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Rubicon Models => Showcase & Gallery => Topic started by: ripley on February 17, 2018, 01:48:59 am

Title: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 17, 2018, 01:48:59 am
I'm going to borrow Tracks idea and create  a thread on 1/56 plastic figure conversions . We've all done them , weather its just replacing a arm or head so your tank commanders look a little different , to full on butchering of bodies , arm and legs to get that unique figure for your squad . Everyone feel free to jump in and post pictures of dudes you've created . Would even like to see Frostgrave type mashups , I've got an idea of the Soldiers chain mail type  bodies with BA German helmets and gas masks , armed with a variety of German and Russian weapons  ::) . Sorry I get side tracked sometimes . If possible tell us what parts you used on your conversions , of course if your like me you have a large stash of left and right arms with no concern from whence they came ,you just pick through the bin till you find one that fits , sort of ... and then you make it fit . Hopefully we get to see lots of neat creations and will be inspired by them to make more of our own . I'll start . I've always like the iconic look of the German mg teams firing over the shoulder of one of the crew . So I decided to make my own using the 2 kneeing Para figures . A lot of trial and error went into this with one arm ending up being made from parts of 3 other arms . Of course no pictures were taken during the kit bash , I've tried to note my progress on builds but I find as I think about what I'm doing , I tend to stop doing it . Creativity for me is just going ahead and doing it . Anyway here's my Para mg crew , and yes that is the extra  machine gun arm from the BA 251 half track crewman , finally found a use for it
(https://s9.postimg.org/cie9z4z1n/IMG_20180216_083535336.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/cie9z4z1n/)

(https://s9.postimg.org/4cw80zxy3/IMG_20180216_083543064.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/4cw80zxy3/)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 17, 2018, 02:35:57 am
Cool idea.

Nice conversion.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 17, 2018, 02:52:46 am
Well, here is a small squad of US equipped infantry, armed with M16s and wearing war time kit.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QmiMMu-e53U/WOZ7obtzMbI/AAAAAAAACAw/qI9Pw7OlcNoDBEQg3KkQm7UdQ1J29i4NgCEw/s1600/boltactionmodern4.png)

I bought a Warlord US Army sprue at Warfare 2016 and combined it with M16s from the Wargames Factory male survivors equipment sprue (now included in the Warlord Games Project Z survivors set).

The majority of the figures are unmodified, the left hands have been opened up to grasp the wider foregrip of the M16.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RK1GGba1QeI/WOZ7owrZbsI/AAAAAAAACBE/iE-t5DHWNPcheVJmbx6GwE1xb9dzl_QQQCLcB/s1600/boltactionmodern7.png)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPX1y07dFOA/WOZ7ogvpgWI/AAAAAAAACA4/feTdasg1QB0VTyqueulHYde20UoN41vJQCLcB/s1600/boltactionmodern10.png)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 17, 2018, 02:57:22 am
My commando lieutenant is using a captured weapon.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYttH_LsMh0/VH1Uxhps3oI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/vI0jxLZ2k7g/s1600/commando3.png)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 17, 2018, 05:39:03 am
The Yanks look great , like something out a 60s Alien Invasion /  Monster Movie right down to having one kind of weapon and another kind of ammo pouches , well done . You meant to do that right ?  Don't know of any M-16 style looking pouches  in 1/56 , ( cut the BA Brit ones shorter and cast in resin maybe ) you might have to get out the green stuff . Italeri had some pouches in some of their 1/35 sets that were underscale that might work . The Commando looks awesome , very much Tiger Comic if you know what I mean . But he has a Thompson not a captured weapon , did you post the wrong pic ?
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 17, 2018, 04:38:06 pm
Embarrassing.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7E9XSEcdFs/VH1UxX3N6UI/AAAAAAAAA08/j-m4xmZx4qw/s1600/commando2.png)

Yes, I have mixed up the lieutenant and one of the NCOs. Left hand figure above. I need to re-photograph them and also the SAS with the K-Gun stand in (MG-42 I think). The lieutenant at least has the right magazine pouch.

