HT AvP:R 1/6 Wolf Predator Image Thread

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Royce smelled smoke and he got Noland and Tracker

*fills his room with smoke*

Come on come on come on already!
 
Anyone have a step by step guide for doing this? May give it a try too.

Hi there,

I had to do a little digging through the thread but here's the original cannon mod tutorial I posted a few years ago. This was a "freebie" for anybody who wanted to fix the missing articulation Hot Toys neglected to add to the cannons.

I know some people have performed this service for payment, (not a big deal to me), but if you want to try it yourself it's really not that difficult. Anyway, here's my original tutorial if you want to give it a shot...

Note: This was my very first attempt to do this mod, so it was kind of an experimental procedure at the time. Since then people have found other ways to do it that get the same results, which may be less complicated than this. You can probably avoid using the foam pad inserts, though it wouldn't hurt to have 'em in there anyway as a little insurance, especially if you move the cannons around a lot.

Btw, this method did not require any heating of the cannons (for fear of damaging them) and personally, I still wouldn't recommend it... but to each his own. If you have any questions feel free to shoot me a PM, be glad to help if I can. :)

Last edited: 4/29/08 I've been meaning to post an updated and easier to do version of this mod... until then, hopefully this will be sufficient.

Okay, here's a brief tutorial for anyone who wants to fix Wolfie's cannons. You'll need a few basic tools for the job, I added pics of the ones I used as examples.

With a sharp edged tool, carefully split apart the lower end of each cannon mount arm. You just have to open it enough so that you can pop the ball-ended part out of the socket. (There's a plastic pin molded inside one side of the socket, which goes through the ball). Be patient, and watch your fingers!

You'll end up with two ball-ended pieces with holes through them, still attached to the armour. (Pic 3.) Fill both of the holes with epoxy putty and set them aside. Cut the plastic pins out of the sockets of the cannon arms. Smooth the inside of the small cup-like space on the pin side of each piece.

Cut a small piece of foam or other "spongy" material and shape it to fit inside the other half of the socket. (I used small pieces of polyurethane foam to fill the insides of the sockets. You'll need to use something similar to create a small amount of tension against the ball, or the joint will be too loose.) Add a drop of super glue to the little foam pad and glue it in place, making sure it's centered in the shallow hole. (Pic 6.)

When the putty is hard, sand it smooth and test fit everything. Add more foam as needed, and when you're satisfied you have the correct amount of tension inside the joints, carefully glue the ends of cannon arm halves together again. Press the sides of the joint firmly together until the glue sets up. Touch up the paint as needed and you're good to go!

1. From top to bottom: X-acto knife, sprue cutters, small half-round woodcutting gouge, surgical scissors, and polyurethane foam pieces.
ModTools1.jpg


2. Close up of tools. Note the small bits of black plastic that need to be removed from inside the sockets at lower ends of each cannon arm.
ModTools2.jpg


3. Armour with mount base complete, cannon arm removed.
BallJointBase.jpg


4. Ball joint piece filled with Milliput epoxy putty.
BallJoint-Filled1.jpg


5. Ball joint on mount base filled with putty.
BJointBase-Filled.jpg


6. Left: Socket of cannon arm w/foam insert. Right: Completed ball joint assembled in arm.
NewBallJoint2.jpg


7. Modification completed. This mod allows for complete original articulation of cannon with added lateral rotation of the mount arms.
ModDemo5.jpg


8. Wolfie's cannons can now articulate like they were supposed to!!!
ModDemo1.jpg


ModDemo4.jpg
 
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No problem, always glad to help a fellow HT Pred fan. Adding the cannon articulation really makes Wolf one of the best Pred figures HT has ever made! :D

He is a great figure. I tend to get really nervous and shaky when handling my Hot Toys, I'm scared of breaking them or damaging them. My Wolf has a pull on his netting too. It's not noticeable, but in my mind I know it's there:gah:
 
Whats the kind of commission on a thing like the shoulder canon mod? I fancy one for my Wolf and i could probably do it myself but it would be rather crude. If i knew who did it and what id be looking at to pay though id consider :-/
 
He is a great figure. I tend to get really nervous and shaky when handling my Hot Toys, I'm scared of breaking them or damaging them. My Wolf has a pull on his netting too. It's not noticeable, but in my mind I know it's there:gah:

I know exactly how you feel. I ALWAYS handle my HT figures with extra care (especially the older ones), and even then things occasionally go wrong. Luckily I've been able to successfully repair everything that's ever broken. As much as I dread having to do it, I've become a better plastic surgeon as a result! :lol

Btw, the netting can be repaired too, if you can find thread or string about the same texture and thickness. You may have to paint it to match, but it is possible to fix even that. (I know this from experience!)

What brand of foam did you use? where'd you order

Sorry, I really don't know what brand it was. It was just some scrap foam packing I found around the house. It was in the form of a solid tube and I just cut thin slices off of it.

If you look around the house, garage, etc., you'll probably find something that would work just as well. New electronics often come packed in sheets of poly foam, for example. You might try a crafts store or a hobby supply, they sometimes sell various kinds of foam material.

As I mentioned, other people have done this without using any foam at all. I guess they just used more epoxy to make the rounded parts a little bigger. All you really want to do prevent the joints from being too loose, so the cannons will stay in position when you pose them.
 
I know exactly how you feel. I ALWAYS handle my HT figures with extra care (especially the older ones), and even then things occasionally go wrong. Luckily I've been able to successfully repair everything that's ever broken. As much as I dread having to do it, I've become a better plastic surgeon as a result! :lol

Btw, the netting can be repaired too, if you can find thread or string about the same texture and thickness. You may have to paint it to match, but it is possible to fix even that. (I know this from experience!)

Thanks for the reassurance:hi5:

Maybe my Nan could knit the netting better:1-1:Hehe:lol
 
Whats the kind of commission on a thing like the shoulder canon mod? I fancy one for my Wolf and i could probably do it myself but it would be rather crude. If i knew who did it and what id be looking at to pay though id consider :-/

Well, I personally have never done this for anyone as a commission, but if you're interested, shoot me a PM. I think we can work something out.
 
And Mudshark, not trying to piss you off and step on toes, but if you can't find time send them over to me.

No worries Seth, I don't mind you've been doing the mod for people, and it certainly doesn't piss me off. I didn't really have time to do this kind of stuff for people a couple of years ago, but I'm seriously thinking about changing my current line of work and getting back into art for a living. Anyway, this kind of work is relatively easy for me and doesn't take that much time.

I don't want to step on your toes either, but if somebody does happen to ask me to do this mod for them, I'd really enjoy working on some Pred figures other than my own for a change and helping people make theirs better. :duff
 
And Mudshark, not trying to piss you off and step on toes, but if you can't find time send them over to me.

I don't want to step on your toes either, but if somebody does happen to ask me to do this mod for them, I'd really enjoy working on some Pred figures other than my own for a change and helping people make theirs better. :duff

I'd take you up on your offers if I didn't live so far away:flag
 
No worries Seth, I don't mind you've been doing the mod for people, and it certainly doesn't piss me off. I didn't really have time to do this kind of stuff for people a couple of years ago, but I'm seriously thinking about changing my current line of work and getting back into art for a living. Anyway, this kind of work is relatively easy for me and doesn't take that much time.

I don't want to step on your toes either, but if somebody does happen to ask me to do this mod for them, I'd really enjoy working on some Pred figures other than my own for a change and helping people make theirs better. :duff

I feel ya man! :1-1:
 
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