Building your MARINES - CORRECTLY

[JediMike71]

I agree to get the Lonnie Hale head sculpt for your Apone. I got it for mine and I love it! The Hot Toys head is just flat wrong. Apone didn't look like the HT head, and he did not have a goatee. He did have a black moustache, but not a goatee.

Just FYI - Yes, I have removed the "dreaded" white dots in his eyes now per advice from Les and Josh. He looks much better without those dots. I'll take more pictures of him again soon.

 

[Rob]

Man, all these customs are great! Apone is my second favorite Hot Toys USCM with the first being Hicks(Let's face it, the shotgun/holster pretty much seals the deal!).

BTW, I also found a site that may have(It said it sill had it for preorder with it shipping Sept. 2006) had Hicks in stock for $85 plus shipping, so I snatched it up, I lost the link to it though. I'll see if I can find it again so I can help a few of you out.

 

[superdoug]

Please let me know if it's legit for Hicks. I've been trying to find him for a while although I found some sites that had him listed as in stock but when I asked them they said he was all gone.

 

[PROWL]

Yeah, really! Crowe and Weirzbowski didn't even have one line of dialogue between them in the movie. I saw on www.imdb.com, that the actor that played Crowe, Tip Tipping, was killed in a parachuting accident in 1993 while filming a reenactment for a BBC TV show. Here's the link:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0864150/bio

He was also an ex British Royal Marine commando, and S.A.S. (Special Air Service) soldier with the British Army.

The other actor, Trevor Steedman, who played Pvt. Weirzbowski, is still alive and has been working alot doing stunt work in movies and TV shows to this day. It looks like ALIENS was one of, if not his only acting role. Here's his link on www.imdb.com.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0824365/

It woulda been cool to hear these two guys say at least one line! At least in Star Trek some of the "red shirt" guys get a few lines before they're killed off.

in on draft of the screen play (the frist I think) Weirzbowski did in fact have a few lines, at one point he even scares the **** out of Ripley.

 

[JediMike71]

Wow, that woulda been cool to hear Weirzbowski, and even Crowe speak! Too bad that they didn't!

 

[fat hobbitss]

I just got the Marines itch and got myself a couple of Hudson. One of them I'd like to turn it into a Hicks. I alrady got the H T Stoner body, and I know that I'll have to repaint the armor and the helm has no canvas cover... no prob.

What worries me now is where to get the Ithaca shotgun (I know a solid resin sheat can be bought from EVA). Also.. do you have the chest armour padlock locker from Chris? is it movie accurate? Is there anything else I'm missing?


Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[PROWL]

The 21c toys "Police Shotgun" set has a model that is at least similer to the one Hicks uses and can be found at wal-mart ( in the toy car isle)

Wow, that woulda been cool to hear Weirzbowski, and even Crowe speak! Too bad that they didn't!

yeah it is, guess they didn't have enough money for everyone to have a line

 

[JediMike71]

I got the padlock set for my custom Hicks (I made from the Hot Toys Hudson) from Chris at EVA. I think it is very "movie-accurate"! Also he makes great one piece Gerber boot knives in the black sheaths. I got some of those from him too. Chris is a great guy, and very willing to help us ALIENS fans out!

I found a loose "Stoner" head and repainted it and I think it turned out great! I also found one of the loose pump pistol grip shotguns from that 21st Century Toys police shotgun set for my Hicks on eBay too. I hope to get Chris to make me a "leather" sheath for it someday soon.

Check with Chris about all of your needs for the HT ALIENS marines! What a great guy! I can't say enough great things about him and all of his help!

 

[Reinhardt]

awesome Hicks bro!! Great repaint! if you get a chance, you should paint his arms too. then he'd be PERFECT.

 

[JediMike71]

Paint his arms Reinhardt? Should I paint them darker? I've already wrote the USCM and his social security number tatoo on his upper left arm as seen in the movie. Tell me what you mean....should I go darker or lighter on the arms? Thanks!

 

[figuremasterles]

Hey Mike, you can fine sand his arms, with 150 grit sanding pads (found at any Walmart paint and glue departments), and they will look much better than the shiney look, and it will undo any words you have put on there, so you can do them again. And either repaint the arms after sanding and re-add the tats, or just add the tats. But I would repaint them if you can. Sanding them will improve them A LOT! Trust me on that.


