I worked to build a full squad out of the Hot Toys colonial marines figures a while back and I have been very happy with them, however they have come to look very 'dated' to me over the years.

They were begging for some TLC and upgrades. Many of the upgrades, like paint work, don't even require any new purchases. So I finally decided to dive in. This is the stuff I have been able to knock out in spurts over the last couple weeks.


Webbing:
-Cut off top '5th' loop (should only be 4) and repaint straps.
-Cut off fastex buckles from pouches and repaint.





Uniforms:
-Weathering/fading (I used watered down blue paint to offset the overly 'yellow' color scheme from the default figure, then heavily white washed it with both acyrlic and even rattle can white paint). In the pick below, you see an untreated pair of pants in their just to show the progress.

Racal Headsets:
-I used Star Wars Han AND Chewy sets. Many will tell you "Han's is on the wrong side. You need Chewy's". That is not quite accurate. Chewy has the headset on the correct side with the mic going the right way, but Chewy has the 'block' on the wrong side of the temple comfort pad! It doesn't matter which star wars figure headset you get, they will require chopping and re-gluing.

So some super glue and paint later...


I made one set for Gorman and Vaz to 'share' (when I display them set up for after the hive battle, Vaz will get it. When I display them as if before it, Gorman gets it)





And as you can see from Vaz above, I'm re-doing everyone's heads too. I got some new heads for some, and will simply re-paint others.
As a sneak peak to the new Hicks head I got, this is how I modified it to take a racal.

When the Helmet is on, you won't see the grooves. When the headset is on, it fills in nice.


Complete with 'accurate' yet uncomfortable on-top-of ear look that Biehn liked for some reason!

Armor: What 'upgrade' to a hot toys figure would be complete without fixing the camo colors (and pattern)





Then weathering! (with un-weathered bits still in frame)

Helmet Cover: Spare fabric.

Using nothing more than spare fabric (from sleeve material I cut off the short sleeve marines), some 'liquid stitch' and patience I was able to make some better helmet covers.

Just put them pattern side down, glue down an 'arc' across the top and let it dry. Then when you turn it inside out you can pull it really tight. The liquid stitch holds pretty good, but can be pulled apart as you shape the cover over the helmet.






Head bands are 1/8" elastic from the craft store that has been spray painted khaki/tan.

Knives: Scratch built.

I pretty much found old M16 bayonets in 1/6th then cut and carved them down into boot knives for most of the guys. For Hudson I used a Fairbairn sykes handle and a cut and chopped longer bayonet glued on to it. I used some epoxy to make the pointed hand guards. They aren't perfect but I like how they turned out considering.


For the sheaths, I just used some scrap 'pleather' I had laying around, scissors and glue. I am thrilled with how these turned out. The button snaps are actually tiny magnets I got on ebay. I just super glued the magnet on to each side and now it works like a closure. The magnets were $1 for 20 (Twenty!) on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121392385054?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT





I didn't get everyone's knife on yet, but did slap these on Drake and Vaz

Also added the "gasket" to the greaves. I don't even really know what this thing was, but it was in my spare parts box. It wasn't quite rubber, but wasn't quite plastic. It was just some black sheeting of some type. Had just barely enough material to do 9 sets of greaves.



So just testing it all out and getting it put back to together.









Still SO MUCH to do!!!! Painting these heads is no easy task. I have 14 of them to do/redo...

That is an insane set of upgrades man!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

insane, but in a good way!

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Sgt. Frank Peters 'reload' Smartgun Operator
A03/TQ3.0.12136E1 "It will be no picknick!"
AL Colonial Admin. - Sergeant at Arms (SgtA) -- 2020-2022
GERCM - Executive Officer (XO)
UKCM Foreign Legion: The Deviant Dragoons

god this looks great i need to keep working on my custom marine. but after seeing this i have alot i need and and want to do and still need to find the small stuff to make things and also get.

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SGT Chris Kraemer "BIRD"
S/N: A07/TQ0.0.82154G1 Sgt Kraemer

Looks perfect! I bought a racal set as well but havent modified it. What Hicks headsculpt did you get if I may ask?

Whoa! These are reaaaally nice man! A beatutiful project you got going there.

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my sculpting blog: http://puttydown.blogspot.de/

Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!

Thanks everybody. It got to the point on the armor where I closed my eyes and just saw camo swirls. It is the kind of job I am glad I did, but hope to never do again!



The Hicks head came from a guy named Rocco over on the SSF page. His screen name is "Sculptor". He does a lot of good work, but he makes you pay big for it...

Wow amazing!

Kicking ass once again mate! Keep it up!!

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AKA: Simon

Awesome work. I love 1/6 scale perhaps a little too much. Can never seem to find enough room for them all.

Man, your eye for detail is second to none!

This is the problem I had with the HT Apone I had. Soooooo much that needed fixing but I just did NOT want to start down that road. After he sat around here for years staring me in the face, I finally sold him.

Thankfully I have a custom smartgunner and drop ship pilot left and I built them to my liking from the beginning so I have no desire or need to fix anything.

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"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

Looking good Terran but you just have to get the new Alien to go with

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SSgt Kris "Bloodsucker" Kobus, VAS.
A09/TQ2.0.12136E1

Thanks, and it is indeed on the way! I signed up for a payment plan when I pre-ordered and opted not to settle up right away when it showed up early. So I still have 2 months to go before it gets here. But it is coming!

excellent work.

You wont be disappointed

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SSgt Kris "Bloodsucker" Kobus, VAS.
A09/TQ2.0.12136E1

Huge fan of the aliens hot toys figures ! Can't wait to see more ! Great work so far

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Cpl Matthew Rendar. M56 smart gun operator. 2nd bat 7th colonial marines "Rendars Raiders "

This is...Ab-so-lute-ly STUNNING WORK!!! WoW!!!!

You've done what needed to be done!! Now, they look like Colonial Marines! The changing of the camo material!!! YES!! The repainting of alllllllllllllllllll those sets of armor!! You must have been long, long tired of them way before you were done!

Did you do all the armor painting in one swoop? By that I mean, each color on each piece of armor, then the next color on each piece of armor..?

STUNNING!!

Rocco nailed it with the Hicks sculpt, he's expensive, but he does phenomenal work!

Ironically, yesterday I toyed with the idea of making a custom Colonial Marine. This morning I ordered some parts for it, I've got the rest of the gear already...for quite some time.

And then this afternoon I see this!!!!

Thank you for the inspiration!!!

Cannot WAIT to see the final display!!!

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USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

Thanks Rex!

Yes, I did the armor just as you said. One color on every part, then on to the next color on every part. I spaced it out over a couple days and yes, I was quite sick of it before I was half finished!

Sorry I haven't really had any updates. I am not an experienced head painter, but am determined to teach myself. Early results were not good. I had the early heads looking great (in my mind) when wet, but as they tried they got pasty and splotchy. I decided to strip them all down and take another break. I suspect I am using 'cheap paint' or maybe dont have my thinner proportions right. Then I realized the clock is ticking on my family costume for dragoncon, so I have shelved my 1/6th guys until after that event.

Understand completely!! Get the family D-Con costumes done, and I look forward to your updates, when you return to the 1/6th Colonial Marines!

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USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!