Adding height to Ripley

[thundergod]

You'll have to forgive me if this is "old news" , but here it goes anyhow ! Since it's release , the Hot Toy Ripley figure has come in for a lot of criticism on the boards , mostly for it's "bad likeness" issues . ( A criticism I don't happen to subscibe to , but that's another thread!). I re-painted my Ripley as soon as I received it so that's not my problem , no , the thing that's been bugging me is the figures height ! Sigourney's a pretty tall lady , in fact it's one of her most distinguishing features so I decided to do something about it . I've carried out this procedure a number of times , but never on one of my "pride and joy" Hot Toys figures so it wasn't a decision I made lightly! Anyway , once I plucked up the courage , out came the razor saw and off came Ripleys legs ! ( I measuered carefully at every stage , but that goes without saying). I cut two 1 1/2 cm sections from a spare figures legs and added them using gap filling super-glue .

I then filled

the gaps with model filler and sanded smooth . This didn't have to be perfect as the join would never be seen , but I made sure the shape of the thighs was uniform and generally natural looking . I'm pretty pleased with the results as now she looks better when displayed with the rest of the team and her general proportions look a lot better . I do have to work a little with the feet to get Ripley to stand realistically , but this is more an issue with the stiff boots rather than my handiwork .

 

[Double Dare]

Excellent job, Thundergod! You are clearly one of those people who don't merely whine about an issue but does something about it. Good man!
I'm planning on doing similar modifications to my Elizabeth Swann figure. Superb as this figure is, it suffers from the same lack of height as Ripley. If you don't mind my asking, did you have to reinforce (with brass rods, plastic tubing, etc.) the lengthened legs at all for added strength?

 

[Reinhardt]

great job Thor!

Hudson looks outstanding as well.

 

[Ironman1188]

I just used the 21st Century Matilda.

 

[thundergod]

Thanks for the comments guys . I didn't need to reinforce the joint Double Dare ( although I planned to use some plastic tube originally ), as the plastic is good and thick anyway . This , along with the gel super-glue and the filler putty made the join as strong as it need be .

 

[Kuzeh]

I just used the 21st Century Matilda.

Ditto, looks much better, how did you managed to attach the head if I may ask?
I'm still debating on how to do it.

 

[Ironman1188]

A hair dryer, pressure and perseverence.

 

[Double Dare]

Thanks, Thundergod.

Ironman, do you have photos of your customized Ripley? I just realized I have a spare Matilda in the pile.

 

[Ironman1188]

Thanks, Thundergod.

Ironman, do you have photos of your customized Ripley? I just realized I have a spare Matilda in the pile.

I don't have any readily available. She actually got packed away when I started on other projects. I'll see if I can dig her out and get a few for you.

 

[Les Walker]

I did the same exact fix ages back (and it's lost somewhere in the old original ALIENS thread), only I did it with her mid calves.
Good job! Looks right to me.

 

[-Super Hans-]

Wow great job there !!!!!!!!!!!!!! It sucks when youve got customize figures to make them look more accurate ?????????????????????//

 

[Elder_Predator2]

Not for me, because I find it fun to customize things.

 

[-Super Hans-]

Not for me, because I find it fun to customize things.

yeah when customizing from scratch. But when u buy a figure u expect it to be 100% accurate to film if its not the manufacturer has failed to produce the product you wanted just my opinion. Yeah customizing is fun working on a pred at the moment

 

[Elder_Predator2]

Yeah, when I buy a HT Predator I want it to look good, but when they make a pred that is supposed to be this color, but it's that, and I either live with an inaccurate pred, or paint it the correct color then I get mad.

 

[uscmhicks]

yeah , need to get round to this , my Rips still looks like one of the 7 dwarfs.
Great job man !!

 

[Elder_Predator2]

yeah , need to get round to this , my Rips still looks like one of the 7 dwarfs.
Great job man !!

 

[thundergod]

It's weird , I'm happy with my Predators how they come and my Sideshow Star Wars figures are ( mostly) untouched , but my U.S.C.M's are ALL customised/tweaked and I wouldn't have it any other way ! I'm a kit builder at heart , but I don't have the time to pursue that hobby as much as I'd like , so customizing gives me that outlet . You don't have the in-built "pressure" to finish a project when you customise a figure and it's good to just add a little detail to a figure or "improve" an innacuracy as and when you feel like . I'm still tweaking my Marines a couple of years after getting them and I will probably keep doing so ! That way I feel I'm getting my money's worth out of my purchase and I end up with a unique "one of a kind" figure to boot !

 

[Masao]

https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83064&page=3