3.07.2013

Another Time, Another Team

During the making of the old Microshow booklet back in 2004, lots of  Micro themed customs were born. Initially everything was kit bashed with additional sculpting done using plumber's compound, but as things progressed certain characters were completely sculpted, with Stikfas joints chopped and used for connection points.

Above are a few shots detailing some of the fully sculpted figures, with only the joints made from Stikfas (a combo of the softer weapons plastic and the classic black plastic). The black straps are from hair bands and the leather is fake stuff that was cut and glued from discarded fabric sample swatches.

The guy with the helmet, Microsoldier Ingram, is based specifically on the pilot from Takara's Biosuit kit from back in the mid 80's. I love that old kit and its pilot represents the Real Type design principle perfectly to me. Making his helmet removable drove me crazy, as well as building his gun.

The female, Microsoldier Kira, is an original design and so is Microdroid Ranic, a character who eventually made its way over into Glyos to become the foundation for Buildman.

Also, if you've never been (or haven't been in a bit), check out perhaps the best Microman site out there, Microforever.com.

When the hell is Microman going to come back, anyway?!



26 comments:

  1. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, LOVE these!!! WAAAAANT! :) (could I be more obnoxious?)

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    1. Thanks Nate! These guys really got the ball rolling for all the current stuff. I hope to keep sneaking parts of them into the Glyos production plan.

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  2. Fantastic. Now I'm sad I didn't buy a Ranic Buildman when they could still be had inexpensively.

    Palisades had the the Microman license, It may be back with Hasbro, they seem to be content letting IP stay in their vault :-(

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    1. I have heard the rumors and even seen some conceptual work over the years, but who knows the real story. Hasbro's Unit:E project looked really fun, but that seems to have been just a test.

      Thanks Seth!

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  3. I really love these.
    Kira's armor design seems to have found a new life in Glyos.

    I too am waiting for the return of Microman.
    Hasbro is supposed to be holding the Micronauts license. i assume that they're waiting for the rumored movie. 3A announced a Microman project many months ago...

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    1. Kira's armor has certainly seen extended life in the works over here! While I was shooting the photos above, I noticed even more of the design principles that were carried through. I'm definitely a creature of habit! Ha!

      I'm happy you like these old junkers!

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  4. Matt these are gorgeous. I WANT these figures in my hands! So, tell those magic toy fairies to get to work! :) I'd love to see these come to reality some day. The styling of the human faces is unique and very attractive and the armor is a little edgier than your norm, but still maintains a really nice flow and look.

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    1. Thanks George! The humanoid faces were always the toughest to get just right (and still are). I've actually been working on a "human" head for the Glyan for over 2 years! It even went to steel at one point and was canceled because it did not pull right from the mold. Maybe one day it will, but until then it's helmet time!

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    2. Whoa?! Seriously? I mean, how bad is bad? I guess bad enough right? Dang!

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  5. Love the design for Ingram. Ever since I saw your pics from MicroShow, I thought that they were Stikfas joints, along with this guy's joints.


    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hg7vu0Z-nYk/TBvawkn3XeI/AAAAAAAACMA/fu8TGojNO9c/s400/HiDad.jpg

    Did you use Hasbro Stikfas or StikfasPte for the joints?

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    1. Thanks Chris! I used original Stikfas joints for the first Pheyden and mostly Hasbro editions for everything else.

      I always found that mixing the softer weapons plastic with the standard durometer of the black plastic yielded better connections that wouldn't snap or get so loose.

      Also, putting a small strip of heat tubing between the ball and socket added even more durability. You can see one of the strips sticking up from Ranic's left shoulder.

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  6. It's tough getting Glyos over here in the UK but i've followed all your work and am fascinated with the Micronauts influence and what you've done with it. I spotted that biotron on a picture of your desk months ago and was asking lots of people about it. Magical!

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    1. I think your work is excellent, and I really love Treegarr! Just spent some time on your blog and there is a ton of great action there. Those Biotrons look awesome!

      So I guess we both like each other's Biotrons. Ha! I love it! Sounds like code for something questionable.

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    2. You knowing my stuff made my day! :)
      There are some great things about to happen with Treegarr i'm really excited about.

      Thanks Matt!

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  7. The very first time I saw Ranic and understood the correlation between him and buildman, I started to love Buildman. Ranic's head is hands down my favorite of all your sculpts I've seen. I've always been a big fan of nondescript badasses, and Ranic definitely fits that. I kinda wish we could get a buildman head that was straight up Ranic's head, with the air vents and line through the front. Don't get me wrong though. I still love the Buildman head all day long!

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    1. Thanks Michael! I'm partial to the original Ranic head as well, and a Glyos version does exist. Maybe your wish will come true this year...

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    2. That, as well as any implications related to that, would be awesome. Ever since the original design for the Buildman was posted, I've been excited to see how it'd look directly translated into PVC. If that ever happens...

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  8. And I supposed I could just put nicks on a Buildman head and get the same effect :p

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  9. I'll admit, I never really had much interest in Microman before, but now I'ms eriously contemplating getting one! A couple neat ones I like are going complete-with-package for $15 on eBay. Decisions, decisions....

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    1. Microman is one of the all time greatest toy lines. With so many influential designs and such a rich history, you're bound to find something you'll like.

      Make sure to check out the Micronauts Aliens as well, those designs may appeal specifically to your tastes.

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    2. Thank you for the advice! Repto looks pretty awesome.

      I just might have to cut back on Glyos to save up for some Microman stuff!

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    1. Thanks Keith! I'll dig out a few more to post up.

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  11. Love these. I sold off my Microman / Micronaut collection just a couple months ago. I love Micronauts, and Microman. The designs draw me in. The problem I had was that they would break on me just simply posing them on the shelf. I'd break both Microman and Micronauts. So I sold off my collection and decided to stick with Glyos, Star Wars, and 6 inch Superhero and Spawn figures. I get more enjoyment from Glyos than I did from what I sold. Glyos don't break. So thanks Matt!!

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  12. I've been all but dead around these parts lately, but I couldn't resist commenting on these. Fantastic, and really making me long for both Stikfas and Microman to come back.

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  13. Man, this sure brings back memories brother! I remember you pulling these from your pocket for the first time at SDCC and being totally blown away by them. Seems like so long ago now. Completely awesome! About Microman coming back... Did you get the Sunny Manga issue with the Microman?

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