Red Skull--The Project

This is a relatively simple conversion, one that frankly I am amazed no one has undertaken to date.

The entire project essentially revolves around the resculpting--or replacement--of the kit's head with that of a--THE--Red Skull. While I am leaning towards sculpting the replacement head from scratch, I might consider using the kit-provided head as a core IF I decide to do away with the cap altogether. In the meantime, I have already bored out the neck to afford me some latitude in the posing of the head.

The gloved left hand (holding the leash) will be reworked to have it hold the RS's skull-handled swordstick.

The bare right hand is already holding a cigarette. This will be replaced with a cigarette in a cigarette holder: a delivery mechanism for the "Dust of Death".

Beyond that, most of the work will be cosmetic in nature, requiring little if any actual conversion work. Marvel--understandably--glosses over most of the details that we as miniaturists depend--and thrive--on. We do know, however, that Johann Schmidt "was appointed head of Nazi terrorist activities with an additional large role in external espionage and sabotage." That suggests Abwehr or SS/SD to me. In any case, a bit of historical research is in order to "flesh out" the alter-ego, if nothing else, of Herr Schmidt.

With regard to matters of the bench, as I mentioned above, I have already drilled out the neck to accommodate the head. And I have assembled and fitted the trench coat, minus the left arm. A bit more tweaking re: the fit, and I will be able to proceed with general clean-up, which is commendably minimal.

By way of UPDATE. . . The trench coat seams are now filled--relatively little work, all things considered; and the body has been pegged and mounted on its work base. Next: reworking the soles of the boots.

UPDATE (2)--Save for the unforeseeable minor tweaks and touch-ups that inevitably come to light in the course of prepping and painting, the putty work on the trench coat is now behind me, and fitting has been completed. It is a testament to the design and engineering of this piece that despite worn-out molds and distorted castings, the trench coat fell together with very little effort!

UPDATE (3) 28.08.10--While I might end-up sculpting a new head from scratch before it's all over, for now I have decided to use the kit head as a core. The head has been drilled, pegged, and repositioned (rotated to the right ~90°); and the neck stump added with MS. Time permitting, I will do away with the cap on the morrow. . . FOLLOW-UP--The cap has been ground-off, and save for "squaring-up" the shape of the calvarium, the head is ready for putty. . .