Several months ago, I received an email from someone commenting on my custom work and was asked about my lack of Cobra customs and how come I don't do more of them. I guess you could say that this gave me a reason to finally finish a few Cobra customs I had in the works for a while.

First up is the Range Viper. A much well-deserved makeover for one of my favorite Cobra troops.



RANGE VIPERS- Cobra Wilderness Troopers
Parts used:
Whole Figure- Range Viper 90
AK-47- Marauder Inc.
Knife- Leatherneck 93
Backpack- Cobra CLAWS 02

I always liked Range Vipers but my only problem with them was, of course everybody's problem with them, their unusual color scheme. I doubt they can blend in the wilderness with blue, black, grey, and yellow uniforms so I decided to give them a more practical and environment-friendly look. A simple green and brown camouflage scheme works so much better. I also decided to do away with all the heavy equipment and gave them equipment that is easier to maintain for long periods in the bush and won't slow them down.
I think this finally gives the Range Viper some dignity and respect for their fearsome visage and superior outdoor skills.




I'm sure you are quite curious as to whom the odd fellow standing with the Range Vipers is so without any further delay, I present an original creation of mine,(not the name, of course.) Cobra Range Viper Commander, Bushmaster.


Bushmaster- Cobra Range Viper Commander
Parts used:
Head, arms, waist, legs- Range Viper 90
Torso- Alpine 85
AK-74 and machete- Maruader Inc.
Backpack- Spearhead 88

I never was a big fan of the Skullbuster character but I did like the idea of a Range Viper leader. I decided the Range Vipers needed a leader of a slightly different sort, one whose survival skills go beyond just what is learned in a classroom but also acquired through born circumstance and using one's deeper, primordial instincts.

BIO
Bushmaster was once a child soldier with anti-government forces fighting in the jungles of Angola. Growing up in the bush, he learns guerilla warfare, fighting with nothing more than what he can get his hands on. His uncanny skill in improvised munitions is both remarkable and frightening. An incredibly gifted tracker and hunter, he learned how to forage and survive under the harshest of conditions, all while evading the enemy. Upon adulthood, he spent time as a mercenary in conflicts throughout Africa and the Middle East, eventually catching the attention of COBRA. Hired originally as a survival instructor for the RANGE VIPERS, he is soon given their command after the mysterious death of the previous RANGE VIPER commander, SKULLBUSTER, in a field training exercise. A very vicious and brutal man who believes deeply that only the strong survive and will not hesitate to do what is necessary to maintain the survival of himself and his troops. Speaks 6 languages, an expert marksman, and a skilled medic.

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NICE these customs are bad ass my man ALLWAYS great to see anything new from you my man.

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Oh, mama. Those are beautiful. Your paintjobs are outstanding, as usual, but the thing that really makes these guys work is how simple the whole thing is: you took a really good figure and made it great with a much-improved color scheme.

And, speaking of simple...well, Bushmaster is just the opposite, but even more awesome. That's an Alpine chest under there? Wow...I'm not sure I would have been able to identify it. I love the necklace, too: this guy has as much character sculpted into him as the best of Hasbro's named Cobras.

I can't say enough good things about these guys, so I'll let everybody else have at it. Nicely done, sir.

Right on Steve I keep looking at these and they really do look dope.

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I have been sitting at my computer looking at these for the past 20 minutes. Once again you have knocked it out of the park with these guys. The camo is great but the Bushmaster is just fantastic, the torso works so well, I really can't add anything to what Steve already said about how great these look. Great work.

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I honestly felt the opposite. It is a cool paint job but I was underwhlemed compared to your previous work...until I saw the group of them with Bushmaster. Actually doing a set of them makes the "normal" camo ok from you. But Bushmaster is amazing.

I was looking at that torso too trying to see Alpine in there and I couldn't. I still barely vaguely might see it now knowing which one you used. Amazing. And the camo pattern on him is just slightly more complex with more branches to the stripes.

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Sir Livevil, you are my hero.........
Those are true beauties, that's what Range Vipers should look like!

Tim 121RVC

These look terrific! These are so stolen

OB

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Ditto...I've got all the fodder parts to make them right now.


LIVEVIL's name on a custom means looking at the thread is a no-brainer.

I am very impressed with these. Another home run...

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Lovely stuff. I might try to 'borrow' Bushmaster too, but in the modern style. Excellent painting and parts.

Wow, just ....wow....

Ditto. I haven't done anything with my ARAH parts in so long, I miss them. But with my 7-packs on the way I'll have two Range Vipers in modern style that I'm already not happy with. Bushmaster is an inspired.

I give Bushmaster 10/10! Pure awesome.

They look nice, but the switch of torso for Bushmaster is great. The original RV torso doesn't work great for me because they didn't came with a chain fed weapon. Giving Bushmaster a more useful torso looks great.

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Fantastic, I love the color scheme on the leader.

I agree with everything said above. Using Alpine's torso is pure genius - or evil. I really didn't recognize it at all, and am amazed at how well it looks on Bushmaster.

I've been lacking motivation for the past few months, and can't seem to do anything new. But these are the kinds of customs that make me want to go back home immediately and get in creative mode!

I really like the level of detailing on the vest, through washes and fine painting. Although it's something that wasn't done on production figures, I like how it brings out all the small sculpt details. ZombieGuide and yourself are masters at doing that kind of small detailing on ARAH figures - kudos to you!