How to Make Bendable Action Figures

Cut balsa wood blocks into the approximate size and shape of your figure's main body parts. For example, for a 6- to 7-inch humanoid figure, cut a 1-by-1-by-1/2-inch block for the chest, a 1-by-1/2-by-1/2-inch block for the hips, a 1/2-by-1/2-by-1/3-inch block for the head and smaller blocks for the hands and feet.

Cut dowels to size for your action figure. For a 6- to 7-inch figure, use four 1 1/2-inch dowels for the arms, and two 1 1/2-inch dowels and two 1 3/4-inch dowels for the legs.

Shape the wood parts with sandpaper. Round off the shoulders and the front of the chest. Round the corners of the hips, and turn the head into a somewhat upside down egg shape. Make the feet flat and wide on the bottom but somewhat pointed from the top. Round the hands like a fist.

Drill holes where the joints will be. Make each hole 1/4 inch deep and just wide enough for a 12-gauge wire. For a humanoid figure, drill a hole at the end of each dowel; in the chest at each shoulder, on top for the neck and below for the spine; in the hip on top for the spine and two below for the legs; on top of each foot; in the hands for the wrist; and on the bottom rear of the head for the neck.

Cut the 12-gauge wire into 3/4-inch pieces. For a humanoid, you will need 14 pieces.

Assemble the figure by inserting wire pieces into each hole drilled. Glue the wires in place with epoxy, being careful not to accidentally glue two wood pieces together. You may adjust the lengths of any wire part before gluing. Let dry thoroughly.

Cut 1/4-inch wide strips of polyurethane foam with a pair of scissors or a foam cutter. Wrap the strips around the figure's joints using a pair of tweezers. Glue the strips' ends together with craft glue, being careful not to actually attach the foam to the wires. Glue the strips' edges to the wooden parts. Put extra foam around the figure's abdomen to fill it out.

Add details to the figure by cutting and gluing on small bits of polyurethane foam in the shape of features like shoulder and chest muscles. Use bits of wood putty to add a nose and features to the face. Shape the putty before it dries with a craft knife. Let dry.

Paint liquid latex on the figure with a paintbrush. You may want to do several coats to make the surface of your model durable enough. The polyurethane foam and putty underneath should show through as surface features once the latex is dry.

Paint your figure any colors you like. Once it's dry, your figure should be bendable and ready for playing or posing.