I've have adding a thin layer of brush on superglue to the lower part of torsos and upper legs before adding my last layer of paint.

I also have been using car wax at the end to said areas to keep from parts sticking together. I use Mod Podge, too, but it's not as good as my super glue step.

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I was using satin mod podge, it's supposed to act as a sealer. I had tried matte on some test parts but it dried much too flat. The satin dried ok, but the hips and waist kept sticking which caused the paint rub on Machete. I know it can be used as a glue for diorama terrain, so I'll save it for that in the future.

I finally got around to cleaning all the paint off of the affected parts, I'm going to re-sand a few key spots and paint them again. Once that's done I'm going to try using DuraClear Matte Varnish. On the test parts it dried to just the right sheen I wanted, hopefully it will be durable enough.

In the meantime, I've spent most of my customizing time working on my new diorama building. The exterior is painted up, lots of layers and weathering. Just glued the vent in today, and will be installing the window tonight. After that I have to finish the door and get started on the roof.

The figures look great so far.

Nice work blending the Mutt Williams jacket w ARAH parts.

The building's weathering/texturing is so convincing that I would have just assumed it was a real rusted vent on a wall if I had only seen the image by itself.

Finished the building yesterday, I've not had as much customizing time as I expected lately . I used only materials I already had on hand.

I'm very happy with how the texture turned out, lots of thin layers of washes and dry brushing to bring out the detail.

The roof is some corrugated craft paper I've had for ages and forgot I had. It was sprayed metallic silver, then mounted on chipboard. The weathering/rust was done with acrylic paint. Layer after layer of watered down burnt umber, terra cotta, and a little bit of pure pumpkin last. After each layer was applied in random spots and patterns, I would use the brush to remove some of the paint and blend it around.

The vent is made from bass wood, as is the window and doorframe. The glass is just saved packaging plastic. The door is two layers of chipboard glued together with bass wood for the handle. I was going to add some real hinges, but they weren't necessary. The door is removable.

I based this project loosely off a prop building that the legendary Outrider made for his pics. His I believe was made from cardboard with a printed exterior.

I plan to make a few more dio buildings when I can. Next one will be either brick or grey concrete.

really great looking!

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Dreadnok Machete by scarrviper, on Flickr


All right, at long last Dreadnok Machete is finished. I would have posted this yesterday but I'm having issues attaching files directly in the forum.

For what should have been a relatively simple custom wound up being a long drawn out mess, as I tried and failed several times to prevent paint rub. Thankfully I've finally solved that. This was one of those projects where frustration leads to putting it aside until you're ready to do it right.

I can't take credit for the recipe, that credit goes to my friend Flatline who made his take on the character in 2018. Once I realized I had most of the parts to make my own version I knew I had to do it. However there was one piece that eluded me until this year - the Mutt jacket. For being such a huge pegwarmer the supply seemed to have dried up. Plus I didn't want to spend too much $ for that one piece. I finally found 5 of them locally for about the price of 1 online.

Head - Leatherneck v4
Torso - Armadillo with Mutt Williams Jacket - back and sides of torso sanded down so the jacket would fit properly
Arms - Headhunter with Rapid Fire hands - the headhunter hands were damaged so they had to be replaced
Waist & Legs - Ripper v1

Accessories -
- shotgun is a spytroops era weapon, but I don't know who it came with in silver, I got it loose in a lot. If anyone knows who it came with let me know.
- the machete is a v1 Muskrat machete spray painted silver, but I'd like to find him a better one.

As for his character, I don't know of an official backstory. I wish we knew more about what was planned at Hasbro before everything was cancelled and shuffled around after VvV. Flatline chose to make him a character who idolized greasers of the 1950s and met the 'noks after a bar fight in Arizona. He's seen as a good-looking smooth talker compared to the others. I can see him and my eventual custom of Storm Rider being two of the more inconspicuous Dreadnoks who can blend in better in public while on missions for Zartan.

he looks great!

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oh man! i opened a pic in new window and have been looking through all your flicker pics. the horror pics are so awesome, your horror dios 1000% realistic and made with an astounding amount of detail! i just started the 2nd versions of freddy,jason, and mike to get them in line with my leatherface. your pics are so inspiring!

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Thanks, glad you like my work.

that building looks great. appreciate the attention to detail

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