Custom Mortal Kombat Scorpion Spear and Posable Chain Prop Replica – Created Dec 31st, 2012

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*** Head on over to my Ebay Auctions to see what’s available this week, or commission me if you’d like your very own custom action figure like this one. ***

A recent client wanted me to make a few items that I don’t normally do while working on custom action figures. I was requested to make three life sized prop replicas based on the Mortal Kombat video game series. One of those replicas was to make Scorpion’s spear head and attach it to a fully posable chain and make it look like it’s coming straight out of your hand. Sounds…easy enough, right? And yes, he did want it to be a chain, as in with links and such. Not a rope or metal cord like he uses in the games. Fair enough, I thought I could do that.

I decided that the hardest part was figuring out the chain, so I decided to tackle that first. After many many MANY failed experiments with real chain, I convinced him to let me use something lighter. I picked up some costume chain, because it’s incredibly light, but looks realistic enough to pass. Then, I took some very heavy gauge bendable wire and drilled holes into each link and passed it through them. It’s hardly noticable, unless you’re really looking for it, and it was strong enough to hold the chain in any pose (even straight out!). I made sure to leave some wire sticking out at the end to attach the spear head onto.

After that, I made the wrist mount that the chain would sit on. I had to get a little clever here. What I did was take a doll stand and bend it into a more ergonomic shape for a wrist and attached it to the first chain link. I utilized some velco straps and attached them to the wrist mount, so it would be easy to take on and off. I wanted to make something that would be comfortable, easy to remove, be easy to cover up in a costume. So then began the making of the spear head. At first my client wanted it to be made of real metal. But since I don’t work with metal, nor do I have the tools to do so, I convinced him to let me make it out of polystyrene. I wanted to do this so it would be light, and because like I said…I’m not a metal worker. So I began by cutting out the shape I need out of some thick styrene, and attached smaller pieces onto each side of the blade and handle, making them smaller and smaller to kind of give me a rough 3D shape of what I need. Then I began the long and arduous task of sanding the crap out of it.

I used my dremel to get the rough sanding down, but for the precision work and smoothing out, that had to be done by hand. With just sand paper. Suffice it to say my fingertips were very raw by the end of this project. After that I but the blade more to shape and made it look clean. But even after all that sanding, I wasn’t finished. I then added a thin layer of Aves Apoxie Sculpt over the blade, and some on the handle as well, and then after curing I sanded that down, getting the perfect shape I needed for the spear head. After it was finally smoothed out and perfect, I painted it with several layers. First flat black, then gun metal, and then dry brushing mithril silver over the entire thing. And then I dipped my fan brush in some diluted insignia red and basically used the raspberry method of paint spattering. Just blowing raspberries with my lips in front of the brush gives it a really good spatter look. So then I just drilled a hole in the bottom and attached it to the spear, and it was all finished. Not bad considering it was my first time doing something like this, if I do say so myself.

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Custom Mortal Kombat Scorpion Spear and Posable Chain Prop Replica

 

 

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Review – Card Guard – Alice: Madness Returns, Diamond Select Toys

Alice: Madness Returns Card Guard Action Figure, Diamond Select Toys

When American McGee created his vision for Alice in Wonderland with his first game in 2000, it quickly became a cult hit amongst gamers. The sequel was highly anticipated amongst fans, and features a lot of character design changes, since Wonderland is meant to represent Alice’s state of mind, and in the second game, Alice: Madness Returns, it’s deteriorated even more. I recently reviewed the Diamond Select Toys Alice: Madness Returns action figure. That was not the only figure made in that line though, and today I’ll be taking a look at the Alice: Madness Returns Card Guard action figure. So join me as I see if this figure is worthy of a spot on your toy shelf.

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News – 3.75″ Injustice Wonder Woman & Solomon Grundy Action Figures Revealed

Injustice Gods Among Us 3.75" Woner Woman & Solomon Grundy Action Figures From DC Collectibles video gameEarlier in the week I posted that DC Collectibles had announced the coming of some 3.75″ Injustice action figure 2 packs. The first set revealed was Green Arrow and Deathstroke. Now, thanks to BigBadToyStore, we have an image of the upcoming Wonder Woman and Solomon Grundy 2 pack. The figures are based on the game designs and will come with lots of articulation and character appropriate accessories. They’re set to retail for $29.95 per set, however BBTS has both sets for pre-order right now for just $26.99 each.

