MONDO - THE THING

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LMAO - mine has just been shipped from California to Ohio - further away from me. Nice work DHL !

Maybe it was originally being delivered by helicopter and someone sabotaged it?


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I looked through the photos on IMDB and IMFDB for inspiration.

The first thing I noticed was that the hoodie was absent quite a bit when he was wearing the jacket.

Then that Mondo failed to add the cartridge loops to his belt:



Thinking on the possibility of going the rolled down flight suit look, it would suit my modified body with the traps cut down...



...but the suit is so tight and hard to get over his shoulders, even with them having been reduced, that I don't want to risk removing it again in case it rips.

When I was testing the body I liked the option of having the jacket undone as it showed more of the flight suit and belt, and since I can't decide between flamethrower and shotgun I've been trying both in a preparation for battle scenario.

While the arms are much more workable now, the legs are still a problem and will only accept a wide stance.







If the flamethrower nozzle is going to be facing forward, the recess needs painting black.

The jacket needs buttons on the pockets and fur on the collar. Buttons are easy enough though I don't know which way to go for fur. I have some sheets of sticky back felt that's the right colour and should look in scale.


I tested my theory that Mondo's jacket was no good to man nor beast, but maybe more suited to a small female figure, so tried it on Young Rich's skinny Zendaya 'MJ'.

From side to side the fit is pretty good:




It looks bulkier viewed from side on, but it's comparable to the volume of an RAF Irvin flying jacket:



It doesn't help that the collar refuses to lay down, which would take up some of the material.

As a jacket I've seen worse tailored examples. It was just several sizes too small for MacReady, or any male figure wearing layers of clothing, which made it look utterly ridiculous.

I tried it on him after reducing his traps, biceps and sides, and it was still just as unworkable. Not enough material to allow it to sit on his shoulders, which became even more apparent when moving the arms which stretches the material to the max.

Scale comparison:

Still crazy to me that they didn't include his hat.

davejames said:

Still crazy to me that they didn't include his hat.

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Maybe, just maybe, they saved themselves further embarrassment by not including it...

I suppose an Artisan Hot Toys version is out of the question?

I've put buttons on the pockets. They were from the spares that came with DID's Rafe, who also supplied the A-2 flying jacket.



I looked at using the sticky back felt for the collar, but it didn't look right. Not enough fluffiness.

So I looked around for alternatives and found an old Dragon Models flying jacket.

I cut off the 'sheepskin' collar and removed the silky backing, then cut it to the shape of the A-2 collar. It was easier to get the shape by separating the sheepskin into halves that join at the back.

For recolouring I used Games Workshop Brown Ink Wash, which is a dark brown. The faux fur took the ink well. I hit it with a hairdryer to make sure it didn't dry flat and end up just like the felt, then when dry gave it a brush.

The two pieces are attached with double sided tape as I wasn't sure whether this was going to be the final option, and applied them quickly to see the result:



The reference I've looked at mostly since Mondo announced the figure was this photo:



But since the collar on the DID A-2 doesn't have a leather underside, therefore not suited to popping it up, this reference is more applicable:

Excellent improvements my friend.

Yeah I got this guy and can echo the comments. Whilst it has its flaws, definitely can be improved such as body swap etc. I had that DID jacket in preparation and will probably be doing the same mods. It definitely needs some beating up to look as weathered as it does on screen.

Omnishredder said:

Yeah I got this guy and can echo the comments. Whilst it has its flaws, definitely can be improved such as body swap etc. I had that DID jacket in preparation and will probably be doing the same mods. It definitely needs some beating up to look as weathered as it does on screen.

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For weathering I'm thinking that dry brushing the jacket with Games Workshop Graveyard Earth would simulate the worn patches.

The double sided tape holds well so I adjusted the fur into position, put him on display and am calling him done for now.

Mine should be here either today or tomorrow. Even though the fit does appear to look awkward in most photo's i've seen-- People seem to be saying the jacket at the very least is actually made out of real leather? Is that true??

Asta said:

For weathering I'm thinking that dry brushing the jacket with Games Workshop Graveyard Earth would simulate the worn patches.

The double sided tape holds well so I adjusted the fur into position, put him on display and am calling him done for now.

View attachment 720321View attachment 720322View attachment 720323

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Yes, I was thinking some drybrushing / simulating artifical creases might enhace the look of the jacket.

TheeWanderer said:

Mine should be here either today or tomorrow. Even though the fit does appear to look awkward in most photo's i've seen-- People seem to be saying the jacket at the very least is actually made out of real leather? Is that true??

