Some tuning...

[infernosaurus]

Sometimes dino toys look quite good, but not at all. They are generally good made, they look nice, but we don't like their... Posture... If there is no other way, then we've got to change it by ourselves... So - do you modify your dinosaur toys to look better? Or to give them more personal character? And the most important of those questions... HOW DO YOU DO THAT? Which methods do you use?

I'm total greenhorn in this subject, so if you can give some advices for a beginner, then bring it on

[therizinosaurus]

I never change a figure, because I am a bit of a completist, but I'm sure some other members could shed light on the subject for you.

[Libraraptor]

Sept 9, 2008 15:03:46 GMT therizinosaurus said:

I never change a figure, because I am a bit of a completist, but I'm sure some other members could shed light on the subject for you.

I can´t be such a member, since my opinion is much the same as therizinosaurus´ one. I take the figure as the one that was originally intended. Since there are some really great figures, I do not feel the need of modifying some of the worse or rather silly ones.

[tomhet]

I don't modify them at all, I have no ability whatsoever, but maybe Blade will give you some pointers

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Cersointly..lol

I change anyhting I don't like... or I think could be improved..I just receiveda few Bullylands that came with bent legs , arms, ect.. and so I used a hairdryer to heat them up and re-position them.

I did the same thing with my Wild Safari Allos..I went further though, they were re-painted with diff patterns and I heated them and re-posed them..one running with a support to hold it up, another with the head turned looking sideways, again one with the head looking up mouth opened more...another with the mouth almost closed..then finally one lying on it's side thrashing in pain as the new carnegie Diplo's foot comes down on it's ribs... :evil:

I've also re-painted eyes, I hate those dark black eyes on some carnegies..just use water-based craft paint and if it doesn't work out the way you want just wipe it off and try again..when it's right spray with a sealent.

The teeth also need touch-ups...you can bring them out more with light touches of almond and then mix a little amber brown with water and give them a wash to look grungy like any good predators teeth..

[infernosaurus]

Sept 10, 2008 2:55:26 GMT Blade-of-the-Moon said:

Cersointly..lol

I change anyhting I don't like... or I think could be improved..I just receiveda few Bullylands that came with bent legs , arms, ect.. and so I used a hairdryer to heat them up and re-position them.

I did the same thing with my Wild Safari Allos..I went further though, they were re-painted with diff patterns and I heated them and re-posed them..one running with a support to hold it up, another with the head turned looking sideways, again one with the head looking up mouth opened more...another with the mouth almost closed..then finally one lying on it's side thrashing in pain as the new carnegie Diplo's foot comes down on it's ribs... :evil:

I've also re-painted eyes, I hate those dark black eyes on some carnegies..just use water-based craft paint and if it doesn't work out the way you want just wipe it off and try again..when it's right spray with a sealent.

The teeth also need touch-ups...you can bring them out more with light touches of almond and then mix a little amber brown with water and give them a wash to look grungy like any good predators teeth..

Hairdryer!? How long you heated dinos up with it?
I used it when I had some problems with Papo Allosaurus - it couldn't stand on its 2 feet, so I made it... As far as now, he's ok

But I heard that you can light a candle and heat the thing (in our case - the dino toy) over it - it heats faster, but it can easily melt the material, so you've got to be careful with it.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

You don't want to use an open flame, the heat can't be controlled as well as with the hairdryer and it WILL melt, burn, and discolor the piece...I've done it before when I first started out.

The length of time depends on the material and thickness..just heat it enough so it will move and you can work it back and forth...at this point hold it in the position you want and cool it down, blow on it, cold water, fan, wahtever it takes and should stay unless the temperature where you keep it reaches the same temp as the hairdryer when you did it...which isn't very likley but still.

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

I also occasionally change some of my dino figs. The carnegie giga(who leans on it's tail) doesn't lean on it's tail anymore now because I re-positioned the feet.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

At least you found one...lol

I've tried two online stores who can't get it and my local store who also hasn't been able to get it in... :?

Do you have a pic of your custom ?

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

Sept 13, 2008 2:34:42 GMT Blade-of-the-Moon said:

At least you found one...lol

I've tried two online stores who can't get it and my local store who also hasn't been able to get it in... :?

Do you have a pic of your custom ?

Wow, I've come across like 7 carnegie gigas at only two stores.

I'll try ti get some pics up tomarow.

But for your enjoyment, here is my tweaked carnegie acrocanthosaurus. I made the head less dome like

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

And here is a modified Jurassic park spinosaurus.



compare to this un-modified one.

[infernosaurus]

Sept 13, 2008 3:51:38 GMT [][][]cordylus[][][] said:

And here is a modified Jurassic park spinosaurus.



compare to this un-modified one.

Yeah, looks much better than original. More dynamic pose.

I thought about tuning of Papo T-Rex, but it has actually a good pose, so maybe when I'll buy another one (if I'll have money, Papos are quite expensive )

Maybe tuning of big JPIII T-Rex is good idea?

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

The big JP3 rex has a hollow tail so if you bend it it dents up

[nobs]

Those 2 spinos look the same, what am I missing?

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

Sept 13, 2008 20:44:54 GMT nobs said:

Those 2 spinos look the same, what am I missing?

I added black stripes to the fin and made the existing purple stripes black. On the body, I outlined the purple with black. That's it. Not much, but it looks better than the original to me.

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

Here is my modified giga:

[stoneage]

Wow! How well does it stand? It looks like one foot only has the claws touching. It looks to me over all like a great job. If I can ever get a hold of one I'll have to try bending it. Maybe I'll get 2 in case I mess up.

[EmperorDinobot]

The spino looks better with the black. Just has more personality. As for the Giga, what did you do? Sink him in hot water and bend his legs?

[tomhet]

Nice Giga

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

Sept 13, 2008 21:36:13 GMT stoneage said:

Wow! How well does it stand? It looks like one foot only has the claws touching. It looks to me over all like a great job. If I can ever get a hold of one I'll have to try bending it. Maybe I'll get 2 in case I mess up.

It stands PERFECTLY! It has never EVER fallen down on it's face unless I poke it or something. I think it looks a lot better

The spino looks better with the black. Just has more personality. As for the Giga, what did you do? Sink him in hot water and bend his legs

Not sink him in hot water- rather run hot water from the faucet and then bend his legs into different positions And if you want it to go back the way it originally was, just run it under hot water again and they will go back into normal position

And thanks tomhet