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Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
https://www.joecustoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=18055		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Spin Doctor [ Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:51 am ]
Post subject:  Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
I've wanted that Heavy Metal (a.k.a. "Rampage") figure since seeing the ROC mobile command center, but I've already got a command center and don't need one in blue. So I set about making myself a Heavy Metal.
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I made a couple of stylistic choices -- like the big brown leather gloves instead of the little green ones and the baggy green pants instead of the tight flights -- to give him a bit more of an old-school tanker feel.
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Then I decided to tweak the Thunder ("Thunderblast") that came with the latest version of the armadillo.
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Overall I was fine with the figure, but I felt the omission of the headphones was a huge minus. So I gave him a new helmet that also has the virtue of matching Heavy Metal's.
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And finally, something everyone's been doing since the Cobra Island seven packs came out, but I put my own twist on it. Unlike the Outback figure (which I hated so much I completely scratch built a substitute) I was pretty good with their interpretation of Wet Suit. I just felt he was missing a few critical details like the boots, short sleeves and his signature helmet.
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Plus, I wanted to give him a suitable unmasked head.
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So what do you guys think?
Author:  Kilcarr [ Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
That Heavy Metal is EXACTLY what Hasbro should have done. From the waist up, Hasbro's version is good, but those scrawny legs dont say "Tank Commander" to me as much as they say "Ballet Dancer".
Author:  Spin Doctor [ Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
Glad you dig him.

Thanks.
Author:  danielb [ Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
heavy metal and wetsuit are great.

really like that head for wetsuit too, is that from a starwars comic pack?

thunder i like where it is going, but I do love the little dilly bopper antennas, the OG figure had, unrealistic and unneeded in these modern times but I love them.
Author:  Chief [ Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
Awesome job on Heavy Metal - consider him borrowed.

What color yellow did you use to match the helmet on WetSuit? did you have to mix anything, or does such a color exist in its entirety?
Author:  bucky [ Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
I am really enjoying the wet-suit fix. how exactly do you swap lower arms like that? I've never been able to pop those off with ease. I tried heating them up and they warped on another figure.

what color paint did you match that helmet too?

I like the idea of a non-torpedo head as well, gives him more character. I'm going to have to do that. I'll try to find a head that looks like the old curly hair rendition form the toon.
Author:  Jay [ Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
bucky wrote:
I am really enjoying the wet-suit fix. how exactly do you swap lower arms like that? I've never been able to pop those off with ease. I tried heating them up and they warped on another figure.

I never tried it but I always figured it was just boil'n'pop.
Author:  drbindy [ Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
everything looks good. The only helpful critique I might give is that Thunder's neck seems a bit long, but that might just be the pic
Author:  Stormavik [ Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
All the updates are nice, but the Heavy metal steals the show. He definitely looks old school with the heavy clothes and the thicker legs.
Author:  Spin Doctor [ Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
Thanks, guys.

For arm separations, I always use the boil-n-pop method. Never steers me wrong.

Wet Suit's paint is a custom mix (like just about all of my paints), incorporating a Rustoleum yellow and a Krylon red. Stuff starts to set up fast, so once you mix it, you won't have long to work with it before it gets gloppy. Then you have to wait about 1o hours (for the tackiness to dry) before you can applyu another coat (which, with this color, was a necessity). But once it's dry, it's pretty darned sturcy. I used a similar mix on the top of the lower legs to match his toothpaste green suit and the paint doesn't rub at all in the joint.

I think Thunder's neck is long, now that you mention it. Came from the factory that way, but that doesn't mean I can't fix it.

I appreciate everyone taking the time to look and to comment.
Author:  pluv [ Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
Heavy Metal is perfect. All of the stylistic choices you made make sense. I'd buy that.

I've seen all of those mods for Wet-Suits but this is the first time I've seen them all put together into one custom. This is one of the few times I would send this picture to Hasbro to show them what to make next time.
Author:  drbindy [ Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
Spin - I don't have Thunder yet, so I didn't even appreciate that it was sitting there as it did out of the package, head and neck wise. lol. But the problem is that Res. Duke base fig - the neck is huge to begin with, and if they just popped another stock head on it, then every Thunder will have the elongated neck syndrome. I've had that issue on every Res. Duke custom I've made, and have to either drill out the head (if there's enough room) or reposition the neck.

Oh, and I really didn't give enough props before for Heavy Metal. Such simple parts choices leading to such a great look and effect. I'm really appreciating that one more each time I look.
Author:  C_Money_Collins [ Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
I love the head on Wet Suit. Is that from a Star Wars comic pack?

The mixed spray paints look awesome. I have to try that.
Author:  past nastification [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
All are wins!
Author:  Tanstoys [ Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Heavy Metal, Thunder and a Wet Suit fix
wetsuit and heavy metal rock...love the baggy pants for him good choice. Thunder is fine too just not into the character.You know you always do good work spin.....
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