TOYSREVIL'S ONE-SIXTH KITBASH BLOG

Opening Toys

2012-01-17T23:34:00.001+08:00

3A Toys Blog

2012-01-17T23:29:00.004+08:00

I actually have a dedicated 3A-Toys blog @ http://ilike3atoys.blogspot.com but tis been a long while since I've updated it ... I plan to shut that down somewhen and transfer all images of 1/6th-scaled toys here ... well, that's the "plan" anyways :p

Adventures of Team-Building in the 1/6th-Scale Hobby

2011-04-13T18:30:00.002+08:00

[Duo "Tomorrow Kings from 3A Toys. There more of them, oh so much more…]
DELUSION IS A WONDEROUS THING: Thinking back to my heydays of yore as an "active" 12-inch figure collector, I must have been really deluded. I had "claimed" not to collect "military", when I have in fact a miniature ammo-bunker filled with military uniforms and weapons (of course I exaggerate but you'll be surprised). I had claimed to only collect streetwear and urban styled figures (that much is true tho), and I realized just the other day, I had claimed not to be a "team-builder", and instead promoted the virtues of collecting not more than 2 x similar figures at a time (so you could pose them in the display shelf - one standing and one kneeling with his weapon pointing the other way). - when in actuality, I do and like to build "teams"!

And hey, I even had plans for a hypothetical toyshow (which one day I WILL make happen) - and that works real well with teams! (and of course, "dioramas").

TEAM-PLAYER: And when I mention "team-building", it is specifically catering for 1/6th-scaled figure, which involve making multiples of similar-styled or themed figures which interact within a group dynamic, and not a group of Storm Troopers with differing production ranks - bought off the shelf - that is what I call instead "Collection Building". There is a very strong element of "kitbashing", or even "customizing" involved in team-building, and I do not mean going in a group of folks to summer-camp and taking turns sliding down a rope across trees, no.

OBSESS ME: The thing with "obsessions" (which I embrace and lay claim to now, since I "live" it everyday via my blog and memories of my "collecting past") is that once you admit to it and embrace it, that is one thing less that others have a hold over you. You will never be accused of being "deluded" or "self-delusional", or even "lying". I am obsessed with toys. I Like Toys. I LOVE TOYS!

(Okay, that was my schpeel for the day, the rest is up to you to how to face the world, can't help you more than that buddy!)

[I build so much more fashion / streetwear folks that I no
longer call them "teams", they are literal "neighborhoods" :p]
YOU BUILD, I BUILD, WE BUILD: The thing with "team building, is the tiring but weirdly exciting aspect of amassing the uniforms and similar weapons (of course they were mostly armed!) in multiples (depending on how many in your team), from all over the place (depending on price-point), to cater to a group of figures which represent your hopes and desires for human-kind (okay, that much is a stretch of any imagination, scarily so), with each build up as easy as an online bid or "add-to-cart", or as hard as sourcing for items not necessarily popular to be taken apart and sold - or even "too easily popular", they were be snatched up once they are parted!

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW: When I mention "parted" or "loose", it literally means parts of a complete boxed-figure (aka "what you can buy off the shell") are taken off and sold separately from the box. The accumulation of the loose-parts are more expensive in cost combined, compared to a boxed figure, but sometimes you DO NOT want the whole box-fig, just the weapon, or shoes, or uniform etc - that's where kitbashing as a hobby, caters primarily to.

Sure, there were days when I thought to myself: "I can buy the whole box-figure, then take out what I want, and sell the rest for a price so I get my loose parts free!" - and that's why I used to lug around a mini-suitcase filled with loose-parts bagged and ready to sell - folks might have thought I was a bootleg DVD salesman instead!

But let it be known that the concept of kitbashing is both an adventurous everlasting hunt, and as well a hair-tearing task sometimes. Ever turn a corner into a shop filled from top to bottom with kitbashed loose parts? Ever discovered an online merchant who was clearing out stock of exactly what you were searching for? Ever had a ~~friend~~ fellow-collector snatch a piece right from your hand and head straight to the cashiers to pay?

<>u>HERE's an old post about the "Anatomy Of Kitbashing", for alla you folks who missed it the first time around (Disclaimer: Mind you, that was written in 2006 - so some details might have altered, but the principal remains the same).

[Old-skool war Marvel comicbook buffs might recognize these trio of characters
which I have yet to complete but for a Medusa-headsculpt -recognize them yet?]
HOW MANY IS MANY?: How many is "enough"? Depends on each individual's preference, or tolerance to being poisoned by toys! I am personally stuck with a notion of a 5 or 6-man fire-team configuration, inclusive of a leader-type character, a comms-specialist ("communication"), a demolition-expert (most times off his/her rockers), a sharp-shooter, a heavy-arms specialist and another or two rifleman (blame my military-training for the roles lol). Most times the mix change along with themes, like a robot, a cyborg, a space-ninja etc (yes, I had a "few" teams!), and I heart me ninjas and cyborgs LOL

Figure-type is always an interesting notion for me, with numerous headsculpts fitting particular characters, or prone to customization (which I used to always say, but hell little done about them lol), as well as different body-types from various toy brands. Wouldn't it be boring to have ALL the figures in a similar body-type? Being able to afford them is one thing, but not everyone needs to be kit out in a 38-points-of-articulation-body, innit? IMHO, of course :)

DO I LOOK FAT LIKE THAT?: Sideshow always provided the tall lanky types, while Dragon provided a mixed similar-style of regular non-heavily muscled bodies, of which I could always depend on BBI-G3s for hunky-builds, and even bulky 21st Century bodies gave their awkward charm (I hear *gasps-of-disgust* somewhere behind there…). Never heard of brands beyond Sideshow Toys and Hot Toys? Can't really blame you if you're new to the the hobby in the past couple of years.

[Not exactly 1/6 "adults" but you get the picture :p]
ONCE UPON A 1/6-TIME: In the early-to-mid 2000s, the height of 12" figure collection hit Eastern collectors with an abundance of choice - with primarily Hong Kong-based makers struggling for action figure supremacy, while us collectors lapped it up, and were actually spoilt hard for choice. Those were heady times indeed!

Price-points were extremely compatible that SGD$50 per BBI-box with a foldout spread of weapons, was not unheard of. Imagine a nude body was parted out to around SGD$20-25, while an automatic weapon could go for between SGD$8 to SGD$15. Get a box, right? And so loads of us did, and we had parts to spare - at least I had!

[Pic circa 2006 - don't judge me…]
IT WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED: Things have changed so drastically thru the years, with beloved companies closing, and generic figure lines stopping production, and choices dwindling down to exclusivity. You might be able to find a Sideshow body loose somewhere, or perhaps even a Hot Toys. But brands like Medicom Toys cater specifically to brands and remain unparted, and the most DID (Dream In Dragon) does is separate the body and the uniform, and nothing else. There are of course other players of 1/6th out there, but most remain in-boxed and un-parted, so perhaps that is another post for a possible otherwhen.

[All above images via Store Rooms - I have no affiliation with them whatsoever]
One thing is interesting though - bootleggers going at it with their own unlicensed characters (movie-based), and they do not advertise their wares, save for Ebay listings and availability on specialist-1/6 purchase sites (Yes, they are from Hong Kong as well). Folks like Brothers Production and ToyMasters et al delve into the cult-genre themes unreleased by the big brands, and cater to the have-nots, and folks are happy. I remain hopeful one day I will be able to afford a figure or two (Not that they are expensive, but just that I have no toy-spending money these days). But building teams with them? Hardly, as parts are seldom available. The current exception being a whole slew of jackets/trousers and/or suits set being released for figures (since the advent of Iron Man with Tony Stark by Hot Toys). I still remember the days when I was lucky to find a loose or even a color-dyed suit set from Dragon! (Remember "Michael Chang" in grey? Or Patrick-whatever in brown? ToyGawds-Bless DML! lol)

LOOSE BUT PRICEY: For a period of time, certain brands popped up and offered uniforms and equipment, without the figures - Hong Kong brands like Saturday Toys and Very Hot veered dangerously close to Hot Toy's offerings (but without the weathering paintwork) with rumors persisting those days that they were in fact HT-manufacturers gone rogue (nothing would ever be substantiated or proved), until later when they came out with their own jackets and clothing. But they were no longer as affordable as before. And frankly, how many fireman figures would be enough? (Hey, there were considered a team-build too you know?).

QUALITY VERSUS PLAYABILITY: Know that "quality" was pedestrian at best in the "good old days" (compared to the lushness of Hot Toys, Enterbay et al these days) which frankly afforded loads of "play", and the notion and action of "kitbashing" - which aided especially well for the notion of "team-building". The current offerings of three-numbered prices deter the notion of taking figures apart somewhat (not necessarily true, as I have witnessed loads of DX Joker being parted out!), although there no doubt are other constant supporters and purveyors of the hobby on dedicated toy-forums (if which I used to be a fanatic, now no more).

[The name "Bravo-6" does not actually pertain to any until I have had served in while in the army]
INDULGE ME: So instead of yakking about the industry (which you probably already know of by now) - let me indulge on my OWN teams! I had a few team-builds going on: The largest number of folks kitbashed belonged to my Vietnam War-era team of soldiers BRAVO-6 (12 soldiers in all - mostly with different body-forms too / circa 2004), my S.W.A.T. team-turned-urban mercenaries (aren't they all? LOL) - and my S.W.A.T.-team would have been a 6-man team, if not for the advent of B.B.I.'s LAPD-SWAT release (then my boys needed to have a "upgrade" in uniforms - their TUAS uniforms no longer cut it lol).

"Upgrades" = the bane of all kitbashing attempts. Tis either you upgrade your boys with the latest gear, or create yet another team altogether - they can't be mucking about wearing different uniforms tho, innit?

I have a collector-friend Edwin, who collected and created meticulously different ranks for his Police Officer series, who all wear the same uniforms in the frist place. Now THAT, is dedication! And every year he holds a "change-over ceremony", whereby his advances his characters, and retires the old ones - now THAT, is team-building and cohesion!

