General Serpentor WIP

[Captain Hydra]

OK, so I always had a problem with Serpentor. I kind of like his concept, but I never liked the character. His design always seemed silly to me. I've struggled with including him in my Cobra army, and was not going to buy the figure. One day I broke down and bought one, only to dump him in the parts bin after a couple of days. I tried re-painting him, but that still did not help. Nothing short of a complete character redesign could save him for me. So that's what I did. In my Cobraverse Serpentor was created to be the ultimate general, and this is his position in the Cobra Hierarchy. He is a Military genius and commands all of Cobras conventional forces. Although he does feel himself superior to Cobra Commander, he is content to let the Commander handle the day to day aspects of running the organization, allowing him to focus on military conquest. So anyway I wanted to redesign him to fit with the rest of the Cobra army. Rather than his over the top sci-fi look I toned him down to what I thought a Cobra General may look like. He is still in the works, but this is the basis. I plan to add some type of shoulder armor and a Gladius sword as a side arm. Rather than running around with a broad sword in the middle of a modern battle field. He would be armed with modern weapons with the exception of his (mostly) ceremonial sword, a symbol of power and acknowledgement to his past lives, but sill capable of beheading an enemy if need be. What do you think so far?

[sgt.bludhound]

very good points you made there. can't wait to see the final product!

[AirborneRigger]

He looks great. Are you gonna keep the helmet? Paint it black to match the torso armor and it would look great.

[MrClean]

Nice! Now he can make use of those perfectly formed trigger fingers Hasbro gave him for some odd reason.
for some reason, I keep thinking "Saw Viper Commander" when I see him.
Great work! can't wait to see the finished one!

[TEMPLAR BAGGINS]

I had an extra cowl from the original Serpentor that I used on the anniversary one. While not a 100% improvement, it did improve the figure SIGNIFICANTLY! I'll post a pic of him when I can find my camera.


Shockwave

[Captain Hydra]

Thanks Everyone.

He looks great. Are you gonna keep the helmet? Paint it black to match the torso armor and it would look great.

I actually tried that, but it just didn't look right. I think his helmet is another part of the reason I never liked him. It doesn't look like a battle helmet to me, it looks more like Serpentor rides the short bus. I've got some other ideas.

[Dirtbag]

As a character the best thing that happened to Serpentor was Zartan's arrow in through his head.

However how you explained it sounds a whole lot better. I like the figure so far. Can't wait to see the final version.

[VIPER 48]

I also can't wait to see the final product. It looks good so far. I never was a big fan of the serpentor we got from this line but if yours looks as good as we are thinking, i might have to change mine too...

[wildbill73]

Looks great so far I too, look forward to the final product.

[Vagabond Elf]

I like the idea, and the colours. As a swordsman ( and a sword geek), though, I must point out a couple of details:

1) The only character carrying anything close to a broadsword is I.G. Destro, and even he isn't really - his sword has a curve and the hilt is too open. A broadsword is a Scottish weapon with a full basket hilt and a single-edged straight blade, in general use during the 1700s and early 1800s. It is a specific type of backsword.

2) I don't have the toy, but based on pictures I'd say Serpentor's weapon is either an early greatsword or a late longsword. It seems to be around four scale feet long, but with a proportionetly short blade and long handle. (Yes, handle is the right word; it is the English word for "part you hold". Hilt means either just the guard, or the guard, handle and pommel assembly as a whole.) As a side note, when I fight with a two-handed sword I use one of similar proportions. And while I give up a little in reach, it is wicked fast.

3) It would be very very hard to behead someone with a gladius; they just aren't massive enough to get through the spine. Dramatic comments aside, though, they are a nice comfortable size for a sidearm, and very, very useful. If you can, it'd be tres cool to see it in the "shoulder holster" rig used by late-Imperial Romans. Essentially, handle down strapped to the left shoulder, on the chest - one sees many modern soldiers wearing a knife in this position.

Okay, I'm done being pedantic now. I just have a compulsion to educate people on the terminology of swords from time to time.

Back to your wonderful idea, now.

[Captain Hydra]

Yes you are correct that the term "Broad Sword" originally refered to the dual edge Scottish basket hilt sword as opposed to the single edged Back Sword. However I was using the term in the modern general sense.

Wikipedia: "In modern usage, "broadsword" inappropriately refers to a category of swords, specifically those whose blade geometry is designed for cutting and slashing attacks, as opposed to the fencing weapons and their emphasis on thrusts and stabs. This began after the advent of the slimmer-bladed rapier, smallsword and épée during the Renaissance, and was picked up by museum curators during the 19th century as a catch-all for all slashing swords, including the Medieval arming sword, longsword and greatsword."

I realize it is "inappropriate" usage technically, but IS used in this fashion none the less. I used the term purposely to differentiate from military sabers and other thin blades swords used in battle in the early modern period.

IG Destro has a cutlass or possibly a saber.

Serpentor's sword is much to short to be a Great sword. The blade is only as long as his arm. The grip is for a hand and a half sword, but the blade is only the size of a shorter Medieval cutting sword.

True it would be difficult for the average person to behead someone with a Gladius, at least in one stroke. However, first we are talking about Serpentor, he is huge. Second, it depends on the type of Gladius. A "Pompeii" style used through most of the early Empire is strictly a thrusting weapon, but the Earlier Maintz Gladius, (One Caesar would recognize) was wider bladed and quite capable of devastating cuts. Under these circumstances a beheading is very possible.

I am unfamiliar with the sword mounting method you speak of, I'd be quite interested if you could point me in the direction of some historic evidence of this. I have never heard of a Roman sword warn hilt down. For the most part the Gladius had fallen out of use in the late Empire, replaced by the long bladed Spatha worn from a shoulder baldric like the Gladius before it.

[mswi]

wow!!!! you guys really no your swords!!
great info, can't wait to see the finished
serpentor