I was going for the B-Movie vibe, you are correct about the pouches but then they have infinite repeater magazines ^__^.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 17, 2018, 11:13:41 pm
They look really good . Oh yes those special magazines that never run out ammo LOL . A lot like all those  German troops with MP38 machine pistols  and rifle ammo pouches . As kid you never even looked twice , you just drank in the action . Aside from the German grey painted M-47 Patton tanks , the infinite repeating magazines and  men in rubber monster suits those 60s B movies weren't too bad  . Wouldn't a Russian DP-28 machine gun and a Bren kit bash solve your K gun problem , or is the pancake magazine too big . Always fun to try and kit bash weapons from the variety we have in plastic to make something new .
(https://s9.postimg.org/ifwuo75ff/Panzerschrek_1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/ifwuo75ff/)
I decided I wanted a Para Panzerschek team , in plastic . Checking out the US weapons sprue , I found a Bazooka , upon checking for scale I found it was too long ! But just the right length for the German weapon , So I trimmed off all the detail , added plastic bits and a wire ( paperclip ) shoulder rest , then the front blast shield was a thin square  with some strips glued on . I even added glass (white glue , dries clear )to the sight hole . Then it was find arms that sort of work , green stuff the gaps and add paint . Toyed with trying to make the wooden back pack for extra rounds but with only having 2 rockets I put one in the loaders hand and one on the base
(https://s9.postimg.org/fodkxebzv/Panzerschrek_2.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/fodkxebzv/)
I think the rear of the Bren and barrel of the DP might work , but you'll need to find a magazine
(https://s9.postimg.org/653w4a40r/vickers_k.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/653w4a40r/)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 18, 2018, 03:47:21 am
There are spare mags on the Warlord Soviet weapon sprue (plus potentially spare K guns in OGH's Commonwealth Jeep kit).
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 18, 2018, 03:54:44 am
Nice Panzerschreck. Great conversion.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 18, 2018, 05:52:03 am
Thanks . The Russian pancake mag for the DP will be too big , maybe use the drum mag off that odd looking PPD sub machine gun ( part L ) . Your going to have to cut it up but its an ugly little gun so no loss .
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: Tracks on February 18, 2018, 05:58:16 pm
Great work with those figure modifications! They look fantastic.

When it comes to figure modifications, because plastic is an easier material to work with than metal, we sometimes get a lot more options with plastic then we can ever get with metal. That being said, it also depends on the plastic figure boxed set because a bad set is still a bad set.

There are a several reasons why I prefer plastic figures over metal. One of them is variety. With metal figures, you are pretty much stuck with whatever poses the sculptor created, but depending on the the plastic figures, sometimes its very easy to make figure modifications. Especially if the plastic figures have separate arms.

With plastic figures these modifications can be extensive, but they can also be simple and easy. Below is an example of a simple modification. All I did here to make this 28mm US Airborne medic was to add a left arm from the Fallschirmjäger plastic box set. That's it. Note that the cuffs for both arms are the same, so it looks like the part came from the US Airborne plastic set instead of the Fallschirmjäger plastic set.

(https://s19.postimg.org/6ifa8xtlf/Mod_Figs1.jpg)

For this next figure I had to do a little bit more work with some cutting and trimming. To make this 28mm US Airborne I used the grenade throwing arm (part 26) from the US Infantry plastic box set plus parts 19 and 30 from the US Airborne plastic box set. The only bit I wanted from part 19 was the M1 rifle, so I carefully cut it away from the hand and cleaned it up so you could not tell there was a hand on the stock. I then glued the M1 rifle to part 30. This sounds like a lot of work, but actually it was pretty easy. Power to the plastic ;)

(https://s19.postimg.org/7kpgrh4oz/Mod_Figs2.jpg)

The one aspect about plastic figures that some people might not like is the extra time they require to get them ready for the game table. Unlike most metal figures, with plastic figures you first have to remove them from package, sort out all the bits, look at the instructions/parts and decide on how to assemble them, cut out the bits, clean up the bits, and then glue all the little bits together. After the fgures are all assembled, now you are ready to start painting them. Overall, plastic figures take more time to complete than metal figures. With metal figures, you just remove them from package, clean them up, and start painting.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 18, 2018, 09:01:17 pm
Nice conversions.

That medic is such a clever but simple idea.

