JoeCon Custom Chef Process Post!
I figured I spent so long getting this figure ready for the YoJoe archives I might as well make a post showing how it came together.
Chef was a proposed 1987 G.I. Joe figure that evolved into Starduster, the mail-away figure from the G.I. Joe Action Stars cereal! The original artwork can be found here! This was the figure we would be making for the International G.I. Joe Collector's Convention's custom class for 2014. It's the first time there's been a directed build, and we'd have some new parts sculpted by Boss Fight Studios for us.
First picture - the bagged set of parts cast by Alyosha with help from Raginspoon. Note that participants had to provide their own limbs. The head is cast from Lifeline, while the torso and waist are from Firefly. The neck was modified by Andrew of Boss Fight Studios to remove the turtleneck. Apparently, all he used was a dremel! Along with the body parts, we had some accessories, including Zandar's shoulder holster that Alyosha lengthened to fit around the larger torso.
Second picture - I assembled my figure parts prior to painting, just to get a feel for the figure. I chose Flint's arms, while the legs are a combination of Cobra Commander, Snake Eyes, and Elite-Viper.
Third picture - After painting, I realized the arms weren't working. The shoulder joints didn't agree with the torso, and the skin tone really didn't match the head. I also wasn't liking painting the neck with the loaner tools in the class, so I decided to hold off on that until I got home. This was as far as I got during the convention.
Fourth picture - I picked up a Joe Colton from the convention's dealer room for his arms. I kept Flint's gloved hands, as gloved hands were part of the original artwork. With my own brushes and paints, I felt more comfortable tackling the neck, too.
Fifth picture - The next day I finally applied the waterslide decal we were given as a tattoo for Chef. I definitely procrastinated on this step! Partly because I wanted to scan the decal in for the archives, but mostly because waterslide decals scare me. Let's just say this was the first successful application of one I've ever done, and leave it at that.
Sixth picture - after rounding up some Testor's Model Masters paints in the colors used in the custom class, I was able to touch up some scratches made during the journey home. Chef is finally ready for his YoJoe close-up.