[Monte Williams]

Snuck in a quick shoot at Cache Creek this morning.

I'll start with the first portraits I've captured in months of Tunnel Rat, since he's the only actual Joe who will appear in this post:

Took my Gunslinger Spawn out for his first adventure:

...along with Hellboy and my grown-up Coraline kitbash:

Aaaaand from there it was all Scooby-Doo nonsense, 'cause my obsessions are apparently getting weirder and goofier with every passing year:

[Monte Williams]

Spring Break means lots more time for photo shoots. However, it's supposed to be super sunny for the remainder of the week, so this will probably be it for a while since I prefer cloudy days for my shoots; I assume you're all more relieved than disappointed, since I've been spamming this thread a bit lately.

To start, I've got fresh portraits of a pair of kitbashes I am considering trading. (I do have a BST thread here on the Tank; the good news is, it's filled to bursting with glowing endorsements from your fellow Joe nerds... the bad news is, it hasn't been updated for probably a decade, since I was out of the Joe game for so long.)

First off, The Red Shadow:

And my strange take on the Cobra-La Royal Guard:

Moving on, I've captured some new shots of Monster Hunter Gung-Ho, along with Hellboy and Daphne:

Barnstormer, one of my favorite kitbashes despite his simplicity:

And now a brief pivot into Marvel Comics territory, with Doctor Strange and his buddy Wong:

And finally, more portraits of Velma, seen here running afoul of a mystery best avoided:

[Monte Williams]

Here's a hasty yet bloated catch-up post.

World Without End:

Mezco One:12 Collective Destro is pretty great:

I slapped together a lazy Matt Trakker and teamed him up with the Robo Force figure I'd already utilized as T-Bob:

I recently scored Mutt and Junkyard. I painted over Mutt's chest hair to suggest he's wearing a black shirt (I find the articulation cut between the neck and chest distracting, and this helps to obscure it):

I also dry-brushed all his brown gear to make it look more weathered and realistic:

Finally, after admiring it from afar for a couple years, I caved and bought McFarlane's Mortal Kombat Nightwolf, simply because I thought he looked neat.

However, while I was waiting for him to ship, it occurred to me that he could serve as a semi-realistic update of Sigma 6 Spirit, one of my most reliable muses from the early days of my hobby:

I did some quick weathering and tried a few different accessories with him, and I'm pretty damn happy with him:

And because he's such a masterpiece, I had to capture a new shot of Classified Spirit, as well as a comparison:

[firmpulse]

Fantastic as usual. Love that "World Without End" shot.

[flashtronaut8]

WW/OE pics are great but the details you added to Mutt are top notch all the way. Body hair and stubble seldom to never look quite right on a toy.

[Monte Williams]

Belated thanks, firmpulse and flashtronaut8!

First up, here is a "found art" custom idea I stole from my buddy Dave, being a Marvel Legends Secret Invasion Talos we're utilizing as an older take on Chuckles:

Up next, a hasty update to my lazy Matt Trakker; I added the Classified Metal-Head torso armor back onto the figure (and removed the thigh straps), but I turned it around, 'cause the sculpted and painted details on the back of the armor look amazing:

Finally, outside the realm of Joe but utilized in the same Monster Force-inspired umbrella canon that currently drives my hobby, here is the Marvel Legends Mr. Hyde BAF, which I scored for a mere $35:

Those eyes are somethin' else!

It occurred to me only after I'd ordered him that my old McFarlane Twisted Land of Oz Wizard figure might serve as a good base for a quick Henry Jekyll kitbash, and I thought Recondo's head looked suitably Victorian and, in this context, comically and appropriately snooty:

[firmpulse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monte Williams

It occurred to me only after I'd ordered him that my old McFarlane Twisted Land of Oz Wizard figure might serve as a good base for a quick Henry Jekyll kitbash, and I thought Recondo's head looked suitably Victorian and, in this context, comically and appropriately snooty

Love it. That works way better than it has any right to. I'll never look at Recondo the same way again LOL

[Monte Williams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by firmpulse

I'll never look at Recondo the same way again LOL

Right?!? Kinda cracked me up.

A friend kindly nabbed two of the deluxe anniversary figures for me (I don't live near a Ross), specifically the sniper and the HALO dude.

I'm using the sniper as Tree Frog, an original character kitbash of mine from fifteen years ago. Here's the original Tree Frog, followed by the Classified sniper figure, which I didn't alter at all, as is often the case with my ostensible customs:

Inevitably, I'm using the HALO Jumper as Hit & Run. I assume many collectors have done so. I found that adding a bunch of black gear to him sells the idea better and helps him pop, since the figure as-is manages to be weirdly monochromatic-feeling despite boasting an abundance of theoretically contrasting colors:

Finally, now that Mindbender is available at retail prices, I had to get him so I could use his head to make a Classified version of my original character, the cynical 1800s safari adventurer, William Winchester:

[shishi]

A welcome return of William Winchester! Loved the photos with your 4 inch version.

[Monte Williams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shishi

A welcome return of William Winchester! Loved the photos with your 4 inch version.

Thank you so much! He ended up becoming so much more significant to my hobby than I'd have ever expected. I am flattered that you remember him.