If you're a customizer of action figures or are thinking of starting this fascinating hobby then you should find these hints and tips useful in creating the look you want. There are hundreds of tips and techniques to customizing action figures covering everything from painting stripes to building your own diorama. Here I deal with some of the most basic parts of customizing which will hopefully prove helpful to you in starting this hobby. The customizing hobby is becoming very popular amongst hobbyists and collectors as it gives YOU the flexibility and opportunity to create the action figures YOU want. Many hobbyists subsidize their hobby by selling some of their creations on eBay, sometimes for a very nice sum of money but this option is really only for the more talented customizers.
1) Pinning Your Action Figures What is pinning? Pinning is a method used to "consruct" an action figure and is particularly useful for customizing your action figures. Using this method you can use the parts from several different action figures and pin them together to create your own ubique action figure. It is also useful if one of your action figures has a broken limb and needs reassembling. However, pinning needs time, patience and a steady hand. So what do you need and how do you "pin" an action figure?
First you will need some drywall screws, two for each "joint", the smaller the screws the better the better, about ¾ an inch long by 1/8 inch thick, as they will be more hidden.
You will also need some brass tubing; 1/16 or 3/32 is the best to use. It is best to use the thickest tubing possible for the joint you are making as it will make a sturdier and stronger joint but this will also be influenced by the size, shape and type of joint you're going to make.
Cut and trim all the parts you are going to use at their logical "hinge" point.
Drill out a hole, slightly smaller than the screws or tubing for a tight fit, in each part where the "bone" would be.
Insert your tubing to act as the "bones" in the join.
Insert the screws and pin the two parts together.
2) Removing Helmets
The easiest way to remove a figures helmet is with a modeler's knife or cutter to pry or cut off the chin strap, face mask and the face shield, but be careful with that cutter! Some straps can be quite stubborn, in this case use gentle continuous cuts, much like a saw action to cut through the plastic or material.
Next you need to heat the head in a small "bowl" of water for approx 2 mins in a microwave, on the high setting, to make it more pliable. But again be careful and heat it up in stages, you don't want to end up with a lump of molten plastic!
The head should now be nice and soft making it easy to gentle remove from the helmet, you will probably need to use the cutter or modelling knife again here to help you gently pry it loose.
Should the head or helmet become slightly misshapened then reheat it for a short period, approx 1 min, to soften the plastic so that you can then reshapen it.
3) Brushes One of your most important tools is your brush, but it never ceases to amaze me the number of people who do not take care of this often abused and neglected item. To keep your brush/es in good condition follow these simple rules:
NEVER EVER leave brushes standing in water or thinners and ALWAYS clean immediately after use.
Clean thoroughly whenever you are going to use a new color.
Use the paint sparingly, DON'T use big globules on your brush, this will only make your brush messy and you won't be able to apply the paint properly.
To clean your brushes rinse them in water and gently use a paper towel or similar to dry them off. DO NOT twist the bristles.
After use, use a brush soap to clean them thoroughly. Once you have finished cleaning your brushes store them in a brush stand, bristle way up.
4) Painting Stripes I find the best method to use when painting stripes is to use an "overlapping" technique from light to dark. This means that you start with the lightest color and apply it to the area where you require the stripe making it slightly wider than needed. The apply the next color on top of this again making it slightly wider than necessary and continue this for as many colors as you need to create the stripe effect you want.
5) Ankle Wrappings / Bandaged Wounds
The best material to use for apply ankle or arm wrappings on your sports action figure or a bandaged wound on a soldier or other type of figure is Teflon tape that is used to wrap pipe threads. This is flexible, thin and self adhesive and looks perfect!
6) Bullet Wounds or Holes
Bullet wounds or holes can be achieved by used the hot end of a matchstick. This will give it a unique look and will give it a scorched look.
7) Creating A Soiled or Dirtied Look
To achieved a "soiled" or "dirtied" look for your action figure dry brush earth color paint on your action figure.
Dry brushing refers to the technique of using a brush that has very little paint applied to it so that it is virtually "dry" or free of color.
This results in a very thin, almost transparent, and uneven "layer" of paint over the top of the applied area.
8) Dripping Saliva, Blood, Vomit or...?
To get an excellent look of a "dripping" liquid apply a small globule of super glue to the area, e.g. the mouth or fangs, and allow it to slowly "drip". The super glue will harden in "mid-drip" and can then be painted or left transparent. Above all else enjoy yourself and have fun!