Far be it I am making a mockery of anyone's action, for this is serious business we folks are saddled with, and this is a serious hobby involving time and money, and least mentioned of all: SPACE. (Display Space, in fact). Why have a team, when you can't display them together? (Sadly, I do not have space, but I've always just posed them together, snapped pics and boxed them up together afters anyways :p).

[I actually used to actively source out brown Jedi-robes! Hasbro might have
torrid figure-bodies, but they were the only affordable producers of props…]
A failed team that never got past three figures - that bugs at me until now - is my 3-man "Kerberos Panzer Cops" - JIN-ROH unit (with a female as team-leader, no less!) - featuring armor from Dragon Models (I couldn't really afford multiple Medicoms or Takaras tho), which one fine day I hope to make a 6-man/woman team. And the Jedi and Sith guys (shown above) did not really pan out (but they were blink-n-miss "stars" in a television opening once!)

What I had completed, and actually taken pictures of, were another trio of teams that did not thread the regular stores, for which I want to share with you folks now. You might have seen them before, or you might not (thanks for indulging me this far tho!) - Presenting: SCARLET SQUAD, RED HUNT and NEO-OPERA CLAN.

ORIGIN TOY STORIES: The Scarlet Squad was basically my upgrade of Captain Scarlet from the marionette-based science-fiction TV series of 1960s. I had loved the series (tho memories the actual episodes have faded with time) and had even written/planned up an entire story around the characters. The Scarlet Squad no longer policed the Universe. In it's place, the Darkness reigned supreme, and the squad is now a ragtagcollection of rebels found and recovered from around the outer fringes. Shown just above are "recruitment posters" featuring the series of characters I have amassed and kitbashed so far, including two characters I had featured on this blog before: PRIEST and RAVEN. Ironically enough, the genesis of the series was actually spurred on my a classic "Captain Black" figure I had in my humble collection.

I had actually trawled Ebay for old 12" Captain Scarlet figures, as it was their sleeveless vest I was looking for! Instead of getting someone to sew them for me (or even sew them myself), I bided for each figure individually online and won the ones I have put on my figures! (And somewhere in my boxes, is a series of naked "Captain Scarlet" figures, as well as the cap, and some scarlet boots :p).

As the notion of blogging about toys slowly crept into my lifestyle, I lightened up on the frenzy of collecting (believe you me, calling it a "frenzy" is being kind to myself) and started to concentrate on "story-telling" with my creations - if only to appease myself, and of the need to "create", even if with kitbashed figures. One of this series, was THE RED HUNT - a 6-man zombie-kill-squad squad (brought on by a myriad of zombie movies and comicbooks, no doubt - including Robert Kirkman's "Walking Dead" and possibly "28 Days Later"). I created an overall-synopsis of the story, I made individual character back-stories to the folks, and posted them with aplomb. Response was temperate at best, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself! And if checking out tagged posts on this blog is tiring (circa 2006, no less!), check out my dedicated-hobby blog at http://theredhunt.blogspot.com :)

[FatherX: Christmas-themed group kitbash for a toy-forum competition
for which I missed the dateline - with no particular story besides lol]
Yes, there is a master-plan for ALL of them, and I have had kept them pretty close to the chest, all these years - for fear of "theft", truth be told. And the reality is, they remained as a "hobby" for me, as I had not actively "shopped" them or the concepts around. And hell, they're not all "original" ideas to begin with in the first place. let's not over-kid ourselves and give phantom back-pats to ourselves besides their "creation" (even tho their characteristics resound within me). And why mention them now? Because I no longer want to play with myself .. eerrr… I meant, play with my own toys by myself … eerrr … aaaahhh you know what I mean! :p

One of the last "teams" I had ever built, was the "NEO-OPERA CLAN" (posted here in 2009 / Full-screen slideshow) - featuring a group of assassins themed with Oriental/Chinese wayang masks. "Neo" because I had always envisioned a world of abject commerce built out of desolation (yes, AKIRA is king in my mindscape!), and the guys (and girl) of NEO CLAN did what they did, to survive. And a little bit of Chinese heritage is interesting, for after an age of apocalypse, what would more folks attempt to grab ahold of? Money? A fancy car? Or a sense of past, which foretells their future? This notion I had, derived from reading Brian Wood's amazing DMZ. I had attempted to kitbash the characters of the series tho - but I reckon somethings should remain as they are, and not need to be manifested unto toys or products, IMHO.

[Unfinished series of kitbashes featuring characters from the Vertigo-book "DMZ"]

Thinking back, all of the ideas I had created, were based on characters that I could easily adapt to, or from, a comicbook (I grew up on comicbooks), and as well easily lend themselves to being animated. And perhaps that was what fueled me from the very beginning, the influences I have had - that made me build teams, with 1/6th-scaled action figures being the most accessible and workable or me.

Different people build teams for different reasons, and begin with their own "origin stories". Mine is just my own reason and not necessarily yours (But I am interested to know about yours tho! Can't be just myself geeing out here alone, ya'know? LOL). And as much as folks do share the hobby, it seems to be quite the solidary vocation as well. But know that YOU are not alone! (Second schpeel for the day, tired yet? Heh)

And I've always liked the concept of "teams" = especially a ragtag-collection of dark-horses from around the world, very Samurai 7, Magnificent Seven, Buckaroo Banzai, Star Wars (the early trilogy, not the later torrid prequels) and surprisingly "Battle Beyond The Stars (which affected more so than SW) - and yes, even Akira. The team structure has gone from Robin Hood sensibilities to Lord of the Rings-lore, gained regimentation in Battlestar Galactica and conquered worlds in more sci-fi films then we'll ever give credit for, IMHO.

FLASHBACK: The CyPunkX were perhaps my first ever "team-build" made public, all those years ago (shown here in an exhibition+competition at Heeren). Having debated to creating a singular figure (themed ala Akira, thanks), I had decided to create the four Lords of each Clan living in the same city, which has and is constantly being "developed" (I even had wanted to do a stop-motion series with the concept - so many dreams back then, eh?).

HERE+NOW: These days of collecting 1/6, a lot of emphasis is placed now on "licensed properties", with movie characters lining the road pathed with toy-gold, and folks would buy them and display them straight-out-of-the-box, alongside the "other" characters released from the series. There hardly is ever a need to kitbash anymore (specific hobby forums and hobbyists notwithstanding, of course), or even a "desire" for that fact. And "teams" might well be a small series of figures from the same series. Exceptions to team building come in the form of G.I.Joe or even Star Wars characters (ironically also from movie licenses) where folks can form entire groups or extended Universes, and a ready continous production of military personel (I only get the accessories from the P.M.C.s lol). Figures from 3A Toys had initially rekindled my passion for 1/6th, and they blast their way thru with ideas and concepts from one sole person - a unique abnormally in the arena of the 1/6-hobby.

[Tomorrow Queens by 3A Toys / Photography of Alice Adrenochrome]
WHAT'S IN A WORD?: And the word "kitbashed" was strictly kept in the 1/6-scaled hobby, but seems now it has surfaced as a description for a less-than-perfect custom of an art toy, which should not be the case.

And the word "kitbashed" sounds less satisfying than "custom", it seems. Someone slap a few paints unto a figure and call it a "custom" already - the line is so murky these days, I not longer subscribe to the public notion of, in lieu of my own private explanations.

[Pic circa 2006 - when there was more time for "play"]
IN THE END: But perhaps, besides being a "team-builder", I am also a "kitbasher" at heart. Never an opportunity of "loose parts" miss my attention, and frankly, with the amount I had spent on them, I would easily procure quite a few complete boxes of figures in the first place! But the reality is, they would not have been able to satisfy my need to kitbash, and create a world of my own, populated by characters I actually feel for - individually, or as a team.

And though I am not as "active" as I was in the 1/6-hobby, I have been creating yet another "team" of my own, in the art toy culture: A series of custom toys, all actually belonging to a similar story-concept! Sort of like an extension of the "Scarlet Squad", in colors and intent. Ironically I let them leave my side to go on for overseas shows and being procured by folks with excellent tastes (*cough*). Notice the similarities?

Perhaps I should blogyak less and make more toys, be it as "individuals", but always a space in my toy-lurving hearts for "teams".

GROOVIN & STYLIN 2002

2009-02-27T12:59:00.006+08:00

THE-SHORT-VERSION: I had a e-notice that my Yahoo!Briefcase was slated for deletion by the end of March (I didn't even know I had a "Briefcase"?!). Within it were images of kitbashes I had thought long lost when (1) the computer crashed eons ago, and (2) my former web domain bailed on me, bringing along all my kitbash images from when I first started. And now I present the TOYSREVIL STREETWEAR COLLECTION 2002 (Yes it was THAT long ago!)

IMAGE-DESCRIPTION: These figures were "styled" for an Urban Club Diorama - if you've seen these images before, sorry to bore you! LOL

TK-AKI DIORAMA SPACIAL-ORIENTATION

2009-02-10T09:11:00.000+08:00

[REF / FYI: Nope, the image doesn't click any bigger - where's the fun in that? LOL

TOMORROW KING HIDEOUT DIORAMA

2009-02-10T04:04:00.003+08:00

Will share with you folks a straight-up 1/6th diorama rather than a figure-bash (getting to be very far and few in-between in my life *sigh*). This set-up was done to facilitate an image-banner I'd wanted to create to pimp-out Ashley Wood x 3A Toys' upcomign 1/6th-scaled Tomorrow King AKI [Click for product-details]. The final animated-GIF banner is shown above, while the actual full image is posted below [click on pic to view larger image]:

[FULL Image w/ photoshop]

[Original Image sans photoshop]

ALTERNATE IMAGE (with a darker lighting approach):

[An Alternate Image with darker-lighting]
IMAGE-CONCEPT: The initial concept was based on the tagline I'd created: "We Will Save You ... Brother..." ~ where the boys were planning to rescue their 4th from the www, from within their HQ-Base / grotto-hideout.

