DX9 Batman Armor Upgrade?

[robbiethepainter]

I know a lot of people are blown away by this figure, and I admit the likeness is truly amazing, but one thing that has always bothered me was the fact that he is in a full rubber suit. To me a DX should mean a level of detail more then just a rubber suit. So I have embarked on a journey to add a second layer of complexity to the suit. Even though it wont be that noticeable and may even detract from the over all look of the figure, I wanted to give it a try. So I ordered a second body from Toy Anxiety and a black jumper from Kato and started cutting.

Here are photos of my progress. I will continue to post in this thread as it continues.
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac204/robbiethepainter/2012-04-28_16-22-47_410.jpg
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac204/robbiethepainter/2012-04-28_16-08-12_934.jpg
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac204/robbiethepainter/2012-04-28_15-05-59_87.jpg
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac204/robbiethepainter/2012-04-28_15-05-50_658.jpg
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac204/robbiethepainter/2012-04-28_15-05-50_658.jpg
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac204/robbiethepainter/2012-04-28_15-05-23_218.jpg
http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac204/robbiethepainter/2012-04-28_15-05-10_734.jpg

[Firebird]

It's looking pretty sweet so far. Can't wait to see more progress and keep up the great work!

[KingGrayskull]

Very nice idea! Kato suit matches very well. However wasnt the zipper on the back? :dunno

Edit: doesnt really matter as you wont see the zipper anyway when mask and belt are attached. :)

[DiFabio]

Yep, beaten to the punch.

I bought extra bodies for this very concept. From the day I learned that it would be a one piece body suit I knew I wanted to try/see something like this someday. It's definitely way more accurate.

Thanks for sharing. I had a cloth Sideshow Stormtrooper undersuit in mind, this creation of yours is clearly better.

May have to try it out.

[robbiethepainter]

Yeah Kato doesn't have anymore back zipper jumpers so I had to go with what he had. Like you say, cant see it anyway.

[toylion]

Interesting idea. Can't wait to see it finished.

[Maglor]

Nice work robbie. It's lookin' great!

[Mr. EcKo]

Awesome Job Robbie . Great Idea buddy

[Gipetto0812]

very nice Robbie! :clap

looks amazing and can't wait to see more man! :rock

[Hydeous]

I was kind of skeptical when I read your title and first post ( before looking at the pics) as I thought the figure and suit was already perfect to begin with.

But after looking at your pics, I'm impressed :clap

Awesome work, bud! Can't wait to see it done!

[CHUYHA85]

Nice work, hope to see the finished figure, thanks for sharing!

[Commtech]

I hope you don't mind me posting my WIP of the same idea. I don't want to open another thread about the exact same thing (and maybe we can share ideas here:)) Here are some pictures of mine. Same recipe with Kato jumpsuit. Mine doesn't have the armor glued on yet as you can see in the pictures since I'm still refining the edges of where I cut around each piece of the armor. (And I couldn't wait to see how much more articulation this mod will bring:D)

Again, keep in mind that the armor is not glued on yet, therefore you will see it sticking out or separated from the kato suit. It should look all nice and flat to the suit once glued.
(don't mind the inside of the elbow area. In this picture, I didn't pull it enough and it's bunching up from when I pushed in on the gauntlets.)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/edidu/2012-04-29_20-30-28_647.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/edidu/2012-04-29_20-40-59_976.jpg

I don't know if you noticed Robbie, but the chest and front part of the shoulders has to be filled inside (preferably from under the kato suit) so that the lower front part of the mask, including the bat logo is not too separated from the chest armor. Just enough to have a small gap for the cape, though.

What glue are you using? I have in mind insta-flex (cyanoacrylate) which is a flexible superglue special for rubber, but I want to hear if yours is better or the same.

[robbiethepainter]

Post away bud. No worries.


Did you put the Kato suit over the lycra suit?

I did and I like how it fills the suit out more. Tightens things up.
I also did not trim out the inside of the legs for the crotch and thigh armor. Wasn't sure how the crotch would play out and so I thought I would leave it. I like how it worked out. Probably going to keep it.

Glue- Im using my tried and true extra-thick Maxi-cure cyanoacrylate that I use for everything. Its not flexible but Im not gluing whole areas down, but just tacking certain points. Theory is that it will allow the suit to slide some under the armor.

Areas that are holding me up at the moment are the elbows/forearms and calf armor. Elbows look to thin to me so im thinking on how to fill them out more and also how to attach the curved armor peices that go on the calf and forearm. I dont want them to look too thick.

[robbiethepainter]

Looks like you may have his knee caps upside down.

[Commtech]

Post away bud. No worries.


Did you put the Kato suit over the lycra suit?

I did and I like how it fills the suit out more. Tightens things up.
I also did not trim out the inside of the legs for the crotch and thigh armor. Wasn't sure how the crotch would play out and so I thought I would leave it. I like how it worked out. Probably going to keep it.

Glue- Im using my tried and true extra-thick Maxi-cure cyanoacrylate that I use for everything. Its not flexible but Im not gluing whole areas down, but just tacking certain points. Theory is that it will allow the suit to slide some under the armor.

Areas that are holding me up at the moment are the elbows/forearms and calf armor. Elbows look to thin to me so im thinking on how to fill them out more and also how to attach the curved armor peices that go on the calf and forearm. I dont want them to look too thick.

