Tunnel Rat by Cloud Strife... Again

[Cloud Strife]

This is the 3rd Tunnel Rat I've worked on. The previous 2 were okay, but I agreed with the critiques I received regarding the last one I made. His proportions looked way off. So, I ditched the tiny head I had cobbled together and got Krexx (former Slayer Design Studio sculptor) to sculpt a new head. It took me awhile to figure out which pieces I was going to use, as I had decided to depart from his original design.

I wanted to keep certain elements a part of it, so that he would be recognizable, and I think I was able to accomplish that. So, I kept the du-rag, neckerchief, greasepaint and untucked pants. As far as the palette goes, I decided to give him something a bit more militaristic: OD shirt, du-rag and gloves with Tiger Stripe pants. I went with an OD du-rag b/c KT made the suggestion and it looked really good as it contrasted well with his black hair, and made more sense than a dark blue. I wanted to incorporate Tiger Stripe camo since tunnel rats were prominent in the Vietnam War, which is where Tiger Stripe camo became popular (at least that's my understanding). I gave him web gear instead of a holster b/c I wanted him to be able to actually carry a loadout and not have a huge backpack that he had to store everything in. I also painted the web gear a similar color to the 25th holster, Testors' Field Drab.

I recently got a batch of Marauder "Gun-Runners" weapons and love them. Their modular weapons are fun customizing and the detail can't be beat, IMO. So, Marauder's is what I'll be using to arm my Joes with from here on out.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Here's the recipe with pictures following:

Recipe

Head - Original sculpt by Krexx. Amazing job, Krexx!
Torso, Arms & Hands - Resolute Beachhead
Upper Legs - POC Jungle Duke
Lower Legs, Boots and Neckerchief - Renegades Tunnel Rat
Web Gear - Modded Resolute Stalker
Weapons and Accessories - Marauder's Modular FOS ("BASIC" FOS Assault Rifle w/ Clip (1) - "Modular" 1:18 Scale Weapon for 3-3/4 Inch Action Figures (http://www.marauderinc.com/servlet/Detail?no=370)), Marauder's MX-991/U Flashlight (Flashlight (1) - 1:18 Scale Accessory for 3 3/4 Inch Action Figures (http://www.marauderinc.com/servlet/Detail?no=100)), POC Snake Eyes' MK23 (I think that's what it is...) w/silencer

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/001-68.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/003-70.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/005-53.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/014-15.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/010-20.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/012-20.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/007-40.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/015-12.jpg

[Cloud Strife]

I figured I'd show some pics w/out his web gear, since tunnel rats would go into tunnels armed with nothing but either a low caliber or silenced pistol and a flashlight. While I'm not able to take pics of him actually in a tunnel, I think you can get the general idea...

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/016-9.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/020-7.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/026-3.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/024-4.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/023-5.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/029-2.jpg

Height Comparison

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/041-6.jpg

[bigbawsmcgraw]

always a pleasuse to see your customs and as usual you dont disappoint. love the paint work!!

[angelofdeath69]

Increible work, the paint and the details are suberb.

[GI Guppy the third]

Very cool. The tiger stripe is very well done. That gun works great for him too because I always imagined Tunnel Rat was around 5 ft too j/k.

great work on all of the little details, especially the most appropriate use of Resolute arms.

[Gatchaman]

Wow!

[nighthawk]

Really nice!

[SE 55]

Awesome job, your work is an inspiration.

[Dragasses]

cloud this is greatness. krexx is kind of an evil genius isn't he?

how the heck did you get the web gear to sit that well? it looks spot on. everything is really nice.

all your stuff is so realistic looking that I kinda want to see what you would do with with some obnoxious dayglo 90's type colors.

[Topside]

fan-freak'n-tastic

[Hard-er Master]

Excellent camo! This Tunnel Rat is a perfect balance of Resolute & 30th.

