Guts that talk, eggs that walk

I'm sure the photography/lighting had an impact, but it's mostly a result of the actual paint job. I started out with a flat gray base coat and then used a combination of several layers of black washes and dry-brushed gray in order to achieve that mottled/worn appearance to the color.

I love the polishing stove. It's so well captured.

Xanafalgue





Tumorous bipedal creatures that can be encountered in 1994's Phantasy Star IV: The End of The Millennium Sega Genesis/Megadrive roleplaying video game. The biomonsters Xanafalgue and Gicefalgue share the same game sprite but have different color schemes and statistics.

While arguably the weakest biomonster on all of Planet Motavia, its horrifying appearance and rapid reproduction make the Xanafalgue one of the most feared by the general populace. These organisms attack by discharging bolts of electricity from their tentacled maws (some biologists have hypothesized that the constant, undulating motion of said appendages somehow builds up the charge.) While a single shock is usually sufficient to kill smaller prey, such as rodents, a healthy human adult can usually weather several blasts from the creature before finally succumbing. Xanafalgues are spawned in great numbers by a larger biomonster, the Igglanova, via fission. It is not known if an Igglanova is the adult form of a Xanafalgue or if the Igglanova simply produces Xanafalgues as a defense mechanism. Similarly, Gicefalgues are created by Guilgenova.



Materials:
Newsprint, tissue paper, wire twist ties, white glue, gloss nail polish, and acrylic paint.

Dimensions:
4.4 cm/1.7 in. x 3.7 cm/1.5 in. (widest point x highest point)

Time:
Two days; November 13 and 14, 2011.





This particular figure was originally created specifically for a monochrome themed contest at Figure Realm. I had initially painted my Xanafalgue figure black, but that wasn't photographing well, so I redid it in a purple hue instead, which worked out a lot better, as far as being able to see the detail in the sculpt goes. Below are the images that I submitted to said challenge:



For comparison/informational purposes, below are some relevant images:


Xanafalgue cut scene artwork that appears during the party's first conversation with the Principal of Motavia Academy.


The party spots a lone Xanafalgue, near the entrance to the Academy's basement, but the creature bolts before they can act.




The party prepares to do battle with a pair of Xanafalgues in the basement beneath Piata's Academy.


An Igglanova in the process of creating a second Xanafalgue, via fission.





Guilty



Horrid, worm-infested, undead creatures that can be encountered in ASCII Entertainment's 2000 Wizardry: Dimguil Sony Playstation roleplaying video game. Said title was one of the many Wizardry spinoff games published exclusively in Japan.

The restless spirit of a particularly tormented individual can, on rare occasions, imprint its hatred and anguish onto the worms that tunnel through and devour its mortal husk. Annelids tainted by this necrotic energy quickly grow to prodigious size and proliferate throughout the hollowed body, reanimating the corpse, which then rises as an undead abomination: the Guilty. In the short term, these fiends are driven to exact vengeance on whomever, or whatever, was responsible for the host's demise. Whether or not justice is actually being served by this act is of no importance to the amoral creature--it doesn't matter if the death was deliberate, accidental, or even in self-defense, a Guilty will pursue, and destroy, the killer regardless of the circumstances. However, once that task has been accomplished, the ghost of the deceased loses its influence over the wriggling collective and the Guilty reverts to a much simpler agenda, namely attempting to satisfy the worms' never-ending hunger. A rogue Guilty wanders aimlessly throughout the land, indiscriminately slaying, and devouring, any living thing that has the misfortune of crossing its path. This rampage continues until someone manages to destroy the monster or the decaying corpse simply loses structural integrity and falls apart, releasing the worms back into the soil.

The Guilty have a passion for the art of decapitation and are never encountered without a sharp implement with which to practice. Disturbingly, that same tactic is completely ineffective against them--strike off a Guilty's head, and a slimy worm grows out from the neck stump to replace the lost appendage within seconds.



Materials:
Cylin-Dar base body, newsprint, tissue paper, wire twist ties, white glue, gloss nail polish, string, and acrylic paint.