But alas, my table had too small a space and it would have taken more than the half-hour I took to set-up and shoot the images .. and YES I know the WWR Desert Rat Pipebot is not apart of the POPBOT-world, but I needed a bot that was in dire need of repairs lurking in the background ... heh. In the end, perhaps the visuals were not as strong to convey the tagline / message (without added text), so I'd just left it as-is visually. Full-dio pics in another post perhaps :p

[Static Banner Image]
FYI: The first series of Tomorrow Kings released featured 3 regular variants and 2 exclusive variants (random inserted in blind boxes) Each figure came with a decapitated robot-head. Price was US$120 per figure (Regular Series) avaialble as singles (blind boxed, so you have no idea which was picked) and as a complete 3-figure-set. The first series has since sold out. TK AKI will be released on February 24th 2009 and priced at US$100 per.

- CLICK for TK coverage on my daily weblog.
- CLICK to see how gorgeous the BLANCO & NEGRO exclusive variant TKs look.

Toysrevil's Neo-Opera Clan in 1/6

2009-01-28T17:47:00.003+08:00

TOYSREVIL's NEO-OPERA 1/6th-scaled characters kitbashed and snapped on 23rd August 2007. Teased on the 24th. Fully-posted on January 28th, 2009. Yes, ~~I am slow like that~~ I couldn't set aside a time to format them completely (heh). Assassins-for-hire with a fetish for Chinese Opera-masks; the story of the Neo-Opera Clan will one day be told, in one form or another, one day...

FYI: I "cheated" on my sketches shown here - as they are digitally inverted from the original pencil on white-paper scanned-images. heh. it's all about the packaging, what?!

JARR-ROR: The Most Feared Bounty Hunter in all of Hoth!

2009-01-27T23:42:00.000+08:00

JARR-ROR is the Most Feared Bounty Hunter in all of Hoth!

JARR-ROR was a kitbash I did circa 2004! Ye gawds but that is fossilized-old, innit?

JARR-ROR is a straight-up 1/6th-scaled kitbash (no weathering/aging) utilizing a BBI G3-articulated body / Hasbro Jango Fett gear / Hasbro Hoth Luke clothes / Hasbro Stormtrooper boots & weapon / BBI WW2 desert coat underneath / G.I.Joe winter coat and skiing gear from Action Man. [FYI: these images were taken in 2004 and formatted as such then - I just added the TRE-watermark ;p]

JARR-ROR has been unearthed from my dusty archives becoz I was reminded of it with my blog-post on Hunter Prey. One day I may spruce-up ol' Jarr-Ror (whose name came to me becoz I'd wanted a winter-gruff growl of a name LOL), or I may just bash a coupla new figures ... If I have play-time, that is :p

BRAVO-SIX (repost)

2008-06-07T00:24:00.009+08:00

"BRAVO-SIX" was a fictional team build based on my fascination (for lack of a better term) for the Vietnam War - most probably brought about from the stint on my 4th film which happened to be a Vietnam-war story, but based on the P.O.V. of Vietnamese-soldiers rather than the usual American grunts. Each and every one of these grunts possess their own characters and back-story (ie - the descriptions on the individual images/bash) - it makes for an "easier" bash process, I guess ... which is the irony of me often going-on about being "not into Military-1/6th" ... Bash-Breakdown is hard to do, as I've utilized every item from different brands to build-up this team (DML / HT / TUS / SOTW etc). They remain incomplete (and perhaps some have been cannibalized for other bashes) - from the day I bashed and photographed them - circa Nov 18th, 2004. This is a *repost*.

Bertie Deployment In Singapore

2008-06-06T00:45:00.001+08:00

DESERT RAT BERTIE The Pipebot has arrived on Singapore-shores and is awaiting combat-instructions ... first order of business? Clean weapons, Check gear and Load-up on ammo / Practice combat-tactics-run with thumping zombies on their heads / Regroup with fellow (kitbashed 1/6th) soldiers of *Delta-One* [*TRE-Deployment Group]

Set Up a Flickr-group for WWR Fan-Toy-Photos @ www.flickr.com/groups/wwr/ (Recruitment Currently Open for everyone and anyone who wants to show off their Berties-figures) / Call for additional WorldWarRobot Bertie-Support @ www.bambalandstore.com / Seek fellow Bertie-owners currently residing in Singapore (No joke, fellas - drop me a PM and we'll hook-up for "something fun" ;p) / Prep figure review. End Report.

the 14-inch tall Bertie The Pipebot is designed by Ashley Wood (blog)
with figure development and produced by Bigshot Toyworks and
manufactured by threezero. Get your Bertie at bambalandstore.com now.

Ash+Klim+Kim = you guys rawk!

[previously posted on TRE]

delta one / desertfall (1/6 wip-kitbash)

2008-05-12T04:18:00.003+08:00

WIP-kitbash of my 1/6th-scaled Support Fire Team for Desert "WWR"
Story Designation: DESERTFALL (Copyright © 2008)

[Disclaimer: this is a fictional concept-team inspired by but
not a direct related production item from WorldWarRobot]
Bash loosely based on Ashley Wood's Bertie The Pipebot Desert Rat-variant, with a vague concept of a mini-Fire Support, era circa WW2 ("WWR2") - where the Alliance against zombies has both US and German soldiers in the team, which also includes a tech-guy (for maintainace of mecha). Weapons is next. may or may not weather them (if i have the time and mood i will), after which I will proceed to bash a modern equivalent of this team, and perhaps a "Kill Team", as well ... i wish! LOL

there is no team zero (1/6 wip-kitbash)

2008-05-12T04:09:00.005+08:00

WIP-kitbash of my 1/6th-scaled "Support" Black Ops team
designation: Team Zero (Copyright © 2008) for "WWR":

[Disclaimer: this is a fictional concept-team inspired by but
not a direct related production item from WorldWarRobot]
Bash "loosely" based on the "Dirty Deeds" variant of Bertie The Pipebot (and a slight reference to Ashley Wood's Non de Plume figure).

Guys need to be kitted out with weapons next, including: (1) knives for the "Knife Dude", (2) Sniper-rifles, guns etc, and (3) the tech-guy (there is always a tech-guy in the team, to maintain the mecha). Would love to get my hands on a trio of WW1-era gas-masks tho ... Era for this team is circa WW2, or rather "WWR2" - where the Alliance against zombies include Germany - heh. Once completed, I will begin on the modern-equivalent of the Black Ops team.

i am toysrevil

2008-01-02T18:16:00.001+08:00

started off 2008 with my first bash parodying Will Smith's I Am Legend (which i happened to watch new year's eve - and enjoyed, really), of coz opting for a quasi-closer image to myself (longhaired but not that skinny, and faaaaar from that good lookinbg *cough* LOL) with photoshopped beard (:p). good fun :)

BASH-BREAKDOWN:
- Man Called Hero Dragon-figurebase (with photoshopped facial-hair - yes, im a cheater LOL)
- Elite Brigade white-tee with self-printed tee-shirt design (done years back)
- BBI Carlos black shirt (always a staple-fav for me)
- Unidentified black-pants (heh)
- Bootleg Nike black-sneakers
- Hot Toy's primary
- Black pouch-bag from DML Dangergirl
- (possibly) TUS German Shephard

< Original-image-left

lucha libre 2008

2008-01-02T18:10:00.000+08:00

coupla lucha-libre/wrestler dudes (including El Coco) snapped for a new year greeting to vinyl-producers Muttpop :)

BASH-BREAKDOWN:
The Red Bite is a BBI G3-figurebase wearing a Japanese-made libre-mask and a bootlegged+unnamed "Stinger"-suit, with a belt from The Misfits.
El Coco is a Hot Toys' True-Type (Christian Bale-fig) cloaked in a Star-runner robe, TUS Grey-camo pants, as well as Japanese libre-mask. both gloves and boots originally from HT's figure.

happy new year 2008

2008-01-02T08:28:00.000+08:00

sexy dunny

2007-12-26T14:47:00.000+08:00

a mash-up of a Dunny-head with a Dragon-femme body, whose missing a boot becoz "she's" just woken up from a wild party the night before (actually, the other boot is really missing LOL) - done for a cyber-friend running a toywebsite (Dunny.NL). wearing a white G.I.Joe-hoodie and nothing else (*cough*) - i've always liked Dragon-femme bodies, quite adaptive with rigid joints (important, IMHO) and a stub-neckpost that works best when im bashing mishmash-figures like these! LOL

the reject villains

2007-12-26T14:38:00.002+08:00

the Reject Villains were created as a parody-foil to Suckadelic's own StarWars-sendoffs; The Original Villains Network.

i'd actually finished shooting the first batch of guys (seen below) but realized i forgot to put on the Santa-cap! (which would have made the difference, IMHO). but i'd used one of the figures for another bash+shoot (VinylToyFreak LOL) and so at 3am in the morning, i decided to rebash that one character and reshoot the whole darned thing LOL

they even have "powers" of their own! (final line-up shown above / left-to-right): AstroNautical (power: can survive in polluted air, but only with his helmet on), MindSpike (power: can hear people's thoughts, but only if they spoke it clearly enough) and The Corporate Triple Programming Officer (power: can appear non-undetectable in corporate environments / he was supposed to be "The Corporate Clone", but i couldn't find my Clone Trooper-helmet LOL)

the "original line-up" shown-below (left-to-right): MindSpike (Version.01), C3PO and AstroFashHash (power: can create exceptionally ugly fashion-styles but will forever be the mysterious designer under the helmet)

the vinyltoyfreak

2007-12-26T14:09:00.000+08:00

the VinylToyFreak was my 1/6th interpretation of a toy-forum-mascot (VinylToyFreaks) sent off as an e-greeting. unfortunately i was unable to get the vibrant green i;d wanted from my dark-olive-green hoodie/parka (and of coz my bad lighting :p) and had to resort to photoshopping in the shade! LOL (original uncolored image on-left)