Continue after the jump for the full sized image of the 2 pack.
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Review – Alice – Alice: Madness Returns, Diamond Select Toys

This is a sponsored review. This sample has been provided by BigBadToyStore.

American McGee's Alice: Madness Returns 7" Video Game Action Figure by Diamond Select Toys

Back in the year 2000, video game designer American McGee released a game simply called “American McGee’s Alice”. The game was his version of a sequel to the Lewis Carroll Alice novels. The story took place not too long after the second Alice novel, “Through the Looking Glass”. In the game, her house is burnt down by an accidental fire, killing her parents, but leaving her alive. This even was so traumatic that she had to be has to be committed to a mental asylum. For years, she is stuck in the asylum, all the while losing her grip on reality more and more. The only thing she has that reminds her of her past life is a stuffed rabbit.

One day, much to Alice’s surprise, the White Rabbit shows up and tells Alice that Wonderland is in trouble and they need her help. Wanting to leave the asylum, Alice gladly goes with the rabbit to help him. However, instead of Wonderland being…well, a place of wonder, it’s now a twisted, demented version of itself. This was a brilliant idea by American McGee, since Wonderland was supposed to be a part of Alice’s imagination, and her mind was now itself, twisted and demented. Many parts of this new Wonderland even have visual aesthetics that link back to an insane asylum, helping drive the notion home that it’s all in her head.

Cut to 2011, and a sequel to the game is released, under the name “Alice: Madness Returns”. In it, Alice tries to cope with being released from the insane asylum, believing herself to be cured. Even so, she keeps getting visions of Wonderland, and seeks help from a psychiatrist. Throughout the game, you shift back and forth through reality and Wonderland, all the while learning of the truth behind the fire that consumed your home and your family many years before.

So in honor of the new game, Diamond Select Toys released a small line of figures based on the “Madness Returns” game. There are two versions of Alice, the Cheshire Cat, and a Card Guard. Today, I’ll be looking at the normal version of Alice. So won’t you step with me through the looking glass (I apologize for that), as I see if this figure is worth your time, or if it should be thrown to the Jabberwock for decimation.
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News – D Arts Mega Man Classic, Rush, and Met New Images

D Arts Mega Man Rockman Classic Bandai Japan Bluefin Tamashii NationsJust a few days ago the Bluefin Tamashii Nations Facebook Page gave us our first look at the upcoming D Arts Mega Man Classic action figure. Not only is a classic version of Mega Man being released, but he’s accompanied by Rush and Met, both given the D Arts treatment. Today, this is followed by new images from Hagi Toko of what looks to be more official images, including showing off his blast attachments. There’s also new shots of Rush and Met.

This version of D Arts Mega Man was made to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Mega Man (known in Japan as Rockman), which falls on December of this year. That is when D Arts Mega Man will be released in Japan for ¥3,675. He’s due out in America in January of 2013.

Check out all the new images after the jump!

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News – NECA Reveals 7″ Half Life 2 Gordon Freeman Action Figure

NECA Gordon Freeman 7" Action Figure Video Game Half Life 2NECA‘s Facebook page has released a test shot image as well as a painted promo image for their upcoming 7″ Half Life 2 Gordon Freeman action figure. The figure features over 20 points of articulation and will come with 2 sets of interchangeable hands, crowbar, bugbomb, and gravity gun accessories along with a headcrab figure accessory.

According to the reveal on Facebook, the figure is due out in September.

Continue after the jump for photos!

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News – Figma Link, Godfather Monopoly, & LEGO Batman 2

Figma Max Factory Legend of Zelda Link Action Figure 6" Video GameI am one who loves to partake in the occasional video game. And you all know I toys. I also enjoy a board game every now and then. So that’s why I put all the topics into today’s news post into one, to give you all some information regarding some upcoming game/toy news.

First up in the Action figure/Video game crossover news, we have a Legend of Zelda Link figure coming from the Japanese Figma toy line from Max Factory.

Continue after the jump for pictures of Figma Link, as well as a slew of information regarding all of the topics from the title!

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BotCon 2012 – Hasbro Toy Panel Reveals – SDCC Exclusives, TF Generations, And More!

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They talked about the San Diego Comic Con 2012 exclusives, the future of Transformers Prime, future Generations waves, the possibility of Fall of Cybertron Dinobots figures and even a Transformers theme park ride!

Continue after the jump to read all the details!

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