Dimensions:
2.2 cm/0.9 in. x 5.0 cm/2.0 in. (widest point x highest point)
Note: The numbers given assume a neutral standing pose without any accessories attached.

Articulation:
12 points: Neck, mid-torso, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles. Additionally, the stocking cap on the humanoid head is bendable (or, at least it was...I snapped the wire during the photo shoot and did a quick fix by replacing it with some string from the cuff of my jeans.)

Time:
Two days; November 19 and 20, 2011.
Note: That only accounts for the time period spent customizing the Cylin-Dar base body into this particular character, not the creation of said body.





Cylin-Dar design sketches and measurements. This figure was inspired by the Stikfas Omega body.


Three unassembled Cylin-Dar figures.


One finished Cylin-Dar and the pieces to make two more.


Three finished Cylin-Dars striking a variety of poses #1.


Three finished Cylin-Dars striking a variety of poses #2.


Three finished Cylin-Dars lying in my hand to give a sense of scale.


A Cylin-Dar is the process of becoming the Guilty.

Elkenrod, Mistress of Spectres



"She is known as Elkenrod.
She once was a beautiful healer who cured the sick and soothed those in pain.
Now on the side of darkness, she feeds off the pain and suffering of her captives.
The greater their suffering, the more power she wields."

- In-game introductory text for the Terrestrial Plane of Fire
Chakan, Sega Genesis

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"Scale the rotting, death-tainted walls to the bastion of the sadistic Elkenrod, Mistress of Spectres. Biting swarms of bats push and peck you. The fiery breath of Elkenrod's ghostly victims singes your face. Lava-spewing gargoyles portend things more horrible to come. In the purple shroud of sunset you fight winged imps and flame spitters, while huge goat-footed cyclops hurl boulders to dash you into the furnace pits below."

- Instruction manual description of the Portal to the Terrestrial/Elemental Planes of Fire
Chakan, Sega Genesis

-------

Elkenrod, Mistress of Spectres, is one of the legendary evil forces that must be slain in 1992's Sega Genesis and Game Gear Chakan: The Forever Man video games. She is a "boss" opponent that can be found on the top floor of the third segment of the Terrestrial Plane of Fire world in the Genesis incarnation, and at the end of Level IV, behind a series of locked doors, in the Game Gear version. The Chakan video games are based on the graphic novels of the same name created by Robert A. Kraus (R.A.K. Graphics.)

While Elkenrod typically relies on her flame-spewing traps and monstrous minions (bats, gargoyles, ghosts, rats, skeletons, and zombies) to deal with any intruders that break into her ebony keep, anyone foolish enough to mistake this for cowardice is in for a rude awakening should they manage to win their way through to Elkenrod's throne room and gain her undivided attention. The Mistress of Spectres will be quite happy to give uninvited guests a lethal demonstration of her legendary combat skills: a dizzying barrage of sword slashes, flying kicks, and fireballs awaits any would-be hero. Of course, being immortal, death at Elkenrod's lovely hands is only a temporary, albeit extremely painful, inconvenience for Chakan, The Forever Man.

-------

Materials:
Cylin-Dra base body, newsprint, lined notebook paper, tissue paper, wire twist ties, white glue, and acrylic paint.

Dimensions:
2.2 cm/0.9 in. x 6.1 cm/2.4 in. (widest point x highest point)
Note: The numbers given assume a neutral standing pose without any accessories attached.

Articulation:
12 points: Neck, mid-torso, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles.

Time:
Three days; December 4-6, 2011. The first two days were devoted to detailing the figure and modeling/fabricating accessories, while the third day was spent making final adjustments and then painting the finished toy.
Note: This only accounts for the time period spent customizing the Cylin-Dra base body into this particular character, not the creation of said body.







For comparison/informational purposes, below are some relevant images:


Hub world portal to Elkenrod's realm, the Terrestrial Plane of Fire.


Tortured victims Elkenrod keeps around her lair to fuel her powers. If Chakan cuts down, and kills, enough of these unfortunate souls, Elkenrod will be significantly weakened when he confronts her.


Chakan versus Elkenrod, Sega Genesis version.


