Action Figure A new, ambitious, exciting Terminator project.

ONEYE · Dec 14, 2011

My friend Ken has let me in on an extremely cool project. I don't think anyone has attempted anything like it in this size. It is modeled after this picture/link:

https://www.icollector.com/Screen-u...embly-from-Terminator-2-Judgment-Day_i8632827

In Terminator 2, after Arnold looses his arm and the T-1000 impales him, the T-800 has to use his back up power source to reactive. The movie did an extreme Close-Up (CU) and they only showed 1 eye rebooting... a very tight and up close shot. I couldn't find a clip.

This project is based on the studio model at approx. - 17"W x 13"H. This was done in a similar way Ken did a 3 foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man about 6 years ago.

Construction - styrofoam inner core and 7 lb. balsa foam outer core. Form and shapes were carved and roughed into the balsa foam outer layer. Wood spheres for eyes and other elements for smaller details as place holders. The whole thing was then surface coated with acrylic paste. An epoxy clay compound was used to build areas that needed to be stronger such as edges and in particular the whole nose area. The whole thing was then sealed with a polyurethane hard coat. That was actually a mistake on my part and in retrospect, I should have used a different material. The polyurethane caused the foam to crack in some areas. And I was afraid it would get worst and quickly made a mold of it. In some ways, that was a good thing because it is easier for me to work the details into a hard surface. So the master was tossed and a resin casting is what you see... which will become the new master. Unfortunately, still a lot of work to get it cleaned up and where I want it to be. I have thought about adding the teeth but I think it will take the focus away from the eyes. Started this about a year ago and shelved it shortly after. I got too far ahead of myself without having the ability to make the eyes the way I want to. I would like to start working on this and finish it up some time next year.

Ken hasn't finished the details in the eye sockets, nose, side ports, and eyes themselves. Side ports are not as important as only a small part will show. It is close to specs of the studio model.

Ken's still deciding how to display it - either on a base or mounted against the back wall of the inside of a display case. It is large enough so that electronics and wires can be hidden on the inside because it will be cast hollow. A base does seem more feasible and the right direction to take.

The hard part - the eyes will not be motorized but the iris' should be able to open and close with the red light source mounted in back. See the links below:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18srT1LipUk&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiAWuF60xKM&feature=related[/ame]

The eyes are not fabricated yet... they would be about 60mm in diameter. For a piece this size, it should be ran in fiberglass, which is pretty light weight. If you choose to chrome-plate it, it would add significant weight. From front to back, I would stop at about 7-8 inches. The focal point are the eyes... anything more, and he might as well make the whole skull. Here's a place that sells the iris diaphragm and lens:

https://www.edmundoptics.com/ I don't know where to get the motor or electronics. Both eyes need to work simultaneously.

This project may done in two ways, with electronics (more expensive) and without. For the non-electronics version burnt skin may be added.

It's hard to start projects at this time of year, so real work will start up early next year.

The actual prop does not look very threatening. Ken sculpted his using other references - his HCG and pictures. I would say it is probably close to looking like the M1. When he fabricate the eyes, he will position them to look more aggressive/meaner.

Ken or I will post more info/pictures when the project starts the real work. All this is just the initial prep work. Electronics, tightening up the sculpt, base fabrication, etc... is all on tap after the New Year. As this project progresses, other members may come on board to add their expertise.

Dizzyarse · Dec 14, 2011

Excellent... now can you do it in 1/6 scale?
Dizzy

ONEYE · Dec 14, 2011

Not making 1:6 scale. We are making a replica of the screen-used hero "close-up" piece.

Screen-used hero “close-up” T-800 Terminator endo eyes in skull assembly from Terminator 2: Judgment Day. (Carolco/TriStar, 1991) This piece was used for tight “mechanical eye” close-up shots for the T-800 for scenes when the size of the iris changes size, such as when the T-1000 impales Arnold through the metal grate in the steel mill. Constructed of chrome-plated fiberglass resin, plus aluminum components. Each eye features a glass lens over a servo-controlled metal aperture that opens and closes according to desire with the gleaming Terminator-red lights mounted behind for dramatic effect. The partial skull exhibits fleshy remnants of outer skin made of silicone. Measures 17 in. wide x 13 in. tall (plus a 5 in. steel mounting bar). A fantastic artifact from this groundbreaking film which received the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 1992.