How to Customize a McFarlane Figure

Todd McFarlane's brand of action figures have been hailed for their attention to detail. From movie monsters to video game heroes and comic book villains, almost every pop culture medium is covered. For fans who are bummed that a certain character or celebrity isn't represented in action figure form, there is a solution, customize a current figure. Using tools found at an art supply store, any action figure can be transformed into a completely new piece of art to proudly display. This guide will cover the basics of customizing an action figure.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Action Figure to Customize
• Extra Action Figures for Parts
• Pictures of Character You Want to Create
• Soap and Water
• Blow Dryer
• Acrylic Paint
• Paint Brushes of Differing Sizes
• Exacto Knife
• Dental Pick
• Sand Paper
• Pliers
• Clamps
• Sculpting Material
• Model Glue

Customizing Your Action Figure

1. Choose the action figure you want to customize. You want to pick a similar body shape to the character you are attempting to make. You don't want to use an Angela figure to create Cyclops. You can always add and subtract body mass as needed. Don't be afraid to mix and match several figures.

2. Print out several pictures of the character you intend to make. Closeups of the head are also a good idea The more detail you have as a reference, the more detail you can put in your creations.

3. Wash all the action figures with soap and water, this gives you a clean surface to work with. Next use a blow dryer to warm up any parts you wish to remove from a figure. Run the blow dryer on high heat gently moving the part back and forth until it snaps free from the joint. Gather together all the parts you intend to use.

4. If you're adding additional parts to your custom figure, do so using model glue. Wait for the glue to fully dry before moving on to the next step. Don't worry about mismatched joints, they can be covered with sculpting material.

5. 
    
   Apoxie Sculpting Material

   Use the sculpting material to add additional mass to your figure as well as adding additional details. Use the Exacto knife to carve away at large sections until you get an area you're happy with. This material can be used to create shoes, hair, masks, belts, the list goes on. Also use small amounts to smooth over joints.

6. Allow the sculpting material to cure, a process that takes around four hours. Once cured, you can use dental picks and the exacto knife to carve finer details without risk of cracking or deforming the material. Once all the details are created, use the sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges that may have been created.

7. 
    
   Acrylic Paint

   Paint the figure. Use the clamps to hold your creation in place while you apply the appropriate coloring. Start with the large areas of color, then after it dries add in the details. Use smaller tipped brushes for facial features and details in the costuming. Take your time, the best sculpted figure can be ruined by a sloppy paint job.

8. 
    
   Custom Batgirl by Charlie Jackam

   Allow your figure to dry completely. Now you can go back and add any details you're missing or display your figure proudly.

Tips & Warnings

• Creating a figure is a long process, speeding through it will lead to less than stellar results. Try different brands of materials to find the one that best fits. Don't use craft paint, it will chip and peel off your figures.