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12-14-2018, 12:15 PM | #21 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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Next on the list is the Flak-Viper's little brother FRAG-VIPER!!
The original ARAH Frag-Viper was released in 1989. I don't know if it's just a coincidence or was Hasbro's marketing scheme, but to me, the original Frag-Viper bears a remarkable resemblance to the Predator from the 1987 film Predator. Given that in 1988 (just one year after Predator's release) Hasbro also produced a grenadier (Hard Ball) and heavy-cam (Repeater) troopers, I just can't help but think that Hasbro was riding on the coattails of the success of Predator. For my Frag-Viper, I got completely away from the Predator-looking head and yellow-brown tights with that goofy looking "Scoop Ball" weapon. Yes, I've taken the Frag-Viper back to the basics; back to the most popular Cobra design of all -- the "blue shirt!" Again, this is another simple parts swap and repaint. I used a POC/50th Viper upper body with the head, helmet, and hands of a POC/50th Cobra trooper standing with the legs from the 50th 3pk female Cobra Officer (the ones with the snazzy explosive attachment). So, between a multi-shot grenade launcher, a couple of grenades on the web gear, and some explosives attached to the leg; this Frag-Viper has got your indirect artillery and demolitions covered!! Jason
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12-14-2018, 12:24 PM | #22 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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And then, last but not least (Yo! Eazy's no sell-out! wait what?) let's throw a little mix into the color palette with the addition of the Cobra Shock-Viper. The Shock-Viper may not be as familiar to Joe Fans as other "Viper" specialties because the figure was only released in 2002.
Using the "anti-Joe" mentality to this custom, this is very much the "Anti-Blowtorch" of the Cobra Legion. Instead of an actual "blue shirt," I thought the "red shirt" Retaliation Invasion Trooper represents the perfect base for a Flamethrower Trooper. To match the Red & Grey color scheme I swapped out the web gear with the grey Arctic Viper vest. I removed the grenades because I'm not sure how well grenades would hold up while shooting a flamethrower! Replaced the grenades with an MTF knife & sheath. For the head and helmet, I went with a 25th Cobra Air Trooper breathing mask helmet. I painted the helmet and backpack red (Citadel Evil Sunz Scarlet) to better match the red Invasion Trooper body. Then gave each the helmet, vest and backpack a wash in dark grey to tone the brightness down to better match the figure. On a humorous side, YES! I realize the "flamethrower" is actually a water gun (which is kind of ironic), but I like the way it looks over the Charbroil/Blowtorch flamethrower. Plus the stubby design makes it easier for the figure to hold. Thanks for stopping by. Thanks for sharing, keeping coming back - it works if you work it! Comments, critiques, questions, quirks all appreciated! Jason
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12-14-2018, 03:46 PM | #23 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,937
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[QUOTE=jlw515;5172385]And then, the last one for today is the "Cartoon" or "Sun Bow-esque" Viper Officer based on the Cobra Officer's appearance in the Sun Bow cartoons. Another easy parts/accessory swap and some repainting.
Comments, critiques and questions greatly appreciated! Jason[/ Hey Jason your Customs are always fantastic! On this one I would suggest maybe painting the top of the web gear the outline around the top black to match you know the cartoon version instead of the blue. Just a thought. Thanks for all the kind words I really appreciate it! I'm glad you like the helmets! I like the updated Cobra officer 83 version! I think any version of that figure holds a special place for me as a kid he was my first Cobra. I always would carry the Cobra officer around with me. I think him and Firefly and probably Cobra Commander were my favorites. I really like how you do the explosions and take the time to do the BIOS. As far as the Bazooka Trooper helmet I did make some copies but I have to rework it as the webbing was not holding up after I casted it. So I want to take the time to rework it and get it right before I start selling it. Although I haven't forgotten. Again thank you for everything I can't tell you how much I appreciate the support of any fellow tankers. I think I'm going to have to come up with a hisstank special just for tankers. Keep these great figures coming as I enjoy seeing updates. |
12-14-2018, 04:43 PM | #24 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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Quote:
Hey Jason your Customs are always fantastic! On this one I would suggest maybe painting the top of the web gear the outline around the top black to match you know the cartoon version instead of the blue. Just a thought. Thanks for all the kind words I really appreciate it! I'm glad you like the helmets! I like the updated Cobra officer 83 version! I think any version of that figure holds a special place for me as a kid he was my first Cobra. I always would carry the Cobra officer around with me. I think him and Firefly and probably Cobra Commander were my favorites. I really like how you do the explosions and take the time to do the BIOS. As far as the Bazooka Trooper helmet I did make some copies but I have to rework it as the webbing was not holding up after I casted it. So I want to take the time to rework it and get it right before I start selling it. Although I haven't forgotten. Again thank you for everything I can't tell you how much I appreciate the support of any fellow tankers. I think I'm going to have to come up with a hisstank special just for tankers. Keep these great figures coming as I enjoy seeing updates. Jason |
12-15-2018, 02:40 AM | #25 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: St.Louis, Missouri
Posts: 1,485
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Nice project you've got going on. I like the Flak-Viper, as I always thought that Data Viper gear looked like a missile launcher.
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12-17-2018, 09:23 AM | #26 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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Quote:
Anyway, thanks for the comments! Jason |
12-17-2018, 11:53 AM | #27 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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Comments, questions, and critiques are certainly cool!
Jason
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12-17-2018, 11:56 AM | #28 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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This is an update to my Motor-Viper (Stinger Driver). I wasn't happy with the Vortious Custom resin cast Shocktrooper legs/knees. I changed out the legs with those from Retaliation Firefly v. 27 (like what I did for the Motor-Viper Officer -- see below). Whenever Hasbro gets back on board producing figures the Stinger Driver is definitely a character that needs a POC/50th style update. Jason
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12-17-2018, 12:06 PM | #29 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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ARAH 1984 Stinger Drivers are listed as Officers [Grade: O4 (or equivalent)], but I just didn't see Officers actually driving the Stingers. So, I decided to rank down the original Stinger Driver uniform to an NCO and create a variant for a Motor-Viper Officer. The two updates to the original custom are: (1) changed the head from a Red Fang Ninja (with dark red mask) to a POC Cobra head (with black mask) and (2) changed the web gear from the Shocktrooper vest to a Bazooka Trooper web gear (one of my favorites). Like with the HEAT-Viper, I heated the web gear and glued it to the chest piece to keep it from riding up high on the collar. Then heated the rest of the web gear, stretched it into place on the back and glued the back straps in place. Jason
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12-18-2018, 12:19 PM | #30 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Virginia
Posts: 651
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These are fantastic, I really like the presentation with the file cards, photo and parts lists.
Love your concept of Flak_Viper, though not sure how I feel about the light blue. IT both works, and makes me wonder if other colors would fit in better. Its still a awesome figure, just that one detail I really like your idea of rebranding all the blue shirt troopers as Vipers. IT fits with out how the Viper was described in 86 as the entry level cobra.
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