Making a Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates model figure

[wyldpny]

My next door neighbors watch our house for us here in Arecibo PR whenever we travel and I have wanted to pay him or do something cool for him as a thank you but he always refuses to take anything as a thanks.
The other day I learned that his ailing Dad is a HUGE Roberto Clemente fan and apparently has one of the largest Roberto Clemente collections known but has never been able to find any kind of actual action figure of the late Puerto Rican baseball player. Since my neighbor knows that my wife and I make custom figures he asked if we could make one of Clemente and he would gladly pay us what it costs to make one. I said I would look into it and didn't say anymore as I want to surprise him with a custom model of Clemente and then be able to refuse taking any money for it
Sooo, I started creating this figure model the other day to look like Clemente using mostly parts of an existing baseball figure I picked up with a base but also sculpting a few parts and adding details and a whole new paint job to recreate an accurate figure model of the late Pittsburgh Pirate hall of fame player who is not only famous in the states but as you can imagine is extremely famous to almost being a national hero here in Puerto Rico.
Now that the figure is pretty much done that just leaves needing a custom backer card which I already have on order from Toyroom. This should be all done, carded up and ready to present to my neighbor in hopefully about a week.
Here are some in process pics:









Here it is in the modified blister bubble as a test to make sure it still fits:


I will post a few more pictures once I have the backer card to go with it.

Steve

[kingdom warrior]

OH HELL YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I grew up in a Yankee/Pirate home. Clemente was my Idol and my Mom's Favorite Baseball player of all time. I still remember to this Day when I heard the news that he passed away. I remember my Mom and Dad being crushed by his untimely death. I still remember to this day sitting with my dad and watching him destroy the Orioles in the 71 world series and him getting his 3000 hit against the Mets.

Still a legend and idol for us Puerto Ricans. Beautiful Job you did there!!!

[wyldpny]

[wyldpny]

When Anthony said for me to wait and see how the finished card was going to look, I obviously couldn't wait and neither could my neighbor.
Well, it arrived and it is simply amazing. Another piece of artwork from Toyroom.
So here is the finished backer card by Toyroom:
Front

Back


The finished product:




Close up:


My neighbor Rocky (Roberto Colon jr) with the finished figure:

You can tell he is excited thinking about how is Dad is going to react when he see's it

Hanging in the store (Rocky and I did this just for fun at a local TRU's):


I am hoping Rocky will provide me with some pics from when he gives this to his Dad and I can post them here.

[toys2cool]

awesome, Clemente was the man

[UnderdogDJLSW]

Really neat. His dad should be thrilled!

[kingdom warrior]

Stunning!!!!!!!

[wyldpny]

Some very sad news....

I was just next door talking to my neighbors Rocky and Roxy and they all looked very sad. They told me that Rocky's Dad had just passed away yesterday at 9:30pm.
Rocky said that his Dad had been in a lot of pain especially these last few days as most of his organs had shut down.
He said that only his brain and his heart were still functioning.
Rocky then got all emotional and I said I understood and started to leave and Rocky stopped me. He sat me down and said that he wanted to try and express to me just how much he appreciated what I did for him and his Dad.
He said that the gift that I had made and then gave to him of the custom baseball carded figure of Roberto Clemente was something that he could never thank me enough for or put into words just how much that gift meant to him and to his Dad.
Rocky said that the figure gave him a chance to do something special for his father that he had never been able to do before which gave him the ability to give his Dad something amazing that his Dad could be proud of and brag about being the most amazing and special gift he could have ever received from his son, and that it was beyond anything he could have done for his Dad on his own. Rocky said he could not begin to thank me enough for making that for him. he then said that I cannot begin to know how much joy and pride his Dad got from such a special and personal gift that his Dad was able to receive from him, his son. Rocky's cousin was next door as well visiting and continued with saying just how much Rocky's Dad really loved and cherished that figure.
Rocky and his cousin then took turns telling me a few stories about how his Dad would proudly show off the carded figure to his family and friends. I guess his Dad would show it off every chance he could and was so proud to have been given such a unique, special and personal gift like that from his son.
They said that the figure and the fact that it came from Rocky made it his pride and joy right up until the day he passed away.
Rocky said that his Dad will continue to have the figure to enjoy for all time, and said that he hoped I knew what he meant by that.
I replied that I did as I assumed he meant that his Dad would be buried with the figure. Rocky smiled and nodded his head yes.
Rocky said that he was both sad and relieved by his Dad passing away. He asked me if I knew why he was both sad and relieved and I told him that I was sure that he was sad for the loss of his father but also relieved that his father was finally free of all of the pain. Rocky then gave me a big hug and then shook my hand and with tears in his yes (and in mine) he said thank you to me again and told me that he was happy and proud to have me as such a good friend.

I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Anthony (Toyroom) again for helping me with the creation of that carded figure by making the backer card for me. Anthony, thank you

Anyway, I just wanted to follow up on this thread and let you know that the proud owner of this figure has since passed away, but will in a way continue to have it with him for all time.

Steve

[toys2cool]

sorry to hear that man, tell Rocky I send him my condolences

[The Toyroom]

Wow....sad to hear that Steve. This was a fun project to work out, outside of the normal scope of things...Glad Rocky Jr. and Sr. both enjoyed the card and figure.
Give my condolences to Rocky....