Hi All,
Thought I would show some pics and post a bit about modifying my Mark 3 BD as I recently took the plunge and got my screwdrivers out
the mark 3.5!
So it started when I got fed up of my Mark 3 looking like the gimpy stepchild next to my Mark 4 and 6! I decided to see what I could do to improve it. Firstly, it had to have a hand upgrade to the superior poseable finger hands from the Mark 4 and 6. The colour match is pretty much spot on between 3BD and 4/6, looks like possibly even the same paint. They fit perfectly too. I got a set on ebay no problem for not too expensive. Everyone should do this mod I think!
Next, I wanted to address the two main issues with the bd - the giraffe neck and the anorexic waist. after a google hunt (which lead back to the sideshow forums, funnily enough!) I found some pics of the 3 taken completely apart, with instructions. Bingo.
So first, I did the 'neck mod.' I initially fancied putting my mark 4 head on as the proportions of the head look better. However it doesnt fit on the mark 3 neck so I used the mark 4 neck too - it fits, but it still looks like a giraffe neck.
next, I tried getting a spare Mark 4 neck on ebay to modify and experiment with - basically I pulled out the rubber socket in a bit to make it sit a bit lower in the torso. However it still looked a bit high So I put the mark 3 head on the modified mark 4 neck and left it like that for a bit. but it still looked too high! More drastic modification required.
I decided to take my mark 3 completely apart. It took me about 45 mins to get it into a pile of bits on desk. The main thing that took the time was the two gold coloured screw covers in the back. They are a _____ to get out! I made a little bit of a mess of the paint, but I have no plans to sell. Its a bit scary pulling apart something so nice and so expensive, but its something thats been bugging me for a while. I then took out the ball joint for the neck to attach to, in a bit to allow the neck to sit lower. The rubber collar is tight enough to hold either neck in place just fine without any sort of joint. So now I have the option of either the mark 3 or 4 head, both look pretty good and the heads sit as low as they possibly can without non reversable mods.
Thoughts? which one looks best??
The waist mod was pretty straightforward - once I had iron man completely in bits I slipped two bits of folded card about 2mm thick each side down the sides of the rubber torso section. I also tweaked the mounting holes of the torso rubber section so it sat lower - I didnt like the slight gap between the pants and the torso that mine had. It was trickier to put back together as the chest part had to be stretched a bit wider to fit over the new wider torso. overall though, now the body section looks a bit less skinny.
conclusion...
I am happier with it now and glad I did the mods. it still looks gimpy and underfed, but a bit less so. The mark 4 hands, head and modded neck are definite improvements - it looks more accurate to the movie, closer to the original ht mark 3 and stands up a little better alongside 4
Here they are for comparison! it has the mark 3 head / modded neck in some pics and the mark 4 head / modded neck in others. just to confuse everyone.
Incidently, taking the photos of these two together earlier I couldn't help but think that the HT mark 4 still looks miles better. if anyone has a mark 3 and thinks the mark 4 isnt different enough to get... well the pics speak for themselves...
