ARAH Shooter project......

[roguetiger]

Falcone over on JoeCustoms is working on making a ARAH Shooter if anyone is interested in checking the pics and such.....http://www.joecustoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=34751&start=15
He also made some 1:18 weapons http://www.legionfourteenproductions.com/Shop/

[neapolitan joe]

I'm looking his projects on Yojoe too!

[Renegade]

[QUOTE=roguetiger]Falcone over on JoeCustoms is working on making a ARAH Shooter if anyone is interested in checking the pics and such.....http://www.joecustoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=34751&start=15
He also made some 1:18 weapons http://www.legionfourteenproductions.com/Shop/[/QUOTE]



I like the FAL! I might have to order one or two of those guns. I wish he had a pic or two up to show figures holding the guns, however. That would be nice to see.

[neapolitan joe]

[QUOTE=Renegade]I like the FAL! I might have to order one or two of those guns. I wish he had a pic or two up to show figures holding the guns, however. That would be nice to see.[/QUOTE]

I think are necessary! Pictures with ARAH and Modern era with all his rifles.

[Renegade]

[QUOTE=neapolitan joe]I think are necessary! Pictures with ARAH and Modern era with all his rifles.[/QUOTE]

Exactly! Back in the days, I've had too many figures with broken thumbs to not be too careful with my choice of weapons LOL

[M1General]

Thanks Roguetiger, can't wait to see the finished product. Those guns look good, going to have to buy some.

[Renegade]

They funny things is, I'm slowly becoming this ARAH convert once again. I like the 25th molds a LOT, but the charm, design, and overall ease of customizing the original line beat anything out. And since that's the case, I need to be sure the grips aren't too big.

[Scarrviper]

I'll be keeping an eye on this project, it does look promising. If anyone orders some of those guns, it would be nice to see them reviewed, there's several of them I'd buy if they're good.

[roguetiger]

http://www.joecustoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=34403 Has a pic of a modern figure holding one but not a ARAH fig....

[figureware]

It looks great!

[neapolitan joe]

Great work: http://s388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/GI%20Joe%20Customs/ !

[roguetiger]

[QUOTE=neapolitan joe]Great work: http://s388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/GI%20Joe%20Customs/ ![/QUOTE]

Yea but those are 25th figs with the guns he has... none of the RAH styled...The RAH ones he has with weapons are MarauderInc weapons.... I also PM'd him with a link to this thread so we'll see if he might come over here and talk more about what he's doing and such.. I know Pluv (head guy at JC) asked about possible group pricing like MJ does for his weapons...So we'll see.

[falcone]

[QUOTE=roguetiger]Yea but those are 25th figs with the guns he has... none of the RAH styled...The RAH ones he has with weapons are MarauderInc weapons....[/QUOTE]
Correct, that link contains all custom work I've done over the years. The female Troopers (which are 100% cast) are holding Marauder guns.

The handles on most of the guns are very narrow. There is no threat of broken thumbs, but they are too thin. ARAH figures have a hard time holding them. It's also recommended that the trigger guards be removed for ARAH figures, they make holding the guns even more difficult. A suggestion is to coat the handles in green stuff or other putty to thicken them up a little. Modern figures don't really have a problem.

I've also added packaged deals to the guns in the store linked to in the first post.

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/GI%20Joe%20Customs/IMGA0163_zpsb518bcb7.jpg

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/GI%20Joe%20Customs/IMGA0162_zps99df32f9.jpg

[Renegade]

Neato :)

[falcone]

I've been posting this project all over the place and because of that I have been forgetting to explain my intentions with this project at some places. The ultimate goal is for this figure to be factory manufactured. The prototype model is being sculpted by professional toy sculptors, it is not my work.

I bring this up now because I am playing around with repaint ideas. Because of the high production costs I do not believe I could sell enough of this figure to recuperate my expenses. I would need to repaint the figure and sell more of them. Here are some ideas I have come up with. Let me know of any suggestions or if you like any of these ideas.