I have built a lot of plastic figures that have never got as far as undercoating, partly due to something shinier turning up, and partly because it is fun.

The preparation can take some time - about an hour a figure in some cases, but is often easier than dealing with a metal figure if there are any issues with it. Minor mould issues can often be dealt with by the application of a bit of liquid poly,  a lot easier than hacking at white metal.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 18, 2018, 10:54:34 pm
The medic looks great . Fantastic idea to use the German grenade bag arm . Some of the pieces on the sprues really don't jump out and say variety in use . Are you going to use the arm once or have 3 or 4 guys running around  looking funny .Still haven't used the other bag arm with Panzerfaust . I used that arm , minus the bag on my Para holding the mg on his shoulder , only arm I could find that was bent that tight , remove bag , add hand holding mg bi pod . While I like newer sets with arms and weapons together , I still pick up a Russian sprue every once in a while , you  get almost 30 arms . great for kit bashing
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 19, 2018, 01:27:26 am
Interesting point with the Russians (I have three sprues now).
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 20, 2018, 12:27:12 pm
Love the Russian plastics , so many variations can be made from 8 body types . The big thing is making sure you don't end up with a regular and quilted arm for upper torso and a tall boot and a short boot with putties on the legs . And yes I have a couple of guys like that ( leg wise ) riding in the back of my Russian half track . Both the Russians and Early / Late War Germans are real easy to convert leg wise , as you cut under the skirt of the tunic , not having to worry about trying to patch the crotch with green  stuff  ( like the British  ::) ). Under the tunic you can just about place the legs any way you want .
(https://s9.postimg.org/rauj0kl1n/IMG_20180219_205752731.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/rauj0kl1n/)
Here my half track riders  ,built  with the idea being they have a bent leg / knee on the seat and a standing leg on the floor .So I ended up mostly  using both styles of kneeing Russians ( # 20 & 31 ) with leg swaps . The gunner was the # 25 standing figure with his legs moved closer together .Here's how the look heading into combat . The molded on packs are a bit of a problem space wise , they really only fit in the HT one way , and every time I take them out it takes me about an hour to figure out how to fit them back in , probbly should have gone with 6 in the back
(https://s9.postimg.org/wm9flhhgr/IMG_20180219_210249860.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/wm9flhhgr/)
Once you get bitten by the kit bash it's hard to stop . I cast up a bunch of 85mm ammo boxes for my T-34/85 and SU-85s . And I thought why not have a couple of guys standing or seated on them like you see in pictures of Russian armor in Berlin 45 . So with a standing leg added to each kneeling figure I have these guys spotting a sniper from the back of a tank
(https://s9.postimg.org/49dxv5lhn/Sniper.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/49dxv5lhn/)
I decided to glue them to the ammo boxes so I could swap them around , here they are " dismounted "
(https://s9.postimg.org/p7k3srnrv/S2_figures.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/p7k3srnrv/)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 20, 2018, 05:13:57 pm
Very nice. The tank riders are really good, I like the use of the ammo boxes. Do you just place them on the rear deck or are they pinned?

That Half-track looks suitably busy - getting them in the right location must be a pain, a 3d jigsaw. I am having trouble getting the Marder crew positioned (photographic evidence to follow ^__^).

I am going to dig out a PSC Soviet heavy weapons sprue and see how they can be upgraded (they show the downside of straight upscaling).
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YbLCvmQhUDU/T5vuGnN9ycI/AAAAAAAAALs/hkjx9iv4hFY/s1600/plasticsoldier1.png)
Not helped by some uninspiring painting on my part  (Crooked Dice's Pandora for scale).
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 20, 2018, 09:52:44 pm
The 2 riders a glued to the boxes which can be placed on any of my  T-34s . I probably should have done the same with my other tank riders but I glued them to the rear deck . Live and learn .  The PSC  troops  are in need of a reboot IMO , from what I've seen of them . I think maybe the Heavy Weapons crews might work better for kit bashing than the regular troops  . I've only got their AT gun set , and those troops don't inspire me , just a head or arm swap is possible  . Although I did make a couple into snipers .  I added a new BA arm and head to each and gave them a gauze gilli suit , still needs some Battlefront Poison Ivy bits and some dry brushing
(https://s9.postimg.org/bdn0vl2hn/IMG_20180220_063938736.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/bdn0vl2hn/)
this guy was the gunner and the guy below is one of the loaders
(https://s9.postimg.org/iguwbb2t7/IMG_20180220_063946310.jpg)[/url                         Now that the  add on sets for my 2 SdKfz 250s has arrived , I'll have to see what I can do with the figures from the kits  (https://postimg.org/image/iguwbb2t7/)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 20, 2018, 10:18:55 pm
I did wonder if they were discontinued as they are not n the 28mm World War 2 link (Rubicon models only), but they are linked via World War 2 then Russian then 28mm.

