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12-12-2021, 05:05 AM | #441 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Kansas
Posts: 981
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Quote:
I just popped one of my Grunts out of the package last weekend. I tried using the same nail polish remover you suggested, and maybe I'm not pressing hard enough but I'm having a tough time with removing the lip stick.
First thing I thought of after opening the figure was, "I wonder how he'll look with a vintage helmet on" and dadgummit, I didn't even try it. Jason This fourth try was again successful again, though it feels like it didn't remove as easy as the previous three. Initial several wipes didn't seem to be doing anything--at which point I started to think about packing my bags... After several more wipes (light brushing with the qtip) the paint dissolves and was removed. Just gotta be patient and gentle, let the acetone dissolve the paint, and wipe off the residue. I don't recommend rubbing with any force, tempting as may be, unless you have spares. Next test, I will try to go for damage. Another thing I should add is that I use a large hobby magnifying glass to close monitor the progress and completion. Not any different than my previous tries, but only realized this time that most people don't use this. Halfway through I stopped using the glass. As a result, I didn't get it as clean as previous tries, but it still looked better than it's original state. So if it seems to be difficult to remove, definitely don't go ocd and try to get it all removed. Give it another try and let us know how it goes. Also, let me know what the stamp number is on his inner thigh, for record. This latest one is 11741, previous tries are 11891. I know it's hard to see and read these.. Quote:
By the way, not to stir up debate on your thread, but looking at this picture makes me glad I didn't back the Hasblab Skystriker. I honestly have no intentions of ever collecting O-ring figures, and seeing the size difference between the O-ring Grunt and ME versions, I don't think that $220 Skystriker would/will fit 2 ME or MTF figures without some customizing, and I'm just not up for customizing a brand new, $220 toy to fit ME/MTF figures. I'll just stick to my 30th Anniv Skystriker.
Jason Though the vehicles have always been detailed very well, and modern figures caught up with that that detailing, the vehicles just aren't large enough physically and visually for the figures, and ruins the whole thing for me. Another thing: As beautiful and ironic the Skystriker is, in my mind it's too much plastic and space for one or two figures. Maybe it were a c130 with clever Easter eggs and vintage toy inspired features (a lost concept, like my Cobra O13)... |
12-12-2021, 10:58 AM | #442 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,026
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I use a magnifying class also. One of those for soldering with the alligator clips. I admit though I may have been in a rush. I'm going to try again. Also, I didn't notice the hair lines in my head sculpt as with yours.
On the Skystriker, I like vehicles, but to me it wasn't enough of an upgrade to justify $220 along with the notion that I would still need to customize it. My mind just goes back to the $200 Big Millennium Falcon that I still own that was HUGE improvement to the Vintage-POTF2 toy. THAT was an upgrade! Jason |
12-30-2021, 07:32 AM | #443 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Kansas
Posts: 981
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GRUNT [FINAL 2021 RETRO REDUX]
2021-12-30_04-01-54 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr BUILD: 2021 Walmart Retro Collection Grunt (repainted), with Vintage accessory pack #1 helmet (repainted) PAINTS: Tamiya XF-73 D.Green (Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey, close match, future repaint), Tamiya XF-15 Flat Flesh NOTES: Months ago I thought I was done with this guy, having modified the new Retro helmet as best I could to make it more round and acceptable for vintage look. At the time I rejected using little if any previous modern parts and no vintage parts with the idea of moving in a new direction for these RetrOG figures. Prior to that, I wasn't liking the look and fit of the true vintage helmets on the MTF and Hasbro heads I was using. But to make sure I could say I tried every combo, I tried the vintage helmet on the new Grunt head, and it looks great and fits very well on the larger head without mod or filler. 2021-12-30_04-16-59 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr Up close, though the vintage helmet used (and spares in hand) had a lot of ugly mold flash around the front and side edges. My OCD took over, and I spent a week or so trying to clean that junk up on them all. Trying to sand them down unfortunately leaves the finish fuzzy, so all the flash had to be carefully whittle off with a new razor sharp exacto knife. If going the vintage helmet route, and you don't have a hobby work magnifying glass and don't notice the flash and unevenness, I'd strongly recommend not going down the rabbit hole of trying clean it up--sanity is an asset that should not be squandered... 2021-12-30_04-27-29 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr Above is the final iteration of the shot with other Grunts, the progressive evolution. As before, far left is an original unmodified Grunt, far right is a halfway modified Grunt (lip paint removed, darker brown paint on the accessories, rounded new helmet). Flanking the middle final figure are my 25th custom and vintage version with repainted webgear and belt. 2021-12-30_04-26-46 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr Above is a composite with the previous four iterations. Each step in my mind would have made an acceptable stopping point... 2021-12-30_04-35-06 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr Above is a composite of all middle figure iterations for side-by-side comparison? 2021-12-30_04-37-57 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr Above compares this last take with my first take, shown back in July 2021--when I was certain that Grunt would be one of the last OG's made with this new build. I was right and wrong on that. Grunt ended up being the first OG made after that initial Stalker, but tragically will also be the last... 2021-12-30_04-44-38 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr Comparison with the Grunt product photo stock image. Stock image is not as pale as the figure in hand, but doesn?t look like a prototype or paint master... 2021-12-30_04-49-07 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr Various 2021 Retro Green Grunts (before they get convert to other colors or characters next year), flanking the original... 2021-12-30_04-52-02 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr Didn't get fooled by that one? Ok, here they are with the true vintage. I forgot I had that new sculpt Grunt, bought used and loose in my years of hunting down modern custom fodder. 2021-12-30_04-58-43 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr Finally, final official photo for my 5x photo album. Hasbro originals on the left, my final collection set versions on the right. 