I finally slapped some paint on new heads I got for my Hicks and Hudson. They are literally the first and second heads I have ever even TRIED to paint, so forgive the rough edges! In any case they are HUGE improvements over the stock Hot Toys heads, and at ~$25 ea (unpainted, of course) they were not too big a hit to the wallet.
A "Bill Kern" Hudson. He sometimes sells on ebay, but I think he hasn't in a while for fear of people recasting his work. I know a guy name Ironman1188 seems to be the pointman for him on the onesixthwarrior site.
For Hicks, I actually used a Hot Toys sculpt. I think this is common knowledge to the 1/6th vets out there, but in case anyone didn't know... I had long ago heard that Hot Toys did sculpt a Michael Biehn head for the Hicks figure when they expected to have the likeness rights. When it didn't work out, they saved the head but covered it camo face paint and used it on another figure. I tracked down one of these "Stoner heads" (named after the Vietnam Navy Seal 'Stoner' Gunner it was used on) and it actually isnt bad.
After I stripped off the camo and put a base layer of paint, it absolutely bears a resemblance (albeit a 'dated' sculpting style).
Some more paint
I also attached the savannah bronica lighter I made from a Neca shotgun holster and McFarlane clasp
A quick note about the "Stoner Head". I realized after I had gotten it, and painted it... that it is all a SCAM!!! You don't even need to find a "Stoner Head". Hot toys hid the Biehn sculpt in plain site. ITS THE SAME HEAD AS THE
STOCK HUDSON!!! Its amazing how good or bad paint can bring out or hide a likeness. The stock Hudson head is the same sculpt as the Stoner head, just painted in a way so it looks nothing like Biehn.
Anyways, that was my weekend... thanks for looking