1/6 Hot Toys MMS 261-Star Wars: Episode IV-Han Solo 1/6th Scale Collectible Figure

[JazzInc]

That is some INCREDIBLE work you've done here, Jazz! So, you just added some texture to the skin and eyebrows with a needle then some subtle color to the lips and pores? It looks more like you Photoshopped a hi-rez photo of Harrison Ford onto your figure if you didn't say anything. Well done, sir, well done.

Thanks everyone. Yes, I added pores, lines, shadow, some ruddiness to the complexion, changed the shape of the mount with colors and added blacks between the lips to make them look slightly open and more crooked. I also suggested shadow underneath the bottom lip to make it more pronounced. Be sure to use Browns and reds on the skin.

I also enhanced his frown as well as enlarged his eyebrows. Used the needle to make extra eyebrows and then painted them. I also drybrushed the hair with chocolate, khaki and mud colors from Vallejo to bring more depth and realism.

I use Vallejo points and varnish and Faber Castel water color pencils sharpened as much as possible. Those will give you finer detail than any brush and will be sealed by Vallejo Matt varnish.

 

[Kamandi]

Amazing skin tone Jazz, better than any portrait I've painted.

I'd love to hear more detail of your workflow.

The only problem I see with your work is it would make all the other figures around it look fake.

 

[JazzInc]

Repaint looks great, but to be fair to Hot Toys, that "before" picture is about the worst photo you can take of one of their pieces. It'd be cool to see a "before/after" pic under the exact same lighting with the same camera. I've seen some high quality shots here of Han with his original paintwork, and he can look pretty darn good.

Here is the best Studio shot I could find of the Hot Toys figure out of the box on the left. What do you think? This might be the final paint master from JC Hong though

 

[TaliBane]

Amazing work on the face. The brown paint on the hair really helps up the likeness too. To my eye, you've taken a 7/10 likeness and upped it closer to a 9/10, though I still see a bit of Thomas Jane in that HT Han sculpt.

 

[TonTon]

I think the shot on the left is still just a new forum user who took that on his iphone. Could be wrong. Either way, excellent work, Jazz!

 

[Star Puffs]

Wow, jazz. That is bar none the best repaint I have ever seen in terms of creating a likeness. I hated this head until now.

 

[Star Puffs]

By the way, thank you for sharing some of your technique. The fine pigments of water colour pencils, plus their precision makes perfect sense, but it literally never crossed my mind to do such a thing. When you say you used a needle, was that for adding pores?

 

[DarthBakura]

Awesome repaint, Jazz!

Just got this guy and I have to say, even with the standard paint job it is one of the best figures I own. I don't even think I like my DoFP Wolverine this much, lol.

Now, I will say, it took me a little while to rig the boots and get them looking right. And I still think the left one needs work, but it'll do.

 

[JazzInc]

By the way, thank you for sharing some of your technique. The fine pigments of water colour pencils, plus their precision makes perfect sense, but it literally never crossed my mind to do such a thing. When you say you used a needle, was that for adding pores?

Thanks!
I used the needle to give him pores, to sculpt little lines in the face and to sculpt the eyebrows as well as add lines to the lips

 

[TheFiend]

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As I've said on FB, this really an incredible repaint. Easily one of the best improvements on a sculpt by paint I've seen. You've brought out the likeness to an incredible degree. It really goes to show that Hot Toys paint isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Not hating, I think Hot Toys is a great company, it's just my observation.

 

[boylost99]

Yea, HT paint tends to soften after production as its probably not hand painted like jc's proto pics. Still probably the best mass producing company for painted head sculpts out there.

 

[Lejuan]

Yea, HT paint tends to soften after production as its probably not hand painted like jc's proto pics. Still probably the best mass producing company for painted head sculpts out there.

I haven't bought an Enterbay figure in a while, but their paint from years ago is better than what HT churns out. DiD do a good job too. HT's paint is kind of like their expression choice a lot of the time - it lacks character.

 

[Comatoast]

Here is the best Studio shot I could find of the Hot Toys figure out of the box on the left. What do you think? This might be the final paint master from JC Hong though

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Actually that's my shot (with an iPhone) of my in-hand (non-modified) Han.

Love you're mod and I really want to get an extra head now to try this!
It's amazing the quality of these sculpts beneath the basic paint jobs

 

[boylost99]

I haven't bought an Enterbay figure in a while, but their paint from years ago is better than what HT churns out. DiD do a good job too. HT's paint is kind of like their expression choice a lot of the time - it lacks character.

Enterbay's can be hit and miss though when it is a hit it is better than HT's. DiD usually does not have good paint apps well at least according to this figures i have seen by them, def not better than HT. I agree on their expression choice though, sometimes HT just dont care what people want.

 

[TaliBane]

Enterbay's can be hit and miss though when it is a hit it is better than HT's. DiD usually does not have good paint apps well at least according to this figures i have seen by them, def not better than HT. I agree on their expression choice though, sometimes HT just don't care what people want.

Eh, I dunno - every DID head I've seen (maybe a dozen) in the past year or two more than gives HT a run for their money. Unfortunately they're nearly always some WWII guy, and more often then not, some Nazi.

 

[SilverStar17]

I wish I had gotten this figure and Chewie when they were available at regular price. The prices on eBay now for them are pretty steep. I saw the dual pack a couple of months ago in my LCS and regret not getting it now.

I suspect though the price for both will curtail once HT moves on to the ESB line and they come out with ESB versions for each. Or just get an ESB Solo and Chewie at that point.

 

[DioramaMaker]

Very nice work, Jazz. I appreciate your use of pencils, it's a very underrated trick when it comes to painting headsculpts. I hadn't ever thought to use it for doing the age spots and freckles; I use pencils for eyes and upper eyelashes. I agree it offers much more precision; I can never figure out how folks deliver such smooth upper eyelid black lines with paint. All my art background is with pencil, so perhaps that has something to do with it. Your work with the needle is a very interesting concept though, one that you executed beautifully.

 

[DarthBakura]

Thinning acrylic paint with water and then using a very fine detailing brush can make for some very good lashes.

 

[ZE_501]

Very nice work, Jazz. I appreciate your use of pencils, it's a very underrated trick when it comes to painting headsculpts. I hadn't ever thought to use it for doing the age spots and freckles; I use pencils for eyes and upper eyelashes. I agree it offers much more precision; I can never figure out how folks deliver such smooth upper eyelid black lines with paint. All my art background is with pencil, so perhaps that has something to do with it. Your work with the needle is a very interesting concept though, one that you executed beautifully.

All my art background is sculpting (classical and digital) -- I'm so jealous of proficient painters. I can paint metal and other materials realistically, weather items, etc. but taking on a headsculpt at that level is beyond my skills.

I'm currently practicing sculpting likeness digitally. A photo-realistic sculpt is not that difficult for me but it's quite challenging to nail a likeness, and that reminds me -- I should get back to practicing instead of wasting time on the internet.

 

[Chakaman]

Absolutely stunning work Jazz. Amazing repaint. Good stuff.