Boba Fett Slave I over Jango Fett any day
I painted the base all one color brown and then mixed up matching grays to add damaged panels. Then I weathered them with mixes if gray and metallic silver. It looked ok. It had detail but it had no depth. After about a week of admiring this piece I did come back with a blackwash and it really brought some scale to the ship that was missing before. .](userimages/customs/47500/47476-1.jpg) Boba Fett's Slave I | Class II Star Warsby GeekSummitSo I was strolling through Target this week and just happened to get there on stock day. I look down and there's Jango Fett's Slave I sitting right on...6 comments |
![[Hulk | Avengers] I took an additional step this go round with the Big Green Guy. I found that the heads from the more static 7-8" figures fit really nicely on these 6" scale figures. I dremmeled out the head to fit the ball joint for full articulation. First I covered the ball joint in baby powder and then filled the head with hot glue. with the glue still hot I popped it into place on the joint, trimmed away excess and gave it a few seconds to cool. Once it cooled I was able to pop the seal and the head was like it was made to be there.
Then I moved on to the wash stage. I did the full black treatment on the entire body and wiped the excess away. I got ahead of myself and some paint dried too quickly. BUT I found that these Magic Erasers are pretty nice for removing excess paint while leaving the details with a nice fill. So I gave it a few spot scrubs and there he was... ready for Matte Spray.
Hulk Smash Superman!!](userimages/customs/47500/47348-1.jpg) Hulk | Avengers Avengersby GeekSummitI took an additional step this go round with the Big Green Guy. I found that the heads from the more static 7-8" figures fit really nicely on the...3 comments | ![[Superman | New 52 Cloth Cape III] No... I'm not stuck in a rut. I just happen to have a few of these guys to tinker with. So I've done the cape... then I've done another cape... Now I've taken the whole figure to task. This figure features a black wash to bring up the New 52 details and deepen the sculpting. Also I have taken a matte finish to capture some of that metallic look and put a shell over it... That glitter is pretty hard to fight back. The neck has been altered to allow for better movement of the head as well. I removed quite a bit of plastic from the underside of the head socket and notched out the neck in front and back. But then I noticed that did not seem to free up the double ball joint neck peg... Then I remembered that a few years back they went from a double ball joint to having an additional tab that is jointed into the upper torso I guess to keep it form popping out of the neck socket. So I took my finer engraving bit and drilled a fine hole in the base of the neck to release that extra tab of plas](userimages/customs/47500/47347-1.jpg) Superman | New 52 Cloth Cape III DC Universeby GeekSummitNo... I'm not stuck in a rut. I just happen to have a few of these guys to tinker with. So I've done the cape... then I've done another cape... Now I'...1 comments |
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