Graphic Interlude - M&M

Darth Maul 2N - Progress Report #3

I have begun to work "out" the tunic, and reworking the drapery of the torso. I have also completed all the pegging required of this kit--which suggests that the end to the pre-prime prep is nigh. However, as always, easier said than done! While the end is undeniably now in sight, there is yet much work to be done.

Seeing the rebirth of this figure is quite rewarding. It makes one wonder why KM elected the manneristic grandstanding of the original design over the iconic understated 'presence' evinced in the final duel? This, as so many things concerning this manufacturer, probably will never be sussed. . .

Darth Maul 2N - Progress Report #2

I have just finished pegging and fitting--though not permanently attaching (this may not take place for a few weeks)--the torso to the lower body. And a watershed such as this warrants a new entry in this [b]log. . . 

The finishing of the reworked lower body continues--and probably will for the foreseeable future. Everything is in place, and the structural putty-work has been completed. Now it is a question of thinning down the numerous addenda to a visually-acceptable scale, and trimming everything to size.

The boots will have to be "tweaked"; but this will be done throughout the course of the project rather than in one fell swoop. 

Back to the bench!

Darth Maul 2N - Progress Report #1

As this will be a L-O-N-G term project, to be "sipped" rather than "gulped", I hope that you will overlook the rather informal approach to the chronicling of the same. . . at least in the early goings.

To date, I have done the following:

• Cleaned and molded right leg. 
• Cast and reanimated right leg: bisected 'leg' at knee; extended leg; repositioned foot.
• Removed all vestiges of the Sith mantle from torso and arms.
• Attached face and sculpted cranium.
• Removed saberstaff w/ hands from arms at wrists.
• Pinned, located, slightly repositioned arms (not permanently attached).
• Repaired the defective casting of the rear section of the fauld. [NOTE: the defective area was one of the "sashes" sewn to the outer tunic. As it did not line up with the sculpted drapery of the latter, I elected to remove it altogether and replace it when the time comes.]

[27.10.12]

• Right arm permanently attached.
• Right thigh permanently attached.
• Right leg permanently attached and filled.
• Attachment "step" for displayed mantle filled. 
• Repositioned left foot slightly. 
• Left leg pegged, and lower body mounted on work base. 
• Commenced reworking drapery of pants. 

[28.10.12]

• Commenced reconstructing the sub-belt fauld. [NOTE: this is arguably the most critical step of the conversion, if only because it involves the most corrective work.] 

[03.11.12] 

• The sub-belt fauld is now all-but-done. I anticipate having the finishing well underway by the end of the weekend, and - hopefully - [sub]assembly can begin by next weekend.

[04.11.12] 

• The lower-half of the body is now assembled. 

  It's a start. There is a ton of work ahead of me; but I figure if I diligently put-in 1-2 hrs/day, this will be ready for sub-assembly and mounting in no time. 

Darth Maul 2N

There is little that surprises me from this manufacturer anymore. Poor production quality? Check. Little--if any!--quality control? Check. Poor communication? Check. To that we can now add indifference re: customer satisfaction.

KM has acquired a well-earned reputation for not only mis-packaging kits (as in wrong box, wrong insert--which makes you wonder how many of any one kit are truly out there?); but of selling incomplete, or incorrectly packaged kits: shorted parts, duplicate parts, etc. As I mentioned in my review, this was my first experience with anything of this nature; but based on on-line reviews and comments, it is far from uncommon. I wrote KM upon receipt of the shorted kit, and their reply was frankly shocking: "The Stars Wars line is no longer part of our held licenses", and that "they regret the error". That's it! I read this as, "We sold you an unusable/ defective product. . . too bad!"

As I said, KM has lost my patronage. I can forgive--or rather, turn a blind eye to--technical and production issues. But this is beneath contempt--and fraudulent!

As before, enough of that. May they reap what they have sown threefold! I still have an incomplete kit to make whole. . .

And that I have! I was very lucky to find a local collector who was willing to part with his kit of Darth Maul for a very reasonable price. While certain pieces of the kit were deplorably cast, his kit was not only complete, but they had thrown-in an extra left leg! You can well imagine the surface damage due to incidental contact by soft metal in an over-packed tin; but as they say, beggars can't be choosy. . .  Given what I plan to do, I am now short but one right leg. I can live with that--especially as I have a decent right leg to clean-up, mold, and from which I will be able to cast as many right legs as my heart desires!

And so, I now have TWO Darth Maul projects on the stove-top: 1T is the original plan, depicting Maul in his encounter with JM Qui-Gon Jinn on Tatooine, an essentially OOB undertaking. Now for the lemonade from the remaining lemons: Project 2N will be based on the depiction of Maul in his epic, but fatal, encounter with JM Jinn and the then-Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi (bka "The Duel of the Fates") in the Theed power generator on Naboo. This will be a moderately extensive conversion as he will not be wearing the Sith hooded mantle, his [under-]clothing will have to be enhanced/corrected and detailed, and the legs will have to be reanimated to varying degrees. 

That's it for now. Before closing, I would just like to strongly urge that if you must buy any KM kit, do not do so sight unseen! Inspect the kit carefully before purchasing: if the seller is at all hesitant to let you do so, walk away. If you do agree to buy sight unseen, make sure that the conclusion of the sale is contingent solely upon your satisfaction with what you have received. If that is unacceptable. . . walk away!