Make your own Action Figures

I have been trying to customize action figures for about 6 months now. I've been an artist for much longer so I didn't have to learn everything from scratch. But anyone can make their own toys. It's easy and fun. And with the lack of Alpha Flight toys I thought I'd start giving you recipes for certain characters in Alpha Flight. There is no right or wrong, but great toys.

To get started these are some basic things you need

1 Paint set

(Testors works well but is a pain to clean. Acrylics are good if you always paint a white primer coat before detailing but they still lack something. The best I've seen so far are the Acrylic Enamels. Easy to wash and better looking. Get the flat gloss. Glossy is just too glossy. But it's always good to test them all a little and see which one works for you. Just remember that if it's made for a model it should work. Not all paints will stick to plastic.)
A can of Gloss Acrylic Sealer Spray is also very important.

Super Scupy of various colors.

There are many schools of thought on the plastic/clay used to add features onto your toys, but you can never go wrong with Scupy and if you get to be experimental by all means try some of the alternatives. I just tend to be brand loyal, so Scupy it is for me. Why kill a good thing?

Some fine sandpaper.

Not too fine...but the finer the better.

Paint Brushes

At least two sized...one very, very fine tip and one medium to small for the larger areas. You essentially need a detail brush and a brush for coating on colors.

X-Acto Knife

Strong one is best. And sharp. These cut things off which is good! But don't cut off your body parts...they aren't even good for customizing.

MultiPro 5-Speed Dremel.

I've heard that the 2-speed cordless Dremel is good and maybe even a Wizard rotary tool. But Dremel will last forever so that's what I'd stick with. The extra speeds add a little more control. And don't forget your glasses for protection. Small bits of plastic hurts when it lands in your eye.

The Alpha Flight character that most everyone starts with is the original Guardian. This is a great choice for two reasons. 1. He's cool. 2. He's easy so you won't have much trouble.

First you need to make a quick trip to your local toy store. Kaybee's and ToysR' Us are great with their discounted figure bins. Cheaper is better since you don't get a better figure by spending more money. I would recommend a Backlash from the Ironman series. Some people like a Spiderman but I think that unless you are doing a 19 year old Guardian, Spidey is a little too skinny. You may also pick the option of finding an appropriate body and a head from another figure.

Now if you got a figure that needs little or no change just cut off any excess parts. With the Backlash you will have to use the X-acto or Dremel to cut off the ponytail and belt bags. Then use fine sandpaper to sand down the rough edges.

If you have two figures you will need to do the boil and pop method. The best way is to use a glass container filled with water, boil it in the microwave, and then put a figure into it. Start with the figure with the head that you want. After the figure has sat in the boiling water for about 3-4 minutes take it out with tongs. Then hold it with a towel, with another towel grab it's head, and pull! The head should just pop out. If not then try again. Sometimes it doesn't get soft enough to remove the head, but it should work. If you don't have a microwave you can use a stove. But be careful the figure doesn't touch the bottom of the pot since that will melt it. Then do the same to the body. But this time after you have popped the head off quickly take the other head that you want and pop it into the still hot body. While it's warm the plastic is soft enough for you to take out and put in the heads. When it hardens you won't be able to tell that it wasn't made that way.

Now take a picture of the Guardian and paint away. I don't have time to teach you painting but it's really not that hard. Just be patient. You should use a Gloss sealer spray when you are done. Make sure it's clear. Some cutomizers spray one coat right after finishing the basic painting. This is so when they start with the details they will have less of a chance that the paint job will be ruined by too much handling.

That is it. That's all there is to it and you'll have your very own Guardian. Great isn't it?

Next time I'll explain something a bit harder that involves using Sculpy and more carving. I'll explain the basics of Northstar and Vindicator. Shawn