DangerDrVenture's Newer Customs

[DangerDrVenture]

Hey guys! Been forever since I've updated. Bummer that my links are dead, but that's a long story. I have backup links for most of it, but it would probably be best for me to start a new thread.

Oh, I have some new stuff.

Still super-busy working on my backlog of custom commissions(no, I haven't forgotten anyone!). While taking a break, I decided to dig out some old DC Direct parts and make these two guys. After realizing that Mattel and DCD probably won't touch these 'expiring' designs, I wanted them on my DCD Batman shelf. It's nice to work on a figure that doesn't have all that Mattel articulation to bust apart, although pulling DCD arms from their sockets to paint the shoulders is a kind of enhanced torture.

These have to be my first DC Direct customs in about 5 years!

Dick Grayson Batman: Base figure is a Brian Bolland style "Killing Joke" Batman. Since Mike Locasio sculpts so many of the new figures for DCD, including some of the Batman INC figures, I decided to use this Batman as the base. It has alot of Mike's signature sculpting style and it seemed logical to me to use this base as a hypothetical 'what it may look like' if DC Direct had Mike also sculpt a Dick Grayson Batman to go with Damian. I chose the Ray Vilafane sculpted "JLI" Batman head because the overall shape reminds me a lot of the Frank Quitely and Cameron Stewart depictions of his cowl in Batman and Robin. I smoothed the forehead and softened the chin to make him look a bit less cranky. I split the upper and lower torso to remove the old 80's Batman belt, then glued it back together and sculpted the abdomen to be smooth top to bottom. The belt was sculpted after the aves hardened, so I could cut it really close and evenly. The gloves are from some Battlestar Galactica toy, and the gauntlets are also sculpted. Paint is really thin layers of Testors Acrylic, with a hand-painted symbol on his chest.






Tim Drake Red Robin: I'm not totally happy with the head choice, bearing in mind that I used a shaved down DC Universe Hal Jordan. I plan to replace the head if I can get ahold of a Marvel Universe Guardian some time soon. It isn't terrible, but I'm not 100% happy with it. It is a smoothed over "Batman and Son" Tim Drake Robin with cuts from other Batman figures to make his beltwork. The cape is from a DCUC Dr Mid-Nite, and the forearms are modified DCUC Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle. The toy was painted with thin and watery layers of Testors Acrylic. The symbol on the disc is hand-painted.

[fishmilkshake]

Welcome back mate!

Always a pleasure checking out your work and this time is no different. I like that you're mixing up your painting styles and you've shown that your brush work is as good as your spraying. Looks like Testors is the paint of choice. Good stuff!

[dozymuppet]

That Dick Grayson Batman is very very nice.

[Scotty]

Hello stranger!

Your paint work is exquisite as always. Great to see your work again. 

[fp_spirit]

Love the Bat-family you just put together. That Grayson Batman is superb. Red Robin is also extremely well done. Fits in well.

[The_Donster]

Man, that looks great, thanks for sharing

[DangerDrVenture]

Thanks guys =)

Although the more I look at these pics, the more Red Robin's head becomes a bummer to me. I really need to replace it. I'm trying to think of a batman figure with a less mature head...

[Scotty]

I see that. I think it's the mouth - a bit too scowly, so without the ears it makes him look a bit old, perhaps?

Is there such a thing as a non-scowly Bat-head? 

[DangerDrVenture]

Yah, which is funny because that's a Hal Jordan head on Red Robin...

[Stars]

I think they look great!

I see what you mean about the Red Robin head though. Maybe Superboy, Beast Boy or Batman Beyond unmasked might work.

Stars

[FB]

Good to see you back here again DDV.Bats looks superb,you hand painted the Symbol?You maniac,that's some precision right there.Red Robin is aces too but the Head does kinda let him down i agree with you.How about a KC RR Head?It's actually quite a small Figure so maybe the scale will fit,just an idea.Other than that i love him.

[DangerDrVenture]

It only takes a small brush and control =)

I'm trying to find one of these Guardian heads

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=marvel+legends+guardian&hl=en&safe=off&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=3nma80-N6DziOM:&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/shadowowl/4024697068/&docid=SobeAEdS9K4meM&w=500&h=375&ei=YYhBTtjQKOmKsQK_sbGxCQ&zoom=1&biw=1366&bih=575

[Scotty]

Good idea! Also - non-scowly.

[dozymuppet]

Just got to be careful with the ML scale - don't want a pin head!

[DangerDrVenture]

I used a small base for Red Robin, so a pin head might be the right thing...