Tutorial – Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast Chest and Gun Backpack Fix

Hey everyone! Got a brand new custom action figure tutorial for you. People have (rightfully) had complaints about the flaws of the new MOTUC Rio Blast figure. My new video tutorial shows you how to fix him so his chest flap closes all the way, his gun backpack sits correctly on his shoulders (so the visor covers Rio Blast’s eyes) and his leg chaps sit a bit closer to his thighs. Just click here to go to the full page with a written out detailed description. You can also watch the video below. If you know someone having frustration with the Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast, send them the link to the video. And if this is your first time here at Mint Condition Customs, check out the Custom Action Figure Archive. It’s full of every single custom action figure I’ve made up to this point. Mint Condition Customs is where toys are turned into “Interactive Art”!

How to Fix Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast – Custom Action Figure Tutorial

 

In this tutorial, you will learn how to fix all the problems with the Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast action figure. The tutorial will teach you how to fix the chest flap so that it will sit flush with the chest when closed, the gun backpack so that it sits low enough that the visor will be properly lined up with Rio Blast’s eyes (like the vintage figure), and the leg chaps so they sit just a little bit closer to the thigh. To see how each section is properly done, it’s recommended that you watch the video above to see everything properly executed.

TOOLS NEEDED:

1. X-Acto Knife

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2. Pencil

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3. Needle Nose Pliers

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4. Silver Duct Tape

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5. Dremel

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CHEST FLAP:

The first thing you need to do is have the chest flap closed so you can mark with your pencil where the peg sits. What you’ll be doing is cutting out a hole from the chest so the peg doesn’t bump into anything and can close all the way. What I did was I followed the circuitry design in the chest so it looked like it was part of the design. Once the hole is cut, test it out. If you need to trim up the hole, do so. Once you do that, congrats! You can now close the chest flap all the way. However, when it’s open you can see the blue of of the Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast chest. That is where the duct tape comes in.

You could paint a small portion of Rio Blast’s chest silver and that would take care of the problem. Unfortunately not everyone feels comfortable painting, which is why I’m suggesting using the duct tape. It’s simple, quick, and anybody could do it. You’ll just take cut out a small rectangle of duct tape and apply it to the Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast figure’s chest. Start from the bottom, and work your way up. When you have it fully applied, you will have some wrinkles between the muscles. I’m personally OK with that, since it kinda looks like it’s continuing the circuitry design. Once that’s done, put the vest back on. Problem #1, taken care of.

GUN BACKPACK:

The reason the backpack can’t lower all the way is because of these shoulder bumps on the Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast figure. I’m not sure what they are, except an obstruction. What you’ll need to do is mark with your pencil where those shoulder bumps hit the guns. You’ll be cutting out a small rectangle from both sides of the guns so they can clear these bumps. The best part is that they won’t be noticeable at all when the guns are resting. Once you have the areas marked, use your X-Acto knife and cut them out. You will have a vertical cut to make, where you can’t fit your blade. You’ll need to run the blade across, applying force, which will score into the plastic. Do this until you can feel the blade poke through. Now take your pliers to help pry these pieces out. If there’s any plastic left, remove it with the X-Acto knife.

And then cut a tiny piece out of both sides the edge of the backpack that sticks out to stop the guns from lowering. After you’re finished, put it on the Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast figure and try it out. If you’ve don it right, then Rio Blast’s eyes will be lined up with the visor. Problem #2, taken care of.

LEG CHAPS:

Now this part isn’t wholly necessary. If you’re OK with the chaps sticking out, you can skip this. But if you do want them to sit just a bit closer to his legs, read on. I noticed the pegs inside the chaps are bigger than they need to be, and this is why they stick out so far from the thighs. Pop the chaps off the legs. Next, take your dremel, preferablly with a round sanding bit, and grind into the peg, making it shorter. Remove any flash and test out the gun. It should fit just fine. Then pop it back on the figure and it will sit just a little bit closer to the thigh. Repeat all of this for the other one as well. Problem #3 taken care of. And now your Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast action figure is now fixed.

Rio Blast is my favorite Masters of the Universe character, and always has been. The Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast figure has been my most anticipated in the line since I ever thought it could be a possibility. I understand the frustration with buying something with flaws. We action figure collectors know it all too well. I do hope that this shows you that you can be proactive about your figures and make changes that make you happier with the figure.

News – MOTUC Rio Blast Figure Revealed!

the 2014 Toy Fair has been chocked full of so many great reveals. I’d say it’s turning out better than last year, to be honest. Amongst them is a slew of new Mattel reveals. They just showed off the Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast figure! I can’t fully tell from the picture, but it looks as if he will have all of his flip out guns just like the vintage figure. I’m very excited for this. Rio Blast has always been my favorite Masters of the Universe figure, and I’ve been waiting to see a new version of him pretty much since day one, so I’m glad he’ll be released this year. Rio Blast is set to be released in September of 2014.

