Prototype Week Begins with Twiki!

[RSS]

Our first prototype is this amazing hand made resin sample of Twiki from the collection of former Mego designer Tory Mucaro and he shares with us not only the photos but some insight into how the item itself was made. Check out the Mego Twiki Prototype page.

Be sure to check back every day this week for another piece from the Mego model shop.

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[Flynne]

"Biddi, biddi, biddi! Who doesn't love prototypes, Buck?"

Very, very cool, guys!

[Meule]

Totally cool, a great start to this prototype week.
So, the different parts were made pretty much like resin heads are made now and then assembled into production molds, right? I assume that's a sticker on his chest and not a paint job?

[megoscott]

Fantastic. Acetate, huh? What do toy sculptors use now?

[mitchedwards]

very interesting to see how it was made.

[Godzilla]

Wow that is just awesome. I was a huge Buck fan back in the day and Twiki was always a favorite.

[toys2cool]

That is really cool,I still have my little twiki

[Hulk]

Interesting to see how similar production methods were/are to current customizing methods. Now who is looking for acetate to start sculpting in?

[Thadiun Okona II]

Very cool stuff! It was especially neat for me, because my 5 yr old daughter just loves Twiki, and she wanted to watch Buck Rogers this morning. (I got the DVD set for christmas...) While I was checking out the info on the prototype-my 4 yr old son told me he wanted that figure on the computer. So, when I get tax refund-I'm gonna be in the market for 2 Twiki figures.

[fallensaviour]

Very cool!!!
I remember as a kid asking my parents to get me one,and then being told they hadn't made one...Devastating I tell you.
Bu there you are presenting what should have been;Very COOL.

[imp]

Brilliant! I can't wait to see more Mego goodness.

Benjamin

[starsky]

it's amazing!! one of my favorite shows as well!!

[Wee67]

I assume that's a sticker on his chest and not a paint job?

It definitely looks like a sticker, but it looks like it was done with markers. Maybe a white sticker that was then drawn on.

I love hearing how this made. And, for we non-customizers, thanks for the explanation of exactly how it was done.

[AcroRay]

Fantastic. Acetate, huh? What do toy sculptors use now?

As I understand it - artists who hand-sculpt figures typically work in wax, or a wax/clay mix. There are numerous pre-made sculpting waxes, and you can often buy them at professional art supply stores. However, I've been told that real pros mix their own personal sculpting materials and keep the exact formula a "trade secret".

But many of the toys you see today are made virtually in CAD, and physical models are 'output' in various plastic or resin mediums by automated equipment, which may then be modified by hand and then used to make molds.

I saw a video from Bandai Japan detailing the modern development of their elaborate GUNDAM mecha models (a hobby dubbed "GunPla" - GUNdam PLAstic models), in which everything is done virtually in CAD and the output is cut by machine directly into the steel tooling [molds].

[Ranger 3]

Judging by the sticker on his chest, that is the TWIKI that ended up on the cardback for the Buck figures. If anyone had a carded Buck figure, look on the back.

Mark