1. Sunbow Greenshirt
I would need to have an alternate head for this one to work. One with the helmet as depicted in the episode 'Call of the Siren'.
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/GI%20Joe%20Customs/Viper%20Color%20Ideas/greenshirt.jpg

2. Amber
This one would obviously be taking great liberties in design. Amber's outfit in 'Lasers in the Night' is more akin to Jinx's, but since the outfit only appears in one scene I don't think it's a big deal. The colors are correct, or this could be her uniform if she ended up joining the Joe team.
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/GI%20Joe%20Customs/Viper%20Color%20Ideas/amber.jpg

3. Scarlett
Okay, this one turned out terrible but here it is anyway. I was thinking about updating Scarlett's uniform to match the rest of the O13 while keeping her coloring. It didn't work out so well...
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/GI%20Joe%20Customs/Viper%20Color%20Ideas/scarlett.jpg

[Scarrviper]

Those repaints look fine to me.

[M1General]

They look good.

[troopsofdoom]

For a repaint idea, how about a Cobra Blueshirt? Classic Cobra Trooper color scheme, red logo on chest. A good idea for sales because people would army build them.

The head is the only part I'm unsure of because of is the face mask. I don't know if simply painting it on would work or if you would need a new head-sculpt. If you had a generic masked head you could a bunch of repaints like jungle, snow, desert, urban, crimson and night ops.

I always though Cobra needed more ladies.

[falcone]

[QUOTE=troopsofdoom]For a repaint idea, how about a Cobra Blueshirt? Classic Cobra Trooper color scheme, red logo on chest. A good idea for sales because people would army build them.

The head is the only part I'm unsure of because of is the face mask. I don't know if simply painting it on would work or if you would need a new head-sculpt. If you had a generic masked head you could a bunch of repaints like jungle, snow, desert, urban, crimson and night ops.

I always though Cobra needed more ladies.[/QUOTE]

I'm going to hold off on that for a few reasons. The uniform is too different for me (I'm picky about detail) and I would like to do a proper female Trooper in the future.

[Scarrviper]

[QUOTE=troopsofdoom]For a repaint idea, how about a Cobra Blueshirt? Classic Cobra Trooper color scheme, red logo on chest. A good idea for sales because people would army build them.

The head is the only part I'm unsure of because of is the face mask. I don't know if simply painting it on would work or if you would need a new head-sculpt. If you had a generic masked head you could a bunch of repaints like jungle, snow, desert, urban, crimson and night ops.

I always though Cobra needed more ladies.[/QUOTE]

I have to agree. the uniform details wouldn't be exact, but I don't think it would hurt to do some in cobra blue, with possibly a new headsculpt.

[troopsofdoom]

[QUOTE=falcone]I'm going to hold off on that for a few reasons. The uniform is too different for me (I'm picky about detail) and I would like to do a proper female Trooper in the future.[/QUOTE]
Well, that's even better. Can't wait. :D

[turner]

On the subject of casting these, I would love someone to do an international set, nice new production with factory paint of shimik, topson, redmack, manleh, glenda, even cobra invasor. Swivel arm versions, which would be better and should alleviate any problems for those who worry about them being passed off as originals. Maybe white mortal. Swivel arm de aco too.

[falcone]

Just a small update. I've got an alternate head to do the Joe Trooper figure.

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/IMG_1762112.jpg

[neapolitan joe]

Awesome!
For Shooter's face You'd copy Halle Berry lineaments.

[Scarrviper]

Looks great!

[troopsofdoom]

[QUOTE=falcone]Just a small update. I've got an alternate head to do the Joe Trooper figure.[/QUOTE]
Great detail, especially the eyes. Any plans to mold these in multiple skin tones?

[Flatline]

Okay okay im sold when n where can we get that shooter n those troopers already :D !!!

[M1General]

Nice, great work.

[falcone]

I've got some painted resin samples to show. They are hand painted so the paint application is not perfect.
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/ShooterPaint.jpg
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/shooterpaint2.jpg

[troopsofdoom]

Great headsculpt. Is she going to have swivel-arms?

[neapolitan joe]

Excellent work: congratulations!

[Scarrviper]

She's looking good.

[Pit Viper v2]

This looks great!

[falcone]

For those wondering about quality. I am about 99% certain that the manufacturer producing these is the same the produces the Black Major's figures. So expect about the same quality as those figures. I will also inspect each figure and will not sell figures that have defects.

I hope to have a release date around Christmas.

[falcone]

One more update here since I forgot to add some information last time. The price of these figures will be at around or under $10 each.