Now, I would not buy any of the infantry, but I got mine way back when.
http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/plastic-soldier-company-28mm-russians.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/plastic-soldier-company-28mm-russians.html)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: Jimmy_P on February 21, 2018, 01:05:48 am
Just to say, there's some really great inspiration in this thread thanks guys!  :D. I'll admit to not pushing as far with my plastic WWII conversions attempts (compared to my old *cough* 40k *cough* stuff), but definitely more tempted to get on with converting up some tank/vehicle riders out of the spare Russians I have left (been the plan for ages but just always been pushed down the list of things to do - until now!). Really like the Airborne medic too, didn't realise the FJ sprue could be so handy for building yanks!
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 21, 2018, 11:36:52 am
Thanks Jimmy . Try your hand at some tank riders , you can use the kneeling guys and a couple of the standing types without any real hacking and slashing . I like to pick up BA sprues for kit bashing when they have their 1/2 price sale or last month they had a buy 3 ,pay for 2 sale . Its not a pain in the wallet to mess up a figure that set you back about .75 cents .   Here's my 251 with the crew bailing out . My inspiration was the  Tamiya model box cover from the 70s
(https://s9.postimg.org/8m47oeicr/G_HT.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/8m47oeicr/)
The guys inside had legs cut and bent to put one foot on the seats . The guys jumping over the sides had their legs removed and sutible ( whatever worked  ::) ) legs added . IMO its not the legs but its the arms you really have to worry about
(https://s9.postimg.org/eaaife25n/G_HT_1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/eaaife25n/)
It's getting them to look as if they are captured in a second of motion
(https://s9.postimg.org/pzei3dg9n/G_HT_2.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/pzei3dg9n/)
You can even get away with a bit of a strange look to the legs , if you've ever seen an athlete in slow motion you know the body moves in weird ways , at least that's my story ....
(https://s9.postimg.org/64sghabcr/G_HT_3.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/64sghabcr/)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 21, 2018, 12:21:02 pm
Its taken quite a while but I finally figured out which BA Russian  figures I used as tank riders . I probably built these guys 2 years ago and they've gone through a couple of up grades and changes . When 1st built each tank had 6 , now # 43 has 5 , plus  2 guys in the act of dismounting and # 44 has 8 , and I have an extra guy who can ride on 43 if I just want to show it in motion
(https://s9.postimg.org/agh26307f/43_L.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/agh26307f/)

(https://s9.postimg.org/y7gfo8xuj/43_S.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/y7gfo8xuj/)

(https://s9.postimg.org/4fjd935wb/43_R.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/4fjd935wb/)

(https://s9.postimg.org/3q0kwqksb/43_x.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/3q0kwqksb/)
1. figure # 25 2. # 20 3. #33 4. #31 5. # 25 with # 21 left leg
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 21, 2018, 12:34:10 pm
Tank # 44
(https://s9.postimg.org/42rz30q8b/44_L.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/42rz30q8b/)

(https://s9.postimg.org/ub33sei1n/44_S.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/ub33sei1n/)

(https://s9.postimg.org/f2d6emw2z/44_R.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/f2d6emw2z/)


(https://s9.postimg.org/f2d6eoe3f/44_x.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/f2d6eoe3f/)
The figures 1. # 31 2. # 20 * 3. #24 * 4. #33 5. # 20 6. # 20 * 7. # 33 * 8. # 19 *  ( the * means I hacked up the legs to make the figures sit  ) That part is a lot of trial & error , with just minimum glue to see if the figure will work . You can hide mistakes with carefully placed pouches and packs , and green stuff becomes a very handy as well . If I had to do them over I would probably glue them together as one group of 8 or 2 groups of 4 , making them removable ( magnets ? )  instead of  gluing them onto the tank  If you look carefully . you will notice figure # 4 has a quilted jacket and regular arms   . After 2 years I notice this  :-[ . The clear vodka bottle is a shortened  1/35 Tamiya part  , you never know what you might find in the parts box  :D
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 21, 2018, 04:32:04 pm
Excellent work Ripley, inspiring.

