BATMAN RETURNS ACTION FIGURE IN PROGRESS

[henrywayne]

Hi Guys,

I am going to start my second Batman action figure project...Batman Returns!!

Making the Returns figure will be a lot easier cause some of the parts I have sculpted or make for my 89 Batman figure can be used on the Returns, like the Keaton's head, Belt, Cape and the Undersuit.



I have seperated a figure body and adding clay on it to do my sculpting, this way can guarantee that after my sculpting is made into vinyl parts it will fit on the figure body well.

Here are the pics of my Returns Cowl clay sculpt:

Front:


Side View:


3/4 Top View:


Here are the pics of my Returns Boots clay sculpt:

Front View and Back View:



Left and Right Side View:



Top View:



Some of the details are not so accurate but I will make some modifications to get them right.

This is my Returns Body Armour clay sculpt:

Front View:


Left and Right Side View:


Back View:


3/4 View:


Guys, I am planning to approach a different way to make this Returns Armour. Instead of trimming the back away (after it is made into vinyl) like I did on my 89 Body Armour; This time both sides of the Returns Armour will be trimmed away and will be wearing on the figure body like a pull over. Making it this way the Returns Figure have the details of the back too and won't affect the appearence cause the sides of the Returns Armour should be the undersuit. Hope this theory works!!

And this is my Returns Gloves clay sculpt which I have just finished recently:

Top View:


Back View:


Left Side & Right Side View:





Front View:



This time I have sculpted the stitches details on the Gloves, looks nice though!! ;D



The Glove Fins will be the same resin fins that I made for my '89 Fig, I guess I am a little lazy guys!!

I was just told by a fellow Bat Bro of mine that the Returns Gloves doesn't have studs on the palm, so those studs will be removed.

That's all for now guys!! Coming next will be the Returns Legs Amour clay sculpt.



Henry

[faithfulbutler]

Okay i'm officially drooling!Beautiful work Henry,i'm dying to see the finished product!

[henrywayne]

Faithfulbutler,

Thanks for your nice words!!


Henry

[Wild Willy]

Wow, I'm speachless, luckily I can still type .

Henry your work is literally outstanding! From the uncany Keaton likeness to the fine details of the armour sculpts.
I noted the stitching in the gloves before I read your commentary regarding it, simply exquisit.

I don't understand the theory you mentioned about "trimming the armour" But I guess I'll get it sooner or later.

If I may pry What kind of stuff do you use for the Vinyl finished parts, is it a liquid type which can be poured into molds? I am most interested in something like that. Will that mask be removeable or is it to be cast as one solid on the head?

By the way you sure got the hang of postin pics pretty fast Excellent stuff!.

Will

[henrywayne]

Thanks for your nice words Will!! ;D

When I made the Body Armour of my 89 Figure, the back of the Body Armour was trimmed away so that the Body Armour can wear on the figure body like this:



And I have used two mini buckles to fasten it up.

As for the Returns Body Armour, I will trimmed both sides of the Body Armour away, since the sides should be the undersuit so it won't affect the appearence by doing this and we will have the details of the back of the Body Armour too.

Actually I only do the sculpting and sewing the capes and undersuit for my figure; as for the vinyl parts, I have order a vinyl toy factory to make me industrial copper moldings to pull the vinyl parts for me, that's why the vinyl parts looks so good but the cost is very expensive. As far as I know, after the vinyl factory making all the parts of my clay sculpting into copper moldings, they then mount the copper moldings into a machine and injected liquid vinyl to the copper moldings to manufacture the vinyl parts for me.


Henry

[Wild Willy]

Now I understand, Thanks for taking the time to walk us through the process.
I always have an eye open for a way to improve on my West style Bat-Boots. ;D

Will

[Figuremaster Les]

Hey Will, NOW you see why I was so excited about Henry's work!
He's been sending me pics along and along of all this and I knew and no one else did. It is amazing to see even the unfinished/finished sculpts!
I've been in awe and in utter desire since seeing his solutions. Are they not amazing?


Henry knows how I feel, don't ya buddy?! ;D
You DO have so much to share. I think I can speak for any of us when I say we are honored to see your work.
You do truly inspire!

On a personal note, thanks Henry for sharing so much with me so far. I am happy to see all these other great custom guys seeing all this and being able to comment and share in it as well.

[aburabusimbutu]

I'm speechless. I honestly don't believe you can get better than this. I wish I had something more compelling to say, but all I can do is sit back and be amazed. I love being able to see this work in progress.

[casimir]

Oh my sweet petunias! Your sculpting and casting skills are incredible, Henry!

Please keep us posted on this.

