Here they are at long last... my custom Sarah Connor Chronicles action figures. I've made custom figures from 3 3/4" GI Joes before (which is what these are made from), but never anything this involved and never figures that were supposed to look like existing characters. It was a challenge and a half. But with a pile of GI Joe parts, a box of Super Sculpey, a Dremel Stylus with several grinding bits, lots of sandpaper, some razor blades, my trusty pocket knife, jars of paint, tiny brushes, a magnifying glass, sheer determination, gallons of coffee and a vision, I did it. And I'm really happy with how they turned out.
Special thanks to my husband, who patiently spent night after night alone on the couch watching reruns of Hogan's Heroes while I toiled away in my laboratory. Also to
cisaac for inspiring this project with "Want", a short fic about Ellison. And everyone who cheered me along in the process.
Click images to enlarge.

The pride of man, of parents as well, makes us believe that anything we create, we can control. Whether from clay or from metal, it is in the nature of us to make our own monsters. Our children, our alloys, all, built from our own imperfect flesh. We animate them with magic, and never truly know what they will do. - from episode 1.04 "Heavy Metal"

If you'd like to post any of my TSCC action figure photos anywhere, feel free, but please credit me and link back to this post.
I was pretty true to the show with these, so I'll explain where each figure's look comes from:
Sarah and Derek are wearing their clothes from the food court scene in "What He Beheld" (except I made the bit of Sarah's tank showing be black instead of light blue). John's outfit comes from "Gnothi Seauton" (except I made his long sleeves black instead of white). Oh and you'll notice there are 2 different heads for John — one with emo hair and one with short hair. I'm partial to the silly long hair for the action figure. Cameron's got on a bit of a mixture. Her upper half comes from "Queen's Gambit" (when she says "I call 9mm") and lower half from the end of "What He Beheld". Charley is in his EMT uniform from "Dungeons and Dragons". Ellison and Cromartie are dressed for the massacre in "What He Beheld". I guess I really liked the wardrobe from "What He Beheld".
I did take a few liberties with Cromartie because I found an abdomen piece with a fun longhorn steer belt buckle. Since he had on a western style shirt, I allowed myself some embellishment with that belt and the boots. And how could I put him in the "man in black" clothes without inflicting damage from the shootout? I couldn't, so I drilled some bullet wounds in him to match the scene. I also happened to have a GI Joe arm that looks suspiciously like an endoskeleton arm, so I took an extra picture with Cromartie sporting that as well.
Click images to enlarge.











If you want to see know how I made these, you can backtrack through the whole process here:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Package Design
>> 3 more characters made into action figures
Or take a cruise through my gallery of images from all the work on this project.
Special thanks to my husband, who patiently spent night after night alone on the couch watching reruns of Hogan's Heroes while I toiled away in my laboratory. Also to
Click images to enlarge.
The pride of man, of parents as well, makes us believe that anything we create, we can control. Whether from clay or from metal, it is in the nature of us to make our own monsters. Our children, our alloys, all, built from our own imperfect flesh. We animate them with magic, and never truly know what they will do. - from episode 1.04 "Heavy Metal"
If you'd like to post any of my TSCC action figure photos anywhere, feel free, but please credit me and link back to this post.
I was pretty true to the show with these, so I'll explain where each figure's look comes from:
Sarah and Derek are wearing their clothes from the food court scene in "What He Beheld" (except I made the bit of Sarah's tank showing be black instead of light blue). John's outfit comes from "Gnothi Seauton" (except I made his long sleeves black instead of white). Oh and you'll notice there are 2 different heads for John — one with emo hair and one with short hair. I'm partial to the silly long hair for the action figure. Cameron's got on a bit of a mixture. Her upper half comes from "Queen's Gambit" (when she says "I call 9mm") and lower half from the end of "What He Beheld". Charley is in his EMT uniform from "Dungeons and Dragons". Ellison and Cromartie are dressed for the massacre in "What He Beheld". I guess I really liked the wardrobe from "What He Beheld".
I did take a few liberties with Cromartie because I found an abdomen piece with a fun longhorn steer belt buckle. Since he had on a western style shirt, I allowed myself some embellishment with that belt and the boots. And how could I put him in the "man in black" clothes without inflicting damage from the shootout? I couldn't, so I drilled some bullet wounds in him to match the scene. I also happened to have a GI Joe arm that looks suspiciously like an endoskeleton arm, so I took an extra picture with Cromartie sporting that as well.
Click images to enlarge.
If you want to see know how I made these, you can backtrack through the whole process here:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Package Design
>> 3 more characters made into action figures
Or take a cruise through my gallery of images from all the work on this project.


