Spuda,
Nova is essentially a repaint of a comic pack figure called Jarel. I removed the grey skirt and tried to dye it but the dye didn't fix, so I used the skirt from an Saesee Tiin figure. And yes I did hand paint the face details, the red was applied with a airbrush...I used a strong magnifying glass and a very fine brush, however I bet that there is an easier way... I'm on the hunt for very fine pens as I guess that's how Hasbro do it.
Hasbro have done an amazing job as this close up image shows and its only when magnified that you can really see how well the detailing is applied. I bet there are some poor young Chinese ladies sitting at a table just painting eyes all day and getting paid penny's.
Trying to achieve the same level of detailing as Hasbro is very hard to achieve when looking this close up, which is why I've stayed clear of painting faces in the past, especially if the figures are being used in Photo Novels. If you look at the Hasbro figure the eyes are blue, and the pupil is painted in black, there is also eye make-up. When looking at the figure in your hand you can't make out all of the detail with the naked eye it's that minute. I have tried to do the same using a brush, but you need an incredibly steady hand, a very fine brush and a very strong magnifying glass. The correct positioning of the pupil is vital to get the effect right, which is the hardest part of the process.
Its amazing how the change of colour and make up completely alters the character of the figure. I think the face looks much younger and with a wilder character.
