Howlrunner
Master Member
One of my early projects back in 2009 (wow, was it really 5 years ago now?!) was to modify the Hasbro 12" toys to make them more accurate. My early attempt (v1.0):
At the time I was happy with them but now 5 years on, and inspired by the modifications that Kingk has done to his Chip and the video of a modified Archer posted by mebill4 on YouTube, I had to have another go at upgrading the figures (v2.0).....
As before I started with Hasbro's 12" electronic talking Chip Hazard, but this time I gutted the electronics, removed the push switches and filled all holes, completely sanded off his dog tags, communicator and grenade and repainted the whole figure from top to bottom. I also sanded down the horribly chunky elbow joints and resculpted them along with parts of the upper and lower arm. I removed the head, cut away the neck, heated the vinyl head and reshaped it, then sculpted a new neck in. I moulded the communicator and grenade from the Chip Hazard 3D Paint model and made resin casts to add to this Chip. And I added real chain for the dog tags (which I'm still looking at options for to get made). The final result is a HUGE improvement on the original figure AND my first attempt at modification:
Last time I used the Hasbro 12" Archer to modify. THIS time I got myself the Hasbro 12" electronic talking Archer (very different sculpt). I was originally put off by this version 5 years ago by the horrible huge green medallion built into his chest, but this time I'd tackle it as the overall figure (especially the head) is a much better sculpt. On this one I filled the gap between the loin cloth and "buckle", sanded off the medallion chain, opened him up and removed the electronics, push buttons and clear green plastic medallion, and then filled and resculpted all the holes, including the huge chest cavity left by the original medallion. I added the quiver and arrows from the Archer 3D Paint model (with the arrow shafts replaced by lengths of STRAIGHT wooden skewers) and repainted the figure from top to bottom. Finished him off with a resin cast of the medallion from the Archer 3D Paint model I moulded and a real chain.
All in all, MUCH happier with these two. Short of the illusive SoftGarage statues or a cast from the real deal, these are my ultimate Small Soldiers figures.
At the time I was happy with them but now 5 years on, and inspired by the modifications that Kingk has done to his Chip and the video of a modified Archer posted by mebill4 on YouTube, I had to have another go at upgrading the figures (v2.0).....
As before I started with Hasbro's 12" electronic talking Chip Hazard, but this time I gutted the electronics, removed the push switches and filled all holes, completely sanded off his dog tags, communicator and grenade and repainted the whole figure from top to bottom. I also sanded down the horribly chunky elbow joints and resculpted them along with parts of the upper and lower arm. I removed the head, cut away the neck, heated the vinyl head and reshaped it, then sculpted a new neck in. I moulded the communicator and grenade from the Chip Hazard 3D Paint model and made resin casts to add to this Chip. And I added real chain for the dog tags (which I'm still looking at options for to get made). The final result is a HUGE improvement on the original figure AND my first attempt at modification:
Last time I used the Hasbro 12" Archer to modify. THIS time I got myself the Hasbro 12" electronic talking Archer (very different sculpt). I was originally put off by this version 5 years ago by the horrible huge green medallion built into his chest, but this time I'd tackle it as the overall figure (especially the head) is a much better sculpt. On this one I filled the gap between the loin cloth and "buckle", sanded off the medallion chain, opened him up and removed the electronics, push buttons and clear green plastic medallion, and then filled and resculpted all the holes, including the huge chest cavity left by the original medallion. I added the quiver and arrows from the Archer 3D Paint model (with the arrow shafts replaced by lengths of STRAIGHT wooden skewers) and repainted the figure from top to bottom. Finished him off with a resin cast of the medallion from the Archer 3D Paint model I moulded and a real chain.
All in all, MUCH happier with these two. Short of the illusive SoftGarage statues or a cast from the real deal, these are my ultimate Small Soldiers figures.
