Superman: The Movie | Movie Masters Classics 5.0

Back with another installment on a steady theme here we are with version V of my figure series:

Movie Masters Classics | Superman the Movie 

In this figure we take a little more time with the smaller details we well as rework some ideas that have been bouncing around in the old attic for a minute.

Of course we are skipping quite a few steps here but we can always circle back around on version VI someday soon.

Anyway we take a DCUC Superman body and sculpt new boot tops to the added DC SuperHeroes Supes lower legs. They stand off the shin to give that added scale punch. The cape top is sculpted as well for total control of its appearance. The upper torso is also sculpted over to take away more of that comic book musculature.

The sculpted over upper torso also gives more of that "Reeve Ribcage" that protrudes in those first 2 movies. It also gives us a nice surface to attach our emblem pre-priming. Also we have enhanced the cod area to give a little anatomy to the square crotch we see on DCUC figures. It's functional but when doing a film accurate character, it has to be addressed. The belt has been flipped upside down to elongate the pelvic area and give more territory to the trunks as back in the 70's it was not a sin to wear your pants up to your navel.

We start off painting wit our bright colors so that overpaint with out darker colors doesn't become an issue… and really at this point, only blue is left, but its the principle. Since both the blues and reds and of course yellows are such bright tones we'd rather be careful to only get paint where it is needed.

The yellow is straight out of the bottle acrylic. It goes down first since its a secondary color where red is usually present and it perhaps give a little glow to the red once its down.

The red is a 90/10 mix of the same yellow and straight bottle red. It takes the red up a notch but not nearly to an orange but once the blue hits it can leave the red looking a little muddy if it is too red.

Now to the blue. I always mix way more than I need and I hate that since I end up wasting another half of everything I mix but I try to get my colors right by over estimation. The blue is a mix of a Cobalt blue and about a 20% white added. once stirred it almost takes on a green hazey quality but once it dries and layers it comes off as a very very bright blue.

Using the vinyl decal for the emblem really helps in defining that shape for painting. Its definitely almost cheating but its a great way to make sure your "S" keeps its identity. Its a very slight emboss but SUCH a helpful tool when it comes down to precision painting which is NOT my specialty.

A detail shot of the boot tops shows the "stitch work" of the shins as well as the wrinkles around the ankles where all the action is. The V-cut tops are sculpted flat to the shins, cut to shape and then peeled back off of the leg to give them a little more scale and depth. 

And here we are, the classic poster pose minus the American flag...

5/8 profile...

And contextual action pose with props...

The wrinkles are subtle on the boots but they do catch light pretty well and since they are not the most prominent feature they don't have to jump out at you but they make a nice addition of detail.

What's that I hear?

The McRib is BACK!!!!!!

up Up and AWAY!!!

And our obligatory watermarked saturated closer picture…

Thanks for looking!!

Man of Steel | Figure and Packaging by GeekSummit

Progression of Version III

I started with the Mattel WWE figures this time. I figured the more realistic bodies would favor the film likeness better and the set up on the these torsos lead to much less complicated treatment on the ribbing and accents and really just all around were a better fit.

The hair, emblem base, cape top, and accents were sculpted on and a fist was ganked from another figure since apparently no wrestler comes with TWO FISTS.

Pretty decent start to the figure. The lower legs came from a DCSH Superman. The "Battle Damage" reissue version. What a crappy figure… I should cut off your legs!!

Primed with final sculpts to the lower legs and emblem.

Still looking pretty promising...

Missed a few spots but I didn't notice until I got it in to photograph… Not a problem.

duh Duh DUH!!!!!

The entire body is painted (light colors first and stay inside your lines) from head to toe…

The blue is again a mixed with a little yellow for a minor aqua tint but this blue really fought it out and stayed VERY blue.

All of the accents are painted a straight silver. I tried dry brushing but I was working from a spray can and I was really bringing a cannon to a knife fight.

After the silver dried I came back with a mixture of my original blue and a cup of water. I just glazed back over with a wet paint filled brush and just tried to leave a presence to take away from the stark silver.

The top of the cape is sculpted to a point in the back. There I flush cut it to a point where I will simply attach a fabric cape. I really think Mattel ought to look into this method. I've read about complications and cost with soft goods but really it adds so much to these figures and helps them balance so much more.

Cracked the Toupee of Steel towards the end of the project. It totally crumbled in my hands when I tried to pop the head off for detail painting… Lesson learned.