PSC heavy weapons sprue here:http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/psc-soviet-infantry-heavy-weapons.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/psc-soviet-infantry-heavy-weapons.html)

BA russian infantry sprue here:http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/warlord-games-kv1kv-2-tank.html (http://ultravanillasmurf.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/warlord-games-kv1kv-2-tank.html)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 21, 2018, 10:08:03 pm
I can see a few of those PSC figures that might benefit from a arm swap or two , but a lot of them look like way too much work to get a viable different looking figure . You got your work cut out for you .  Nice work on the KV I . What do you think about the ki tand its mistakes ?
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: Tracks on February 22, 2018, 02:20:14 am
(https://s9.postimg.org/pzei3dg9n/G_HT_2.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/pzei3dg9n/)
(https://s9.postimg.org/64sghabcr/G_HT_3.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/64sghabcr/)

I really like how you have the German infantry (passengers) jumping out from the side of the half-track.
Are they removable or are they permanently fixed?
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 22, 2018, 08:48:01 am
They are removable . I managed to get 4  full guys in the half track ( plus a dwarf driver  ::) ) and then added the 2 jumpers .  I have a couple of guys I can have at the rear that look like they exited the rear doors .  As well my 251 / 10 with the 37mm gun has 4 crew plus driver and my 251/ 7 Engineer's track has 3 plus driver . All  figures in the HT rear can be removed to show a knocked out  vehicle  , and they ( mostly ) can be switched around to another HT . . Hoping at some time to build some dead figures for the HT rear .
(https://s9.postimg.org/gn5xt5mcb/251-1.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/gn5xt5mcb/)

(https://s9.postimg.org/5nkqhkj2j/251_-_10.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/5nkqhkj2j/)
You'll find more pictures of these on my German Troop Transports thread from about a year ago .
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on February 22, 2018, 08:12:57 pm
Nice.

On the subject of persons of reduced stature, I did find a use for the passengers included in the BA 251D kit as drivers for the half tracks. It still required Mechanicum level modifications to get them to fit.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on February 22, 2018, 08:39:16 pm
My drivers are the JTFM resin half track crew . While they look great , they' re not 28mm heroic in size , so they looked out of place next to BA figures  , maybe could pass as HJ  ?  Being a nice soft resin it was easy to cut and file them down to fit in the driver's seat .
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on March 05, 2018, 03:20:46 am
Not a WW2 model but.

I found Warlord Firelock Storming Party and Parliamentary  infantry box sets while looking for something else in the loft.

I am building a pair of small skirmish forces and need some dashing heroic types to command them.

This is the start of the sword arm for one of the officers.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z66wCloz2Yc/WpxB5NVjnxI/AAAAAAAADRs/n-51zDtV_C0KbIhfwGsVp1muLz0IcUsgACLcBGAs/s1600/17ctv-1.png)

This is being built with the left arm from the drummer and the drawn sword, both from the Officer sprue.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on March 07, 2018, 08:46:37 am
Would it have been easier to just cut off the sword hand or is the sword going from a right hand ( Officer arm ) to left hand ( Drummer arm ) ?
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on March 07, 2018, 03:28:03 pm
Would it have been easier to just cut off the sword hand or is the sword going from a right hand ( Officer arm ) to left hand ( Drummer arm ) ?
It is a sword on its own, and unfortunately there are no left hand swords.

