Upgrading a Hasbro Rancor EU version

[Bloop]

Looks great! As far as the color, I like your redder tone. I also tend to prefer emulating the screen look of something like this versus the original prop, but it's always tough to decide. The OT blu-rays, for example, were oddly color graded, so they don't match the look of previous video versions, or the original colors that were seen in an actual movie theater. So there's a lot of variation out there, not to mention how you plan to light the model in your home.

On another note, I always wondered if articulated figures liuke this could be "skinned" with a thin rubber or fabric to hide the articulation points, while still maintaining flexibility. Not that you need to do something like that, but I was curious if anybody has successfully tried doing something like that.

Great work, keep it up!

 

[Sym-Cha]

Thanks Bloop ... and it's like you said ... it already makes a great difference in color if I shoot pictures of my Rancor in bright daylight or on a cloudy day.

Chaïm

 

[joberg]

Really looking great...that paint job is surely making a huge difference with each update

 

[Sym-Cha]

Thanks so much joberg ... it's been very daunting at times ... a steep learning curve ... and I have to admit I'm loving it that my Rancor is so near to be complete ...

Chaïm

 

[Sym-Cha]

Today I had a rare moment in my kitchen with the sunlight ... so I present to you the Rancor in movie technicolor :

Yesterday I added a little bit more green to the shoulders and spine and the back of his head :

Weathered his shoulder spikes to be less prominent and did some touch ups on his tongue :

One thing remains to be made and that's his manacle also known as his right wrist cuff, I'm scratchbuilding one to be revealed soon :

To be continued . . .

Chaïm

 

[Analyzer]

I love how it looks with the "dramatic lighting" effect

 

[Sym-Cha]

Well today I managed to get the Rancor's manacle or wrist cuffs made. I used some random plastic pieces to scratch build the part, some faux leather and magic sculpt ... this is what it looks like before applying paint :

And of course I had to gather some metal rings, which will be attached when everything is done and the manacle can be put on the Rancor's arm :

To be continued . . .

Chaïm

 

[kickman88]

I just found this today and have to say, Wow, this is totally awesome!!! And right after that I went to ebay to see what kind of availability there was for a similar model...keep up the amazing work Chaim!

 

[Sym-Cha]

Thanks kickman88 ... it's been a labour of love to recreate the Return of the Jedi Rancor ... thanks for your many 'likes' as well

Chaïm

 

[Analyzer]

Those cuffs look awesome!

 

[ABE]

looks amazing, congrats

 

[Sym-Cha]

Thanks Analyzer and ABE ... I'm pretty pleased with how the shape of those wrist cuffs finally turned out ... I had to become rather creative into making them bendable and work for real, so I could test-fit them whenever need be before permanently attaching the cuffs on the Rancor's right wrist. This next picture was the inspiration to scratch build those wrist cuffs/manacle as close to the original as I could :

Dennis Muren (on the left) and Phil Tippett with the Rancor puppet, ILM San Rafael courtesy Lucasfilm Ltd.

Next up painting those wrist cuffs ... to be continued.

Chaïm

 

[Haui]

Looking good but what I'm missing is the slime in the mouth

 

[jusdrewit]

I agree, the skin colors looks very good. All you really need now is the slime in the mouth, and that shiny, sweaty look on the skin IMO

 

[Sym-Cha]

Haui ... you're correct but I wish I knew what they used to recreate that slime as seen in this behind the scenes picture :

Personally, of all the Rancor figures I've seen online which have somesort of glue-droplet hanging from the mouth, I was not very pleased with that permanent result.

jusdrewit ... you are correct, to make him movie-accurate he should shine all over his skin, while they filmed the Rancor they sprayed him with some moisture that's why he's so shiny and sweaty looking :

Personally as an action figure I prefer my Rancor to have a matt finish ... to protect the paint slightly I used a thin brushed layer of AK Ultra Matt Varnish.

Chaïm

 

[Analyzer]

For the slime stuff you might look into some of the water effects stuff like Woodland Scenics?

possibly use over clear fishing wire to give a base for the drip effect?

 

[Sym-Cha]

Well yesterday I finished the weathered paintjob on those wrist cuffs and today I attached them onto my Rancor's right arm :

Sofar I'm quite pleased with the endresult ... I never thought I had it in me

To be continued . . .

Chaïm

 

[bwize]

Sorry I missed this. Your transformation of this is astonishing! Love all the added details and the repaint looks spot on to his screen appearance.

 

[joberg]

Excellent job on the cuffs! You could always put some high gloss varnish (spray) on his tongue, teeth and at the corner of its mouth to imitate saliva.
Don't spray the whole thing with that high gloss; I think that the skin should remain in a mat finish as it is now.

 

[Sym-Cha]

So I scratchbuild some saliva drips using a thin transparant piece of elastic rubber, from a Han Solo action figure and some Mod Podge glossy glue . . . here's a test-fitting :

After taking and posting this picture I decided to use the Mod Podge around his gums and on his teeth, inside the mouth and on his tongue. It will give a shiny finish like saliva.

To be continued . . .

Chaïm