Action Figure NECA 18" Predator conversion to "Elder Greyback" *UPDATE 9/20 **FINISHED PICTURES**

[prefused]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

As much as we like to brag about being accurate our Elder is off in a few places. Our sculptor that did the belt sculpting was drunk through most of the work and made a mistake or two. He also came from McFarlane and was use to the just make things up if you don't know what it looks like way of thought. If we make the Elder 19 inches I'm going to personally go back and change a few things. Our spine that goes over this sword should be on the pouch that hangs from his shoulder belt. The sculpting on these spines will be improved too. If you watch the movie in some shots it's on his left side and in others it's on his right side. Ours is cool but not dead on and I'm hoping to improve the 19 incher if we do it. I use the Hunters Lair a lot and anything fans can find. It makes me sick for instance to see all the Alien pics I've seen long after I finished the sculpt. Man oh man how I'd love to go back and change some things on the Alien.

yeah, i never said yours is perfect. but it's easily the most accurate Elder/Grayback collectible ever made by a mile. the issues are all little details too. and yeah i did notice the spines changed sides in the movie. but i like them where they are on your figure because that's where they were in the shot when he first uncloaked. the expression on the face sculpt looks like that shot too with his mandibles more open. but what's the deal with the figure having the wrist blades? was that a factory goof?

and i don't think anybody would be against you going back and re-doing the alien. well, on here anyway. your boss is probably more hard-nosed about that kind of thing.

 

[Jake207]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

Amazing thread adegregorio! I have one question about AVES putty you've used. How this thing hardens in the oven, on air etc.?

 

[adegregorio]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

Amazing thread adegregorio! I have one question about AVES putty you've used. How this thing hardens in the oven, on air etc.?

AVES is a 2 part mix. Mix part A with part B for 2 minutes, then sculpt. You have a window of about 3 hours sculpt time...about 4 hours later, it's completely rock hard.

 

[Jake207]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

AVES is a 2 part mix. Mix part A with part B for 2 minutes, then sculpt. You have a window of about 3 hours sculpt time...about 4 hours later, it's completely rock hard.

Approx. three hours for sculpt time that's amazing! TNX for info!

 

[edstuff]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

Don't mean to thread jack but I agree about the Aves. I used to sculpt with mighty putty which gives you a sculpt window of about 10-15 minutes. Aves is super easy to use and with a little water gets a very smooth surface to it.

Love where your predator is going. The belt makes me think you're staring at the pics for hours picking out details.

 

[adegregorio]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

More updates.....

On to the right arm. I want the arm in the bended position so the Elder is holding his necklace.

I had to trim some of the inner side of the arm for clearance for the gauntlet.

Then I seperate the arm in 2 positions and glue the top of the male part of the forearms rod and push it in the female opening just enough for the glue to hold.

Using my AVES putty, I jam it into the open space and smooth it out a bit.

Then I sculpt in the predators skin using various sculpting tools making sure it matchs all the skins lines.

I had no idea the Right side gauntlet was from the P2 Predator until someone here pointed it out to me (thank you). So I dive into my stash of Predator kits/parts to find a P2 gauntlet.

Luckily I had a 1/5 size P2 gauntlet and made a casting from it. Looks good to me!

Thanks for looking, now onto the sheath...

 

[edstuff]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

You're sick man. This just keeps getting better

 

[mgbb]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

Truly breathe taking customization work! Amazing sculpting skill! The research has gone into this is serious!

 

[adegregorio]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

Here's a shot of the arm in position. I think this will work out pretty good.

Also sculpted over those pesky screws on the straps. Added the necessary details to blend them together.

Thanks for lookin...

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

Is that the Cobra belt? Can't wait to see that finished..

 

[prefused]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

wow, that P2 gauntlet looks spot-on. guess we lucked out on this figure being way too small to be 1:4 scale after all.

 

[Elder_Predator2]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

Yeah quarter scale would have been massive, like 26" or something.

Anyways, I love what you're doing here! If I had the money i would hire you to do that to mine!!!!!

