Making TMNT "foot" stands

[DarthRaphael]

Most of us know that sometimes your TMNT figures don't not like to stand up properly, especially the Foot Soldier.
Have you all noticed a hole in one foot on each figure?

I am making plans for building stands that use that hole. I have decided to use wooden dowels to make the pegs for the holes, but have not decided on a base material. I think I'll make the base about 4 inches square for maximum poseability.

Any comments?

[Kid Icarus]

Shredder has one in each foot. I wonder why? maybe theres gonna be a Foot playset :D.

This is a great idea. no idea how good it will work though. the only fig i've had problems is is the Foot Soldier, because his feet are so small.

[Poddo24]

I actually think that these figures stand extremely well, especially compared to the old figures.

[azure turtle]

Hmm... I think that'd be a cool idea, DarthRaph. My Don action figure doesn't stand too well, so I'm using his bo to keep him steady.

[MzTheInsomniac]

i dont see how your new figs dont stand well especially don, they all stand very well, the only fig i had problems with was mikey :-?

[Michaelangelo 3:16]

I use those holes on the bottoms of the Raphael's feet so that he can sai-kick the foot while sliding on the cable.

[azure turtle]

i dont see how your new figs dont stand well especially don, they all stand very well, the only fig i had problems with was mikey :-?
Really?? My Mikey fig stands very well. It's Don who I've got a problem with. Weird.

[mikemgmve]

my mikey stands well. his leg joint was really stiff tho, and I was afraid I was gonna break him, but once I was able to move it, his balance was fine.

I have a fetish for posing them the way they look on the packaging.. so that's how my mikey looks.

[avervisal]

\I have a fetish for posing them the way they look on the packaging.

Heh sweet fetish...

I am really frustrated with the foot solder, but that's the only one that I have with major problems. The rest are all fine, except I can't get Mikey into a decent pose, his leg is kinda turned in and it looks...odd.

As for the holes in the feet, I'm guessing that they were designed to be stationed in the playsets. I remember in the picture of the tmnt lair that in the middle there was some kind of rotating platform for sparring. I guess the turltes (and villains if you desire) will be placed there!

Will

[HorseTechie]

Oh hay, cool idea DR! Making peg stands for em, I can do that myself too.

I noticed those holes when I got my first Don figure too. Then, out of complete wackiness, I stuck his bo staffs into each hole and thought "Ooo.. nice stilts!" :P :lol:

[DarthRaphael]

Imagine being able to do kicking poses. That is the type of stability I'm looking for.

My Foot Soldier is the worst. He has such a crummy stance. I hate feet that aren't flat. He needs the stand the most (kind of ironic), because he likes to fall if I bump my desk.

The foot hole is about 3/16 of an inch. There should be wooden dowels at that dimater.

**edit**

I bought some supplies today. I have wood bases, a wooden dowel for foot pegs, and some paint. I'm looking to duplicate the base the LE ceramic Leo is on.

http://home.adelphia.net/~darthracer/images/TMNT/TMNT_footstand_supplies1.jpg

[azure turtle]

LOL @ HT!! :lol:

Yo DR, I think that's a neat idea. Thanks for the dimensions on the holes... Don't think I have a ruler on me. Looks like I'll have a project to do over Spring break. :)

[HorseTechie]

Or you can take one of Don's bo staff with you to use as a comparison. :D

[DarthRaphael]

I have 2 stands started so far.

I made eteches into the wood bases with a metal ruler to make my brick base design have some texture.

Next will be some shades of gray paint, and highlighting the gaps betwwen the bricks.


http://home.adelphia.net/~darthracer/images/TMNT/TMNT_footstand_progress.jpg

[DarthRaphael]

I know it's been a month, but here are what I think are my TMNT foot stands in their final form. I may wash them with black later, but I think they look decent already.

LMK what you think!!


http://users.adelphia.net/~darthracer/images/TMNT/TMNTstandsComplete1.jpg

[TMNT571]

nice

[Splinter]

Very nice, Darth Raphael. You should make more and sell them.
I know I would be intrested in a set. :)

[Krakko]

Look at me! I'm replying to a really old post!!!

[Nturtle]

Please don't revive old threads for no reason Krakko

[Quiller-Bee]

I had a similar idea myself. However, I decided to use Super Sculpey for the base. First, I fashioned one large slab (.33" thickness) of Super Sculpey in a nonmetallic baking pan. Then I used coarse sandpaper to press into the clay, creating a brick-like texture. Next, I carved out the lines between the bricks. I then positioned my figs on the slab of Super Sculpey, the way I wanted to display them. After they were all in place, I began to cut the slab into individual pieces for each figure. (This creates interlocking display bases, so that a figure can be displayed individually as well as with the group.) At this point, it was time to remove the figs and any scraps of Sculpey and bake the Sculpey. After the Sculpey had finished baking, I gave it plenty of time to cool. Once the cooling process was complete, I drilled out the holes for the wooden dowels, and then set them in place with a dab of epoxy glue. After the epoxy had set, I painted the bases. The final step was to place the figs on their bases and set 'em up! They now keep a constant vigil in my studio, with no worries of being knocked over by some klutz like me.

[SlayerX]

You got any pics of them? THey sound really cool! I'd love to see them :)

[tmntman]

The bases are a cool idea, and one which applied to just about every toy line. I do have a couple of suggestions though. First, don't use wooden dowels! They aren't that strong and are going to tend to extend and contract over time. Sooner or later you may find it impossible to remove the rigure, have pegs break off in their feet or simply find them too loose anyways. You should consider using metel rod instead since it is both stronger and less prone to expansion or contraction. Secondly, for those who are starting with a moldable substance for the base, check out your local hobby shop for modeling molds to get even better detil and better consistancy. I would think HO scale retaining wall should work well as brick or you could get a concreet texture as well.

[Cascadia]

I can make my TMNT figures stand with no problem.. :P

[Quiller-Bee]

Hey, Triceraton;
I'll do just that as soon as I get a new digital camera. I'm really happy with the way that they turned out.

tmntman;
Thanks for the words of advice. So far, I guess I've been lucky. I've been doing the wooden dowel thing for a long time now with other figures and have fortunately had no problems. (I generally treat any wood that's going to be used in a project.) I'm going to have to give that metal rod thing a shot though . . . . As for the molds, I do a lot of sculpting in my free time, so I prefer to do my own grunt-work. For me, molds are only used when it's something of my own that I'm attempting to replicate.

Scienctific freak;
I can get most of mine to stand as well, but the unaided Foot Soldiers will topple with ease when my work table is given even the slightest nudge. It's getting them to remain standing in a busy work environment that I had trouble with. Besides that, the bases just seem to add a little something to the figs.

[Albrecht]

finally I got my foot soldier to stand his legs arent on a ball joint but there leg is a lever put his right leg in front and left in back and he should stand.