Chakan versus Elkenrod, Sega Game Gear version. She isn't wearing a cape in this incarnation, nor does she have a fireball attack.


Animated gif I made of the Game Gear version of Elkenrod demonstrating her fencing footwork.






Dr. Deemo






One of Dr. Anton Arcane's Un-Men minions introduced in the early 90s DiC Entertainment Swamp Thing animated cartoon series and Kenner toy line.

Back when he was human, Deemo operated on the fringes of Louisiana society as a self-proclaimed voodoo sorcerer, snake charmer, and all-around con-artist. He eked out a meager living by preying on the gullible and superstitious and always managed to stay one step ahead of the local authorities whenever his scams inevitably fell apart. But Deemo's luck ran out when he accepted a job from Doctor Anton Arcane, a local scientist of ill repute, to "liberate" some supernatural artifacts buried in a nearby cemetery. Not only did he fail to obtain the goods, but Deemo underestimated the intelligence, and ruthlessness, of his employer when he made the fatal mistake of attempting to fleece Anton by substituting some counterfeit items. Needless to say, Arcane was not amused and Deemo shortly found himself strapped to the mad scientist's operating table as punishment. It appealed to Anton's twisted sense of humor to make his newest Un-Man slave a literal "snake in the grass", to reflect Deemo's unscrupulous former lifestyle.

In humanoid form, the crafty Dr. Deemo prefers to employ voodoo magic rather than dealing directly with his foes. Having managed to secure some vegetable matter from Swamp Thing's body during their first battle, Deemo subsequently fashioned this material into a voodoo doll. The sadistic Doctor takes great delight in tormenting his arch nemesis with this figure: driving pins though it, scorching it with fire, immersing it in herbicides, etc. Fortunately for Swamp Thing, his remarkable regenerative power makes it impossible to destroy him in this manner (even if Deemo were to obliterate the puppet outright, Swamp Thing's essence would just escape into the Green, and he could then easily reconstruct a new physical body for himself out of any nearby flora.) Still, if nothing else, the excruciating pain the figure causes is useful for temporarily incapacitating/distracting Swamp Thing; when coordinated with the attacks of his fellow Un-Men, this can be a very effective tactic indeed. While potent, this doll does have a limitation: Deemo has to be relatively close to Swamp Thing in order to employ it to full effect; the farther the distance, the weaker the magical sympathetic link between body and figure becomes (i.e., if Deemo were miles away and he impaled the puppet on a knife, Swamp Thing would feel little, if anything.)

When the need arises, Dr. Arcane can cause Dr. Deemo's twisted flesh to undergo a further, albeit temporary, mutation to increase his power. In this transformed state, his upper body changes into a hideous serpentine creature. The Un-Man can capture and constrict objects with his prehensile neck while in reptilian guise. This vise-like grip is almost impossible to escape, and the slow tightening of Deemo's coiled throat muscles can potentially exert enough pressure to snap a one-foot-thick tree trunk in half. Deemo's bite is also extremely poisonous while in this form--a healthy human adult will die in minutes unless they receive immediate medical attention (Swamp Thing, and his allies, have seen to it that all the local hospitals have a supply of antivenin specially formulated to counteract the Un-Man's venom.) It should be noted that, given his unique physiology and ability to rapidly filter toxins out of his system, Swamp Thing cannot be killed by this poison, just temporarily sickened. The Un-man also benefits from increased strength, speed, and stamina while in mutated form.

Materials:
Cylin-Dar base body, newsprint, tissue paper, wire twist ties, white glue, gloss nail polish, and acrylic paint.

Dimensions:
2.2 cm/0.9 in. x 5.0 cm/2.0 in. (widest point x highest point)
Note: The numbers given assume a neutral standing pose without any accessories attached.

Articulation:
12 points: Neck, mid-torso, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles. Additionally, the string on the voodoo doll is bendable and the serpent head has 21 points of articulation (neck, lower jaw, tongue, and multi-jointed appendages.) That's right, an accessory with more joints than the actual figure!

