SilentSurfer's Laboratory: Come up to the Lab & See What's on the Slab.

[MarfMaster]

I'm as disappointed as you are to say it's not a Sarah announcement. 80's Sarah is definitely missing from the collectibles world.

Someone should do a hair mod to the T2 sculpt sculpt. It's a little leaner than T1 Sarah, but I've always thought the sculpt is pretty strong.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Hey Surfer, amazing work! It's always a treat to look through the lab.

I know you're not doing any more work with Sideshow but was wondering if you could walk us through what the process is/was. I believe you've mentioned they only send you the pieces to paint when it's an armored figure. Do they ever send you a fully dressed figure? But I suppose you would take it apart anyway since that would be easier to paint. How long do they give you to work on it? Do you have to log or note what specific colors you paint something, like creating a "paint by numbers" diagram in order for China to be able to replicate the paints? Or do you just paint away and China has to figure it out? Do they give you any specific instructions or restrictions? About how far in advance do you work on them to the time they are announced? Is there a different process with statues vs figures?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm just curious about the behind the scenes kind of stuff and I think the rest of the Freaks might want to hear about it as well.

 

[SilentSurfer]

Since I've done work for multiple companies now, and they are all basically the same in process, I don't see a problem with answering some questions. It's not like I'm giving away secrets.

The company will usually just give me the hard parts that need paint. If I get any clothing, it's only so I have a reference if I need to color match something like armor to a uniform like with Cobra Viper.

If it's a licensed piece, I usually get or gather references and try to paint as close to screen accurate as I can. If it's more of a company's own take on a given piece, I may get some direction on how they want it to look, but mostly they've all trusted me to "do my thing".

I don't do any paint by numbers type of thing unless I'm trying to teach China some new technique they haven't done yet. Mostly, I just paint, and they figure it out on their own. I'm pretty impressed with their ability to color match.

Figures are easier to paint because all the parts are usually separate. Statues are harder because they are more or less sculpted as one chunk or several large chunks which sometimes need to be assembled and have the joining lines puttied over. Also with statues, different parts are all sculpted together, so they can require a lot of masking to keep colors from bleeding or hazing over onto other parts.

Working time ranges from a week to 2 weeks generally. Some projects have gone longer. This tends to be a very hurry up and wait type of business. Painters are the last in line to work on anything and it's usually up to us to save the day and meet the deadline. Really though, delays happen all along the way and deadlines are deadlines until they aren't met, and stuff gets pushed back all the time.

Time between paint and announcement varies. There seems to be no standard. Last year, I finished Boba Fett and Grievous mere weeks before they were shown at Comic Con, but there's been times it seems like a year has gone by before something I painted gets revealed. They don't always get finished in the order they are planned to be revealed. And sometimes, I think, companies want to be sure China can produce it properly before they commit to unveiling it. I've noticed Sideshow has started actually waiting on some pieces til they have solid China samples to show as the product instead of the prototypes. You guys have never seen my prototypes for the Battle Droids and STAPs. You'll probably never see my Grievous again either.

I think that about answers your questions.

 

[Mad Old Lu]

Fantastic! Thanks so much for all the answers, Surfer. Very interesting stuff. Keep up the great work!

 

[MarfMaster]

Very interesting. Thanks for the glimpse under the hood, Nathan

 

[SilentSurfer]

I really wish I could keep this one in my own collection. The markings on her face and the blue on her head are not indicated on the sculpt and were all painted by hand without masking by simply eyeballing where it looked right and symmetrical. I so do not want to do that again.


Warrior's Gate Productions: Ahsoka Tano

 

[MarfMaster]

That is some seriously impressive eyeballing.

 

[sdabbs]

Just freaking awesome!!!!

 

[SilentSurfer]

Thanks, Sean. Hope she likes it. What are you doing for a body?

 

[stshammgod]

"most impressive..."

And awesome job!

 

[SilentSurfer]

Thanks!

 

[MarfMaster]

Love those shots. They let you really appreciate the in-hand quality and feel of your work. Pun intended.

 

[SilentSurfer]

"Feel of your work"

 

[small_studios]

Thanks!

Love the paint job Nathan. Great job on the markings. Reminds me of the time i had to do a Darth Maul 1:6 sculpt. The markings on his face were not mapped as well. Very challenging to do and time consuming but looked ace once done.

 

[William Shatners Toupee]

Thanks, Sean. Hope she likes it. What are you doing for a body?

Hey amigo,
We are using a smaller teen sized Obitsu body for her and will be making a set of new hands, feet, etc, as well as the costume for it. She started off as a commission which is why the head is done now and we are playing catch-up with doing the rest of her ourselves as scheduling permits.

-Rick

 

[SilentSurfer]

Let me know if I can be of service paint matching the body and hands to the head. I recorded my mixtures.

 

[William Shatners Toupee]

Let me know if I can be of service paint matching the body and hands to the head. I recorded my mixtures.

Definitely!

 

[Cheungkinmen]

Thanks!

At first I thought it was a 3D animated screen shot, it looks so kickass. And no masking ? dang!

 

[Wor-Gar]

Thanks!

WOW! Insanely life-like. I applaud you --

 

[pixletwin]

...You guys have never seen my prototypes for the Battle Droids and STAPs. You'll probably never see my Grievous again either.

What does this mean and why am I suddenly worrying about the lack of news on Grievous.