Modifying Your Hot Toys TDK Suit Batman

[LockJaw]

hey if anyone can give me a few tips here
i'm heavily thinking of making my own custom Batman fig
i modded my TDK head with the screw trick and i'm really proud of it
but there was something missing about it
so i found this pic from DeviantArt that i remember seeing, it was a drawing of the TDK suit but with the panther neck look of the BB cowl

<object width="450" height="535"><param name="movie" value="https://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf" /><param name="flashvars" value="id=79259455&width=1337" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="https://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" flashvars="id=79259455&width=1337" height="535" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object><br /><a href="https://www.deviantart.com/deviation/79259455/">Dark Knight Batman</a> by ~<a class="u" href="https://antmanx68.deviantart.com/">antmanx68</a> on <a href="https://www.deviantart.com">deviant</a><a href="https://www.deviantart.com">ART</a>

so then i remember that the DCD Dark Knight figure has a MASSIVE neck on it, the panther neck but in the style of the new neck
so what i'd like to do, or if anyone knows someone who can do this professionally
is have the BB cowl cut like the TDK cowl, so it has the motorcycle helmet look to it
and then have it place on the DCD neck but also has the neck modded enough to allow the same movement as the HT neck
and if possible, have the BB ears shaven down to be as short as the TDK ears
i love the shorter ears
oh and before anyone asks, i want to use the BB cowl because it as finer detail to it, like a more angry expression, more defined eye sockets and the chiseled jaw line

thanks

 

[aussieinnyc]

Great pic. I think you'll have a hard time getting everything you want, especially getting that look and keeping the articulation. Maybe a good place to start would be an old Takara BB head, since that is the cowl you're looking for but already cut for articulation?

 

[LockJaw]

thanks, not mine, was done by antmanx68
i think it can be done, of course i would need to have the DCD figure in hand to call that
or find some good personal photos that show off the head and neck
actually the cowl i plan on using somehow would be the HT Original Suit sculpt
i already have one, but i would just rebuy the head alone for this mod
i have 2 extra TDK bodies, one of them came damaged with the figure
so i bought a body off ebay
but i'd probably sell the damaged body on Ebay to pay for another non-damaged body
it's not damaged, the shoulder strap came undone and the exposed glue looks hideous
but modders can easily reglue it, and in the process tighten the straps
i didn't want to reglue it because i didn't want to mess it up

 

[Devil_666]

Lock Jaw, is this essentially the look you're going for?

Mock Up:

Looks almost like the original HT TDK Prototype imo. The biggest problem you're gonna have is fitting the DCD neck into the neck slot on the HT TDK armor. It'll have to be modified to fit, since that neck is bigger.

 

[zidane]

I have a Takara Bats that for all its faults still is a great figure. The posability is beyond compare and I don't have any problems with the rubber or anything else. I would however like to switch out the boots for a pair of HT's and I think I've seen a pic of it somewhere. Any ideas how to go about this?
Also, as we all know the Tak has a substantially slimmer body. I would really like to figure out a way to widen him up. Any ideas like what glue to use, technique for cutting the suit, and most importantly, how exactly to increase the midsection of the body?

Thanks for any help!

 

[LockJaw]

Lock Jaw, is this essentially the look you're going for?

Mock Up:

Looks almost like the original HT TDK Prototype imo. The biggest problem you're gonna have is fitting the DCD neck into the neck slot on the HT TDK armor. It'll have to be modified to fit, since that neck is bigger.

yeah, that's is pretty much the look i'm aiming towards

oh yeah, i noticed that the neck hole might need to be wider
so i examined it, and the only thing i think would need to be removed, is that rubber collar he has
i can see that the collar comes off real easy, just by pulling it off slow and easy

 

[casper]

yeah, that's is pretty much the look i'm aiming towards

oh yeah, i noticed that the neck hole might need to be wider
so i examined it, and the only thing i think would need to be removed, is that rubber collar he has
i can see that the collar comes off real easy, just by pulling it off slow and easy

but the dark knight original costume batman still has a longer ear (not screen accurate i think)
the takara batman begins is the most accurate i guess.
i don't know, just my opinion

 

[The Drizzle]

I even decided to put the hot toys original batman cape on it instead of the stupid short one. And it looks much better.

I did that today, too! I do so agree. Much better.

 

[Agen]

I did that today, too! I do so agree. Much better.

Post pic please, If it look Much better I will do the same thing.

 

[blakus939]

yeah pic for sure

 

[LockJaw]

but the dark knight original costume batman still has a longer ear (not screen accurate i think)
the takara batman begins is the most accurate i guess.
i don't know, just my opinion

well the original cowl did have longer ears and a long sharp nose
the Takara one has shorter ears and a short nose, kinda makes it look dull and lifeless
whereas the HT cowl has more definition to it
this isn't really a screen accurate custom wish, more like a "i like it better like this, hope they fix it this way for the 3rd one" kinda custom
a kitbash of the original suit and new one essentially, but with just the cowl and neck

 

[The Drizzle]

yeah pic for sure

Here go!

 

[Sachiel]

<object width="450" height="535">


<embed src="https://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="id=79259455&width=1337" allowscriptaccess="always" width="450" height="535"></object>
Dark Knight Batman by ~antmanx68 on deviantART

The mask reminds me of the Bandai Movie Realization Batpod set Batman.

 

[yongkykun]

but how I like it. With the slim neck look of the new costume, batman doesn't look as intimidating as his original costume. Batman is all about presence, I think. So I dig that fanart, coz imo, that's how the neck piece should look.

 

[LockJaw]

yeah, that panther neck really had an impact on his presence
i wish they could have kept it and make it functional
so i want to mod with the DCD neck
and have the chest piece modded as well
i drew up what i would want it to look like, i'll scan it soon and post it here
but basically, take out (sand down probably) that black bar on his chest that has that emblem
and replace it with the BB chest symbol, it just seems more Batman
this would also eliminate that bra effect on his chest
again, i'll post the sketch i have

 

[Spanbauer]

his is the best place to separate to allow removal of the chest plate I think.

Odd question, but were those tabs glued to the armor on everyone else's Dark Knight? Mine came disconnected out of the box and I always thought it was supposed to be that way.

 

[Cap'n Cook]

Pretty sure they are meant to be glued, as the chest piece is supposed to be non removable.

Perhaps if it is a second wave, HT did not re glue the newly modded vers?

 

[LockJaw]

okay, here's what i want to have done to the chest piece
basically remove the chest symbol from the Original Suit and put it on the new piece
get rid of that black bar with the small symbol
and also repaint black over the gray pieces on the suit
i like the idea of him looking like a giant black bat
much like the original suit

<a href="https://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa302/DanielDDJ/Custom%20Batman%20Figure/?action=view&current=Picture.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa302/DanielDDJ/Custom%20Batman%20Figure/Picture.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[vodoun]

You have two figures of each? or going to attempt to carve up both?...

 

[LockJaw]

i own both figures
but i already have plans to get new bodies
my HT TDK came with a loose shoulder strap that was hard to reglue but i managed it
i ordered a new body off ebay
that's for the custom i'm planning
and i actually want to see if i can get the body of the HT Batman Begins figure
the emblem and armor just looks much better to me