[Ford]

Jeez, that looks friggin' great! I think about the only thing left for you to add is some sort of big-ass knife. I just always pictured Tunnel Rat having one. I usually gave him the one that came with Shockwave.

[Cloud Strife]

Thanks, guys! Glad you dig my take on Tunnel Rat.

Very cool. The tiger stripe is very well done. That gun works great for him too because I always imagined Tunnel Rat was around 5 ft too j/k.

great work on all of the little details, especially the most appropriate use of Resolute arms.

lol... Thanks, Gup! Your recent Metal Gear MSF Trooper made me realize that I needed to change the way I was painting tiger stripe camo. Glad I'm not the only one who thought the Resolute arms seem appropriate for a tunnel rat!

cloud this is greatness. krexx is kind of an evil genius isn't he?

how the heck did you get the web gear to sit that well? it looks spot on. everything is really nice.

all your stuff is so realistic looking that I kinda want to see what you would do with with some obnoxious dayglo 90's type colors.

Thanks! Krexx is w/out a doubt my favorite sculptor at this scale. The guy is ridiculously talented, and a godsend to the customizing community.

For the web gear, I cut it on each side of the waist and filled in the gap with some pouches, glue and sculpt. I eyeballed how big to make the gap on each side. Thankfully, the straps that go over his shoulders didn't need any adjusting. Definitely worked out a LOT better than the modded 25th Roadblock web gear I was trying to make work at one point.

Who knows? I might try and update some of the gaudier characters...

[TheWilloughbian]

Wow. Great detail. The face is perfect.

[Jefehawk]

Sick custom and great camo paint on the pants...well done!

[AirborneRigger]

Looks great! Glad to see you making the TS more accurate. Looks near perfection. Love that head sculpt too!

[mightyjl]

Gorgeous like your other customs

[devildawg]

You've done it again man. Your offerings keep getting better and better. Keep up the good work.

[TR1ER]

Man that TR is dope!!!

[Fire_Fly]

Very nice

[IIIzoeIII]

really dig the camo

[ceraurus]

Really nice work, as usual! And that head is great!

I'll probably be stealing this idea.

[Superjoe74]

Very nice! The head sculpt is tremendous too.

The tiny neck-less head Hasbro made for the 25th needed an update. I hope to see someone do work this good on Recondo.

[Viper6]

cloud, you killed this! shit yeah brother.

[c_money_collins]

The camo almost looks too real. I kept looking at it because something seemed off. What seems off is the that the camo pattern is pretty in scale with real tiger stripe. Usually, it's a little bigger I guess. Amazing work. Really outstanding.

[SDawg]

Nice job

[iDzBowl]

Spot on brotha, you've always got great work!

[Tankster]

That camo painting style is the bomb man!

[shakka85]

That is fantastic! The camo on the pants is sweet! Very nice work, bro!!!

-Todd

[!!Snake-Eyes!!]

Gad Zoooks! Great Work! I Always enjoy seeing your Awesome Customs!! :D

[puma]

bad ass....u really got the mean grim look on his face.

[CobraOfficer999]

Holy, schnikies, that looks awsome.

[Stronox]

That is a perfect look for him!! Your camo apps are just plain awesome!

[Storm]

Great take on TR mate. I like it a lot, saw all your WiP at this one on fb I knew it will turn out great :) And Krexx as always did awesome job with sculpting that head.

[PA1911]

Damn. Just... Damn.

A++ head to toe.

[Crusader]

Awesome Cloude! Best Ratt out there IMO!

[firmpulse]

beautiful, my friend!

[Cloud Strife]

I'm glad others dig my take on Tunnel Rat. Thanks, for the kind words, guys!

[SoCalKid]

That gun works great for him too because I always imagined Tunnel Rat was around 5 ft too j/k.

Hahaha, nice, Gup!

This is the coolest T Rat custom I've ever seen, and everything works so well. That head is great too; much tougher looking, yet still says Nicky.