And please note:
As for anyone getting a Spikey Haired Hicks head...
Please see this thread page and my post with questions for you posted there. Follow up if you desire and I will paint according to your emailed preferences.
PLEASE don't PM me with them, as my box won't hold all your answers at one time, but my Hotmail email will, and I can keep up with them.
Thanks.


SPIKEY HAIRED HICKS repaint questions post

 

[bwayne]

Done and done Les. BTW, anyone who cut the sleaves of Hicks . . . about how far up did you cut? I want to futz with him before I get the FML head. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[MaulFan]

Done and done Les. BTW, anyone who cut the sleaves of Hicks . . . about how far up did you cut? I want to futz with him before I get the FML head. Any help would be appreciated.

I cut mine at a point where the material stops in the film as rolled up cloth, basically just a little material showing under the shoulder pads of the armor. Hope that helps.

 

[Reinhardt]

Paint his arms Reinhardt? Should I paint them darker? I've already wrote the USCM and his social security number tatoo on his upper left arm as seen in the movie. Tell me what you mean....should I go darker or lighter on the arms? Thanks!

Hey Mike, you can fine sand his arms, with 150 grit sanding pads (found at any Walmart paint and glue departments), and they will look much better than the shiney look, and it will undo any words you have put on there, so you can do them again. And either repaint the arms after sanding and re-add the tats, or just add the tats. But I would repaint them if you can. Sanding them will improve them A LOT! Trust me on that.

what Les said!!

 

[JediMike71]

Okay, Les. I'll try that sanding technique on my Hicks' arms sometime. I think I did really well with writing the tatoo on his arm with a black Sharpie fine point permanent marker. Thanks for the tips once again my friend!

 

[Stendec]

Thanks for the tip about the arms Les, I'l give that a try at some point.

Over the weekend I nervously began the daunting task of weathering some armor pieces. So far I've only done one pair of leg armor to help me find the best method for getting that beat up look. The weathering turned out abit heavier than I had planned but what the hell, leg armor would probably scuff up more than other pieces anyhow.


This pic is slightly better at showing how the weathering actually looks.


Basically I made a number of passes over the leg pieces with silver paint, using a couple of very small burshes. I allowed the paint to dry between each pass so that I didnt get tired and frustrated trying to paint all the nicks and scratches in one go and also runnign the risk of smearing the paint with my fingers. Once finished with the silver, I drybrushed and dabbed some black grime/smoke weathering with a brush or a sponge. The black also serves to enhance the contrast between the metal damage and the camo painted armor itself though the contrast doesnt show up too well in the pics.

Now I just have Hudsons body armor and all of Hicks to do lol

 

[figuremasterles]

HOLY CRAP! :eek

You got all those micro nicks and scratches in there, that look like sand and gravel when you scuff up anything!
BRAV-the HELL-O! I mean, SUPER!

Can you touch mine up like that!
I have a super Darkartist job on my own Hicks, yeah, he was over and worked my Hicks over for me (I did dirty up my own Hudson), but neither of us, that I am aware of, has EVER done those micro nicks!

You rule Stendec! You win today's custom cookie!

Thanks for the tip about the arms Les, I'l give that a try at some point.

Over the weekend I nervously began the daunting task of weathering some armor pieces. So far I've only done one pair of leg armor to help me find the best method for getting that beat up look. The weathering turned out abit heavier than I had planned but what the hell, leg armor would probably scuff up more than other pieces anyhow.


This pic is slightly better at showing how the weathering actually looks.


Basically I made a number of passes over the leg pieces with silver paint, using a couple of very small burshes. I allowed the paint to dry between each pass so that I didnt get tired and frustrated trying to paint all the nicks and scratches in one go and also runnign the risk of smearing the paint with my fingers. Once finished with the silver, I drybrushed and dabbed some black grime/smoke weathering with a brush or a sponge. The black also serves to enhance the contrast between the metal damage and the camo painted armor itself though the contrast doesnt show up too well in the pics.

Now I just have Hudsons body armor and all of Hicks to do lol

 

[Reinhardt]

everything Les said!!

that is amazing!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Stendec]

Wow, thanks Les, really appreciate it.

The only way I was able to do all the little nicks was by doing it over the course of about 3 days, doing a little at a time and letting the paint dry in between. I'd have gone insane trying it all in one go lol

I think Ive had my two marines for about 4 months now but I go very very slowly in moddifying them. Ive learned that patience gives the best results

 

[metaphorge]

I asked for the answers to some questions about Hudson to Hicks conversions and would appreciate your help.