Continue after the jump for the full photo!
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New Custom Figure – Eye-Lash, Evil Mistress of Torture, Original Masters of the Universe Classics Figure

Hey everyone! To continue in the Halloween spirit, for my latest custom I bring you Eye-Lash! The cycloptic femme fatale, the evil mistress of torture for the Evil Horde! This idea was brought to me by Masters of the Universe fan Joe Martin. He had entered this into the 2012 Masters of the Universe Classics Create-A-Character contest. Sadly it didn’t win, so he sought me out to realize his idea in custom figure form. And let me say, I’m glad he did, because this was a fun one. The Evil Horde is easily my favorite faction of MOTU lore, due to the fact that most of the members are based on classic movie and literary monsters. Eye-Lash here is no different. She’s a cyclops for crying out loud! She’s covered in creepy eyes all over her outfit, she’s got a crazy looking “cat eye nine tails” whip, and she’s plenty evil to boot. She definitely fits in with the Evil Horde. Be sure to click the photo below to check out the full photo set and description for my custom Eye-Lash. You can also read a full character bio written up by her creator, Mr. Joe Martin himself.

 

 

Thanks for looking!

Custom Eye-Lash Masters of the Universe Classics Action Figure – Created October 21st, 2013

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*** Head on over to my Ebay Auctions to see what’s available this week, or commission me if you’d like your very own custom action figure like this one. ***

EYE-LASH
Mistress of Torture for the Evil Horde!

REAL NAME: Iruss of Retinali

Down in the lower parts of the Fright Zone is a prison for captured rebels. There, the prisoners are tortured for information or sometimes just for cruel enjoyment. Keeper of this place of pain is the one eyed femme fatale known as Eye-Lash. A former dungeon keeper on her homeworld of Retinali, she joined Hordak with the promise of being able to interrogate prisoners as she saw fit. Her weapon of choice is her “Cat Eye Nine Tails”, a multi-strapped whip with ball bearings on each end that look like eyeballs. While she is often busy in her dungeon, Eye-Lash is also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant trained in a martial art native to her home planet and is often sent out with her fellow Horde members on missions. If her main eye is somehow blinded, the eyes on her hands take over to allow her to see. She is so well known for her cruel ways that when other Horde members want to scare each other, they tell stories of her many torture sessions. Ever ready to do what Hordak asks, Eye-Lash uses her whip to torture prisoners in the name of the Evil Horde!

 

The design and concept for Eye-Lash was created completely by Joe Martin. He had entered it into the 2012 Masters of the Universe Classics Create-A-Character Contest. Sadly it did not win, so he came to me to realize his creation in action figure form. I used a Masters of the Universe Classics Catra as the base. I had to resculpt the head, giving her the giant single eyeball and sculpting her hair and fusing it with hair from a movie Invisible Woman figure. For the actual eyelashes, I actually used a pair of fake eyelashes carefully glued into place and trimmed to fit. The hands are Catra’s hands combined with the fingers from a NECA Aliens Xenomorph. Each finger also has a bendable wire so they’re fully poseable! The eyeballs all over her body are made from small beads. Her choker, and the emblems on her gauntlets and boots are made from styrene. The whip is made from the handle of an axe in my fodder bin, and all 9 of the whips are thick fabric thread knotted at the end with beads attached to each painted to look like eyeballs. Everything was painted using Mr. Martin’s design as my guide, and that’s it! Eye-Lash is ready to fight for the Evil Horde, and a very fond Masters of the Universe fan is made happy.

Custom Eye-Lash Masters of the Universe Classics Action FigureCustom Eye-Lash Masters of the Universe Classics Action FigureCustom Eye-Lash Masters of the Universe Classics Action FigureCustom Eye-Lash Masters of the Universe Classics Action Figure Bio

News – Masters of the Universe Classics Figure Reveals From 2013 Power-Con

Three new Masters of the Universe Classics figures were revealed over this past weekend at the 2013 Power-Con. Blade, from the live action 1987 Masters of the Universe movie, Scorpia, from the Princess of Power cartoon series, and the oversized figure of Battle Lion, King Grayskull’s mount from the 2002 MYP cartoon series. Also shown off was the official box art for the upcoming Masters of the Universe Classics Castle Grayskull playset.

Continue after the jump for all the pictures!
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News – Masters of the Universe Classics Castle Grayskull Progress Report

In case anyone forgot about it, what with the Club Eternia Doomsday Prophecy looming over our heads, the Masters of the Universe Classics Caslte Grayskull playset is still set to be released this December. Scott Neitlich, AKA “Toyguru” has posted a progress report video on Youtube showing off a test shot of the playset, to give fans a look at how the Castle Grayskull playset is coming along.

Continue after the jump for the video!
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News – MOTUC Icer Carded Images & Sale Information

Carded images have surfaced on the Mattycollector Facebook page of the upcoming Masters of the Universe Classics Icer figure, as well as sale date information. MOTUC Icer will be shipping out to everyone with a Club Filmation subscription in July.

Continue after the jump for pics and full sale information.

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News – MOTUC Clamp Champ Carded Images & Sale Information

As is tradition, some pictures surface on the Mattycollector Facebook page of the upcoming Masters of the Universe Classics Clamp Champ figure in package. Also up is information regarding the sale day information for the MOTUC Clamp Champ figure, and it’s going to make a lot of fans upset.

MOTUC Clamp Champ will be shipped out to all Club Eternia subscribers in July.

Continue after the jump for pics an full info
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