Casimir

[radioscooter]

Extremely nice work. Really more true sculpting and toymaking than "customizing". The sculpted pieces look very much inspired by the Billiken models. I'm curious (maybe I missed it) as to what you are sculpting with? It looks like you are using a Dragon or other 12" doll as your base/armature, but is that Super Sculpy? I can't tell from the photos.

Henry - you should tell these guys approximately HOW expensive you are talking about so Will doesn't start getting his hopes up about doing this himself. Having a toy company make copper molds to do vinyl injection molding is EXTREMELY expensive! If you sold these dolls for $400 each I'm guessing you would need to sell 20 of them before you start to break even on just the costs of the moldmaking! Henry - if I am wrong about that - then please get me the name of the toy company and I will contact them about doing some work too!

Regardless - very nice work. I am a fan of the '89 costume MUCH more than the '92 so I like the other one better but the work is amazing!
-s

[henrywayne]

Hey Les,

Thanks for your compliments!! ;D

You are one of the nicest guy that I have met on the internet. I am more than happy to share my works with you. Your comments really means a lot to me my friend.



AbuRabuSimbuTu,

Thanks for your nice words!! And glad to know that you like my progress so far!! ;D



Casimir,

Thanks for your nice words too!! I will post up date pics when I move on.



Scootercustoms,

Thanks for your nice words!! I admit that I am more like a Toymaker than a Customizer. The Billiken model did inspire me a lot during the time I made my 89 Figure. The figure body that I am using is this one:



This is not a Dragon figure body, this figure body is made by another toy company in Hong Kong. I really love this figure body cause it has a good human body shape and not so muscular. I did break down one of this figure body and use it as a armature and adding clay on it to do my sculpting. The clay that I use is from China, this kind of clay is mainly used by sculptors of toys companies like Hasbro, Mattel and Bandai.

As for the cost, for example making this Returns Figure into a product, it will needs around US$80 each base on the quantity of 100 figures. This cost will includes all the materials, figure body and the cost for the vinyl factory to make the copper moldings and the vinyl parts for me. So you guess is pretty close. One thing I was lucky is that I have some friends working in a toys company so I haven't get kick out of the vinyl factory after they knowing that my order is only a hundred. LOL!!


Henry

[Figuremaster Les]

I can echo Scooter's words in that I like the 89 costume much more, as it is as a final costume design anyway.
However, I like some of the improvements I see you doing in this figure. ;D

Plus, I LOVE that figure body. I only have access to Dragon or Blue Box or Sideshow for half decent bodies. That one is superb. As you say, not too muscled but filled out in a realistic way.

Also, if I may tell the guys, I have seen your original sculpted Joker head! AND WOWSA GUYS!
He says he may not even be able to produce that one though. You should show them that head anyway. It's still an absolute beauty of a sculpt! I know, I know! It's too short, or round, so you say. But it kicked my everlovin'

And Henry ...I'm gonna spill beans here too, you're gonna shoot me , but I cannot wait to see your Panther suit from Batman Forever when you get to it!
We all have so much to look forward to just getting to see your works. It's like waiting for each movie to come out or something. First one's done and out. Second one's being made. Third is on the docket...

What a wonderful original set when you are finally done! ;D

[henrywayne]

Hey Les,

The 89 Bat Suit is my favorite too!! To me, the 89 Bat Suit is a classic!!!!!!!!!!!

I am trying to make each Batman figure in a slightly different way but close to how the real suit is, that's why I use a different way to make the Returns Body Armour. Just hope the final result is good!! ;D

The figure body that I am using plays a very important part in making my Batman figures, without this figure body, sure the appearence of my 89 Figure will not looks so good.

Thanks again for your nice comments regarding my Joker head, I'll post some pics on this board.

In my orginal planning, the Panther should comes next after the 89. Guess I am a little lazy so I decided to make the Returns first (at least I do not need to sculpt the Keaton's head and the Belt). My next coming project will be the Begins, this is my promise to a close friend of mine. After the Begins sure will be the Panther.

BTW, my sculpting of the Returns Legs Armour is close to finish, I'll email you some pics when it is done so you will be the first one to see it.

Talk to you soon my friend!!


Henry

[Figuremaster Les]

COOL!
Looking forward to see them.
Can't wait to see your headsculpts on these new ones also.

[henrywayne]

Hi Guys,

Recently I have finished my sculpting of the Returns Legs Armour!! ;D

Here are the pics:

Front View:


Left and Right Side View:


Back View:


With Body Armour and Legs inserted:


You may notice that the overall appearence mays looks a little fat in the last pic, but after all the shrinkages when my clay sculptings are made into vinyl, the final product of the Returns Suit sure will looks good and will fit on the figure body well...... I hope......


Bros, I just need one more step to the Goal!!

Coming next and the last will be the mini Returns Emblem!!


Henry