BASH-BREAKDOWN:
- Chinese Wayang-mask from a kiddie birthday-treat (is actually smaller on 1/6th-faces)
- Dark OD-Green Parka via CoolToys (i think)
- BBI-G1 body and non-descript headsculpt LOL
- handheld toys are random figures i have littered around my grotto (ie: room)

me and mrs claus

2007-12-26T14:00:00.000+08:00

the original e-message goes: "Tell Bad Santa, if he's not good, then there'll be no music & wine & backrubs from Mrs Claus, the day-after-Christmas"
[this was in response to an egreeting from cyber-buddies Triclops Studio]
i'd wanted to replicate their original image with my own Father-X, but i could't find him! luckily Mrs Claus was hanging around and came in handy (:p). on hindsight, maybe i could've given her all-black-shades, to up the "danger"-factor (*cough*) LOL

BASH-BREAKDOWN:
- BBI Angel-figure base
- Takara CYG Cutie Honey inner-suit
- sexy-boots are Angel's own
- High-back armchair is a jewelry-box
- a SideShowToy candlestand and a Barbie Wine-holder on top of a Palisades' Reservoir Dogs' old skool-radio
- pistola from Dragon (maybe? :p)
- self-weathered shotgun from TUS or maybe Dragon - can't recognize it now LOL

MERRY XMAS 2007

2007-12-25T05:51:00.001+08:00

sometimes ya just gotta recycle the old ones ... :p

bearwear: frag me

2007-11-14T21:39:00.000+08:00

introducing el coco

2007-09-16T14:21:00.000+08:00

this is what happens when you read Lucha Libre Issue#1(from IMAGE Comics):

introducing my very-own Luchador: EL COCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! - Your Walking Nightmare! ... well, at least that's what the online-translator spewed out when i typed in "The Sandman" ... LOL

El Coco insists that he is not a homeless-man, as the globe is his home and he walks the path of righteousness, defending the ones who cannot defend themselves .. and if they give him soup, that would be enough ... El Coco likes hot soup ...

what is the Global Intergrated Joint Operating Entity?

2007-08-29T16:46:00.000+08:00

"G.I. Joe is now a Brussels-based outfit that stands for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, an international co-ed force of operatives who use hi-tech equipment to battle Cobra, an evil organization headed by a double-crossing Scottish arms dealer. The property is closer in tone to X-Men and James Bond than a war film."

"Although the new G.I. Joe team will be international in scope, don't expect Joe's British counterpart Action Man to be included after all. IESB.net reports, "Looks like he will be gone, this new script is set to be 100% GI Joe, it will revolve around the characters we all grew up with fighting Cobra, Destro, the Baroness and Storm Shadow. When do they expect to have this new script ready? Six to eight weeks. Pre-production is expected to start by October-November and production to start early '08." = what? no Cobra Commander? [read more HERE]

Neo-Opera (WIP / Part Two)

2007-08-25T12:08:00.001+08:00

presenting WUYING and XAR

individual profiles to come soon (i hope LOL)

and so the G.I.Joe Movie is a GO

2007-08-24T15:59:00.000+08:00

and so the G.I.Joe movie is a GO! with director Stephen Sommers (Van Helsing, The Mummy) helming this live-action adaptation (or re-invention?) of popular 80's cartoon based on Hasbro's military figures, and an obvious "rekindled" franchise to come (hopefully for the powers-that-be, i reckon LOL) ... and of coz i hadda do a quickie-bash for good ol'Joe and his buddy, Action Man, innit? :p

read more via CBR / via HollywoodReporter and this interesting article on AdvertisingAge; which discusses the relevance and theories of G.I.Joe's existence in relation to current real-world-scenario.

i'll just be happy if they'd come out with more new figures and toys ... *heh*

Neo-Opera (WIP / Part One)

2007-08-24T01:14:00.000+08:00

humbly presenting PIK and Lil'Sis

the rest of the gang to be "revealed" soon...

*heh*

zombielove

2007-08-24T01:13:00.001+08:00

1/6 SideShowToys' Jason with an October Toy Z.O.M.B.I.E. figurine (reviewed here) ... i even have a 1024X768 wallpaper for your download-pleasure HERE, if you so please :)

Priest and Raven of The Scarlet Squad Revisited

2007-08-24T01:11:00.000+08:00

and tho i didn't win the OSW Sci-Fi Bash contest [blogged] i'd thought to give both Priest and Raven a chance to "show-off" a bit (before they go back into carton-storage :p)

About That G.I.Joe Movie...

2007-08-24T01:09:00.000+08:00

Action Man versus G.I.Joe?

bashed this coupla dudes to go along with a blog-post on the impending G.I.Joe live-action movie [blogged] where tis currently a "buddy -movie"-concept, with the American Joe partnering with the UK's Action Man ... hopefully i'll find the time and patience to do some COBRA-villains tho ... can't wait to start! LOL

Of Girl's Mission and Baby Gwins

2007-08-24T01:04:00.000+08:00

Girl's Mission meets October Toys' Baby GWINS:

... been meaning to do a "review" of the Girls Mission-figure [album here], but can't seem to find the time tho ... btw, the chair is a "Precious Thoughts" jewelry-box!

October Toys' GWINS

2007-08-24T01:03:00.000+08:00

taking a break from "character-concepts" to do a straight-on visual bash featuring October Toys' GWINS vinyls :)

Codename: Maqeenic (WIP)

2007-08-13T12:53:00.000+08:00

ie: a custom-collabo with a designer across the ocean (im doing the bod, he's doing the head :p) - for an exhibition/show for which i'd missed the dateline, but heck, we're gonna finish it anyways LOL

experimenting a bit more with paints and weathering ... tis always hard(er) when the lack of experience and skills hamper the execution of what i really want to achieve ... slowly but surely, i reckon? *heh*

seventh month

2007-08-13T11:56:00.000+08:00

and so today's the start of what we local Chinese call; "Seventh Month" or "The Hungry Ghost Festival" (鬼月), in which the Gates of Hell are opened, and where ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower world to visit mortal earth ...

which also means a lunar month-long period of burnt paper hell money ashes littering the sidewalks, and of fragrant joss and incense filling the air, where temporary street-side Wayang stages are set-up and Getai (歌台) fill the heartland atmos with music and songs, all to entertain and appease the spirits ... **a note to anyone attending these "musical events": if you see the amidst the thronging crowds and wonder why no one ever seats in the first / front empty row? do not attempt to sit on them - becoz they have been "reserved" for the spirits :p /// READ MORE HERE

Codename: RT.01 (WIP)

2007-08-10T03:39:00.000+08:00

waiting for the paint to dry, with more weathering and battle-scars to come ... :)

Flash Gordon Version.01 (WIP)

2007-08-09T23:13:00.000+08:00

a WIP-shot of my "alternative" version of Flash Gordon (a reverse-inspiration of the watered-down Sci-Fi-Channel-version) also started for the OSW-Sci-Fi bash contest (but unable to be completed to my satisfaction in time :p) ... which i hope to finish one day ... soon ... :p

Happy Friday the 13th (2007)

2007-08-09T23:04:00.000+08:00

Screaming Hand Crew

2007-08-09T23:03:00.001+08:00

blue-themed streetwear bash of some figures done for an online review of The Screaming Hand-vinyl from Garageworks Industries (circa June 26, 2007)

LINK: more pics on my multiply-album

SHROOMAN!

2007-08-09T22:39:00.000+08:00

"from amidst the noodle soup comes SHROOMAN! protector of all soup noodles!"

admittedly, not your "regular" notion of a 1/6th-custom or a bash, but t'was completed for my "virgin" overseas customs show @ ToyQube (USA) circa June 2007. item was on display for a period of time and now is on it's way back to me in Singapore, whereby it might be sold off, depending if anyone's interested in it anyways! LOL

LINKS: Shrooman on TOYSREVIL-weblog + flickr + multiply

- WIP-pics of Shrooman on multiply

saved

2007-04-30T23:54:00.001+08:00

recently "saved" from a local salvation army - had to explain to the nice ladies manning the counter the differences between the varied 1/6-soldiers they had, from Dragon, to Action Man, to this lone G.I.Joe - to which one lady commented: "so this one is more valuable becoz he's older, right?"

Diver-9

2007-04-30T23:50:00.000+08:00

my steam-punx version of a ~~diver~~ firefighter, with headgear by Andrea of dollsahoy ... this bash started out as an underwater / deep-sea diver-bash, with a "helmet" which i'd thought was a diver's helmet, when in actual fact it was a vintage fire-fighter's helmet instead :p

BASHBREAKDOWN:
- a gloved (generic) DML-figure wearing a Konami Solid-Snake brown pleather coat
- generic G.I.Joe black pants tucked into Worthsfield Firefighter-boots

dressed

2007-04-30T22:29:00.001+08:00

dress made by Andrea of dollsahoy (thanxxx, A!)

the only pair

2007-04-30T22:24:00.000+08:00

have you ever wondered, tis inevitable when most of your kicks end up as a single shoe? and the only pair left when you need it the most urgent, is the one that you didn't really like? the double goes for socks. *heh*

may the easter force be with you

2007-04-30T22:23:00.001+08:00

a belated-Easter bash :p

face maker

2007-04-30T22:19:00.000+08:00

chillin' wit da bboyz

2007-04-07T18:07:00.000+08:00

test

2007-03-10T19:29:00.001+08:00

< BACK / TEST / NEXT >

future hiro

2007-03-05T00:37:00.000+08:00

just to show my support for one of my fav television shows right now: HEROES. this is a quickie bash of Future Hiro, first seen in episode 4 :)

body/headsculpt: Worthsfield Firefighter figure with a Sunshine Body (HK)
soulpatch: Cut Black Felt

outer coat: BBI Lucifer
inner coat: BBI Machinko's black fleece jacket
pants: SideShowToys' random pants

sword: Mononofu (spl)
strap: Cut black Pleather-strip
shoes: Action Man's

see more of Future Hiro on my multiply-album :)

*I <3 Heroes*

dapper doom

2007-01-16T15:37:00.000+08:00

my 1/6th-version of Kidrobot X Stone Throw Records' Madvillain
vinyl figure: Toysrevil's very own Dapper Doom!

