Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Collect "starter" action figures as the basis for your creation. They should be reasonably close to the shape and size of the figure you want to create (don't use Hammerhead if you want a Han Solo variant) and fairly common (in other words, not worth a lot of money).
Place the figure in a pot of boiling water for one to two minutes, then remove it carefully and "pop" off the arms, legs and head if you wish. The hot water softens the plastic and allows you to remove the limbs without damaging them.
Repeat Step 2 with as many figures as you wish, then mix and match the limbs, popping them on and off until you have a figure which comes as close as possible to your final concept.
Sand away any details you don't want, reshaping cloth folds and body parts until they are blank. You can do this with sandpaper, though you need to use extreme care and it will take a long time. Grinding tools such as Dremels allow you to work much more quickly and with greater accuracy than sandpaper.
Sculpt in new details using modeling compounds such as Sculpey or something similar. You can create new facial features, clothing and limbs as you wish. Modeling compounds can be purchased at any hobby shop, and they stay flexible until you bake them, so you can correct any mistakes before they're set.
Bake the action figure in an over set at 275 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Monitor it closely while it bakes; if you leave it in too long the plastic will melt. Set it aside for one hour to cool.
Paint the action figure with a light coat of primer, then allow it to dry.
Paint the action figure to your liking, adding a coat of fresh paint over the primer. Acrylic paints work best for plastic figures, and you need to use very fine paint brushes to get the details accurate on such a small figure.
Allow the paint to dry then spray your action figure with sealant before touching it, so the details stay as you want them.