Is nobody making custom figures anymore ??

[TaliBane]

Thanks for the support!

The sculpt is entirely clay, and started completely from scratch. No 3D printing involved at all; just pure old-school sculpting. As far as making sets available, I'd be glad to do that if the molding & casting goes smoothly. If I can make an error-free mold, and the castings come out clean, I could do a few sets with a head and a pair of hands. It'll probably take me two weeks or so to finish the head, make the hands, and try the molding/casting. I'll update my progress here. Then, hopefully, onto the costume.



Thank you very much, TaliBane!

Outside of Jabba himself, Ree-Yees is my favorite alien/creature from the palace and barge scenes. A lot of that has to do with the Kenner figure that was easily one of my favorites as a kid. In fact, because of my nostalgia for that old figure, I'm going to try making a 1/6 version of that weapon that came with it. I'd love to eventually pose this custom next to my old 3.75" Kenner fig, both with their weapons, and take some pics.

The articulation in the prop mask is awesome, but it makes this sculpt a little tougher. The changes in the mouth, and in the protrusion level of the collar area, make for the type of inconsistencies in reference photos that drive me nuts. But one feature that I love about the Ree-Yees mask is the asymmetry in so many areas. I actually prefer that.

Yeah, the big trio for me back then were Squidhead, Klaatu and Ree Yees.

I'd be up for the Ree Yees weapon too - if its possible to cast it. It's one of the few Kenner weapons that doesn't seem to have been based on any actual prop weapon. Many Kenner weapons are wonky accuracy wise, but at least seem to be vaguely based on (or inspired by) some prop weapon, whereas weapons like Ree Yees' seem to be original Kenner creation. Always loved the gold color too - I don't think any other vintage fig had a gold weapon. Very Bond.

I imagine Ree Yees' head is going to be tricky to cast. But that sculpt looks ready to go - I wouldn't tweak anything!

And RY is a cool figure all right - a pity Gentle Giant hasn't done the jumbo version. I always liked the proto pic as you can see the great sculpt work...

 

[Stryker2011]

So many cool figs. If castings are going to be made available, I’d be in for Tessek, ReeYees and Amanaman, at least. I might run out of room in my Jabba dio if I go too crazy.

 

[generalgrevious]

So many cool figs. If castings are going to be made available, I’d be in for Tessek, ReeYees and Amanaman, at least. I might run out of room in my Jabba dio if I go too crazy.

so what go crazy you live once.

 

[Cagoda]

I’m loving this thread! Thanks everyone for the kind words and I love seeing everyone else’s works too.
Stryker2011 I marked you down for Tessek and Amanaman! I’ll keep everyone updated as I make more progress, definitely plan to cast both.

 

[generalgrevious]

sweet

 

[xipotec]

Thanks for the support!

The sculpt is entirely clay, and started completely from scratch. No 3D printing involved at all; just pure old-school sculpting. As far as making sets available, I'd be glad to do that if the molding & casting goes smoothly. If I can make an error-free mold, and the castings come out clean, I could do a few sets with a head and a pair of hands. It'll probably take me two weeks or so to finish the head, make the hands, and try the molding/casting. I'll update my progress here. Then, hopefully, onto the costume.



Thank you very much, TaliBane!

Outside of Jabba himself, Ree-Yees is my favorite alien/creature from the palace and barge scenes. A lot of that has to do with the Kenner figure that was easily one of my favorites as a kid. In fact, because of my nostalgia for that old figure, I'm going to try making a 1/6 version of that weapon that came with it. I'd love to eventually pose this custom next to my old 3.75" Kenner fig, both with their weapons, and take some pics.

The articulation in the prop mask is awesome, but it makes this sculpt a little tougher. The changes in the mouth, and in the protrusion level of the collar area, make for the type of inconsistencies in reference photos that drive me nuts. But one feature that I love about the Ree-Yees mask is the asymmetry in so many areas. I actually prefer that.

I can sculpt and been working on a few projects from Day of the Dead, but casting is frustrating and very very demoralizing for me......

Awesome work man


Sent from the inside of a giant slug in outer space.....