"limited exclusive of one :p

with a DML-SuperX-AA figure base / WW2 black-pleather coat / pin-striped pants from
Yamato / pin-striped vest from Mattel/Ken / boots from Medicom's Two Tribes / BBI black
shirt / Green Hornet hat / Mask cut-out from toiletpaper-core and painted silver *LOL*

*heh
[originally posted here]

my tank girl redux

2007-01-16T15:32:00.002+08:00

horkay, before Tank Girl gets her new makeover, permit me to twaddle
down memory lane with my own 1/6th version of Toysrevil's Tank Girl:

mondo-more images on my multiply album

on-left-below is the new Tank Girl comic as drawn by Ashley Wood :)

(posted on OSW circa 15 Jan 2007)

UPDATED 24.01.2009: Added new slideshow and kitbash breakdown
for folks interested to find out what she's made up of.
FYI: Mty kitbash Tank Girl is currently not available for sale
but will update this blog-post if ever that happens, thanks :)

dragon wong figure review and the story of my 1/6 dtg

2007-01-10T00:38:00.000+08:00

Dragon Wong = the third and final 1/6th release of DragonTigerGate-trio:
~ click on image below to read/view my short toy review of the figure ~

Dragon Wong, together with Tiger Wong (Dragon's younger brother) and their friend; Turbo Shek, were released as 1/6th articulated figures in conjunction with the 36th anniversary of the HK comicbook; Dragon Tiger Gate, better known as Oriental Heroes or Lóng Hǔ Mén (龙虎门 / 龍虎門)

:: the story of my 1/6 DTG ::

i was first "attracted" to this series becoz i had chanced upon an earlier incarnation of an older/adult Tiger Wong (pictured here) and had lurved the comic/anime-ish headsculpt and dug the long hair (rare in 1/6th-sculpts) *LOL* - again happened to see Dragon and Turbo displayed by another local collector/friend, which promptly blew me away with their hair-details! ahahahaha ... but alas tracking down the other two figures had proven futile...

i then had an opportunity to procure another "new" series of figures (featured currently), but with the headsculpts of them "at a younger stage in their life" and more "comic-book"-inspired, and hence without even looking at the product (no images were found online by myself), i plonked down a full advance for the trio of figures ... this was indeed foolish and totally goes against my purchasing-principle of see-before-you-buy ahahaha :p

all three figures worked out to be near SGD$120/USD$78, which was not half-bad for a full figure, really ... but considering t'was only the headsculpt i was gunning for, SGD$30 for a piece'a head was mildly ridiculous hahahaha

but i like 'em! especially Dragon's, with the teasing-fringe hahahahaha (as plastiky and bootlegged they might look LOL) ~ my thoughts and opinions on the figures are in my reviews:
- Dragon Wong / multiplied
- Turbo Shek / multiplied
- Tiger Wong / multiplied

and one of the main reasons for featuring these trio on my blog is, at least there'll be a record of these figures online, that hopefully will/would be easily/easier to access (at least in the English-language searches) *heh*

more 1/6 mephist festa trio pix

2007-01-06T12:18:00.000+08:00

and so i didn't snag the prize for the Mephist Festa Fiesta comp,
but it doesn't mean Zugan, Dead and Becky are laid to toy-pasture!

more images of the 1/6-trio from Hell on my multiply :)

(more images of Becky once i matt down her face tho :p) *heh*

my custom 1/6th mephist festa contest submission

2006-12-30T05:49:00.000+08:00

this is my submission to the Vinyl Abuse X Play Imaginative's Mephist Festa Fiesta competition:

and of coz what would i do but 1/6th-versions of them! *LOL*

a little behind-the-scenes-action for y'all who are interested:

the initial G.I.Joe-figure with glued-on horns, sprayed in basic white primer - it looked better this way, IMHO - becoz after i'd applied the hawt Fluorescent Pink-paint, the details were washed out from under the lights! and what you see is what-looks-like a photoshop contrast, but it's not! ~ live and learn, i guess :p

image-below-left is my table-top photoshoot set-up, with two mobile fluros and a coupla IKEA spotlights (for warm light contrast).

the dangling "crystal-stars" (for that christmas festive spirit/feel, no?) were quite a bother to set-up (especially at 3am in the morning *rubs eyes*), but i guess it worked for what i wanted afterall :p

oops! btw, these are the "original" vinyl-versions:
*heh*

cheers to all

2006-12-24T06:57:00.000+08:00

click on image above to see original pic without photoshopped-flakes :p

santa's mobile

2006-12-24T06:41:00.000+08:00

bought me this generic ATV@the weekend flea market weeks ago, with the intention to bash/custom something out of it

and inevitably like most of my plans, they never get started - until i finished my Father-X and still cannot find my "sleigh"! so how's Santa gonna get around, besides riding a reindeer (bad for the back, i assure you)? presenting: Santa's Mobile! (toysrevil-style)

timeline for mod:
- 1/2 hour spraying base coat in early morning.
- left it to dry the entiure morning/noon.
- took 2 hours or so to sand-down / weather with sandpaper (coarse grade)
- took another hour or so to touch-up with acrylic paints and to dry.
- took damn near two hours to pose and take blardy photos, innit?
(of coz taken with other images too :p)

of course there's quite a bit more to go until tis all finished to my satisfaction,
but will make do for now with these and get on with other projects hahaha :p

the above detail images and more can be viewed on my multiply album :)

ya want a piece o me?

2006-12-21T19:34:00.000+08:00

come and geddit it then!

*baring one's soul is not enough nowadays*

*heh*

the contract

2006-12-21T16:15:00.000+08:00

Claus: "so you wanna put out a hit on everyone on this list?"

so have you been "naughty" or "nice" this year?

fatherX (a X-mas kitbash)

2006-12-18T08:34:00.000+08:00

365-days-a-year-timeline:
- 12 days of Christmas
- 7 days in the Lazarus Pit (how do you think Claus stays so young and vibrant, eh?)
- 365 days minus 19 days = 346 days

what do you think Santa Claus does for the rest of the three hundred and forty-six days? he becomes Father X ~ PMC! (Private Militarized Claus)

Claus: "ya know, christmas ain't that cheap, son! a Claus' gotta do what a Claus' gotta do to keep the toy factory runnin'!"

"and if that means taking on freelance contracts, then so be it! but i take contracts on bad folks only, no innocents, no women and children. them's the rules."

Claus: "and i don't haveta ask if you've been naughty or nice, i can see it on your face... me and my crew, Team X!"

but first, check out my handpainted gear/equipment and weapon

i like it when things are around or on me, keep things handy and neat!

say "hello" to the Missus! (or Mdm X when we're on ops):

and no im not asking you to check her out! don't let me put a coupla hundred rounds inside your belly, boye!

Mrs Claus / Mdm X keeps the Claus' household and toy factory neat, tidy and running smoooooooth - as well as plans all the ops and missions. and she never misses a shot.

you can say "she has an eye for details", in more ways than one! *nudge-nudge*

and wave hello to Roderick and Randolph!

Roderick The Elf (masked-dude on left with poorly disguised elf-ears sticking out) is allergic to everything, but he's pretty handy to have around to carry the heavy armaments and weapons. and he doesn't ask any questions and you can imagine him smiling underneath that mask of his wherever he goes and in whatever he does.

Randolph however, is a totally different stocking filled with nightmares:

Randolph the (Dead) Elf was cursed by a wizard from eons ago to turn into a certain-red-nosed reindeer come Christmas (for 12 days) and turns "back" into the skeleton of an Elf with red-glowy eyes. he hates flying.

his mean-streak and death-wish (he thinks nobody notices) helps in tight corners and situations. he runs point and breach. and everything else that takes his fancy (which inevitably ends up battered and bloodied ... "toys" i mean! :p)

*end of story, beginning of christmas*

handy-linkages for y'all:
- posted on OSW (updated 18.12.2006)
- all images posted above from my flickr album
- all individual (and more) images uploaded unto my multiply album here
- work-in-progress on multiply (including finished weapons pics)
- work-in-progress blog-post

*have a very Merry Christmas everyone!*

father-x work-in-progress

2006-12-17T17:17:00.000+08:00

a work-in-progress sneak-peek of a custom/kitbash Santa Claus (toysrevil/onesixx-style, natch ;p) for the OSW Santa's Got A Gun contest (to win a ED209!)

09.12.2006:
it all starts with a re-painted SASR-headsculpt hair-repaint! had always felt the h/s looked like a young Santa, IMHO.

and of coz he had to have a crew and in this endeavour, i'd wanted a Santarina-ish figure and a coupla Elves/henchmen (t'was easier to pre-bash the femme and henchmen, but with additional mods to come later) ~ all i gotta do now is find my "sleigh" (what's a Santa Claus-dio without a sleigh, innit? *HAH*)

15.12.2006:
and of coz i couldn't find a 1/6th-scaled Santa's cap and the closest i could was from a christmas-decor shop with an oversized-cap - looks like ima gonna haveta put my "sewing-skills" to work!

... which unfortunately is still not up-to-par ... (gggrrrr)... and still no sign of the sleigh :p

16.12.2006:
saturday was spraying-day:

which is admittedly quite a bother b'coz the only available "space" i have is just outside the front door of my flat! ;p (don't think me neighbors appreciate the smell of sprays tho :p)

basic-white base for all gear and primary weapons:

the concept was to have underlying "tiger-striped-camo" for the weapons. enough for 1+1+2 peeps (naive to think that i might be able to finish the entire team in time :p):

but the stripes didn't come out as i imagined them to be ~ looks horrid :(

had a singular weapon without the tiger-stripe masking and i weathered it for a trial run and decided i liked it! better than the other two on image-right tho, IMHO...

