How to Make Vinyl Action Figures
It's an obsession for some to translate an idea for an action figure into a material representation that can be enjoyed by all. Vinyl action figures are an evolution of that desire because they are duplicates of an original form that can be made quickly and easily. The process for creating vinyl action figures is relatively straightforward and only limited by your own level of creativity. A vacuuform machine is necessary to make vinyl action figures and can be made at home for very little money. Plans for vacuuform machines are widely available on the Internet.
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Things You'll Need
- Vacuuform machine
- Sculpting clay
- Sculpting tools
- Vinyl resin
- Heavy spring clamps
- Hobby knife
- Acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes
- Matte acrylic finish
Instructions
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Sketch the ideas you have for an action figure onto a sheet of paper. Start sloppy, just getting down the basic structure. Refine your idea in a series of small drawings (called thumbnails). Make sure to draw all of the sides, the front, and the back. Your final product is going to be three-dimensional. Once you have a good idea of how the vinyl action figure should look, draw full-sized, detailed color drawings.
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Shape modeling clay with your hands into the general shape of the figure. After you have gotten as close as you can by hand shaping, begin removing and reshaping the clay with your sculpting tools. The sculpture needs to be full size and completely detailed because it will be used to make the mold for the vinyl action figure. Keep your drawings close by for reference and refer to them often during this process.
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Place the form on its back on the vacuuform machine and create a mold of its front. Turn the form over onto its front and create a mold of its back. Check to make sure that the two halves of the mold fit together tightly.
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Mix vinyl resin according to directions. Fill one half of the mold with vinyl resin - also known as PVC resin. Fit the other half of the mold in place. Clamp the two halves together using heavy spring clamps. Smoothly rotate the mold assembly in all directions for 10 minutes, consult the directions on the vinyl resin can for exact drying time. When dry, remove the cast from the mold and trim any excess plastic with a hobby knife.
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Use acrylic paint to paint the vinyl action figure. Use the color scheme that you came up with on your drawings as a guideline. Allow the paint to dry completely then coat the entire action figure with matte finish.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not shake the mold while it contains liquid vinyl resin. This will cause bubbles to form.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit toy figure of a smiling cat image by Svetoslav Iliev from Fotolia.com
