Lady Deadpool - Prepwork VI: The Swords

As I noted in the Phase IV entry, since the swords--and their scale-thin blades--are cast en-suite with the respective arms, I decided to remove the blades. . . 

So much for the introduction. . . I will say at the outset that I am completely empathetic with any manufacturer that attempts to produce near-scale thickness blades in a relatively heat-unstable medium such as PUR. In this figure, the results are overly wide blades and warpage. Few, if any, of the build-ups I have seen have meaningfully addressed the former; and most have what can only be described as "wobbly" blades. Finally, the blades are longer than the scabbards. 

Since the blades are fragile and obstructive, I decided to remove them. I can now reduce the width of the blades, re-size and reshape them, and make them "true" without having to work around the figure. Or, I can make entirely new blades from plastic or brass!

To date, I have removed the blades; slotted the tsuba; resized the scabbards; and, I have also replaced the tsuka on both swords. The tsuka were too short: technically, if not visually, ade- quate for a short-ish [ko-]wakizashi, but not for anything longer.

More to follow. . . 

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Lady Deadpool - Prepwork V: The Left Arm

The left arm is now permanently attached. . . 

The left arm, relative to the right, is a piece of cake! Clean it thoroughly (watch out for the micro- seam lines!); dry-fit to your satisfaction, making sure you line up the opening for the locating peg on the grenades; and glue!

Movin' right along. . .  

UPDATE 19.10.16. . . The upper arm band has been modelled, and the brace of grenades fitted. 

FOLLOW-UP 20.10.16. . . I have decided not to include the grenades in my interpretation of Lady Deadpool, if only because they disrupt the [visual] flow of the figure.

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Lady Deadpool - Prepwork VII: Misc.

Tying-off loose ends:

• 10.10.2016 -- Added the right upper-calf band/brace.
• 15.10.2016 -- New circular belt buckle modeled. Added the left wrist band/brace.
• 16.10.2016 -- Added the right wrist band/brace.  

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Lady Deadpool - Prepwork IV: The Right Arm

With the heads essentially all-but-done, it's time to shift my attention to the arms. 

I decided to start with the more difficult of the two: the right. Neither arm is "easy", since the arms and their respective katana are cast as one piece; however, the right arm is more difficult since it is an unsupported arm. . . all the more so since I have eliminated the grenades, which served as a buttressing fixture. 

To get things rolling, I carefully drilled a pair of ~1.5mm d. holes to accommodate the solder peg. I will have to add an upper arm band, which will mask the join, etc.: how I decide to go about this--and when!--will be evaluated in the days to come. . . 

UPDATE 10.10.16. . . The right arm has been permanently attached, and the upper arm band has been modelled. I did decide to remove--and shorten! (more on this in another posting)--the katana blade. I am undecided as to whether I will follow a similar course with the left blade.  

UPDATE 11.10.16. . . The upper arm band has been finished. 

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Lady Deadpool - Prepwork III: The Other Head. . . bka HEADPOOL

The 75mm hollow-printed skulls arrived today, and I immediately started working on Headpool. . .

I ordered 5 skulls, with the intent of sacrificing one to familiarize myself with the medium, etc. No need--the medium is quite forgiving and surprisingly "tough"! In short, you will have to go out of your way to ruin a skull.

Headpool is now about 70% done. After a few more hours of touch-ups and detailing, he should be on the home-stretch. . .

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Lady Deadpool - Prepwork II: The Head

First things first. . . I freely admit that I lost quite a bit of my enthusiasm for this figure when I saw it 'in the resin' for the first time. . .  BUT, it grows on you quickly; and once you start assembly, the brilliance of the sculpture quickly dispels any doubts! I am enjoying this IMMENSELY!!

The head is next on the agenda, as it will require the most modification. After repositioning the head, I finalized fitting to the neck by building-up the band collar which the head will now "plug-into". Next, I applied the eye patches of the mask, which will be finished off the head and then permanently attached before I proceed with modelling the mask itself. Finally, I drilled a [counter- sunk] hole in the vicinity of the terminus of the sagittal suture to accommodate the pony-tail.

UPDATE 23.09.16. . . The pony-tail has been roughed-in over a copper armature. As I intend to support Headpool off of a loose strand of hair, this will be an ongoing concern until the very end 
of the project.

