Mini-Rig SubmissionPirate Speeder BikeIt was a real labor of love. I easily put in more than 40 hours of work into this one. I made this speeder bike from an Operation Rex toy that I saw in Target on the day that the contest was announced. After that it was all fodder. An everything but the kitchen sink affair. Constructing it was an effort that was much enjoyed. I tried to make the mini rig toy I would have wanted the most when I was a kid. I would have preferred to make the vehicle heavily weathered, but Elias asked me to keep it brighter.
I sculpted most of the controls, spare the Vader control pad. I also sculpted the around grill and the front window. Oh... and the cushioned seating, yeah, that's sculpted too.
After that fodder galore. An A-team special if you will. A beater, clunker, jalopy, hooptie. Look at your fodder and see more than what the object was meant to represent and envision what it could become with a little imagination. The grill and window were made from a G.I. Joe radar dish I found in my fodder. The front axles were made from two yellow missiles and a Momaw Nadon staff that sculpted Apoxie Sculpt hydraulic shocks fastened to what once were guns that I can't identify, but I'm seeing on Luke Sprywalker's incredibely cool entry. The nose of the speeder bike was made from a Hulk Battle Axe that is from the Hulk action figure everyone was turning into a Gamorean gladiator recently, as well as , a gold plastic mask that was in a fodder bag that we got on Ebay. The antennas at the rear are made from a Mas Ameda staff and the bottom of an Indiana Jones torch. I even have the long white tube from a krazy glue container glued to the bottom and painted purple to give the vehicle the shape that I wanted. Two hilts from the Prince of Persia toy line are attached to the front of the pod with removable swords. The Robonino backpack is removable and all his accessories are included and the vibroaxe is fastened with a clear rubber band. The tail fin is also unidentified fodder and is sculpted in place. The leg straps that hang down came from the guns that now hold the axel and nose in place. A pen was cut and painted to attach the missile to the bike and both the missile and pen cap are removable. A Mandolorian shield is at the rear. The engine and fire attached at the bottom are both adjustable as well as removable. After that it was all custom painted and dressed up .
The two custom action figures that may live out there days in Star Wars, but they were definitely created by a desire to have some Dreadnoks for myself when Elias asks me to play with him. Elias has no interest in Joes, but the Dreadnoks were my favorite action figures growing up. I think a lot of my customs are influenced by my love for those action figures. I remember when I got my first one , a Buzzer, as the toy was getting paid for at the counter my knees started to shake because I was so excited. The toy created involuntary responses in me!! Now that's toy making. The pirates of Star Wars are the Dreadnoks of Joe.
So the Driver was created from a Koffi Arana action figure, a Star Wars drummer that was in Jabba's Palace whose name I can't remember for the life of me at the moment and fodder, fodder, fooder with an Apoxie Sculpt beard.
The Gunner was made from a Pirates of the Caribbean Marty action figure with Apoxie Scupt hair and a Vintage Yoda robe. Unfortunately, I dropped the gun I had for him behind the couch. He would look awesome hanging from those leg straps in numerous different configurations. He was made to hang about.
I really wanted to retake the photos, for the submission, but work was out of control this week and I didn't get home until late last night.
THIS IS MY ENTRY
