alexb
Glue slinger 
Posts: 689 
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Post by alexb on Dec 25, 2018 20:46:33 GMT
So I've been picking up 1/24 scale figure sets for a bit.
So the plan is to make a sci-fi scene using them. The problem with them is that most are designed to be posed with 1/24 auto models. Sets like the sci-fi Edge of the Universe and Pinups sets are kind of limited on use. For a common theme, I went sci-fi...it's something different and it let's me go bonkers.
The setting is a frontier settlement on Titan (maybe). Earth has had first contact and joined the Confederation, a union of independent member worlds. Many have similar genetic backgrounds and the general theory is that they were once all colonies of a primal race. Contact between these colonies was broken by a series of conflicts with other races, hence the colonies evolved separately.
The Terra system rises quickly due to its abundance in resources...primarily hydrogen which serves as the base fuel for every thing. Also, the Terra system's location kept it undetected for ages. The Confed has begun using the system to rebuild its forces. Several Confed races are very tight with the Terrans, seeing them as brethren. There's much more in what should be a "world-builder" theme. The races will be developed and so on.
I'm looking for a Borderlands vibe with a hefty dab of the US Old West fueled by tech. I call this Rosie's Cantina so it'll probably be a cantina...the name is a nod to a saloon in an old Marty Robbins song "El Paso"...my grandfather loved that stuff. Instead of Rosa's, per the song, I went with Rosie's because that's the name of the robot maid in the Jetsons...but it also works as a AC/DC reference "Whole Lotta Rosie".
Anyway, I'll start posting progress on this build soon. I have started some of the figures so it's a matter of organizing them with other figures. I plan on this being a long-term build...like the Tank Restoration one. So more figures are expected.
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Post by Boots on Dec 25, 2018 20:56:07 GMT
Sounds like one heckuva project Alex......  |
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Post by Paul B on Dec 25, 2018 21:49:27 GMT
Alex you don't do things by half do you  . This sounds really promising indeed  , looking forward to it developing |
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mack
Glue Slinger
To be fair I've been left unsupervised for too long
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Post by mack on Dec 25, 2018 22:09:00 GMT
You've put some thought into this one fella.
I'm in and bookmarked
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Post by JEFF on Dec 25, 2018 22:40:16 GMT
You can count me in also, Alex. Sounds very interesting.  |
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alexb
Glue slinger
Posts: 689
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Post by alexb on Dec 26, 2018 5:01:49 GMT
Thanks.
Yeah I enjoy creating the background stories and developing the idea into styrene. I jog so I usually work on them in my head while I make my nightly run. I'll often talk myself out of a project. This one has been percolating in my noggin for about 6 months as a means to use those first 1/24 figures I bought.
This one actually began as part of a heaven vs. hell theme. The idea was the forces of heaven and hell were at war. The scene is one of several open-cities where "gray troops" can go, fraternize, relax, and be recruited by agents of both sides. The idea was that I could include combatants from various eras for a war of the ages type deal and play on time. It got a bit too dark and too religiousy/heretical for my tastes so I ended up talking myself out of that in favor of the Cyber Old West theme. Maybe some other time with 1/35 scale figs...and some more thought.
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alexb
Glue slinger
Posts: 689
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Post by alexb on Dec 27, 2018 6:41:57 GMT
Sorry but the pics are taken when I can and where I can. Hopefully I can reclaim some workspace and get some better lighting for pictures.
The first figure is part of MasterBox Ltd's 1/24 PinUp Series. It's titled "Ready" and she'll be modeled as a demonic-looking girl. I used styrene strip to make clothing...like the boots, torso armor, and some of the webbing. I'm going with an outfit similar to what you see in the Underworld series and one of the Resident Evil movies...the one where Alice is in the Umbrella facility under the ice. I use this same design for the VAL troops.
For her sidearm, I used a Mauser pistol from Dragon's German Equipment set. I added a larger handle. The shotgun is a Lewis Gun from the spares. I extended the butt-stock. It has a shotgun look to it. I probably won't use this gun with her, but it's there if I need it.