... looks like i might have to re-spray them ... *urgh*

and still i cannot find my "sleigh" - have decided to give-up on that ... and there goes a saturday, innit? and it looks like no trip down to China Square Central's flea market on sunday/later today, innit? *drats*

17.12.2006:
dammit, i missed the contest deadline. submission ended as i slept,
(am trying to be honest with the USA/Singapore time difference here)
giving in to exhaustion and of smelling too much powdered dust from
sanding down and weathering the weapons... really wanted to try for
the ED209 tho (cheapskate that i am i admit freely) ... *s@bz* ...

sometimes i wished i needn't need to sleep ... or maybe i'd just
haveta learn to work faster... dammit ... but will still post
my completed bash when i finish it ... soon? *heh* :)

18.12.2006:
uploaded individual work-in-progress images unto my multiply-album, including the finished weapon-repaints:

sucks that i missed the contest, but heck, tis time to move unto the next bash for me! :)

king of killers

2006-11-24T16:12:00.000+08:00

when Sabre says to leave him alone, it would do you good to do as he says. becoz Sabre is also known as the King Of Killers and the last thing you'll see is the glint of his twin-sabres before your head hits the ground.

straight-up styled after Chow Yun Fatt in Peace Hotel - view more/the rest of the images on my multiply album :)

(posted@OSW / circa 24.11.2006)

femme k.rider

2006-11-23T20:58:00.000+08:00

i've always wondered why there weren't any female Kamen Riders...

this is my simple kitbashed version :)

*Rider-Chop!* = more images on my multiply album

(posted@OSW / circa 23.11.2006)

wild wild east

2006-11-22T12:35:00.000+08:00

a companion and counterpart to the samurai-gunman, Master Wong (no, not "Fei Hung" :p) has been called a pirate and a robber before by his kinsmen ... but he'd rather be known as "the Robin Hood of the East"! ... his compatriots might question his methods many a times, but they'll never doubt his loyalty ... much ...

more images on my multiply album :)

these dioramas are getting a tad out of hand @ the mo tho ... but i like ... *heh*

(posted@OSW / circa 21.11.2006)

shoot or slice? your choice!

2006-11-22T12:34:00.000+08:00

this bash was partially inspired by the SixGun Samurai comic (the concept i dig, but don't read the comicbook) and is part of my (version of) an on-going Magnificent Seven-styled bash.

more images on my multiply album :)

(posted@OSW / circa 20.11.2006)

the wizard granger

2006-11-22T12:29:00.000+08:00

bash inspired by Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter-movies (starring sweet Emma Watson) - this is an "adult" version of Hermione (so i'd feel less of a perv, innit? *HAH*)

it all started innocently enough with this two images (click to view big):

but felt they were a tad too bland ... then i went and did these instead:

more images on my multiply album :)

another look at the diorama i cobbled-up one insane night of fanatical bashing:

(posted@OSW / circa 19.11.2006)

heck, i even made a video of it!

*heh*

dj inferno

2006-11-22T12:11:00.000+08:00

*Disc Jockey By Night, Mercenary For Hire By Day*

more images on my multiply album :)

(posted@OSW / circa 18.11.2006)

breaktime

2006-11-22T12:07:00.000+08:00

thought of this after watching Inside Man (and no, im not giving
away any spoilers with this bash :p)

(posted@OSW / circa 17.11.2006)

the punished

2006-11-22T12:06:00.000+08:00

my version of The Punisher

more images on my multiply album :)

(posted@OSW / circa 16.11.2006)

hold the ketchup

2006-11-22T12:05:00.000+08:00

"two specials to go, hold the ketchup ... i hate ketchup"

(posted@OSW / circa 14.11.2006)

in the mood for beef

2006-11-22T12:04:00.000+08:00

(posted@OSW / circa 13.11.2006)

racer by day, robber by night

2006-11-22T12:01:00.001+08:00

inspired by news of the Wachowski Brother's upcoming Speed Racer-live action movie

*Racer by Day*

more images on my multiply album :)

*Robber By Night*

*stick'em up!*

bashbreakdown:
- BBI WW2 japanese pilot-Nude with 101st Airborne-Gloves
- generic Blue Tee from G.I.Joe (logos on front and back of tee are stickers-on ;p)
- White Long-sleeved tee from Elite Brigade
- White Pants Unknown Brand from HK
- Orange Sneakers Unknown Brand from HK
- Red Scarf from a Playing Mantis/Captain Action Lone Ranger figure
- Racing Googles from Takara Jenny!
- Custom helmet bought locally in Singapore ("M" is sticker-on)
- BBI Scorpion's pistols
- Shoulder-strap/holster/gun = unknown to me!
- wish i had a 1/6th Mach-5 to go with this dude! LOL

(posted@OSW / circa 12.11.2006)

venomous

2006-11-22T12:00:00.000+08:00

inspired by Spiderman's arch villain, Venom.

(posted@OSW / circa 12.11.2006)

the nightwatcher

2006-11-22T11:59:00.000+08:00

inspired by Nightwatch

(posted@OSW / circa 10.11.2006)

magician

2006-11-22T11:55:00.000+08:00

inspired by The Prestige (excellent flick, IMO)

Body: Hot Toy's GIGN (Christian Bale-headsculpt)
Jacket+Waistcoat: SideShowToys

(posted@OSW / circa 5.11.2006)

the red hunt

2006-10-30T22:18:00.001+08:00

The Red Hunt was first created for submission to the OSW Halloween Group Bash and has since morphed into something that i will further develop into (hopefully) a toy property of my own (*sheeyar-rite!*). With that said, there'll be more photo-shoots and storylines planned for the near future. Meanwhile, enjoy these following group-photos:

Team One: Tagging Crew

Team Two: Clean-Up Crew

The Red Hunt:

one day my wish will come true (*i wish*) :)

*heh*

the red hunt: shred

2006-10-30T22:18:00.000+08:00

Shred is good with blades. Any and all kind of blades. 'nuff said.

Shred sometimes takes over as team leader of the Clean-up Crew. Initially no one would listen to him, but have since respected his decisions, if not his blood-lust.

Shred is a highly intelligent person, altho he plays the fool most of the time. But nobody dares to not take him seriously.

He tells folks why he's good with blades is coz he used to work in the kitchen (for which Red Star always says he's fulla bullsh*t). Long suspected to be a serial killer on death row, nobody else dare question his current status and allegiance.

Shred's bloodlust is what his teammates fear the most, not knowing if he'll ever turn on them. Woe betide the gentle folks "if" he ever turns zombie.

Shred always has a blade in his hands, be it twirling around or carving nonsensical drawings on whatever surfaces he finds.

Shred used to say he was an "artist" (before claiming to work in a kitchen) but has since stopped, when Lil'Red kept on asking him to draw some "purdy pictures"

Lil'Red has a slight crush on Shred, which he pretends he doesn't know about.

Shred sings to himself too often, mostly boy-band tunes, which irritates the hell out of his teammates (or maybe he does so to irritate them?)

more images of Shred here on my multiply album

the red hunt: zombie red

2006-10-30T22:17:00.000+08:00

Zombie Red is the explosive expert of the team.

But he'd rather use his modified shot-gun/Grenade launcher, as his hands aren't too steady with sensitive explosives ...

Zombie Red is actually a lapsed half-zombie. The plague has left him with the inhuman strength of a turned-zombie, but with his mind intact. (don't really know about the "humanity"-part tho) But that has also left him with a decaying/rotting body, which recently has proven "invaluable" as he has shown to be able to 'regenerate" his own body-parts, very slowly, of coz ...

... which he "exploits" at any given opportunity. Zombie Red is suspected of having a death wish.

Zombie Red is undeniably the odd-one out of the team and everyone secretly fears him. But becoz of what he has achieved (given his state) they respect him ... for now ...

Zombie Red was a pacifist and strict lifelong vegan before RDP broke-out.

more images of Zombie Red here on my multiply album

the red hunt: red-one

2006-10-30T22:16:00.000+08:00

Codename: Red-One is current team leader of The Red Hunt.

Red-One "claims" to have military-training (which no one refutes except for Shred) and is an exceptional strategist and tactician, except for his weakness for zombie-women ("killing" them and not falling in love with one). His kill-rate is matched only by Shred, his teammate (after Red.Death, of coz). They do not ever see eye-to-eye and have too often come to blows/conflict with each other.

Red-One actually has an IQ of over-200 and was rumored to be a child-prodigy before (in what field, nobody can say) and is deadly wicked with driving any automobile. Any automobile.

Some say he was a school teacher before RDP broke-out (if he was, he'd be a gym-teacher), becoz of his incessant lectures and pep-talk prior to any mission. for everyone's sake, I'll rather put my bet on "military-background".

Red-One had since stopped smoking after RDP broke-out.

Red-One does not listen to any music, in fact he hates it, as it is too much of a reminder of the past ... Except for Frank Sinatra's tunes. And Tony Bennett. And Nat King Cole.

okay, fine ... he likes listening to music which no one else wants to listen to, so he gave up.

more images of Red-One here on my multiply album

the red hunt: red.death

2006-10-30T22:15:00.000+08:00

Red.Death handles assault/breach and is second in command, after Red-One.

Red.Death's weapons of choice are her (self) modified shotgun and samurai-blade. a hidden unit (which she cobbled-up herself) in her blade's handle heats up her blade for a cleaner slice of zombie-flesh.

Red.Death is rumored to be a stealth assassin. (but she was actually an Accountant before RDP, don't ask)

Nobody knows why or where her stealth abilities come from. Everyone on the team accepts her for what she is able to do and achieve. a 98-percent kill-rate.

Once her weapons are drawn, "they have to draw blood", especially if it's zombie-blood. She claims so herself. Nobody is going to say different, not in front of her anyways...

Red.Death is exceptionally great with computers and all things tech (some rumored tis becoz of her endless hours in front of computer-games and hidden geekery).

Red.Death doesn't really talk much, but loves to listen to Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Kenny G (not neccessarily in that order) and secretly cries when she sees "turned" zombie-children.

more images of Red.Death here on my multiply album

the red hunt: red star

2006-10-30T22:14:00.000+08:00

Red Star is 1/3 of the "Clean-up Crew" of The Red Hunt.

Red Star hates to be called by his codename: "Red Star". He prefers it if his teammates called him "Ivan" (altho nobody knows if that is his real name or not) - so he can hold unto whatever "humanity" he has left in him ... but he will never acknowledge that.

Red Star claimed to be a "country farmer" before he moved to the "city" and he found his calling to be a Chef (assistant / trainee-chef. to be exact) in a posh restaurant, until RDP-broke out.