And now the packaging…

First of is the Bio for the back. Now I didn't really have to get too imaginative here but I did want it to read somewhat vaguely since there is a lot we don't know about the movie still.  There were however, based to on the known cast of the film, bases to cover so we know what characters are introduced.

Textures used are a mix of brushed steel, color overlays and a color halftone gradient for that extra punch.

The emblem is completely hand done in illustrator and then treated in PhotoShop with textures and bevels and strokes and shadows and you name it… everything but Outer Glow.

And of course are my ever present Holy Trinity of Contact Info!!!

The front and back feature artwork by Daniel Morpheus found on DeviantArt.com. The second I saw this image I was like "WOW!! packaging art!!" so it was a natural choice. Daniel is credited fully for his artwork… I wouldn't want someone ganking something of mine which no doubt took time and skill and pass it off as their own. Luckily I have none of that.

This Kryptonian Scribble reads;"Kal El, Son of Jor El - Last Son of Krypton"

Its echoed again on the inside inset bookending the figure but really its not that prominent.

All in all what I love about this packaging is that it is so compact… I have been doing this format for a while for my more dedicated customs and what I find is that simply its sleek, durable, easy to manufacture, and can be easily theft proofed. On top of that you can fit like 50 of these on any shelf… or shopping cart... :)

So here we have it for the observing… GeekSummit's Prototype Suggestion for The Man of Steel; starring Henry Cavill. I know that is is in no way a prediction of how the movie packaging will turn out but I find it fun to put my foot out there in a 2 day push to see a product go from chunks to chiseled…

Thanks For Looking!!!

See Version IV Here

Man of Steel | Custom Superman Figure and Packaging Revealed: Suggestion to Mattel

more to come...

Man of Steel | Henry Cavill Superman Movie Masters Progression Video

Man of Steel | Henry Cavill as Superman Custom Movie Masters Action Figure

Finally got around to finishing this guy out. He sat unpainted for weeks, but I finally cleared my schedule of Ramen Noodle and Xbox to sit down and give this guy his proper treatment. This is revision II since my first attempt was right after the first preview images were released… Enjoy!!

Work in Progess Shots:

I started with a Scallox Red Lantern figure (mainly for the texture of the boots and wrist cuffs) and sculpted the ribbing with Apoxie Sculpt. Chopped off a buckle from a standard Supes and used hand cut sign vinyl for the emblem and accents on the wrist cuffs. Top portion of the cape is sculpted as well. This should allow for total control of the appearance of the cape as it tucks into the suit.

Primered throughout… The emblem still looks like it will give me the proper depth to paint easily.

 I under-painted the new ribbing and accents because it seems like this suit is supposed to have this translucent "Oneness" of being this alien construct that throws out the conventions of things like belt loops, underroos, and stitching.

First layer of blue is applied letting the ribbing remain untouched. Blue is mixed with just a little bit of yellow to pick up on that just slightly dull blue-green tone we are seeing in the first full reveal shots.

 Underpainting does not exactly stand out too much once it is painted over so later I opted for a silver drybrush using spray chrome in a plastic cup… Did you know those things turn to goo when filled with spray paint? Slight outline around emblem is left untouched to allow for the silver trim it seems may surround the emblem… I dig this new look. Cape is attached underneath the neckpiece that meets in the front, still working on this technique…

Head is from Version I of this figure from the Bank Vault reveal shots. Hairdo has that Elvis blowback look to it still. This will be corrected in Version III for sure.

And here we have it, the Man of Steel | Henry Cavill as Superman before silver accents are added… Still a work in progress...

Version I from Bank Vault Reveal shot. I was sure that the trunks were going to be tossed out but wasn't sure how the belt would be treated, so I definitelt shot blind of this one, I'd have never guess what they were going to pull to keep that torso broken up… Good thinking DC, I think folks are going to dig this new look.

Full Body Shot

That's all for now… Stay tuned for Version III in the indefinite future!!!

You can see version III here.

Man of Steel Wallpaper anyone???

Hey guys, Henry Cavill's photo in the new suit has been released for Superman: The Man of Steel 2013 film. I figured I'd tool around with the first release photo a little bit and tried to bring the colors back up. Tried to mess with the contrast/depth a little bit, but really this is an awesome photo in the first place. Added a title bar across the top and the best emblem rendering I could muster with so little reference…

Enjoy!!!

Superman: The Movie | Movie Masters Classics Fortress of Solitude