I added ammo belts to her. These are from an olf 1/32 Airfix GI multipose set. I'll probably use several items from these sets. I don't have much 1/24 weapons and gear so I have to improvise. I put some base coat paint on her. I gave her the laser rifle from another set...that figure won't need it. I played around with a few head configurations. I had her sporting a long pair of horns but I removed them. I'll give her smaller ones and maybe pointed ears.
The next figure is named Anton from one of their Edge of the Universe sets. They mixed elements of the Colonial Marines from the Aliens franchise, a dab of Starship Troopers, and Fallout...he's wearing a pip-boy.They do this with several of their EotU figures. Anton was build mostly OOB. I did cut away the top section of one of his hip pouches to allow the placement of a pistol.
Anton and Regina...a little bit more along. Regina has a tail but I kept knocking it off so I left it off for now. As I said above, she still need her smaller horns and some ears. She'll probably get a hooded poncho as well. I don't really like the shin guards on ANton and probably will sand them down to look like trouser legs. I'll probably keep the knee pads though. That's a nasty looking tan he has and should be toned down alot. I'm probably going to make him a pack and portray him as arriving in town. Let's just say he's looking for someone.
A cantina needs a bar and the EotU sets are designed to be posed at a bar. Two of the EotU sets come with sections of the bar...but you only get one section and one stool per kit. They really should have included 2 or 3 sections per each of those sets.
I made a bar. It's pretty crude and will be trimmed up after I get things set. Mainly, I am using it to pose figures. The other figure bits will be shown in later updates, but I will say that the one robot will be used as the barkeep. His gun is what Regina might be using. And the waitress will be used as a waitress. The lines are dran on the plastic to show the panel lines. My idea with her is that she's a cyborg working off her debt for her body as a waitress.
As always...since I have the attention span of a 3 year-old, plans are subject to change.
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Post by SteveM on Dec 27, 2018 7:52:31 GMT
Sorry Alex I thought I’d posted on this It’s a great idea and I’m in fella, I’ve always loved the Star Wars cantina type scenarios |
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Post by JEFF on Dec 27, 2018 9:57:19 GMT
Great start, Alex. All kinds of stuff going on. |
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Post by Boots on Dec 27, 2018 14:09:01 GMT
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Post by Paul B on Dec 27, 2018 16:08:26 GMT
Nicely started indeed Alex . I must admit that I haven't ever seen any 1/24 accessories kits, but your making use of other scaled stuff is certainly paying off fella  |
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alexb
Glue slinger
Posts: 689
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Post by alexb on Jan 1, 2019 20:27:31 GMT
It's something different and I am enjoying it. All of this started from wanting to check out that Edge of the Universe series. I wish they had done these in 1/35 scale. As is, 1/24 is limited to auto kits. That's fine with the auto related figures, but the sci-fi stuff...well, there's not alot of 1/24 scifi stuff to use with them.
One thing I did was threw together a test base. I haven't settled on a base layout so I used some scrap wood to make a mock-up. It's just glued together and I doubt there's a squared corner on the thing. I usually use an empty kit box for stuff like this.
Per the kit, this one is named Jacqueline...and she fits perfectly with what I want to do. She probably has had more influence on this build than any thing. She'll be a cardshark-gunfighter and may be related to the cantina's owner, serving as her right hand and enforcer. She'll be built mostly OOB. I did rework her chesticles. As is, they were risking busting loose from her tunic. I filled them in and the puppies are safe and snug. I used Elmer's Wood Glue. It dries quickly, dries hard, sands easy, and can be removed with a soak in some water should I change my mind on something...which I have been known to do.
This one is one, the kit calls BungeeBgala, or Bgala. She is a hunter, warrior, and ambassador for the MarAx Clan located in the distant Underdeveloped Territories. She was going to be one of my key figures for this. Her role has shifted from rural visitor to club girl...possibly partaking in the oldest profession. Her pose is really similar to the tailed one so I changed stuff. Since she would not be holding an oversized rifle, I swapped out her right forearm for a robotic one. That's a spare from the Terminator figure set. Though 1/32 it fits perfect. Bala's story and her arm will be fleshed out later. One thing is the head and hair do not match wit the image on the box art.