Time:
Three days; November 24-26, 2011. I fully customized the Cylin-Dar base body into Dr. Deemo and made the voodoo doll accessory on the 24th, and it took me the following two days to sculpt and paint the alternate serpent head.
Note: This only accounts for the time period spent customizing the Cylin-Dar base body into this particular character, not the creation of said body.






For comparison/informational purposes, below are some relevant images:


Dr. Deemo action figure photo/description from the back of a Kenner Swamp Thing toy package.


Kenner Dr. Deemo action figure with accessories.


Kenner Dr. Deemo action figure wearing the Serpent BioMask.



NES cut scene of Dr. Anton Arcane interacting with Dr. Deemo.


Swamp Thing confronts Dr. Deemo inside a mausoleum at a Louisiana cemetery in the NES video game.


Swamp Thing wages battle against Dr. Deemo in the depths of an Egyptian pyramid in the Gameboy video game.


Swamp Thing rumbling with Dr. Arcane's trio of Un-Men (Dr. Deemo, Weed Killer, and Skinman) in the Gameboy video game.

Lovely work, the variation and unique characters are in full force as usually I see.

Btw, what is your limit on size and detail? Have you every considered doing something along the lines of those maquettes Disney makes for their animators during animation production?

As far as size limitations go, for small stuff, it's pretty much the ability of my figures/tools to manipulate the sculpture and the properties of the materials (for example, paper is pretty thin, but as you work smaller and smaller, that thickness gets more and more important as millimeters matter.) For larger stuff, the limiting factors are cost, time, and space (I really don't have any room for big stuff, and, while paper is pretty much free, glue/paint add up quickly when used in large quantities.) The largest figures I've ever made were 17 inches in height--I could certainly make something much larger than that, I just haven't ever had a desire to do so. Generally speaking, the larger something is, the more detail you can get into the sculpt, simply because you have a bigger canvas to work with. Another factor with larger figures is support--the bigger they get, the more internal reinforcement is required, usually in the form of an armature.

Nope, never thought of making any maquettes.

Thanks for the explanation. 17 inches is pretty dang big, looks like you have no prob with that or detail.

I think you should consider/try making a maquette. What makes them special imo is that they take into account action, character and emotion and a touch of story. They don't have to be 17 inches or whatever, a few inches more than your current standard should be more than enough.

...or not, just throwing out ideas. Always loved the look of those maquettes.

Hippou

Rivers of sweat course down your seared flesh as flames dance merrily all around you and black smoke chokes the very life from your throat. Squinting through watering eyes, you spy a strange, one-legged crane hopping and flapping about maniacally in the very heart of the conflagration that's consuming your home, its' wings fanning the blaze to even greater heights. Raising the bucket that you drew from the well outside a scant minute ago, its contents already steaming from the intense heat, you heave the liquid upon the demonic creature. Squawking in surprised dismay, the bird angrily ruffles its feathers and shakes its head, sizzling droplets of water flying in every direction. It whirls about and fixes you with its beady eyes for a moment before suddenly opening its beaked maw and exhaling an incinerating plume of death in your direction...



Hippou (pronounced 'Hee-poh') is one of the many demon types that can be encountered, and potentially recruited, in Atlus' 1995 Shin Megami Tensei: Debiru Samana- (Reincarnation of The True Goddess: Devil Summoner) Sega Saturn video game [said title was also ported to the Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) in 2005, but, like the original version, it's only available in Japan]. In Devil Summoner, Hippou conforms to the Dark-Law alignment, a life philosophy that, while generally malevolent in nature, advocates order. However, in dealing with this dangerous creature, one should keep in mind that the Hippou's warped concept of an ideal, structured world is one that's been totally engulfed in flames. This firebug is further classified as a member of the Kyouchou (literally "Evil Bird") Clan, a group of nefarious avian creatures. Alternate names for this monster include "Bi Fang" (Chinese) and "Krane" (English).