A meticulous bordering on obssessive-compulsiveness, Red Star fashioned his own weapons. Having it look like the former-Russian republic's Hammer and Sickle was purely a coincidence. Or so he claims.

And becoz Ivan loved reading superhero comicbooks, he named his Bone-Hammer "Mjolnir" ~ after Thor's hammer.

Red Star/Ivan is 1/3-russian and absolutely hates zombie-dogs.

more images of Red Star here on my multiply album

the red hunt: lil'red

2006-10-30T22:12:00.000+08:00

Lil'Red is pointman and scout. Lil'Red is also the "zombie bait".

Lil'Red is a superb marksman and is an expert with crossbows and projectile weapons. she hates guns and firearms, as she is allergic to gunpowder.

A former gymnast in college and a prime candidate as the country's Olympic-archery representative, until the Red Death Plague broke-out and now she's angry she didn't have a chance to make that dream come true.

the above-line is a lie. but the truth is she had a rebellious streak and was too uncontrollable to be conferred as a representative of her country. but don't tell people that, or she'll shut you up with a lightning quick shot from her quiver.

Lil'Red likes listening to havy jungle / drum'n'bass. Lyrics only make her angrier.

more images of Lil'Red here on my multiply album

the red death plague

2006-10-30T22:03:00.000+08:00

Entry dated: RP+30
Nobody knew exactly when it was when the Red Death Plague hit. It could've been in the air and atmosphere for months or even years. The seeds of damnation are embedded into the human genome and corrupts from within. You might not know when you'd turn, until the day your taste for human flesh replaces all semblance of humanity, conscience and love (except for the love of fresh flesh).

The turned-zombies exist only to feast on human flesh. Some say they still retain a small part of their humanity and consciousness, but nobody is eager to find out if that is fact. Everyone's trying to stay alive.

RDP has since been ~~discovered~~ suspected to be a mutated biological agent carried across via winds and weather, infecting only certain parts of the population via breathing and/or inhalation. Scientists (whomever is still "unturned") are still trying to uncover the secrets of which or whom are / can be affected. Current protection protocol dictates filtering of the (breathable) air in open areas. All confined spaces are outfitted with air-filtration units, sanctioned by (whatever remains of) the U.N. and various surviving health organizations. But nobody can ever confirm it is 100-percent effective. We will just have to wait it out.

The Red Death Plague is still spreading at an alarming rate and within the estimated next few years, will engulf the entire planet. Or maybe it would be sooner, depending on the wind conditions around the globe.

Nobody has laid claim to releasing it, or mayhap they are dead, or even worse, turned into cannibalistic zombies. There is no one to point a shivering finger at. We have ourselves to blame.

The Red Hunt is a cell of many zombie-fighters spread out throughout the country and globe. Their mission is to protect the still-living and to hunt and destroy the undead zombies ... before any one of their own "turns"...

Welcome to Zombie City. Kill or Be Eaten.>

(c) COPYRIGHT 2006

the red hunt teaser 001

2006-10-28T09:15:00.000+08:00

for the OSW-Halloween Group Bash.

anarchy in the uk: jamespunk

2006-10-19T18:32:00.000+08:00

my second submission for an online toy-custom competition: jamespunk
(with the theme being "Anarchy In The UK")

a re-painted James Dean figure dressed in dapper-mode and ready for work! - SideShowToys jacket over an unknown japanese-brand jeans, with Hot Toys' lace-up combat-boots.

off goes the coat and tie at the stroke of five, work's done and time to rawk! - James dressed in a DML-white shirt with cut-off sleeves and inked over directly, in black and red felt-pens.

text at back of shirt is actually the lyrics to the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy In The UK" (incomplete)

off goes the shirt to see James' "true-self"! - tatts done directly unto body with black and red ink/marker. (hence the crude-curves, im sorry :p)

i haveta admit, technically this is half-a-custom (if i may dare call it "a custom" :p), as the chest-tattoos were done a while back, but was incomplete ~ for this competiton, i completed all, including the left and right arms (would've wanted to do more but i could've missed the deadline) - just hoping this doesn't "disqualify" me, eh? *heh*

mondo-more images on me multiply-album :)

(circa 18.10.06)

anarchy in the uk: punktrex

2006-10-19T18:30:00.000+08:00

my first submission for an online toy-custom competition: punktrex
(with the theme being "Anarchy In The UK")

a Ken (Barbie) body-base with a blank Trexi-head (fits decent), topped with black-felt cut-and-folded "spikes" - (self) adhered unto head. union-jack cloth-patch ripped from a Jenny-jacket (dun ask) and double-side-taped on.

white, black and red inked directly unto DML bomber-jacket, over a plaid shirt, with a DML-femme blue jeans (hey, i needed a "tight-fit"). Doc Martin-boots from 21st Century.

mondo-more images on me multiply-album :)

(circa 18.10.06)

hazegear

2006-10-19T18:29:00.000+08:00

suggested gear to protect against the current haze situation in singapore:

:: from the insane to the foolhardy ::

more images of the entire (ongoing) series on my multiply :)

(circa 11.10.06)

turbo shek figure review

2006-10-19T18:23:00.001+08:00

Tiger Wong's "friend" has arrived and unfortunately i ain't impressed much ... so i decided to give Turbo Shek a lil 1/6-fashion-makeover toysrevil-style! *LOL*

a quick review and images here ~ that'll teach me not to order and pay for something i've never seen before ~ *bleah*

(review circa 18.10.06)

1/6 hair (amateur work)

2006-10-19T18:23:00.000+08:00

now, i don't claim to be an uber-experienced customizer (but am a pretty decent kitbasher *bleah*) and so it was with a untested-notion, laced with a tinge of hesitation that i started on adding "hair" to a figure im currently bashing:

base-figure is of a Michael-Lau-headsculpt (done yonks back for ThreeZero) i needed the figure to have "long-ish" hair (to match a comicbook character)

inspired by Michael Lau's early 12"-er figures with felt hair, i picked up a piece of Black Felt-sheet (with reverse-side adhesived) at a local hobbycraft-shop. knowing that i'll be adding a cap unto the final-figure helped me to decide in putting the amount of felt-hair that was needed. and since the cap originally fit pretty decent on the head, i'd decided to concentrate on hair below the cap-line :p

no measurements and templates were used to cut the felt. (and that's why it looked weird lah :p)

filled the in-between-spots with more loose felt (individually cut this time) to give a more "ragged" feel and less of the current "flat"-looking hairstyle (:p) the end result should be more "tussled", but more on that laterz :p

also added "fake" fringes, as the comicbook character had those. and yes they are partially put, becoz ima gonna be putting on the cap llaterz :)

and with the cap and a few fake "band-aids", my bash is done for now, altho far from finishing, with more hair to be added later at the base, i reckon ... depending on how the rest of the bash goes (and it has been quite a long while going *groan*) here's a sneak peek at the work-in-progress:

*heh*

(post circa 17.10.06)

tiger wong figure review

2006-10-19T18:21:00.000+08:00

here's a quick overview of a 12"-er Tiger Wong (of Dragon Tiger Gate comics)

(click on image above to go to review album)

(review circa 29.9.06)

vinylfashions

2006-10-19T18:20:00.001+08:00

my urban-vinyl-conversion to the world of 1/6th streetwear fashions:

more images @ my multiply :)

(circa 27.9.06)

hamilton-ferguson anthlor

2006-10-19T18:20:00.000+08:00

a quickie-bash of a retired big-game hunter i made for an online entity.

DML-nude with blu-tac for a beard (*im cheap*) / glasses from DML and hat from a BBI-WW2 figure (insignia ripped-off)

shirt from a BBI-WW2 figure (i've always forgotten from whom) / brown suede-ish pants from an unknown-brand (ie: forgotten who) / boots from SideShowToys.

cheers :)

(circa 23.09.06)

a wee birdie for the naysayers of punk

2006-10-19T18:19:00.001+08:00

a quick-dio with an old inked-figure:

(post circa 13.09.06)

my new improved storage system

2006-10-19T18:19:00.000+08:00

an improvement from the last, no? *heh*

(circa 12.09.06)

a personal 9/11 tribute

2006-10-19T18:17:00.000+08:00

(post circa 11.9.06)

1/6 adidas kicks

2006-10-19T18:16:00.000+08:00

what types of 1/6th-scaled Adidas sneakers are available out there in the general toyland mass market? i'll talk about what i have and know so far:

most available right now in the aftersales market (as they might be "parted out" or sold "loose") would likely be the adidas from Dragon Models (DML) (HK).

most "common" are the WHITE-versions. available are 2 styles, Clean (from Initial-D figures) and Dirty (ie: DML Jones) and BLACK. there is also the more rare RED-version, which is only available with the exclusive DML/Toy2R Skull Guards sets. the fit for Dragon-kicks are actually quite good for generic 1/6th-figures, more so then other styles, IMHO.

on the far right is a much earlier version (my first adidas) which came out yeeaaaaars ago, via (probably) Elite Brigade and unfortunately was crude in terms of details and definition.

for more detailed stylings, there is Hot Toy's Sneaker Vision series One and Two, with a slightly wider variety of colors/stripes. (cool shelltops)

the downside of this is, they are actually quite huge for 1/6th-feet, IMHO. having a pair of 1/6th-socks helps a tad, which is quite a shame tho.

other brands i've seen (and own) are notably Hot Toy's "hand-made" kicks (above image-left) which came with their SDU-figures. the fit is quite decent and recommended, altho they might "come apart" given time. and an unknown-brand (procured years back in HK) which came in a variety of colorways (above image-right) but is a blardy tight-fit (as seen its stuck on my BBi-G1 feet) but will be ~~great~~ quite suitable for Femme figures. here's a size/scale-comparison image:

image-far-right is of a "standard" Sneaker-Vision kick, for scale comparision.

here's a gratuitous shot to end this frivolous 1/6th-kicks fashion entry :)
:)

(post circa 11.09.06)

pink bubble

2006-10-19T18:14:00.000+08:00

3"er Dunny-head + 12"er Barbie-body=

:: my urban-vinyl conversion to the world of 1/6th begins ::

more images on my multiply :)

(post circa 07.09.06)

my storage system

2006-10-19T18:13:00.000+08:00

(image circa 07.09.06)

halloween kitbash wip

2006-10-19T18:11:00.000+08:00

work-in-progress sneak images of my submission to the OSW Halloween group kitbash:

can you recognize who the are? :p

i don't know i'll be able to finish them on time tho ... we'll see ...