For the other ensign I will be scratch building a left hand from the fife and using a sheathed sword.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on March 07, 2018, 09:11:47 pm
Sounds like  you have some interesting conversions on the go , how about some work in progress photos ?
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on March 09, 2018, 04:30:44 pm
Work in progress Ensign.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmhManuKER0/WqG9bOPj32I/AAAAAAAADSA/JcwuDqlcLyQcQwjtH0ssJBtACdvhiE9UwCLcBGAs/s1600/17ctv-3.png)
The Firelock Storming Party has one body and two arms - I managed to get two identical arms in the photograph. They will look slightly different when they get their hats (from the line infantry sprues).
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on March 09, 2018, 04:31:51 pm
I think the loader needs a head transplant.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-laW1TY7NnyY/WqG-88MhCNI/AAAAAAAADSw/pO5jERUXVAsq6vFSnNTUDNjgteVDD5s0ACLcBGAs/s1600/sov-mtr-1.png)
PSC Soviets.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on March 09, 2018, 09:43:57 pm
The loader does lok  a little weird . Are those the PSC Russians ? I always thought the helmets ( I only have their  AT gun kit ) look more US in style than Ivan , so I replaced them with BA heads . Your guy with the sword looks really good , nice job
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on March 10, 2018, 01:33:50 am
Thanks.

Yes they do look more like US helmets. The loader should be easy, the other one less so.

Edited the post, yes they are the PSC Soviets.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on March 10, 2018, 02:32:33 am
Maybe a sharp chisel point blade , remove at neck and wrists . Replace head and hands with BA bits ? At least that's what I would try . Or razor saw both arms at shoulders , chisel neck , and then remove head and hands . Could be a tricky one , but those ones ( when they work  ::) ) are the most fun kit bashes
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on March 14, 2018, 06:52:32 am
So I have modified the loader.

First I removed the head with a razor saw.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4YVm1jpeHms/WqgsJdfiQnI/AAAAAAAADUM/au6O_SFh5q4ihs0xliBhUus7ezppUqnrgCLcBGAs/s1600/sov-mtr1-2.png)
I then cleaned it up and drilled out a socket for the head.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EmB7i0qE0Ao/WqgsJQGCatI/AAAAAAAADUU/sjjBwmO4vU0blH8IhpJ3MoJgFMAjHPqEQCLcBGAs/s1600/sov-mtr1-3.png)
Added the head.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-og4NTmLZBxg/WqgsJY2HTpI/AAAAAAAADUQ/r4FAfwNlpxIMCvs2THIn3BdC8yGr18-ggCLcBGAs/s1600/sov-mtr1-4.png)
I should have added an ammunition box to the base.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-51OfEd2F_h4/WqgsKW2F8nI/AAAAAAAADUc/tK005ipK-iQdenRx3Civ9QzFDqGXqWz9QCLcBGAs/s1600/sov-mtr1-6.png)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on March 14, 2018, 07:38:43 am
That turned out pretty good . Are you going to try ( risk ) the other guy as well ?
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on March 14, 2018, 04:02:46 pm
That turned out pretty good . Are you going to try ( risk ) the other guy as well ?
Yes. As it is cold in Russia, I  can claim he is wearing thick gloves.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: Tracks on March 14, 2018, 04:38:45 pm
That turned out pretty good . Are you going to try ( risk ) the other guy as well ?
Yes. As it is cold in Russia, I  can claim he is wearing thick gloves.

Looking forward to seeing the results. It will be a very tricky head remove and replace procedure.

The crew putting a shell down the tube look better with the new head. I'm tempted to do the same thing.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on March 14, 2018, 08:17:14 pm
New heads make the PSC guys look so much better . And once you figure out how to do it by sacrificing a couple of figures , these body part swaps get easier
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on March 16, 2018, 03:48:03 am
So the second crewman now has a new head.

The head was removed by using a razor saw to cut the wrists and a scalpel to remove the head.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4hcneB_eUNM/WqrK87juEXI/AAAAAAAADVI/RuFwxVmBhKU-tZXVVQYTN1zwfE5yxoV4ACLcBGAs/s1600/sov-mtr2-2.png)

After cleaning up, a hole was drilled to take the neck stub of the replacement head.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SSiTbp9nRdI/WqrK9CD85uI/AAAAAAAADVM/HFTuoflE8NAhPLbkkwGUwtQ4gAJqgli6gCLcBGAs/s1600/sov-mtr2-4.png)

The right wrist was trimmed back to allow the head to fit.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1n_eCx7bZgQ/WqrK9h6od_I/AAAAAAAADVU/5Y-PsPyhZww5RvTTU8H06X10HBMKjs4JgCLcBGAs/s1600/sov-mtr2-5.png)
The left hand will be sculpted below the helmet (covering the left ear) but I could not get the right wrist to align so the figure will be bracing the helmet with the right hand.

