What? Transformers have them; why can’t Marvel Legends? Or Funko Game of Thrones? Or Star Wars Black 6-inch? I’ve seen the conversations making their way around the forums, and I think I’ve hit upon the snag. One, Transformers are mechanical looking. Less curves, less varied colors to things like skin and hair. And two, most Transformers come apart with screws — a whole lot easier to switch out parts than boiling and popping like toys from other lines. So right out of the gate, TF has several one-ups on the third-party market.
But that hasn’t stopped Strangefate, who busted on to the Fwoosh forum scene late last year, with his 3D-printed figures and accessories. Then he started offering them to Fwooshers through Shapeways. See, this is the way to go when dealing with toys that mimic the human form — go all the way or do add-on accessories. Yeah, if it’s more than one color, you have to paint them yourself, but just look at some of his work. And I’m not saying that it can’t be done for heads and body parts, it’s just that the process will need some refining before we get to Transformer-level third-party additions.
That didn’t stop long time Fwoosher TFitz from ordering Strangefate’s set of spider legs and wrist guards to upgrade his Marvel Legends Infinite Spider-Man, though. And the final product looks fantastic, making what was already a great figure even better.
The legs already come in red, so there is no painting involved, but the wrist guards will have to be painted. It looks like there may be a couple of tweaks needed to the guards in order to fit the wrist better, but still. Not too bad for a sculpt done sight unseen.
Strangefate has even added Spider-bots to fill in your Superior Spidey display.
And if you’re interested in the legs, they can be ordered here.
This is going to take customizing to a whole other level. Just think — a couple of tweaks on a digital sculpt, send it off to a 3D printer, receive it back in plastic form. Paint. Boom. And you’ll be able to offer those parts up to people like me who can’t sculpt worth a lick.
We’re living in exciting times, my friends. Let’s see how far this can go.