[lance858a]

Awesome

[miked]

Another winner, Strife! That head is fantastic and the tiger stripe on the pants is spot on. I love painting camo patterns, but I always get the feeling that they're a bit to busy when I'm done. Your patterning here is crisp and clear. Fantastic job. I also have to reiterate a past comment about the web gear. I thought it was glued to the figure when I first saw it! When I saw the pic of it removed I was shocked! How the heck did you do that?

[miked]

Oh yeah...and where the heck is the finish on that Serpentor figure!? Don't tell me you shelved it! We need to see that thing finished...you owe it to your fans, man!

[war009]

very nice

[Cloud Strife]

Thanks, guys!

Another winner, Strife! That head is fantastic and the tiger stripe on the pants is spot on. I love painting camo patterns, but I always get the feeling that they're a bit to busy when I'm done. Your patterning here is crisp and clear. Fantastic job. I also have to reiterate a past comment about the web gear. I thought it was glued to the figure when I first saw it! When I saw the pic of it removed I was shocked! How the heck did you do that?

Thanks, Mike! I really appreciate the kind works, man.

As far as the web gear goes, I cut the belt on each side so that it could be extended evenly. Then I glued (Gorilla Glue) the belt to the pouches on each side, leaving a gap in order to extend the circumference, and then sculpted in the belt left by the gaps on the backside of each pouch. I know you can't see the belt behind the pouches, but I'm OCD like that. I did use a low count grit piece of sandpaper to score the places where I glued, so that a stronger bond would be created.

While it is still removable. I'm still afraid it will eventually come apart if taken off too many times. So, he's displayed with the web gear on. I guess it's just nice to know that if I do want to remove the web gear, I can w/out destroying it.

Oh yeah...and where the heck is the finish on that Serpentor figure!? Don't tell me you shelved it! We need to see that thing finished...you owe it to your fans, man!

Haha... I hope to finish him soon. I was hoping to make a cape for casting using jewelers wax, but haven't gotten any yet. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish him here in the next few months. Glad you dig him!

[Mr Hebime]

Bad. Ass. This is what Tunnel Rat should have looked like. Any plans to equip him with a SAW or M240? It aint Tunnel Rat without his signature heavy MG.

[rglass2]

At what point does a toy become more then a toy, very nice

[Superjoe74]

As much as I appreciate Larry Hama I still really like this head sculpt for Tunnel Rat.

It's just always neat to see the creative efforts that come out our TANKERS.

[Cloud Strife]

Thanks, for taking the time to look and comment, guys!

Bad. Ass. This is what Tunnel Rat should have looked like. Any plans to equip him with a SAW or M240? It aint Tunnel Rat without his signature heavy MG.

Thanks, man!

I thought about equipping him with either Marauder's SAW or M240, but I couldn't help thinking he needed an assault rifle instead. I don't know why I feel like the machine gunners need to be bigger guys (i.e. Roadblock, RnR, Repeater, Heavy Duty, etc...), but I can't escape that mentality with my Joes.

[TTT]

Front paged BAT(

[Gatekeeper]

Love it!

[Sgt Major Haley]

Sick man, love the detail on the tiger stripe!

[Superjoe74]

Cloud gets front paged again with another win!

[crowncoke]

Great work! Another winner! You should be proud of all of your work.

[joe_fontes]

excellent work!!!

[Tauron]

Great job of one of my favorite Joe characters. I'm amazed at the custom work here. I tried it once myself and the paint just rubbed off from the joints. The only customs I attempt now are simle head, arm, or leg swaps. Well done, the camo looks fantastic!

[Wry1]

i'm sure i've commented on this elsewhere, but damn this is solid work. so crisp and clean.

[Ixz72]

Holy Shitake!!! Now that's Tunnel Rat!!! Awesome job, dude.

[fistfightfan]

Wow! Amazing job. I think I'm most impressed with how perfect his LBE looks! Wut is that buttpack from?