These are the 3 figures that will be produced and the colors they will have. I had to modify the colors because the colors had to be Pantone. This forced my to lighten up Shooter's uniform because there are very few really dark Pantone colors. I've also determined Shooter's uniform is fairly light based off the comic panels I have seen.

Amber and Shooter will have the regular head and the Joe Trooper will have the helmeted head (not pictured). I took great liberties with Amber's design, but it's a good way to make an actual character as well is release the sculpt in dark grey.

I will be putting up a Kickstarter for each additional repaint I come up with to determine if there is enough interest to have them produced as well. The only two I have right now are repaints I've shown earlier, they are alternate uniform Scarlett, but I darkened the colors and the Shipwreck coloring. If you have any other ideas for repaints let me know so I can make a Kickstarter for them.

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/shooterfinal2.jpg
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/trooperfinal.jpg
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/amberfinal.jpg

[roguetiger]

something is telling me that this project is a NO GO.....IE the other colors of Shooter......
http://www.joecustoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=35767 Don't know if anyone else has heard of this Kickstarter project but only 5 days to go and only 3 backers?? :rolleyes: Don't think it was posted ANYWHERE except on JoeCanuck.....

[falcone]

I've got two things here. First is very disheartening news, at least to me. I am not sure how to deal with it. First thing, this may be the last time I work with this manufacturer as they cannot follow simple instructions. They continue to acknowledge directions I give, but then do not do them. Because of this there are two glaring problems with this figure, after tooling has been completed.

One is the waist piece. I'm not sure what or why, but they changed it while making the tooling. It wasn't perfect to begin with but they completely reverted it back into a diaper crotch design. Aesthetically it doesn't look good, and functionally it will make sitting the figure down difficult.

The other problem which to me is much more severe is the arms. I've been assured for a while that the swivel joint would be added to the figure. Now that the tooling is complete, it is still not there. The figure is now a straight arm figure. That too me is unacceptable.

This leaves me at somewhat of a cross roads. I would either have to pay to have the prototype reworked and then repay the tooling cost which I don't have the funds for and then wait another month for it to finish. Or proceed as is with two glaring problems looking at me. At this point I really do not know how to proceed.

With that said the second thing I want to talk about probably no longer looks attractive. I put up a one week Kickstarter to test interest in repaints of this figure. The first is a generic commando. The next I will be doing will be an arctic ops figure.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/790108683/gi-joe-arah-figure-commando

Here is a picture of the first test shot of the figure from the tooling. You can see the two glaring problems, as well some of the smaller ones which I was expecting to have. I guess the silver lining is that Shooter was around 4-5 on my to do list. I elected to not do my more desired figures first so that I could work out the kinks to make the future, more desired, figures perfect.
http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/firsttestshot.jpg

[falcone]

[QUOTE=roguetiger]something is telling me that this project is a NO GO.....IE the other colors of Shooter......
http://www.joecustoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=35767 Don't know if anyone else has heard of this Kickstarter project but only 5 days to go and only 3 backers?? :rolleyes: Don't think it was posted ANYWHERE except on JoeCanuck.....[/QUOTE]

The main figure and the two repaints posted prior will be happening. I'm just looking into further repaints.

[falcone]

I've put up a Kickstarter for 5 repaints of Shooter. This does not include Shooter itself or the Joe Trooper and Amber repaints. If you are interested in those three figure you will have to wait until their release to buy them.

Each $10 contribution will get you one of the 5 figures pictured in the project. You can choose which figures you want, there is no limit to any one figure. Production of Shooter is beginning very shortly. So this project is only 2 weeks long, as I have to make a decision on whether to do these figure before production ends.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/790108683/gi-joe-arah-figure-shooter-repaints

[falcone]

The repaint project is 2/3 funded with 24 hours to go. I've added Shooter as one of the contribution rewards. So if you would like to "preorder" Shooter, Amber, or Joe Trooper you can do so with a $10 contribution to the Kickstarter. Also, there is no limit on how many figures or how many of each figure you can choose as rewards.

[roguetiger]

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/oo322/capt_falcone/P1120358_zps5d56ccd0.jpg

Falcone has showed off the hand painted samples over on JoeCustoms so thought I'd share them over here....

[Scarrviper]

I can't wait to see how the final ones look, these are awesome. I know I'll be interested in getting some.