This one-legged pyromaniac is incredibly destructive; the Hippou takes a perverse delight in setting everything, and everyone, around it aflame. The crane's crest burns constantly (being magical in nature, nothing, not water nor the absence of oxygen, can ever extinguish it), and the Hippou also exhales plumes of fire anytime that it opens its beak (which, unfortunately for anything flammable, is often.) Naturally, this incinerating fiend is completely immune to the flames and high temperatures that it creates. Tracking the Hippou is simplicity itself, all you have to do is follow the trail of charred wreckage and burnt corpses that the creature inevitably leaves in its wake...dealing with the bird, once you catch up to it (and Goddess help you if you do), is another matter entirely.

Bi Fang, the legendary crane Hippou is based upon, originates in Chinese mythology. This single-legged and scarlet-crested bird is said to make its home on the slopes of Mount Zhang'e. Its name comes from its distinctive cry: "Bifang!" Although encountering Bi Fang is generally considered to be an ill omen, as it portends calamitous fire, on rare occasions, meeting with the crane can be of a more fortuitous nature, as it will carry a truly worthy individual away to wondrous places, where he or she will have the opportunity to visit with both gods and demons.

Materials:
Newsprint, tissue paper, wire twist ties, white glue, and acrylic paint.

Dimensions:
8.8 cm/3.5 in. x 10.6 cm/4.2 in. (widest point x highest point)
Maximum wingspan: 10.7 cm/4.2 in.
Note: The numbers given assume a neutral standing position and will vary depending on how the figure is posed.

Articulation:
10 points: Beak, neck (2), wings (2), tail, hip, knee (2), and ankle.

Time:
Four days; December 18-21, 2011. I modeled the leg, head, neck, body, and tail on the 18th. The wings were made and attached on the 19th. On the 20th, I decided to scrap the original tail but finished the rest of the figure. The last day, the 21st, was spent making the new replacement tail and doing final touch-ups.











For comparison/informational purposes, below are some relevant images:


Left to right: (1) Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Hippou official artwork (Sega Saturn.); (2) Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Hippou game sprite (Sega Saturn.); (3) Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Card Summoner Hippou card sprite artwork (Gameboy Color.); and (4) A traditional depiction of Bi Fang.


DemiKids (Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children) Krane Demonary entry (Gameboy Advance.)

Nice, I didnt know it was that small after seeing it in the hand.

Captain Cracker



Captain Cracker is a notorious robotic buccaneer that was first introduced in the 23rd episode (Mandora and The Pirates) of the 1980s animated ThunderCats television series. He appears in episodes 100 (Exile Isle) and 122 (Cracker's Revenge) as well. The actor Earl Hammond provided the dastardly corsair's voice. LJN also produced an action figure of the character for their ThunderCats toy line.

Captain Cracker, and his crew of felons, stalk the cosmos in his starship, the Jolly Roger, plundering planets and preying upon other interstellar travelers. Given his occupation, it should come as no surprise that this metallic crook is a marked man, topping many 'Most Wanted' lists throughout the galaxy. When forced to fight, Captain Cracker typically wields a cutlass, dirk, or similar edged weapon. His robotic body has considerable strength and his armored chassis provides a fairly good defense against most conventional attacks. Cracker is seldom seen without his mechanical parrot companion, Polly, perched on his shoulder.

This project was made specifically for a ThunderCats themed custom toy contest at Figure Realm.

Materials:
Cylin-Dar base body, newsprint, lined notebook paper, tissue paper, wire twist ties, white glue, and acrylic paint.

Dimensions:
2.8 cm/1.1 in. x 5.1 cm/2.0 in. (widest point x highest point)
Note: The numbers given assume a neutral standing pose without any accessories attached.

Articulation:
Captain Cracker has eleven joints: Neck, mid-torso, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankle. The tails of his bandanna are also bendable. Polly has four joints: Neck, wings, and tail.

Time:
Two days; December 12 and 14, 2011. I started, and finished, Captain Cracker, and the sword accessory, on the 12th. The 14th was spent making Polly and doing touch-ups.
Note: This only accounts for the time period spent customizing the Cylin-Dar base body into this particular character, not the creation of said body.




For comparison/informational purposes, below are some relevant images:


LJN Toy's Captain Cracker ThunderCats action figure.


Captain Cracker ThunderCats action figure in unopened package.




Captain Cracker as he appears in the ThunderCats animated cartoon series.