Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 (edited) So I get this magazine at the newstand, Amusin' Kruizing, and I get two pages into it and run across this: And so after I pick up my jaw off the floor, I ran into the garage, dug up yet another 49 Merc and went to work on this sucker. Now, I am NOT replicating this build exactly because I have the words JESTER and JOKER rattling in my head. I want to use the red and the black, but I also want to do a different kind of diamond pattern on the roof of this sucker and then I also (I don't know why) wanted to pay tribute to Heath (thanks, Harry!) Ledger as Joker . . . so we have a combination of things triggering off some neat idea . . . So stay tuned in . . . a new project is underway!!! Edited January 15, 2009 by DamnCranky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 It took me all day to get the hood right . . . And then I smooth most of it so that I don't have too many lines . . . There are some imperfections here and there, but I think this is going to add a little more character to this sucker, afterall it is yet another rat Merc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 ...and then I also (I don't know why) wanted to pay tribute to Keith Ledger as Joker... I think actually it was his brother Heath that played Joker... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Ha!!!! Yeah, I realize I had meant Heath!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coopdad Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Wow! Great work (as usual)! How exactly did you build the spider web? Wire and hours of work? John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Same question from me. How did you make the spider web? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Custom Hearse Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 THAT IS AWESOME VIRGIL!!!! I've already thought of at least 20 applications I could use that on (yeah.... HEARSES! ) This looks to be like a really Kool Kat build! I'll definitely be watching this one!!!! I wouldn't mind knowing how you made the hood either. Keep up the great work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Thanks, everyone. The hood took be a few hours to cut and contour . . . I used body tape to mark the pattern, and then with a #11 blade, the back of it, I just scored around the tape over and over until I was able to cut away the plastic. I put some sandpaper on a wood dowel and sanded the plastic slowly until it looked right . . . The spider webbing was a gift from a friend who made an etched sheet and send me a couple, this was the last one I had so I had to use it on something just right. I glued it in place under the hood using superglue and Zap kicker . . . I added it in this early so that I can paint it in place and not have to worry about messing up the paint later . . . these etched elements are very delicate . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Here are some reference pics . . . Slightly darker . . . I have to say I do love that green of the vest for the interior! And I think my black is going to have a hint of dark blue in it . . . We'll see if I can pull it off. It's up to the airbrush! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 I also want to borrow some stylistic cues from a mediaval evil Jester . . . .something like this, using a diamond pattern to set off a few of the panels . . . or like this: Jester are really colorful and spooky, and I fear them almost as much as I fear clowns . . . which is, I think, where the idea for making the Joker a little scary comes from . . . it's all good, as I like to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terror Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 The hood is fantastic.Remindes me more of spiderman than the joker tho .But its all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Yeah, I can see the Spiderman thing going, but once I saw it, I had to put it into this build. That's the fun thing about building these types of rat vehicles . . . 1) you never know where you are going to go and 2) everything works as long as it is slightly over the top! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Before I start on the paint, I found my skulls (Courtesy of Warhammer!) and decided to mock them up with a little tacky glue just to make sure it would look good. I also put a screen behind them for some contrast later . . . once everything is painted. I also added screen to the rear side windows . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Here's a close up . . . some of the mistakes in the body work are really highlighed this close up, but it all adds another dimension to these kinds of builds--at least it is my story and I am sticking to it! There's going to be a similar motif in the back too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 In preparation for the paint, I prepared some masking tape with lots of diamons on it for masking . . . I cut them in several sizes, though I might just to the even on the hood . . . Stay tuned in for some painting progress . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMc Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I'm waiting on the firewall.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jairus Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 (edited) V, I think I like your presentation as much as I like your models! Great photography dude, keep it up. Edited January 15, 2009 by Jairus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Thanks, J. I'm trying to do the best I can. Oh, man, I almost forgot the firewall!!! I think I might scratch build it with diamond metal plating . . . or I might go witht he stock version, we'll see. Stay tuned in for some painting progress . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 As you can see, I cleaned up and got my guns ready (Iwata Micron C and Micron C-Plus), and brought out the paint to start the graphics off . . . I also got out my rub on letters for some masking . . . and that's a process I've explained elsewhere . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Kron Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 V, I think I like your presentation as much as I like your models! Great photography dude, keep it up. I'm with Jairus. Another TdF (Tour de Force) from the creator of the RatOutOfHell - from conception to execution, I almost regret it when you're done! BTW, where did you get those skull thingies? Please don't tell me you cast them! In particular I'm looking for 1/25 shift knobs like skulls, cylinders, eight balls, dice, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Here we go: I airbrushed a few coats of flat black on the first round, and then I added a few drops of dark blue to make the black a bit more menacing . . . if that is possible. Going slow, a few coats, the idea is not to get full coverage right away . . . and I used a hairdryer between the coats . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Bernard, the skulls come from Games Workshop WARHAMMER skeleton army . . . Warhammer has a lot of great stuff. Check it out, and thanks for the kind words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Here's the "J" on each side masked and then sprayed with green for contrast . . . Again, I sprayed a few light coats making sure the mask did not lift . . . After the paint dried, I cut a diamond out tape and put it over the J making sure it's all centered . . . I sprayed the orignal body color lightliy over the diamond, and when I achieve full coverage, I dried the paint with the hairdryer . . . And voila! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 This is awesome, what kid of back drop are you using for your photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Hi, Clay, thanks . . . I am using a faded sweep I picked up through Amazon.com . . . it's not a cheap sweep, but it does a beautiful job . . . and it's matte vinyl which can be cleaned with a little windex and water . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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