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I doubt that.

While the material looks quite good, it gives the impression of being synthetic. It doesn't pass the sniff test either.

DID jackets smell of genuine leather, if sometimes just faintly. They may not all be made from actual sections of leather, but bits of genuine leather bonded together to form larger sections. I think the DID A-2 I used for MacReady is bonded leather, whereas those from some of their previous figures look like they're tailored from real leather pieces, because they have a natural rather than a machined finish.

I don't think any leather was involved in the making of Mondo's.

Did a bit of weathering on the suit and boots.

I think on the whole perspective has been lacking from this discussion. I only paid about £200 for this ( timed exclusive), shipped to the UK, no customs fees. For that price point its amazing. The key thing here is the likeness is there, luckily Mondo listened and never gave us that Adam Lambert turd of a headsculpt that was on display. The box and presentation is really cool, its clear when you have it in hand a lot of love has been put into this release. Great accessories and extras. The body is , but after changing it and a bit of futzing it looks very good now, couldn't be much more happier tbh. We all cant afford some of the awesome higher end customs out there, and for it is, im impressed, been waiting forever to have a 1/6 Macready after all the cancellations from other companies.

Couldn’t agree more

I keep going back to him, partly because I'm undecided how to pose him, and partly because this figure has been such a rollercoaster ride.

Expectations were set to low before receipt, but on unboxing I realised I hadn't set them low enough.

Almost everything looked dated in some way, either tailoring, paint applications or sculpting. But he's MacReady, and 1/6 MacReadies aren't like buses, or Heath Ledger Jokers for that matter.

Cutting and filing the sides and arms was a big turning point. His arms no longer resembled a GI Joe Hall of Fame era figure. He was beginning to evolve from a thing into a human.

With the change of jacket, and the addition of buttons and fur, I think he's become presentable as MacReady.

The last time I went in to look at him I finally settled on a pose. It had to be the flamethrower, because it's the most unique and iconic of the options. I don't collect Vietnam War figures, but I suspect that the M2A1-7 flamethrower might be a rarity in 1/6.

Until the mood strikes to weather the jacket, this is MacReady for now:

crazycheeseman said:

I think on the whole perspective has been lacking from this discussion. I only paid about £200 for this ( timed exclusive), shipped to the UK, no customs fees. For that price point its amazing. The key thing here is the likeness is there, luckily Mondo listened and never gave us that Adam Lambert turd of a headsculpt that was on display. The box and presentation is really cool, its clear when you have it in hand a lot of love has been put into this release. Great accessories and extras. The body is , but after changing it and a bit of futzing it looks very good now, couldn't be much more happier tbh. We all cant afford some of the awesome higher end customs out there, and for it is, im impressed, been waiting forever to have a 1/6 Macready after all the cancellations from other companies.

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What body did you end up using? Asta mentioned there may be compatibility issues due to the pegs in the boots. Were you able to use the boots it came with on the new body? Thanks in advance.

Some-Guy-Named-Guy said:

What body did you end up using? Asta mentioned there may be compatibility issues due to the pegs in the boots. Were you able to use the boots it came with on the new body? Thanks in advance.

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I was just coming back to ask that very question.

I guess the easiest option to use the boots would be to shorten the legs on the body. Otherwise it's drilling the boots out .

Best option of all would be a new body and new boots, but I don't mind sculpted, and the wide stance dictated by the Mondo body works with the two handed flamethrower pose.

crazycheeseman said:

I think on the whole perspective has been lacking from this discussion. I only paid about £200 for this ( timed exclusive), shipped to the UK, no customs fees. For that price point its amazing. The key thing here is the likeness is there, luckily Mondo listened and never gave us that Adam Lambert turd of a headsculpt that was on display. The box and presentation is really cool, its clear when you have it in hand a lot of love has been put into this release. Great accessories and extras. The body is , but after changing it and a bit of futzing it looks very good now, couldn't be much more happier tbh. We all cant afford some of the awesome higher end customs out there, and for it is, im impressed, been waiting forever to have a 1/6 Macready after all the cancellations from other companies.

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Standing back and taking all into account you are probably correct. First impressions count but do not always last.

The sculpt looks good to me, I only need one. The clothing with exception of the jacket looks fine. I shall change the body and boots and move on. The finishing shall the chosen pose and base.

Light bulb moment..... Neca may decide to do a 12 inch figure of MacReady and The Poster Figure, I would.