 

[Son Of Dengar]

Oh my lord, Ajp4mgs!!! That Ree Yees is absolutely gorgeous!!!! Tremendous work my friend!!! The neck and everything!!! Whooo!!!

 

[Chakaman]

I have a ton of texturing and refining to do, but here's where my progress is at right now on my Ree-Yees sculpt. The back set of antenna things are only temporary because I'll need them to be removable for molding/casting purposes.

View attachment 456834

Not looking forward to the tedious stuff left to do on this one.

Beautiful!!

 

[ajp4mgs]

I can sculpt and been working on a few projects from Day of the Dead, but casting is frustrating and very very demoralizing for me......

Awesome work man


Sent from the inside of a giant slug in outer space.....

Yeah, I know what you mean; casting has been frustrating more often than not for me too. But I just have to keep trying to find ways to make the process go more smoothly. With the Ree-Yees, I'm willing to try however many attempts it'll take. Whether it's doing a 2-piece mold, or getting pressure/vacuum equipment, or whatever else . . . I'm committed to getting this one right.

Oh my lord, Ajp4mgs!!! That Ree Yees is absolutely gorgeous!!!! Tremendous work my friend!!! The neck and everything!!! Whooo!!!

Beautiful!!

Thank you, gentlemen. Very much appreciated!

 

[xipotec]

Yeah, I know what you mean; casting has been frustrating more often than not for me too. But I just have to keep trying to find ways to make the process go more smoothly. With the Ree-Yees, I'm willing to try however many attempts it'll take. Whether it's doing a 2-piece mold, or getting pressure/vacuum equipment, or whatever else . . . I'm committed to getting this one right.





Thank you, gentlemen. Very much appreciated!

I do single molds with cuttings to remove the parts....

But with some sculpts no matter how slowly you pour some areas get bubbles.

So now I “paint” deep recessed areas with some silicone first and then usually place those areas (like the face) in the upward position to allow gravity to keep the stuff in those pockets.

Usually you end up with issues on the back of the sculpt. But its better than on the front.

I have no time money or patience for the vacuum seal bit.



Sent from the inside of a giant slug in outer space.....

 

[Cagoda]

I started on the Amanaman shoulder joint, hopefully this works for making it articulated. I decided I'm going to go ahead and do it since I want it on mine; but I'm trying to make it so those that don't want articulation don't have to get it.

Also decided to do some spray painting! I wanted to make a mash up between the Mandalorian and Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name haha. I call it "The Mando with No Name." Lol

 

[Stryker2011]

Pretty cool. And if the shoulder articulation works I’m sure we’ll all want that.

 

[ajp4mgs]

Progress on the Ree-Yees has been painfully slow. As I expected, getting a decent casting of this head has been a nightmare. I've had to trash so many that I'm starting to have a pile that looks like some kind of mass graveyard back on his planet. The ears were such a consistent problem that I've had to resort to casting them separately and then just gluing them on. Going to do something similar with the missing pair of antennae too.

Anyway, I used one of the better reject castings to start figuring out a paint scheme (in order to change things up from just pouring resin over and over again). Below is painting trial #1. Nothing fancy, and very little detailing (this is just a testing phase); but I came up with a 3-color layering pattern for the flesh tone that I think will work pretty decently.



It's taking forever, but I'm getting closer to figuring out how to make this all work (I hope ) for a few sets of head & hands. And then I can move on to more nightmares with making the costume.

 

[Stryker2011]

Looks great. You would never know you had to glue the ears on.

 

[ajp4mgs]

Looks great. You would never know you had to glue the ears on.

Thanks. I did the best I could to "erase" the glue seam with sanding and a heavier layer of paint in that spot.

 

[Chakaman]

Looks good to me. Well done.

 

[ajp4mgs]

Looks good to me. Well done.

Thank you. I'm hoping to get these looking far better than this when all is said and done. On the flawed castings, I can use paint to mask pinholes and other minor problems, but I'd rather not have to. We'll see.

 

[generalgrevious]

awesome job so far keep up the great work.

 

[Cagoda]

Amazing job! Thanks for the update. That cast doesn’t even look bad at all, I think it looks great.

 

[D.R.37]

Looking good!