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

I'm pretty sure it should have been 22 inches...

 

[adegregorio]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

Thanks guys for checkin it out!

There seems to be some discrepincies regarding the sheath. I have spent hours looking for pictures and doing research. There is only a few good shots of it, and they are not even that good in quality.

From what I can tell from my reference pics, there seems to be a skull on the top of the sheath. Looks like it has some kind of brass thingy hanging from it with some beads and bones attached.

The sheath may be leather or snake skin and has intertwining ropes flanking each side.

The NECA Elder Predator's sheath has a ribcage hanging on it, which is incorrect. Tankman said that the rib cage should be hanging from the Elders pouch on his left side, not on top of the sheath...which is correct.

So, I came up with this. For the ropes, I used soldering wire. I attached the ends to a drill and spun it until it was intertwined.

I wrap each side of the sheath with the wires in the wet putty to secure it. I will add the bones and jewelry during final assembley.

Again, using my onion bag, I press a nice snake pattern into the sheath. I also added the little spinal bone. I thought it looked cool below the skull.

I Know it may not be movie accurate, but it will do. And I'm sure Joe is going to make it look awesome!!!

I also found a ribcage in my box of spare parts. It's attached with a nail to secure it. After paint, I'll add the straps that hold it on.

Now onto the head conversion...

 

[prefused]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

can't wait to see what you do with the dreads. the ribcage on the neca figure is sorta-kinda correct. the pouch it's attached to changes sides in some shots, and it's on the sheath side in a couple of them. but i like how you happen to have a 1:5 scale P2 gauntlet and ribcage in your magical box.

 

[adegregorio]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

can't wait to see what you do with the dreads. the ribcage on the neca figure is sorta-kinda correct. the pouch it's attached to changes sides in some shots, and it's on the sheath side in a couple of them. but i like how you happen to have a 1:5 scale P2 gauntlet and ribcage in your magical box.

My magical box has all sorts of things...

The dreads are going to be painted by Joe. I will add some longer dreads in the front and add all the beads after Joe is done painting them.

 

[sprig0701]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

My magical box has all sorts of things...

The dreads are going to be painted by Joe. I will add some longer dreads in the front and add all the beads after Joe is done painting them.

What are you using to make the dreds? Same thing you're sculpting with??

 

[adegregorio]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

What are you using to make the dreds? Same thing you're sculpting with??

I cut 3 long ones off the second back set. I added some small nails stuck out the end of the dreads. I then drilled various small holes around the front sides of the head.

That way I can adjust them to where they look good.

btw...Joe is doing the quills on this one...but I will try your method one day soon...

 

[sprig0701]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

Well thank you, sir Kinda nice when guys compliment and use something you've done. (I don't want to go as far as to say I'm the one who invented it. I used other ideas I saw people use and was then able to come up with it.)

Again, good luck and soooooo looking forward to the final reveal

 

[adegregorio]

Re: NECA 18" Predator conversion to the "Elder Greyback" WIP

So how could I do all this customizing on this Elder, and not put his laser sights on top of his cannon? Well here it is...

I rummange through my bin of spare parts and find a 1/6 scale scope from a rifle.

I cut out the center part of the scope and then I drilled out the centers. I then cut 3 q-tips to the desired length and glue them in place mimicking the tri-laser sight.

I had some left over fiber optic cable from a previous project I did so I thought I would use them on this. I also found a nice black hollow cable to house the fiber optic wires.
I'm running 5 fiber optic wires per laser hole...for a total of 15.

I also have a jar of little led light from various toys that I pulled apart. I found a red one...lucky!!!

I thread the LED wires thru the black cable and then seperate them into 5 each and slide them down the q-tip cylinders.

Then I push the LED light up into the little plactic cylinder/black tubing that houses the ends of the fiberoptic lights.

And here it is attached and lit. The great part about using the q-tips is that they are white inside. So when the fiber optic lights go on, it glows all around inside the tube.

I still need to sculpt a little box around the LED batteries, which will be placed under neath the open space just above the shoulder where the cannon rests.

More to come, so stay tuned...