Sculpting the hands comes next.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on March 16, 2018, 07:22:28 am
Nice surgical work there .  Could you possibly use half hands , like his fingers are up under his helmet , palms pressed against his ears ?What you would see is minimal , might be easier than sculpting .
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on March 16, 2018, 04:51:12 pm
Nice surgical work there .  Could you possibly use half hands , like his fingers are up under his helmet , palms pressed against his ears ?What you would see is minimal , might be easier than sculpting .
That is the plan for the left hand, the right hand will need a full sculpt.
Here is one I did earlier.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gm8S3YRGv5c/UC9RmoX-E4I/AAAAAAAAAPM/yq1cYTm1WOM/s1600/TLSCaptainExperimentalweapon1.png)
Left hand "sculpted" on a Crooked Dice TLS security with a Hasslefree V.E.R.A gun.

A lot better effort than my ongoing sculpt of hands holding batons for Adrianne.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on March 16, 2018, 08:38:26 pm
Looks good , I'll have to try sculpting hands . I usually cut , bend and sand BA plastic  hands into the shapes needed . Usually have to do about 4 to get one that I don't loose to the carpet monster  ::)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ultravanillasmurf on March 17, 2018, 04:53:27 pm
The key thing is starting with the right size of ball of greenstuff.

Once I find the right size, I will let you know.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: Tracks on June 01, 2018, 12:55:52 am
These are not my figure, but I just had to share this with others.
Another great example of the Power of Plastic.
Checkout the link below to learn more about this "Plastic Surgery".

http://iagsmgm.blogspot.com/2018/04/mg-42-team.html

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-69cgFpBWRgg/Wlx_jzqn5cI/AAAAAAAAD9Y/alxje4XE7Ng0ns0KTqfo_MrwEtTCOt4HACLcBGAs/s640/3.jpg)

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDvZAQh99Ig/Wlx_kl93evI/AAAAAAAAD9c/ijEysALP4KokL2aq3hHWJ9kmarg29SQ6ACLcBGAs/s640/4.jpg)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: Pinky on June 01, 2018, 10:20:39 am
Once I find the right size, I will let you know.

;D
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: Tracks on June 02, 2018, 05:17:09 am
Again, these are not my figures, but another good example of the Power of Plastic.
The link below has more detail:

http://iagsmgm.blogspot.com/2018/05/ieig18-infantry-gun.html

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CX3uW0lTgTM/Wv1i2rcmI5I/AAAAAAAAEtQ/HZBOd3dgfJMJpdS73TYnfzM2KgHcteamwCLcBGAs/s640/001.jpg)

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-On-Vh20RlCU/Wv1mcLezN5I/AAAAAAAAEuQ/bGGhmXf35agWE9QaEAU3Ri-EhiBoMCYjACLcBGAs/s640/90.jpg)

As good as that scratch built IeIG18 infantry gun looks, it must have taken a lot of hours to make it.
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: ripley on June 02, 2018, 08:16:43 am
Awesome stuff on his blog  . I'm taking notes  :D
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: Tracks on September 18, 2020, 03:08:49 pm
Another good example of the "Power of Plastic". In this case scratch built 2 pounder anti tank guns. One for the Aussies in the Pacific theater the other for a future project: British 8th army in the Desert theater. Note the use of Perry Miniatures for the crew figures - nice choice.

Details here:
http://iagsmgm.blogspot.com/2019/01/australian-scratch-built-2-pounder-anti.html

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NCtAR248xjk/XCN3GPz7lHI/AAAAAAAAFlc/IN_nDNPcOq0LtJ39mGY4cfHja9MAp4btQCLcBGAs/s640/P1012565.JPG)
Title: Re: Power to the Plastic ! ( 1/56 figure kit bashes )
Post by: neffer38 on September 29, 2020, 05:37:30 pm
I still think i see some metal in there!  ;) Dashing looking hats