(post circa 04.09.06)

them plastic kids nowsadays

2006-10-19T16:52:00.000+08:00

a line-up of figures that could be used as 1/6th teens:

(left-to-right): Star Trek Worf (who really shouldn't be here and needs pants) / a Barbie-boy (whose name i forgot) / 8" Star Trek LeForge (the mustache gives it all away) / Action Lad (who actually IS made to be a teen/boy sidekick to Action Man) / a dude from 5566 (Taiwan boyband - figure came from a local music shop) / a 1/6th-adult (to show scale comparison) and finally my lil ~~lolita~~ Lain :)

(post circa 20.08.06)

anatomy of a kitbash

2006-09-08T23:07:00.000+08:00

here is a TRE-10-Step Guide to Basic Kitbashing (Military); to start you off on your (new) hobby! (circa 21st Aug 2006)

Step One: Choose Your Poison
i intend to kitbash a Vietnam-Era soldier using the base uniform ("tiger stripe"-print) of this Elite Brigade-figure which i've picked-up @ a huge discount (SGD$5) ~~yes i is cheapskate~~ :p

one of the fun aspects of kitbashing (for me anyways) is the spotting of "potientiality" for kitbashing-fodder. this entire figure might not mean much when you first set your eyes on it - in fact it looks downright sad, as compared to current hyper-detailed+realistic standards of the 1/6th-scale hobby today (no offense to EliteBrigade-collectors, mind) - but to me, there are parts which can be used (*one man's poison is another collector's manna from toy-heaven*)

and as long as the cost justifies the purchase (you decide on that yourself :p) = then it's all good!

Step Two: Decisions, Decisions
i decide what i want to keep and what i don't, from the initial figure. again, this might be trail-and-error from after buying the figure. so do your research carefully before buying and know what it is you're buying and what you intend to do with them ... altho my mantra (which will lead to my eventual downfall) is: "if it's cheap, why not buy it first? sure got use later one!" *sigh*

dun be like uncle me, yah? know what you're buying before you do :)

Step Three: Choose Wisely Mah Son
i've then decided to use another base-action-figure, which is this (Dragon Figure/DML) "Wesley Snipes"-lookalike; that is more articulated then the previous dude and much better looking too :p

(*articulation* or points-of-articulation, means how many joints in the toy-body can be moved/swivelled. less articulation, ie: Barbies - are less desirable. more articulation means can execute more poses)

each and every collector has their own preference of figures and materials, subject to spending power and ingenuity. i might like this headsculpt but others might not, or some would trumpet the virtues of a Hot Toy-figure articulation. again, all is valid - to each own's opinions. so again, do your "research" first, then decide on your plan of action.

besides, he has nice gloves (which of coz is not "era-accurate", but im not know for my accuracy-skills in military-kitbashing, mind *HAH*)

Step Four: Putting On The Ritz
basic uniform fitted unto the new figure. tis a decent fit! (*phew*) - except for his sleeves = the wrist-sleeve is too big, so i've decided to roll them up instead ~ gives a "tougher-look", no? (*heh*) now all he needs are shoes and a whole lotta other accessories. again, "fit" of uniforms or clothing is subject to the "make" of uniform and the body it is used to dress-in.

there are different types (not too varied sizes tho) of body-forms on the toy market. some are slim-fit and there are some buffed-dudes. trail-n-error comes before experience, unfortunately. (will one day do a feature with photo-comparison of bodies - at a much later date, thanks) online research at toy-forums are encouraged (menu-right) as they are fellow collectors with their own opinions .. but then again, differing folks have differing opinions and "tolerance-levels" ... so nothing beats going out to buy a fig to start for yourself! LOL

Step Five: All Dressed Up and No War To Go To
soldier-boy is now kitted-out with new primary weapon, gear and back-pack :)

the thing about "kitbashing" is the option of utilizing various parts and accessories from different other brands, to finally form a figure. personally, that is one of the main factors for me: *satisfaction in your own creation* (IMHO, of coz)

Step Six: All Brands All Day
kitbashing is basically/primarily about mix-n-matching different items from different brands to finally form your "own" version/intepretation of a figure, regardless of genre.

Bash Breakdown: (is what we call the breakdown of individual items in a kitbash)
A. Combat Knife in Sheath set from DML/Dragon
B. Vest-rig and Pouches from DML/Dragon.
C. Torchlight from 21st Century Toys.
D. Smoke Grenade from Hot Toys.
E. Camo-Net from DML/Dragon.
F. Black Combat Knife in Sheath from 21st-Century Toys.
G. M16 Carbine (i think it's called :p) from SideShowToys.
H. Combat Boots from SOTW (Soldiers Of The World)

Step Seven: I Remember The Good Old Days
~~NOT!~~ "accuracy" is sometimes a bugbear to toy-collectors / kitbashers. but i have no such issues as "accuracy" is not as important to me, as it is supposed to be fun. but that's just me. research and reference would definitely help in realizing a more "realistic" kitbash tho :)

Bash Breakdown:
A. OD-Green rolled-up cloth is actually a 1/6th green tee-shirt, from DML/Dragon.
B. Head-scarf/Camo Net from DML/Dragon.
C. Smoke Grenade from Hot Toys.
D. Parang (Big A$$-Knife) from 21st-Century Toys.
E. Vest-rig and all pouches from DML/Dragon.
F. Gun in Holster from DML/Dragon.

Step Eight: Do It Your Own Self
sometimes you may not get what you want or it is out of your physical or financial reach. no problems - ya just haveta utilize the "toy-survival" skills of yours (honed thru years of kitbashing, no doubt *cough-cough*) and make-up items! ie: the "rolled-up tarp" at back of backpack is actually a 1/6th-tee shirt in OD-green; rolled-up.

Bash Breakdown:
A. Foldable Shovel (moulded) from 21st-Century Toys.
B. Smoke Grenades from Hot Toys.
C. OD-Green Backpack - Unknown Brand :p

Step Nine: Style-maker Dream-maker
once you have your (basic) items in place (accuracy notwithstanding, mind), you can actually decide how you want your character to look like. with or without boonie-hat ... with or without facial camo etc ... of coz this could all be decided even prior to start of kitbashing, but somehow the partial joy of adaptation in mid-bash is quite the kick too. altho some might end up in "agony" instead as they go rummaging thru their loose-parts/accessories bin to look for that particular item to complete a look, for which they can't find or don't have ... that is something i've experienced many a times and it is not fun.

A. WITH hat?
B. NO hat?

organization of loose parts/accessories is vital to a smooth kitbash process, IMHO :)

Step Ten: Rebash+Reharsh
adaptation of differing styles is also encouraged. why just stick to one type of uniform or look? further mixing-n-matching is always possible, especially if you intend to "upgrade" your figures with whatever new-fangled/detailed parts that might come off the toyshelves. as toy-technology and the curent market gets more and more detailed in their intepretation of gears and weapons, it is surely a never-ending hobby that which is kitbashing :)

Bash Breakdown:
A. Fabric/Cloth slip-on gloves from 21st-Century Toys.
B. Gun from DML/Dragon.
C. Blue Denim Jeans from DML/Dragon.

as usual, mondo-more (and bigger-sized) images @my multiply album :p

Rounding Up: Pros and Cons
PROS:
01. satisfying to create your own figure from out of many other parts.
02. sometimes saving money and having your own "poor man's version" of a figure instead, which is not really a step-down, as compared to an off-the-shelf-boxed fig (NOT that there's anything wrong with THAT as well, mind)

CONS:
01. sometimes it's just frustrating to NOT have a particular loose item that you'd like to complete your bash. either it's too expensive to be bought loose? or it's not available loose in the market, which means you might haveta buy and ENTIRE box to get that item. sounds "foolish"? men have been know to do just that, as long as they know they can sell/get rid of the rest of the loose items, then it is advisable.
02. that having loose parts instead of a pre-bought complete boxed-figure might be more expensive ~ subject to conditions and quality of items/set.

example: my previous kitbashed SWAT-officer costs around SGD$90 (with nude and Saturday Toy's SWAT-set and existing loose primary weapon), as compared to a Hot Toy's SWAT going for a minimum SGD$135 initial shelf-price? quality versus quantity is very subjective to the individual collector, i insist :)

The Next Stage in Kitbashing: Weathering (next feature)

and after all is said and done, you take your pictures and post them for all to see (and critique :p) ... and eventually you'd consider enhancing your figures/poses with photoshop or mayhap a diorama? as long as it's fun = *itz all good!*

*enjoy*
._.

raven of the scarlet squad

2006-08-21T14:28:00.000+08:00

the second Sci-Fi Character kitbash completed for the recent OSW Sci-Fi Group Bash:

(and her sister, Star)
""you want to know about my past? what is the use for a past when our future is in danger? we fight because we must, for the Black Tide waits for no creature, mortal nor alien and we fight for our freedom. we fight for a chance to breathe. fight with us." = codename: Raven

[more images @ my multiply] *heh*

priest of the scarlet squad

2006-08-21T14:26:00.000+08:00

a Sci-Fi Character kitbash completed for the recent OSW Sci-Fi Group Bash:

"... and when the Black Tide allied themselves with the Lords of the Shadowverse, a great darkness engulfed the universe. tyranny and oppression were but games to the dark lords. murder and genocide were their daily trade. and the universe was rapidly dying from within itself.

but a sharpened whisper was heard amidst the decaying spacewinds ... a group of men, women and aliens have banded together to challenge the oppressors, to topple the tyranny, to free the universe with a unison cry for peace and freedom!

but before that will happen, they must fight. they must kill. they must wage war. they are the Scarlet Squad."

codename: Priest [more images @ my multiply]

*heh*