Her set also comes with a robot named Boomer. It's actually a neat little figure. When built it has a canine pet sort of vibe. I won't use it with the Cantina but it has been moved to the VAL stuff. I probably will build on that canine pet aspect and make it a robotic pet. It might...and I stress "might"...become the cantina owner's pet.
This set has Drag and Joker. According to the kit, Drag serves as the sheriff for this space station. Joker, the little guy, is an alien that owns the bar and is a bit of a nefarious character. Initially I did not like this set, but I got it because of Drag's pose...leaning on the bar...and that there aren't alot of male figures in this series. I refuse to call him Drag any more so he's JudeLaw until I come up with a better name.
JudeLaw has sort of grown on me. Initially, he was just a bar patron who was getting fleeced by Jacqueline in a card game. The more I worked on him...his story and role has evolved. He's shifted more towards a private eye type role...he's looking for someone. The head will probably lose the mohawk. He's all in black at the moment but that's just the base coat.
The little guy Joker...I was going to leave this one out. I've got a little bit of an idea. I'll have to assemble the parts to see if it's workable. I'll probably use his small size and make him into a street urchin, possibly working for Jacqueline and her sister. So the goblin head will go away...I could actually see it being used on a full-size male body. Or alone as a trophy.
This is one of Masterbox's 1/24 Pinup Figures. They took the 1/35 Pinups, enlarged them, and packaged them as individual figures. This is Marylin and I decided to make her and Alice sisters. She'll be dressed out mostly the same as Alice; boots, tail, etc. I still haven't set on her and ALice's role. Are they mercs that are just patrons...or are they on the payroll of the Cantina? Or maybe a bit of both. I can see the cantina as a hangout for merc types.
A progress shot of Bgala, Anton, and Alice. Bgala has had a wardrobe change and received her robotic arm ad I tried to clean up her legs a bit. Anton got his shinguards removed. It seemed silly for him to be walking around town with them on. Also, Anton's arms are not posed well for his rifle...the kit would have you have him holding it. They are in a bar...they all should be more relaxed. I'll sling it or something. And ALice...I swear she has a tail, it just never shows in the pics. She still needs some stuff...ears, horns, and hooded poncho. And since they are hanging at a bar her rifle may get slung on her back as well. Her hand seems perfect to hold a beverage.
JudeLaw, the unoriginally named Robie the robot, Ivet the robot waitress, and Jacqueline. Nothing different on JudeLaw. Robie will get a name change and will be used as a bartender. Instead of the kit supplied legs, he'll have a wheeled base. It seems more utilitarian. Plus, I have some ideas about making him more bartendery. Ivet is a robot but that may change to a cyborg. She made a deal for a fresh start and that included indentured servitude to pay off that debt. And then there's Jacqueline. I painted her top and it came out fine.
And that's where we stand right now. I still have a few figures that haven't really been started. And I'll probably add a few more figures before I am done. I have my eye on a few probable bar patrons...so people seated or not looking menacing. A great deal depends on the layout and how that evolves.
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Post by Boots on Jan 1, 2019 20:49:27 GMT
I`m picturing a kind of Arnie`s Total Recall here , excellent work so far Alex  P.S..........i liked Jacqueline busting out for what it`s worth  |
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mack
Glue Slinger
To be fair I've been left unsupervised for too long
Posts: 615
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Post by mack on Jan 6, 2019 0:49:15 GMT
It looks like it's coming together as planed fella. The ideas great.
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alexb
Glue slinger
Posts: 689
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Post by alexb on Jan 7, 2019 22:32:27 GMT
Thanks. Yeah poor Jacqueline's chesticles were sort of a sacrificial lamb...so to speak. She...or should I say "they"... may get a reprieve. Have you ever seen "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter"? I'm sort of shooting to redo her top to make her look like Vadoma. It depends on if I think I can convert that high neckline down. I'm not a fan of the movie but the figure has that Vadoma look and I think it'll work and it fits the role she has in this.
