Customized Vintage TMNT GROUNDCHUCK figure!

As a child, I didn't like Groundchuck's look- specifically the bright colors he was painted. I was like, "Okay, it's the 90s, I get it." Of course, this is basically how Groundchuck looked in the cartoon, so I have nothing to complain about.

Except I wanted to see him look different. After seeing some amazing vintage turtle repaints online, I repainted this guy the way I think a cyborg mutant bull should look. These random figures have so much amazing sculpting just hiding under the surface... things you never notice until you REALLY look.

Customized Vintage Krang's Android Body with Custom Standing Shredder!

Sometimes you can get figures in rougher shape cheap on eBay. That can be important for more expensive figures like Krang's Android Body- especially if it actually has the little window that holds the Krang figure in.

Comparing the cartoons and the accompanying action figure line, there were certainly some differences. Toon Shredder and figure shredder were not the same; I've heard that the figures tend to be based on the original comics, which is cool. And Toon Krang had purple eyes, some added forehead ridges, and NO WINDOW needed to keep him in his Android Body. Since it was cheap to get a rough Shredder to customize, and cheap-ish to get a Krang's Android Body missing all the armor and the window, I decided to try to make some more 'Toon' accurate figures.

Krang's Android Body required that I make his armor (metal and sculpey clay), as well as alter the port that Krang sits in. I'm not going to pay $$$ to get a window that doesn't belong there anyway; I actually had to dremel out the opening more to be symmetrical, then fill areas with apoxie sculpt and sand / carve them even with the original features.

Once I had gotten everything painted (and only then...) I realized that the original Krang figure would no longer fit nicely into the body. Genius move, right? I ended up sculpting an entirely new Krang, as I would have had to fill the eyes and add forehead ridges, and completely repaint anyway. Before permanently adding this newly sculpted Krang, I did install a metal platform surface for him to sit on.

Shredder... stands up. He shouldn't have to crouch all bent over like that all the time. Even with a core as strong as his must be, it has to be murder on his back. I took a beat up Shredder, cut his legs apart, and drilled in / epoxied metal pins in place so he would stand taller on straight legs. I did some work on his armor / cloth garments, and carefully repainted his entire head and neck to try to get a better scowl. I have since seen the "Classic Shredder" figure, and it is beautiful... and he isn't bent over like a hunch back. But, hey- this is a vintage Shredder figure that is now standing... when you prop him against something.

Modern TMNT movie Reboot SHREDDER figure repaint!

Face it- the Ninja Turtles were not meant to be a high-brow concept. They were conceived to be preposterous; they worked perfectly as cartoon characters that taught positive lessons on problem solving and responsibility, the importance of pizza, and how to use sarcasm.

I was nervous when I found out the Michael Bay had any connection to the Ninja Turtles reboot. All you have to do is tell a decent story that is accompanied by decent effects and performances, but so many BLOCKBUSTER filmmakers have either never learned this, or have forgotten. I don't understand how the Transformers movies became so bad; robotic beings that transform into vehicles are amazing, and they have amazing potential for sci-fi adventure story-telling... that gets totally overwhelmed by bloated special effects and explosions. I did enjoy the first one, and liked the visuals on the second, but... ugh.

Then the Turtles movie came out.  I saw mixed reviews, but decided to go one night by myself. 

I am actually one of the people who liked it.

There are issues... it apparently can't decide what season it actually is, and Michelangelo's look just grosses me out for some reason- I don't know why. But, at it's core... they are four turtles, they are mutants, they have the appropriate personalities, AND SHREDDER WAS INCREDIBLE.

For the first time, this was a Shredder that they really didn't stand a chance against. Ominous and equipped with truly deadly hardware, he was more dangerous than he has ever seemed. 

The figure at the store was sculpted beautifully, but could benefit significantly from some extra paint application (rather than leaving everything a quasi-metallic plastic look). And that's what I did.

Custom TMNT II: The Secret of the Ooze Rahzar & Tokka with Mutagen Pen Diorama!

Ninja Turtles II. I remember being disappointed that Bebop and Rocksteady hadn't shown up in this film, although a wolf and a snapping turtle were good candidates for mutation. Today, I am very fond of this movie from my childhood, and took on the project of doing Rahzar and Tokka some artistic justice.

The sculpts were pretty great- costuming and detail was accurate enough, but... standing next to the excellence of the movie turtles these are kind of a joke. I'll give Tokka more points, but Rahzar looks like a total dufus. I have on VERY GOOD information that Rahzar would NEVER wear a bright neon green loincloth, and I don't believe he appeared in the film with a shredded T-shirt. Good if he's a wolfman who just saw the moon... but he didn't.

I repainted these. I should have carved Rahzar's T-shirt off... 

but I have a 2 year old child and only have so much time. 

OKAY?!!

This diorama was really satisfying to build. For some reason, layering all the thin pieces of wood and getting what I felt was the "right" effect at Foot Clan headquarters made me very happy.

This diorama is made from: Wood, sheet metal, wood glue, hot glue, acrylic paint, finish