Comments
Thanks :)
Seriously. Awe. *awe*
M.
G.
Those are so freaking awesome. I want my own set from Hasbro! They should totally, totally use those as masters and mass produce them. Those would be a hell of a lot of fun.
Personally, I'd have to say after all that work Sarah turned out to be my favorite of the lot. She looks perfect (even looks like Lena a bit).
Those are great and I am still in awe of what one line in a short fic brought about. You're crazy, but that was awesome.
Now, to get pictures of each cast member holding your Joe and the nerdgasm will be complete. ;)
EDIT: Hmmm. Didn't mean to make this a reply to another comment.... oh well! Ooops!
Edited at 2008-08-08 11:14 am (UTC)
I'm glad you like them since it was your story that got me going and I think you followed the project more than anyone else. It would have been a real letdown if they sucked in the end, eh? ;)
Now, to get pictures of each cast member holding your Joe and the nerdgasm will be complete. ;)
OMG yes.
It really is awesome and cool. I loved watching it happen and really enjoyed talking to you about it all and hopefully some of my tips helped in some meager way.
You are like so high on the 'nerd cool' ladder right now. ;)
Awesome. That's been my goal all along... to climb the nerd cool ladder :D
So, what's the plan with them now? Do they inhabit a shelf (hopefully where they can watch Season 2 with you -- it would be sad if they missed their RL selves), or do they get to re-enact your favorite scenes? Maybe a permanent display for them to inhabit when not in use?
Inquiring minds want to know.
The fun has only just begun!
'Why's that?'
'Because Mr. T just isn't going to fool anyone.'
'I terminate the fool who think I ain't gonna blend in.'
I can see Derek surrounded by Star Wars robots with a thought balloon of 'Well, crap.'
Cromartie staring down at R2D2: 'Say it again, I dare you.'
Ellison and an actual Roadblock figure staring at each other. 'Wait a minute...'
I can see the future security requests at cast appearances already. ;)
I guess Summer and Lena have had action figures made of them before for 300 and Firefly. I don't know if the Queen Gorgo one should count though since it looks nothing like Lena Headey.
How Batman* is that?
*cool
Edited at 2008-08-08 07:15 pm (UTC)
Thanks.
cute.
::shoves the fic he stayed up until 3 a.m. all this week working on back into the corner of the hard drive::
I was in a hurry when I posted earlier, so I want to say that the quality of detail on these are fantastic. You rock. You absolutely rock.
What is it about those wee hours of the night? They're magical, I tell ya. CReative things happen. So what's this fic you're sitting on? Is it TSCC or something else? Because if it's TSCC I'm going to want to read it, you know.
Also, you're under stocked in the icon department. Name some characters so I can make you a few.
Definitely. I think it's the lack of distractions, or maybe the way the brain unwinds towards the end of the day.
So what's this fic you're sitting on? Is it TSCC or something else?
It's Avatar, and nowhere near finished. I haven't been bitten by any TSCC plot bunnies, I'm afraid.
Also, you're under stocked in the icon department.
I keep meaning to make more (and learn how to make animated ones), or at least upload more of the ones I've gotten from other people.
Name some characters so I can make you a few.
What, from any series or from TSCC? 'Cause if it's the latter, I could go for a little badass Sarah and Cameron.
I can still make you a few, though. Any characters from any series.
That would be wonderful. Thank you. I'll stick to stuff you know for both our sakes, however.
I could go for some Aeryn Sun, preferably looking badass with a big gun, and Sarah Connor, likewise. Not only on their individual merits, but because as soon as I teach myself how to make animated icons I'm planning a "Warrior Women" themed montage.
Hey, that's from Batgirl right? Looks like Batgirl head-butting someone.
Right on both counts. Batgirl #13. This icon, too. (Both gifts from a fellow fan.) The headbutt is how she explains to somebody who tries to lie to her about how they're the good guy and the guy they were chasing down and trying to shoot was the bad guy that she won't stand for any such malarky.
Your kung-fu is the best.
I am truly amazed. You should ask around about getting a job doing stuff similar to this.
Thanks so much. :D