UPDATE 27.09.16. . . The pony-tail has been tentatively fitted to the head v-à-v Headpool. The mask is next. . . !

UPDATE 28.09.16. . . Eye patches permanently attached.

UPDATE 09.10.16. . . The mask and the pony-tail (including Headpool's attachment) are now all- but-done! 

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Lady Deadpool - Prepwork I

In spite of the manufacturer-supplied obstacles, I am rarin' to go on this project!

To start off with, I "immersed" myself in the figure by careful removal of the ventral webbing on the torso and the waist belt. This confirmed a suspicion I had regarding the 'separatist' nature of the bodice, and I thus resculpted the breasts to bring them more in line with the character.

Next, I permanently attached the right leg. This is a critical step that needs to be taken slowly and with the utmost patience, especially as the all-too-shallow key is little help in positioning the leg.  

Then, I tentatively fitted the pistol to her right thigh. Fit was compromised by the expected cast- ing distortion/s, and--again--an all-too-shallow key. 

Finally, I got the ol' girl up on her feet! First I bulked-up the severely s-a-s'd ankles and roughed-in the boots to replace the tabi. I then pegged the figure using 18ga. copper wire. Since she is walking on the balls of her feet, this required 'dog-legging' the wire down the arch of the foot. 

She is now mounted on her work base!

 UPDATE 21.09.16. . . I tentatively fitted and pegged the optional head today. The main head is what we usually see--oriental features and coiffure, hood bundled at the neckline. The optional head is masked and wearing a skullcap:


I opted for the latter since I decided to depict Lady Deadpool fully masked. Final fitting, etc. will be done over the next few days.

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

Demi-Deadpool Corps

I mentioned in my review of TKS' Ninja Lady that an optional head was provided. This was news to me as I had seen it mentioned nowhere else. Well, it got me thinking. . . what if we put that head to use and added an unique element to the project? That element being. . . HEADPOOL!


The optional head provided really doesn't lend itself to the conversion (too small, for one), so I have a few 75mm skulls on order that should provide an excellent base.

Before closing, I will hasten to point out that Kidpool and Dogpool are NOT being considered. . .

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

TKS' Ninja Lady - Review

The piece arrived today!

The kit is comprised of 11 pieces, including display plinth and an optional head(!). Casting-wise, I would give it a solid 8/10. Unfortunately, there are two minor air holes on the right katana blade; any number of sizeable air voids in the feet; and the same (right) blade, as well as the right scab- bard on the back mount, were "bent". Nothing out of the ordinary in this scale and this medium, mind you, but one expects more from pieces like this.

Packaging was secure and stylish. . . exceptional! There was no boxart provided, about which I am uncharacteristically torn.

So that's about it! A great kit, beautifully designed, but let down by sub-standard QC and--pos- sibly--haste.

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003

TKS' Ninja Lady

Over the weekend, I stumbled upon CMON's clearance sale: there's something for everyone at very enticing--and generous!--prices

I have been hyper-critical of prospective acquisitions for quite some time now (bang for the buck AND likelihood of completion AND hedging against inflation/availability), but when I stumbled upon Terrible Kid Stuff's 75mm Ninja Lady, there was nothing to do but buy it!

This piece is--was!--a limited edition of 130 issues that has been closed (read: sold out) for some time now. I was sorely tempted to buy her when she was first released: she is, in a word, BRILLI- ANT!!! Sculpted by Joaquín Palacios, the only unanswered question revolves around the quality of the casting. . .

Full review to follow upon receipt; but in the meantime, what I propose to do with her. The boxart, by Fabrizio Russo, is inspiring--check the subtle camo pattern on the leathers! If memory serves, I originally thought to do her as either Black Widow or Domino. That was then. . . What prompted me to purchase this piece at this time were the pair of katana the kunoichi is wielding.

This beauty will be rendered as ... Lady Deadpool! Admittedly, a hyper-realistic Lady Deadpool, but. . . why not? This is my project TDL to date:

Stay tuned. . .

“When the cost of a hobby exceeds the fun and doesn't attract new people, the game is over.” -
Oscar Koveleski, August 2003