Easy upgrades to your DG Shipwreck

[ceraurus]

I thought I'd put this out there just for fun. The Shipwreck that's currently being found at Dollar General is a great figure, but lacks accessories and has a bit of a giraffe neck. Here are some quick fixes that I think anyone can do--it might make for a nice entry into customizing.

Unmodified figure:
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee303/ceraurus/DG_shipwreck.png

Head fix: To lower the head, all you need to do is deepen the socket that the neck ball fits into. This doesn't require anything tricky. I often just use the end of a smallish flat-head screwdriver. I like the thinner ones found on multi-tools or screwdrivers that have swappable bits. Find one that's about the same width as the neck ball, push it up into the head, then spin it around while making sure to keep pressure on it. After a few minutes of this, you will have ground away enough of the plastic in the head to deepen the hole in the head. Keep doing this until the head sits low enough.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee303/ceraurus/DG_Shipwreck-1.png http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee303/ceraurus/DG_Shipwreck-2.png

Gearing up: There are good harnesses and web gear out there that don't need any modification. These are two of the ones I had that looked good to me. I honestly can't remember where the smaller one came from (if someone knows then let me know). EDIT: It comes from Renegades Tunnel Rat.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee303/ceraurus/DG_Shipwreck-3.png http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee303/ceraurus/DG_Shipwreck-4.png

If you really want, you can pop the leg holster from a POC Trooper or Steel Brigade and glue it into the hole on Shippy's right leg. Finally, every sailor needs a parrot, so add Polly for a finishing touch.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee303/ceraurus/DG_Shipwreck-5.png http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee303/ceraurus/DG_Shipwreck-6.png

Before long, I'm going to paint at least part of mine. But even without painting, I think this looks nicer. (Other than the blue neck.)

[CrimsonGuard101]

Yup did most of this already to mine :) awesome stuffs

[cobracobra]

Have you tried the Wild Bill vest from ROC? Plus thanks for sharing the picts.

[the odinson]

very nice. man, i am so tired of painting the straps on those poc wave 3 se legs. as excited as i am to hopefully score some of these in the wild, i dread having to paint those straps. but i have to.

[ceraurus]

very nice. man, i am so tired of painting the straps on those poc wave 3 se legs. as excited as i am to hopefully score some of these in the wild, i dread having to paint those straps. but i have to.

I always hate belts. Sometimes it takes me way too many times to get all the paint right.

[ozzie92]

I love the harness you chose! Is that a brown version of SE city strike's harness? If so...does that ring a bell as to whose it might be?

[CrimsonGuard101]

I love the harness you chose! Is that a brown version of SE city strike's harness? If so...does that ring a bell as to whose it might be?

Probably got it off the Dollar general Duke figure, I used the one from Zap, its got a few more accents on it with the buckles being fully painted already..

[ceraurus]

I love the harness you chose! Is that a brown version of SE city strike's harness? If so...does that ring a bell as to whose it might be?

Finally figured it out--it comes from Renegades Tunnel Rat. And yes, it is like the ones we've seen on a few SE's. It doesn't have the buckles like the ones that come with Zap or DG Duke.

Have you tried the Wild Bill vest from ROC? Plus thanks for sharing the picts.

The one that came with the Dragon Hawk? I don't have that.

[ozzie92]

Probably got it off the Dollar general Duke figure, I used the one from Zap, its got a few more accents on it with the buckles being fully painted already..

Oh, nice! I LOVE that Zap webgear (you're right, highly detailed). Too bad Zap comes with such a price tag. Yep, I can see the webgear matches Duke. I wonder if SE city strike's grey/black harness would look better? Hmmm...

[CrimsonGuard101]

Oh, nice! I LOVE that Zap webgear (you're right, highly detailed). Too bad Zap comes with such a price tag. Yep, I can see the webgear matches Duke. I wonder if SE city strike's grey/black harness would look better? Hmmm...

If your going for the traditional upgraded look off hs original character it was brown strap...kinda of a mash up between the 2 ideas as one harness went accross his chest and one harness over the one the right shoulder.

What guns you guys using for yours? I gave mine a modular Eotech M4 from Maraaders.

[Raw Dog]

How often have you deepened a head cavity in this manner and is there a danger that the head will end up loose on other figures?

[CrimsonGuard101]

How often have you deepened a head cavity in this manner and is there a danger that the head will end up loose on other figures?

deepening the cavity is one thing, widening the cavity is another issue all together. As long as you keep the hole the same size and slowly extend the cavity into the upper cranium it will alaways fit the origianl neck ball, just lower. If your not careful and widen the hole during the process..then you increase the likleyhood of making it more loose for the original body and potenaitlly others. If the head is loose on other bodies before surgery, then that will be the case after performing cranial neck cavity extension.

