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Head Swapping
Head swapping is probably the most performed task in kitbashing. You find the perfect body but the head isn't to your
liking so what do you do?
The first thing I usually do when I open a figure( after checking it out thouroughly) is undress it and using a hair
dryer(I've heard that hot water works to) to soften the head. Using a small jewelers flat head screwdriver, I pry the head
off. Next I enlarge the opening in the neck using a drimmel tool and a conical grinding bit. Care must be taken with this
technique as it is easy to enlarge it too much. After grinding the hole, I test the fit on the new body. I like this technique
because it allows for all of my heads to be easily swappable and make character design quicker and easier.
Another trick for head modification is to cut slits in the soft rubber ring inside the neck hole at 3,6,9,12 O'clock.
This allows the heads to be taken off easier but you still have to "urge" the head on.
Swapping body parts
Along with the variety in figures there is also a diverse variety in body parts. How many times have you pulled a foot
off of a figure while removing boots? Or torn the hands off of a figure? What do you do? Here is the answer. Using a hair
dryer(again hot water is said to work) heat up the area of the body above what you wish to replace(forearm for hands, calves
for feet etc...) Once the palstic is soft, you can then work the peg out of the part with out damaging it.(note, I have torn
many hands and feet heating them rather than the part they attatch to due to the plastic softening during heating). You can
then replace the new part on the old figure and get back to playing.
Other body parts can be removed as well by applying heat to them. Knees, elbow, shoulder, and thighs can be removed by
working the ring out of the retainer pins once the plastic is soft. NOTE: This technique does not apply to all action figures
as some are constucted differently.
Customizing tricks
Adding whiskers and shadows
This is one of my favorite things to do to my guys. facial hair. I know of two methods to achieve fine results. The fast
and easy way is simply drybrushing it onto the figure and wiping it off. This stains the face slightly and gives the look
of hair growth. My preferred method is a little more time consuming and tedious. First I clean the head to remove any oils
from it and then I pick up my trusty exacto knife. I then proceed to poke small slits(a sharp point can be used but I use
a blade to get elongated slits rather than holes). After poking the face I then paint over the slits with acryllic paint and
immmediately wpie it off. The paint stays in the slits and any excess on the face can be removed with a wet rag or swab. I
usually have to repeat the proceedure a few times to get the desired results but look at RJ and tell me if it's worth it.
Goatees, Beards and Hair
As you look at my collection, you will notice a few members with custom "hair" on them. I use some stuff called epoxy
putty tape but sculpy and other resinous forming material can be used. This stuff is really easy to work with and the results
are only limited by your own imagination.
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