[CG23]

This is sick! Really awesome job

[ceraurus]

Again, great work--and congrats on the fp!

[Mr Hebime]

(Thanks, man!

I thought about equipping him with either Marauder's SAW or M240, but I couldn't help thinking he needed an assault rifle instead. I don't know why I feel like the machine gunners need to be bigger guys (i.e. Roadblock, RnR, Repeater, Heavy Duty, etc...), but I can't escape that mentality with my Joes.[/QUOTE])

I know what you mean. I am such a fan of the original Marvel run, but realistically someone of his stature would be overwhelmed handling a SAW or M240. Congrats on the front page, you earned it with this winner!

[TR1ER]

Hell yeah front page!

[Cloud Strife]

Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the feedback.

Wow! Amazing job. I think I'm most impressed with how perfect his LBE looks! Wut is that buttpack from?

It's a Slayer Design Studio sculpt. I need more as I only have 1 left...

[DARKWIND]

That is a Tunnel Rat I'd buy in an instant!!!
He fuggin rocks!!!

[fireflyguy]

Sweet! This is a great version of TR!

[gzgoo]

great~~~~~~~~~~~lol

[89PILOT]

Spot on!!! Very cool!!!

[Agent00Slevin]

love the paint job. and the rifle looks great on him

[DavAnthony]

This is very cool, really digging how he turned out. Love that headsculpt and how you made him shorter too!

[Cloud Strife]

Thanks, guys! Glad you dig him.

This is very cool, really digging how he turned out. Love that headsculpt and how you made him shorter too!

Thanks, man! Krexx did an amazing job on the head sculpt. The custom wouldn't be nearly as cool w/out his head sculpt.

[Stormgard]

Nice version of my very favorite Joe.

I first got to know TR through the ARAH comic and for a long time it seemed like the basic M-60 was his default weapon (even though the toy came with a different looking machine gun).

I've always thought of him as a tough, dependable trooper with demolition skills, but also a bit of a Napoleon complex that makes him bust his ass to show the other guys who are all much bigger than him that's he's just as tough as anyone else. Hence the big backpack, the big gun, the drive to take on dangerous tasks like working underground and often taking point.

[Marine_Deadpool]

I figured I'd show some pics w/out his web gear, since tunnel rats would go into tunnels armed with nothing but either a low caliber or silenced pistol and a flashlight. While I'm not able to take pics of him actually in a tunnel, I think you can get the general idea...

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz216/omnislashv5/026-3.jpg


Awesome work on TR!!! This pic should be captioned " HOW ABOUT SOME MACE BIIIIYATCH!!!!" That light could double as a can of OC Spray...

[kuh_rupht]

I love this tunnel rat! Wish I could have picked it up when it was listed on ebay

[mikevoltz]

Nice Job. I like the Tiger stripe camo.

[ponygt]

Awesome!! So cool man! Really great job!:) TRat was one of my first Joes back in the day and I have had a soft spot for him ever since.

[danielgogeta]

Another super sweet job! Tunnelrats webgear is happiness :)

[Firebomber8]

Seriously the best custom Ive ever seen I love the Tiger Stripes. If Hasbro made toys like this I would spend every penny I have on them.

[GILTYONE]

Sweet tunnel rat........

[swampmojo]

Looks great, I love the Sgt. Slaughter as well.

[Cloud Strife]

Thanks, guys! I really appreciate the kind words.

Seriously the best custom Ive ever seen I love the Tiger Stripes. If Hasbro made toys like this I would spend every penny I have on them.

That's one of the best compliments I've ever received. Glad you dig him, man.

[soundwave84]

that's an awesome custom.

[firmpulse]

Seriously the best custom Ive ever seen I love the Tiger Stripes. If Hasbro made toys like this I would spend every penny I have on them.

i had the opportunity to see it in hand and the pics don't begin to do cloud's paint job justice. the whole piece is a true work of art but the tiger stripe paint apps truly raise the bar to the nth degree.