I can see the Total Recall angle...mutant town. That's a favorite scifi movie of mine by the way. Sure it's campy but I think that's sort of the point of the genre. Don't get me started on the remake. I'm finding this sliding away from the Old West/Borderlands influence to a more cyberpunk Blade Runner-ish type setting. I might use this as an opportunity to play with some lighting and some other little gizmos. Bgala may get a head swap. As is, her styrene noggin looks like current day Peter Fonda, whereas her box art looks like Nancy Kerrigan. And the goblin-alien guy might have a use. I might use the body for a street urchin and the head for a dude figure. We'll see how that goes. |
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Post by Snipersmudge on Jan 8, 2019 6:05:43 GMT
Coming along nicely old chap |
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Post by SteveM on Jan 8, 2019 8:19:13 GMT
Interesting to watch your ideas unfold on the build Alex B)
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Post by JEFF on Jan 8, 2019 10:46:19 GMT
More and more interesting all the time. |
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Post by Paul B on Jan 8, 2019 11:51:08 GMT
This thread isn't gonna get boring, that's for sure |
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alexb
Glue slinger
Posts: 689
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Post by alexb on Feb 17, 2019 6:35:01 GMT
It's been a bit since I messed with this one. So you guessed it....
Bdala went from primitive hunter/warrior/sniper to rave/party-girl/bar fly. She kind of looks a bit old in the face for that so I changed her. I decided to make her....THE LAW...imagine Judge Dredd. Last update I lobbed off her right forearm and gave her a prosthetic...the Pegasus Terminators come with extras to pose them holding a rifle or not. Though 1/32 scale, it works well with the 1/24 figure. Then she got a set of body armor made from strip styrene. Her lower legs were tweaked to appear as higher cut boots because that's what they wear in the future...mostly. I used her skirt as the bottom of a tunic. I think it gives her a robed appearance as opposed to just making her a police officer. The pauldrons are the nose end of a bomb from the spares. She's been sprayed black as a primer coat. I sanded the edges so the detail can be seen in the photos. Oh...the gun...which is hard to see...is a 1/32 Bren gun with butt, barrel, and magazine removed.
Posed with the Zukas for size comparison. The Zukas will be used as enforcers for the Law sect which views the law as a near religion and can be quite fanatical. Bdala still needs painting and some added gear. The painting is being held up as I settle on what colors she'll be sporting. I'll probably go light grey with a med grey body armor. Boots are black. The Zakus still need some tweaking to slim them down a bit and decide on pauldron or no pauldrons. The kit only comes with a single pauldron for each so I'll have to make a set.
I decided to start on the base. I drew out the general plan. Originally, I wanted a basement with some contraband stowed away. I doubt I'll do that simply because of the height that would be added. It's planned to be two-stories as it is. My plans tend to be a rough outline, and change as the pieces are cut out.
I'm using a simple wooden base. For the building, I'm using foam core board. You can buy it at most office supply and hobby stores. It's a sheet of foam sandwiched between paper. It cuts easy and doesn't make nearly the mess of straight up styrofoam. And unlike luan, I don't have to bust out the saws.
Mock-up using the cut-outs. I still have to cut out windows and doorways so glue will have to wait. I'll either use white glue or low-temp hot glue. You don't want to use normal temp hot glue as it will melt the foam.
This lets you see the general layout. A is the main bar area. The entrance is to the left. It has a high ceiling of 18-20 feet. I'll probably add some ceiling fans and some girder supports. I went with it open to open it up a bit. A full-length upper level is more area to furnish as well. B is the bar. The location is probably going to move a bit. The bar still needs detailing...it's just bits of styrene sheet at the moment. C is the back room. It'll be separated by a wall behind the bar. Here, I'll have the stairs to the upper floor and stuff. D is the boss' office. She sits up there overlooking the patrons and minions below. I'll probably reduce the size a bit.
Posed with figures to demonstrate size. And I made sure to include shots of the one figure's tail.
 
Anyway, progress is slow...as planned...but it's taking shape.
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, looking forward to it developing 
