[HissHissFangFan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlw515

As you know, I am a huge fan of your work.

Looking at those Cobra Commanders side by side made me realize though, we have yet, though, to get a true modern adaptation of the ARAH figure. The 50th figure is great, but it took seeing it next to the vintage ARAH figure to see the difference.

I seriously doubt Hasbro would put the effort to go beyond the quality of the 50th sculpt, but even the paint job is more "Sunbow" Cobra Commander.

I love the addition of the chest sling/belt to match your previous custom. This has more of a Marvel comics Cobra Commander feel to it. Great work

Jason

Bobby Vala's version was likely the closest release we will get, but with the stirrups and shoes and short gloves, I don't think I want the true adaption. But when looking to repaint mine due to the switched lower legs, I was going to try a closer match to the original (that's why I pulled him out).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt Major Haley

Would still love to see you make the unnamed bald Cobra Officer from Issue 1.

I had my black version with an unhelmeted maj bludd sitting around for a while which was going to be fixed up for this character. But then my hooded redux happened, plus my rule of 13, plus no shelf space, plus no one and done characters in my display. But you just keep reminding me, and I probably wont be able to resist...

Tilt then, that character was Maj Bludd in my mind...

[CG23]

That CC is outstanding!

[jlw515]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HissHissFangFan

Bobby Vala's version was likely the closest release we will get, but with the stirrups and shoes and short gloves, I don't think I want the true adaption. But when looking to repaint mine due to the switched lower legs, I was going to try a closer match to the original (that's why I pulled him out).



I had my black version with an unhelmeted maj bludd sitting around for a while which was going to be fixed up for this character. But then my hooded redux happened, plus my rule of 13, plus no shelf space, plus no one and done characters in my display. But you just keep reminding me, and I probably wont be able to resist...

Tilt then, that character was Maj Bludd in my mind...

Retconning Major Bludd into issue 1?! That's awesome. I'm going to have to look back at that issue. I vaguely remember that guy. Maybe a retconned Dr. Mindbender?

Jason

[HissHissFangFan]

G.I. Joe vs Cobra, Concept Class of 1982:


GiJoeVsCobra_82-00_2019-1116dc by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

I posted a similar collage a few weeks back on my GI Joe O13 thread. Here, I mix and match Cobras with there concept inspirations//rivals.

The Joes with those early 25th figure builds don't look too bad up against those newer 30th Cobra figures. But the college doesn't capture the height difference.

I like staring at this and imagining different smaller sets that might be made--two packs, four packs, etc. It's also interesting to strategize waves and case pack outs--pair and double pack more popular characters, vs or buddies, opportunities for Cobra army building, without having to buy doubles of Joes...

Anyway, if you've been a fan a these, have fun with this and feel free to share any release strategies that come to mind.

[Yeet]

They all looks spectacular! Keep it up!

I like how in the pic they’re sorta paired up in a Joe vs cobra type way, like the saw trooper vs Rock n Roll, and the Bazooka guy vs Zap, etc

[sbartek1974]

That's how Hasbro should do their cardbacks if we do actually start getting Joes again.

[wedge1968]

These are pure genius.

[HissHissFangFan]

OG BARONESS (O13 Update)


2021-04-30_11-31-33 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

BUILD:
• Arms, Torso: 25th Scarlett (modded with sculpting)
• Legs: ROC Helix
• Feet, Knees, Gloves: 50th Baroness (modded)
• Head: 2008 25th Baroness (V10) (modded)

Paints: Testors Gloss Black, Vallejo Dark Blue+Andrea Blue (mix), Citadel Burnished Gold over Citadel Balthasar Gold

NOTES:
I dragged this one out while, having started it last winter (2020), but finally finished the work and the photos. The Baroness from the Cobra O13 set takes the same concept updates that were done with my Scarlett back in Oct 2020 (Scarlett 2020 Retro Rebuild Update), replacing the figure with much better legs and gloves that are more slender and have smaller hands, slightly widening the lower torso, and modifying the pivot joint between the upper and lower torso for more backward movement as well as side-to-side tilt.


2021-04-30_11-22-30 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

Modifying the torso was the biggest pain (1 or 3) that really made me drag my feet on getting her updated. Cracking open the 25th torso is difficult, as I can’t pop this open and need to slice through the torso’s side seams. Adding to the difficulty was trying to maintain the sculpting for the gold padding that I did years ago (and did so not want to do again). At the joint the slot in the upper torso was increased side-to-side, while the slot at the lower torso was lengthening at the back. These adjustments eliminated her hunched-over look, as well as here previously permanent tilt to her left.


2021-04-15_01-16-16 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

[Comparison of new version (bot left) to previous version (all the rest)]

I then sculpted onto the sides of the lower torso for a fuller figure, though it was difficult to get it really smooth and feathered to the front. I also had issues of the upper torso edges cutting into the sculpt later, setting me back even more (2 or 3). I lost some of the gold padding sculpting around the top shoulders during the torso cracking and had to resculpt some of it back. The original snake detailing on the gloves was cut and sanded down, and the knees were switched to something with less kneepad detailing. I wanted strip down the detailing on this figure to basics for more sharp contrast to her later 1984 intricate black look.


2021-04-25_03-46-01 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

[Note the little smudge on the face of 1984 Baroness, center, to be addressed soon over at Cobra 1984].

Using the knees of the 50th Baroness reduced the figures height, but some of that was gained back by also switching to the feet as well-resulting in both my shelf collection Baroness figures having the same height. The head used from the 25th Baroness V10 (above, right) is the same from my previous O13 Baroness, set higher on the neck post via hot glue. Other mods from before were to add eyebrows and darker lipstick, giving her a less harsh look. New mods include to trim the undersides of the lower hair to allow for increased head movement.


2021-04-24_01-58-47 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

[creating concept art of the figure after the fact, from near-final test shot]
[this one got flagged by flickrbots as moderate. Bots got their bot minds in the gutter]

The blue mix used was based on the same I used for my updated Updated O13 Cobra Commander. Because it was a mix color and used Vallejo paints (=will rub/scratch easily), getting the paint finalized took a long time. I used Vallejo Grey Primer prior to painting the blues, then used Pledge Floor Care Finish as a sealer/finish of sorts, taking lots of time between each application to make all apps were as set as possible. I then tested out all the joints to find paint rub locations, fixed those locations, then reapplied the 3-step paint process over again. Pain (3 of 3). Coming back from a relatively long break didn’t help. Thankfully, the paints are holding up pretty well now, and after a bunch of photos were taken.

Trinity:

2021-04-23_09-10-35 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


2021-04-15_10-32-52 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


2021-04-14_10-26-03 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

I was pretty disappointed with last year’s Retro Scarlett, hoping instead that there was an updated 30th/POC/BFS quality classic sculpt that had been waiting in the vaults, and that I’d be able to use that figure to for my OG13 ladies. My updates will have to do for now. At least I’ve gotten rid of the long skinny bow-legged legs, skinny contorted hunch-backed torso, and oversized hands. This updated figure fits in much better with my Cobra O13, and all the later updated builds used for it.


2021-04-23_11-36-05 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


2021-04-23_12-06-10 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


2021-04-24_04-19-47 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


2021-04-14_10-27-00 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

[46 Zone]

Wow!!! You really made that 25th torso work!!! This is awesome!!!

[stljoe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 46 Zone

Wow!!! You really made that 25th torso work!!! This is awesome!!!

Agrred.