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500% Minimate Completion

June 12, 2015

I made some time in the spring to finally finish up the 500% Minimate. I went with automotive paint for the metal flake appearance. After multiple coats, I topped it off with a couple clear coats for protection. Unfortunately before I was able to apply the clear coat to the head, I dropped it on my patio. It chipped out a sizable chunk and I went back to the fill-sand-paint routine for a while. Now I can't even tell where it chipped.

The light was changing on me while I was taking photos, so the color balance is off a bit from picture to picture. The closest color match is probably the side-by-side size comparison shot below.

As you can see it is still fully poseable. Though the paint on the ball joints is wearing away and it doesn't look great around the joints.

The printer is back in operation, so next I'm going to see just how big I can make one of these suckers. Two Internet points if you can figure out the scale.

LabTable: Print Surface Prep

September 25, 2014

Time to get back to the large printed Minimate. All of the major pieces are printed (or reprinted) and I've done some heavy sanding and filling to get a smooth finish. Before applying another layer of paint I took these photos of the cleaned up prints.

Look at all that texture.

Lotus Hip

September 23, 2014

When the topic of "redo"ing a Minimate comes up, sometimes Dr. Strange is mentioned. While it is widely agreed the version from the Defenders box set is excellent, it is almost seven years old and some would like to see a new version incorporating recent advancements in Minimate technology. Like extra pieces to show alternate looks.

One request is for a new hip piece to allow a Minimate to sit in a crossed-leg or lotus position. (Yes, I know that's not Strange, but Picard was closer at hand.) Since I have a 3D Printer I took it upon myself to see what was possible.

Here are my various attempts in order from left to right. The first was simply to turn the hip balls vertical, but there was no clearance to actually move the legs. I had to keep tilting and extending until there was enough movement.

This is the final (rough) print. One side is longer so the legs can be more easily placed on top of each other. When they are the same length, the legs tilt and it doesn't look good. It might have worked if you could get the toes and heels to touch, but due to the limited bend of the knee that's not possible.

If anyone is interested in ordering some of these (with higher quality of course), let me know and I'll put it up on shapeways.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Contest

November 19, 2013

I know I've commented here about how contests are a good way to motivate me to create something. Here's another example. Diamond Select created a photo contest to promote the new line of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Minimates. They allowed software manipulation to create energy effects, so it was a nice opportunity to learn how to use my new Cintiq tablet.

I've been out of the video game world since the Game Cube replaced the SuperNES. So it was nice that this game features features a lot of the old Capcom characters I knew. Based on screenshots, I tried to replicate the Phoenix and Iron Man effects. The background was some Mega Bloks sets that were handy.

I was never really satisfied with the output, but there was less than two weeks to the deadline. More time probably wouldn't have helped, but I might have tried something more ambitious. Unfortunately the post with all the entries on the Art Asylum web site has been lost to the aether.

Translucent Wall Hangings

October 20, 2009

This is going to be another one of those light-on-text-heavy-on-pics type posts. There's really not too much to say about taking photos of Minimates, having them printed at various sizes, surrounding them with frames and suspending them on a wall.

Which is exactly what I did.
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Block Babes

October 12, 2009

We've all heard how bad the economy is. Some people have been hit harder than others. When things get tough, sometimes you have to do things you're not proud of just to get by.

Last spring I needed to make some quick cash so I started up a new Internet venture. As a word of caution, the following post may be Not Safe For Work. Click at your own peril.
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MMMV Hunt #3 - Part 0

October 1, 2009

There's no substantial update today for two reasons. One, I've been spending my Minimate-time shooting photos for the 2009 version of the MMMV contest hunt. You know that one I've been pimping for the last couple weeks. Here's a photo of my Hunt Buddy, Comrade Boris Tiltawhirl Girlieshorts.

Two, I'm running out of material. Chronologically I'm only a year back, and since then I've only done three or four Minimate projects. Once I've posted those, I'll have to make new material. Heaven forfend. :) Maybe I'll start just posting once a week instead of twice. Or perhaps one major project post per week and one little tease post like this per week. We'll see what happens.

MMMV Hunt #2 - Part 3

September 28, 2009

For the past week or so, I've been posting my photos for last year's MMMV scavenger hunt contest. Guess what. You get another one today. Lucky you.

They say you're supposed to save the best stuff for the end. That way you can wrap everything up with a satisfying 'capper'. Eh, what do they know? I say go out with a large helping of mediocrity. And with that here are the last images from my contest entry.
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