I took the lycra suit off thinking the kato suit wouldn't fit on top. Since you're confirming it does, then I'll put it back on.:wink1: I just hope it will still allow the lower body to be able to flex into sitting position for when the batmobile comes out. As I have it right now, he can sit.

Yeah, I'm also thinking of not gluing whole areas, but just the edges and some inside sections.

About the calf, forearm and knee armor, have you thought of thinning them down a bit from the inside (back) so they don't look too thick?

Let me know how you figure out how to fill the elbows, though they don't bother me a lot.


Looks like you may have his knee caps upside down.

Since they are not glued yet, they kept falling off, so I kept putting them on repeatedly and that's how they came in the pictures.:lol Before gluing, I will use my other untouched figure for reference on how the armor goes.

[ShortRound]

Looking good fellers! Anxious to see the outcome.

[TheFiend]

Man, this is pretty sweet. I will be checking in more often.

[S. Griffin]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/edidu/2012-04-29_20-40-59_976.jpg



I'm going to assume these guys can do this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/therealsatam/HotToysBatmanGrapnel.jpg

[eczamurai]

I'm going to assume these guys can do this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/therealsatam/HotToysBatmanGrapnel.jpg

Cant the figure do it? Dont own one so couldnt know, but I assume that if its possible with the proto pics, its possible with the figure?

[intothevoid]

Very nice!!

[TheFiend]

Cant the figure do it? Dont own one so couldnt know, but I assume that if its possible with the proto pics, its possible with the figure?

I've tried several time to no avail. No way can his arms extend out and meet one another and stay that way. Maybe with the upgrade we'll see it done.

[S. Griffin]

Cant the figure do it? Dont own one so couldnt know, but I assume that if its possible with the proto pics, its possible with the figure?

Mine can't, and I have yet to see an unmodified figure that can. Nobody's done that in the DX-09 thread.

[Preshea]

Thank you for showing this! I thought about doing this should HT produce the returns version and I get that one as I prefer that suit. And I think the straight lines would work better. But I hope Kato can provide the under suits. Yours looks great so, far.

[robbiethepainter]

I'm going to assume these guys can do this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/therealsatam/HotToysBatmanGrapnel.jpg

Tried it and I can't do it even with the mod. Too constricted through the shoulders and chest. Maybe Commtech can?

[TheFiend]

^Damn. I'd really like to get my hands on that prototype to see all the things it can do. Unless they just PS'ed or it's light trickery we are seeing.

[S. Griffin]

Looking at that more closely, I think it's a use of PS and perspective trickery. I don't think either hand is touching the grapnel gun. The lighting on the left hand and the gun seem completely different. The gun also seems to be at lower resolution/fuzzier focus than the hand.

[Maglor]

Yeah, Hot Toys seems to do that a lot. Look at the Ironman "fist down" pose.

[Mookeylama]

^ yeah and IM Mark I down on knee pose. don't think that can be done.

Guys your mods are fantastic! customizers have been doing this kinda 89 Bats now for years (Sovereign Studios and couple others) , and i was really disappointed when HT when the "dipped in rubber" route. i might actually buy this Bats if your mods turn out well

[robbiethepainter]

I know Im not done yet but would anyone be interested in buying a version of this from me? I have a second body that I was going to sell but maybe I should keep it and get another Kato jumper for second one. Thoughts?

[kavemon3]

This is a very interesting project. I can't wait to see the final shots.

[SanShouXMA]

Looking at this makes me think about trying that with my DX02 Dark Knight. Hmmmm.... You think that would work with a Jill Battle Suit?

[intothevoid]

Looking at this makes me think about trying that with my DX02 Dark Knight. Hmmmm.... You think that would work with a Jill Battle Suit?

Now that, I would LOVE to see.

[TheFiend]

Looking at that more closely, I think it's a use of PS and perspective trickery. I don't think either hand is touching the grapnel gun. The lighting on the left hand and the gun seem completely different. The gun also seems to be at lower resolution/fuzzier focus than the hand.

I think you are right.
Yeah, Hot Toys seems to do that a lot. Look at the Ironman "fist down" pose.

You mean the crouching down and fist smashing into concrete pose? I don't own an Iron Man but if he can't do it that sucks. That's how I'd like to pose him.

Now that, I would LOVE to see.

Someone already did it using a mesh under suit, right?

[KingGrayskull]

I know Im not done yet but would anyone be interested in buying a version of this from me? I have a second body that I was going to sell but maybe I should keep it and get another Kato jumper for second one. Thoughts?

Might be interested. Depending on price though... :wave

[r5150s]

cool projects guys ! where can i get one of those Kato jumpsuits ? might want to do the same thing ..

Rob

[Commtech]

cool projects guys ! where can i get one of those Kato jumpsuits ? might want to do the same thing ..

Rob

Kato mentioned that he might do more. I would pm him if I were you. I think if enough people ask for them, he might do another run sooner.

I haven't done any progress on mine. I've just been slammed with work and family duties. I hope I get some time this weekend and have something to show.

[Calcifer]

You guys make any more progress on this?, I recently picked up a loose bat armor for this very project to put my damaged kato jumpsuit to use.

[robbiethepainter]

Nothing yet from me. Im still trying to find time and motivation.

[Commtech]

Nothing yet from me. Im still trying to find time and motivation.

Same here.

[Dead VeNgeancE]

i wonder if this would be possible with the batman begins costume...