Featured

Upcoming Release: Kaitendo Cross X Create Vol. 01 Enma

Due out in January is Volume 1 of Kaitendo's new Cross X Create series, and it couldn't be from two better creative talents! Enma is based on an original illustration by character designer and game artist extraordinaire Mushimaro and sculpted by the amazing Suzu of Atomic-Bom. Suzu always has a way of catching my eye, indeed I think no one is better at capturing Asuka in figure form. This new fetching design looks to be no different.

Northwest Comic and Gaming Event Report

Abare Figures made an appearance at the Northwest Comic and Gaming Event in Elgin Illinois this past Saturday, and had lots of fun! I was on hand to answer questions about figures and garage kits, show some work and talk up my customs and most of all: get some work done! This is a more old-school comic event and as such is a bit more homey feeling, great for conversations and making friends!

The importance of good quality paint

One of the biggest temptations when painting figures is exclusively using those low cost craft store paints. You know the ones. You're in the store looking for that perfect flesh tone or shade of blue, and there they are. Cheap little bottles, all pre-mixed and waiting for you to begin with little to no color mixing required. Everyone's tried them and they all have differing opinions, but let me show you a side by side comparison of what you're missing out on by not using better quality paint.

Overcoming Adversity with Mod Podge

We've all had it happen. Things seem to be going along so well, you're making better time than usual when boom. Catastrophe strikes. That's what happened with my 1/4 Sayla Mass here, as you can see. Clear coat reacted funny with the paint and I'm left with a melting face. So how do we get past this? The thought of stripping everything and starting over leaves me in despair, so let's instead whip out the tool that's always at my right hand, Mod Podge!

Upcoming Statue Release: Kotobukiya Bishoujo Commander Shepard

Coming in March 2013 from Kotobukiya is a new entry into their mega-popular Shunya Yamashita-designed bishoujo line, female Commander Shepard! After the popularity of this year's mostly-sold-out Liara T'soni statue, I'm glad to see the Mass Effect line continuing, and from such a great sculptor! Gill Gill handled the prototype sculpt and did an amazing job if you ask me, but they can sculpt pretty much anything and make me consider buying it.

Marvel Legends Drax to Luke Cage mod… start!

Starting another commission, this time of New Avengers style Luke Cage. Drax the Destroyer provides the base figure this time. I was requested to do another simple mod adding a white muscle shirt and removing the knives from Drax here. Seems simple enough but let's see what kind of trouble the figure gods are going to throw at us on this one!

Marvel Legends Luke Cage Mod Continues

My fight with Luke Cage continues and much like in Marvel Comics, he is winning! After some joint fixes and sculpting the muscle shirt he was ready for paint. This picture was taken after about 70 coats of white. The green skin of Drax had the supernatural ability to show through everywhere, and I mean everywhere. I think I've invented a few new curse words for action figures on this project.

New Avengers Luke Cage Action Figure Mod Finished

The paint has dried, my cursing has abated, and now I can sit back and enjoy life for another few hours before launching into my next project. Luke Cage is finally complete! If you've followed my work in progress posts you know that nothing I do ever goes as planned, and this troublemaker was no exception. From ever-present green to inexplicable paint rub to arms not reattaching, I had every problem in the book with this guy. But let's put all that past us and enjoy the final product!

Nendoroid Shinguji Sakura and Koubu Set Review

As is pretty evident from my catalog of the garage kits, I'm a big Sakura Taisen fan. The series doesn't get much attention here in the US other than the one NIS America PS2/Wii game release that you totally should buy. They also released a lot of the anime here that is too cheap not to check out. So you can imagine when I saw this Nendoroid pop up for preorder, I squeaked and broke my finger hitting the buy button as quickly as possible.

Doom Marine Action Figure Mod Finished

For the cultural phenomenon that the first two Doom games were and the glut of adult-aimed action figures of the late nineties and early aughts, you'd think making the Marine protagonist of Doom into a figure would be an obvious choice. Or at least the cover art demon from Doom 2. Sadly, nothing seems to exist but a few disappointing renditions from the 2005 movie, so here we have a customized take on the character!