2021-12-30_04-36-55 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr It sounds like Hasbro is pretty much ending this new build run with Grunt and Cobra Officer, and putting the whole modern 3.75" figure on hold for the foreseeable future--and I'm afraid that they'll have no reason go back to it in the future. That's too bad, as I was really invigorated and excited with this new build and its potential. Personally, I'm not done with these new build figures or modern 3.75 Hasbro Joes, though I'm not adverse to the 6" line or new o-ring releases. I've amassed plenty extras of all four new build figures, and will continue to play and experiment with them. Also, I've got to refit my other helmeted concept OG's shown previously with modified vintage helmets. I'll work on those while I also wait on getting an extra 25th Clutch vest, and get that whole group reshot. But really I'd like to get back to 1983 and beyond next year... 20211120_225446 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr 20211120_225134 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr 20211120_230123 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr 20211120_225701 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr 2021-12-30_05-09-45 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr
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HissHissFangFan(g) Flickr | Facebook GI JOE: T13 O13//1982 1983-? | COBRA: O13//1982 1983 1984 1985-? Last edited by HissHissFangFan; 12-30-2021 at 02:44 PM.. |
12-30-2021, 12:59 PM | #444 |
Security Specialist
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Iowa
Posts: 4,113
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I love this thread - I scooped up enough stalkers and grunts to make my own OG13 with the bodies. I doubt they will be as stellar as yours, but I honestly need a set of the OG 13 as I dont have my childhood ARAH ones nor any of the 25th - 50th stuff. Practically every figure I own is a custom of some sort. I will be making my own version combining these bodies and MTF stuff I believe. Thank you for all the great info here!
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12-30-2021, 02:27 PM | #445 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,026
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YES! HHFF, the vintage helmet is THE way to go! This looks incredible.
Jason |
12-31-2021, 02:30 AM | #446 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: May 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 1,008
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I have a question since you seem to be very detail oriented. Apologies if you already addressed this but I didn't see it mentioned (I've been reading back through your thread).
The one thing that bugs me about the Grunt is the knife just dangling. Other than matching the card art, is there way a knife would be secured like that? I've never seen a knife mostly exposed and held by only a single loop like that so I'm curious as to your thoughts on it.
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12-31-2021, 03:41 AM | #447 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Kansas
Posts: 981
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Quote:
I have a question since you seem to be very detail oriented. Apologies if you already addressed this but I didn't see it mentioned (I've been reading back through your thread).
The one thing that bugs me about the Grunt is the knife just dangling. Other than matching the card art, is there way a knife would be secured like that? I've never seen a knife mostly exposed and held by only a single loop like that so I'm curious as to your thoughts on it. I just a quick background check on some Joe figures via yojoe.com to see who else beyond the OG13 had exposed knives, and first pass shows that many have knives will full cover holsters--even starting with Airborne in the 1983 wave (though on card art it looks exposed). Should be noted that I don't have a lot of vintage o-ring Joes beyond the OG13 and WildBill/Airborne. Others can jump in to correct me if I'm wrong. Second thing to I did was google image knife attachment to body and knife holster for any real life pictures of exposed blade attachment similar to OG13 webgear, and found nothing. This matches up with what you point out. The way the knife is shown on the original figure sculpt and card art is likely not realistic in any common way. Yet there it is, and five iconic 40 year old Joes make it legit! It's interesting that the 2007 25th designs address this by moving the knife to a covered holster on the thigh. Might this have been done purposefully by a designer who was also bugged by the exposed blade? It really might have been if having a removable small weapons that figures can stow was a major design emphasis for the new 25th figures. Over the years on these forums, many people have expressed their approval for removable stowable knifes and pistols on the modern figures. I think many like myself as kids looked at these details on the original vintage figures and wished they could be removable and useable. Many customizers have also focused on making all knives and pistols, originally sculpted onto the vintage figures be removable. I love seeing those mods myself, but only do them without sacrificing the look of the figure. I've got more to say on the execution of this removable knife, but have run out of time tonight. We'll see what you and others have to add, and I've pick it up after New Years. But know that little thoughts like these tend to lead to interesting customizing tweaks and ideas, so thanks for that! |
01-01-2022, 12:29 AM | #448 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 17,152
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Your customs are awesome and wish Hasbro released some of your work. Thanks for sharing.
Quote:
Over the years on these forums, many people have expressed their approval for removable stowable knifes and pistols on the modern figures. I think many like myself as kids looked at these details on the original vintage figures and wished they could be removable and useable. Many customizers have also focused on making all knives and pistols, originally sculpted onto the vintage figures be removable. I love seeing those mods myself, but only do them without sacrificing the look of the figure. One that bugged me the most was Hawk as a kid. The 1986 one included a molded holster so you couldn't put his pistol in it but it was big enough. The 25h one fixed that but thus time sculpted the pistol on the chest holster. Ended up doing this to it. (Hope you don't mind me putting my picture in your thread)
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01-01-2022, 01:32 AM | #449 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Kansas
Posts: 981
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If it wasn't Hawk, I'd just ask you to switch to an o13, like steeler. And if anybody wasn't aware of your work on workable on holsters, I was heavily hinting at nighthawk himself here, and was going to include a link.
And happy new years all, and watch the roads |
01-01-2022, 01:34 PM | #450 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 17,152
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Thanks. I forgot about my Steelers.
SDCC https://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-j...c-steeler.html 25th https://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-j...h-steeler.html
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