[Raw Dog]

Thanks for the tip! I'm going to try this on an extra Flint head from the Flint in Cobra disguise figure before I try this on Shippy I think.

[ozzie92]

If your going for the traditional upgraded look off hs original character it was brown strap...kinda of a mash up between the 2 ideas as one harness went accross his chest and one harness over the one the right shoulder.

What guns you guys using for yours? I gave mine a modular Eotech M4 from Maraaders.

I see--thanks. I only owned the original Shipwreck back in the day, so I'm less familiar with that version. Better head over to yojoe.com... ;)

Haven't thought much about the gun, myself. I still need to land the figure!!! :(

[ozzie92]

[QUOTE=ceraurus;3608593]Finally figured it out--it comes from Renegades Tunnel Rat. And yes, it is like the ones we've seen on a few SE's. It doesn't have the buckles like the ones that come with Zap or DG Duke.

Ah, TR! Thanks.

[blackbarn]

He looks much better with your improvements. And thanks for the screwdriver tip for the head.

[Raw Dog]

He looks much better with your improvements. And thanks for the screwdriver tip for the head.

Yeah, the screwdriver tip is awesome!

[ceraurus]

How often have you deepened a head cavity in this manner and is there a danger that the head will end up loose on other figures?

I do it quite often (and I'm not ashamed!). If you ever go too far, or if you just want to raise a head up, you can put something in the head to give it lift or make it more secure.

Hot glue can work, and sometimes I use green stuff. The simple solution, though, is to use the little pads that keep the upper legs tighter on the t bar.

[nighthawk]

I do it quite often (and I'm not ashamed!). If you ever go too far, or if you just want to raise a head up, you can put something in the head to give it lift or make it more secure.



I do it a lot too. It's real easy. I did it to make Short Fuze's head sit lower too.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l171/wing_woo/Joe%20Collection/PA150011.jpg

[Viper6]

i didnt like mixing black n brown, always hated brown/tan tac gear unless in a desert/mountains, but then wtf w a blue shirt n watch cap. so i cut a knife off red alley vipers vest in order to fix the right leg issue and ditch that LAME ass gun they gave him. then i just found him a supressed submachine gun, and gonna paint his neck later, too easy...this guys a great buy! dont pass him up.

[KINGOFNOD5]

Shipwreck already looks good and you just took him to a whole other level question how does marauder Spirit's harness look on him

I need to get my hands on the hostlers to fix up these guys anyone want to help me out also pistols and suppressors

[Raw Dog]

I put DG Duke's harness on Shippy last night because of this thread. I also drilled to holes through some extra Flint heads attempting to deepen the head cavity!

[Drawing Heat]

How do you guys get Tunnel Rat's harness off?

[nighthawk]

I put DG Duke's harness on Shippy last night because of this thread. I also drilled to holes through some extra Flint heads attempting to deepen the head cavity!

Do you plan to keep your DG Duke helmet? If not, please pm me. I'm looking for just his helmet (and his head too if you don't want it)

How do you guys get Tunnel Rat's harness off?

With a bit of heat and muscle. Basically run it under some really hot water and put his arms straight up and then just carefully pry it off.

[80sKid]

Thanks, nice easy way to make this figure way more choice!

[Drawing Heat]

Thanks, nighthawk.

[nighthawk]

Thanks, nighthawk.

No problem, oh yeah, and remove his head first.

[qwe]

Yeah, the screwdriver tip is awesome!

gotta agree with this as well...

I went with Polly, spear gun and hooked pole....

I love the DG joes for all the upgrade fun!

[brock Samson]

How do you remove the holster from POC SE leg?

[nighthawk]

How do you remove the holster from POC SE leg?

With heat and finesse and a very small flat head screwdriver.

Heat it up and stick a small screwdriver to try to pry it out. It'll either come out whole or you'll break the tab. If it comes out whole, you're lucky, if it breaks part way, then you'll just have to glue it onto the new leg instead of popping it into the slot.

Those guys who do casting can make a killing just by casting that holster I think.

[KINGOFNOD5]

try boiling it that should loosen the glue.

[sgt.bludhound]

tried it and it works! the screwdriver i used was a bit smaller then the neck hole but the next step up was alittle wider which would have made the hole bigger and a loose head, so i used the smaller screw, and it works im so happy now to add some gear to him :D

[Shipshape1983]

I added 25th Hawk's harness on mine. Added Polly and gave him a shotgun like in the ROC video game.
Now I just need the ROC Shippy's flippers.

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad228/KingAsh1983/IMG_0217.jpg

[Raistlin]

Thanks a lot for the tips