Modifying Marvel Minimates

[mtd20_2000]

If there is already a thread about this subject then I apologize in advance to the moderators and ask that it be moved to where it should go (I have seen threads about customizing and compatibility, but not modifying).

I admit that I am not talented enough to customize minimates, but I have found ways around this, mainly by modifying certain figures that I feel are dated by using parts from other minimates. The other day I was thinking that there is not a thread for Marvel minimate collectors to bounce around ideas about how to improve our mates. I figured I would start the ball rolling on this. Since some members have already commented on the modifications I have done to my Fantastic Four minimates, I will begin with them.

Invisible Woman:

I mainly used a SCE Susan Richards, with the right arm from a wave 8 Invisible Woman variant, and an AFX Defenders box set Valkyrie head, with a SCE Dark Avengers box set Ms. Marvel hairpiece.

Mr. Fantastic:

I mainly used a SCE Mr. Fantastic without the lab coat (to get the black boots and belt), with a DST Dark Avengers box set Captain Marvel head, and a TRU exclusive stretch attack Mr. Fantastic hairpiece, with Mr. Fantastic wave 8 stretchy arms.

Human Torch:

The legs and midsection are from a SCE Johnny Storm (mainly to match my Invisible Woman), and the arms, body, neck flame, flame hairpiece, and fireball are from a DST Invaders box set Human Torch, with the head and fire blast from a wave 8 Torch.

Thing:

The legs and arms are from a SCE Thing, with a powerhouse Thing body and midsection, and a clobberin’ time Thing head (the oversized fists were taken from which ever Thing minimate had the best paint job).

I will occasionally post other modifications that I have done to my collection and encourage others to post pictures and give ideas as to how we can improve our minimates. Hopefully, this will be a useful reference tool for all of us.

Edited May 20, 2010 by mtd20_2000

[Joe Hill]

Much improved! Especially Invisible Woman, her head looked too cartoony, and her hairstyle (while iconic) was a little too dated.

[Zombieboyfiend]

Hey I appreciate it. One of my favorite things to do is switching pieces to improve what minimates could use it.

[NorthRaider]

This is my own somewhat crappy attempt at "modifying" a Minimate:

Basically the Black Queen's lack of a rose really bothered me, so I tried improvising one of my own using some superglue and ribbon rose technique. (Note to self: next time use a much thinner ribbon, lest the rose keeps looking like an absurdly large, tacky brooch.)

[pawcanada]

I've recently begun looking at obtaining spare parts and hope to make similar tweaks in the future. I just never seem to get the right inspuration.

I managed to get my hands on a spare Movie Black Widow and gave the "web shooters" to Scarlet. He already looks a lot better (will post a picture later). I also picked up a cheap Ronin and ordered a spare Movie Deadpool from a Canadian eBay seller, with the intention of giving Ronin the two katanas. I've also toyed with getting a spare Reborn Thor and give him a pair of Fantastic Four gloves to match his more current look.

[Killek]

It will be interesting to see how these compare to the new Fantastic Four releases. I don't really anticipate them looking better than yours though... great job!

[dj87]

glad you started this thread mtd! gives me a place to let you know i spent a long time looking at your collection picks the other day... and have copied your Hulk and Iceman's belt mods (though i used X-Factor Iceman, having removed the silly looking 'X').

I rarely, if ever do straight part swaps to improve mates, unless it's something like swapping to matching C3 feet. I do, however like to make ''definitive' versions, e.g. my movie Sandman just sadly sits in a bag, in a box... complaining about his hard life, so i gave his fancy sand arms to his comic counterpart... having painted the sleeves to match, as well as giving him a pretty little belt

oh... i'd copy that Thing of yours as well, if I'd seen it before the new version was announced... a very impressive display you have

[mtd20_2000]

Thanks for the kind words guys, I appreciate it.

Nice rose NorthRaider, did you make that yourself?

Good idea to use Deadpools katana’s with Ronin pawcanada, I think I will have to use that idea!

Thanks for the praise Killek, though I hope they can improve on the Human Torch, maybe something around the lines of the AFX X-Factor box set Iceman, but obviously in red (I agree with bobafett that the AFX X-Factor box set Iceman is the best version).

I debated moving him to my front line, but for now just kept him in line with my other X-Factor mates.

Edited May 21, 2010 by mtd20_2000

[Nessex]

Basically the Black Queen's lack of a rose really bothered me, so I tried improvising one of my own using some superglue and ribbon rose technique. (Note to self: next time use a much thinner ribbon, lest the rose keeps looking like an absurdly large, tacky brooch.)

The rose itself, despite being a little large, actually looks really good!

[NorthRaider]

Nice rose NorthRaider, did you make that yourself?

Yup, it took me a while to get a good-looking one while using these instructions, but after a few tries I finally wound up with a decent mini-rose. Then it turns out the ribbon I used was a bit too wide.

Oh well, something to remember once I get started on Selene's rose.

[mtd20_2000]

When Lady Loki was first announced, I was thinking, Lady Loki? What about an updated Loki?

Anyways, once I acquired the minimate, I thought about combining it with a wave 16 Loki in hopes of upgrading the figure. At first, I figured I would not be able to do this successfully because of the differences in color, but one I modified the character it seemed to blend in quite nicely (or at least update it significantly).

Loki:

I used the legs, midsection, and arms from the lady Loki and simply attached them to the wave 16 Loki. I feel you barely see the color differential and it works quite well (IMO).

[Rheul]

I did the same thing to my Loki... Had no use for Lady Loki but she has some great parts...

Get you mind out of the gutter...

[Shamrock]

You could give Whiplash the legs from one of those orange-jumpsuited BSG characters, but the tattered waist piece still wouldn't be orange.

[Rheul]

Here's a quick one...

[mtd20_2000]

For anyone wanting to add an Ultimate Colossus or a New X-Men Storm (like the one in the Darktide DVD) to their collection, here is a quick fix.

Ultimate Colossus:

Use a wave 3 Cyclops legs, midsection, and body with a wave 7 Silver Surfer’s arms, and a wave 13 Colossus’s head.

New X-Men Storm:

Use a wave 6 Phoenix’s legs, midsection, body, arms, and jacket with a wave 3 Storm’s head.

[homestar17]

New X-Men Storm:

Use a wave 6 Phoenix’s legs, midsection, body, arms, and jacket with a wave 3 Storm’s head.

I did this to my Storm a while ago, albeit for different reasons:

I tagged this as one of the deleted scenes from X3.

[elhonez]

Based on the suggestion of one of the board members, I took one of Bucky-Cap's red wristbands and added it to Red Skull's left arm to make him more Nazi-riffic.

I then had the idea to use an x-acto blade to trim the hair, ears, and peg from Blackhawk's hat to make a great-looking Nazi Skull. A little black marker on the exposed white plastic of the hat (post-trimming) adds the finishing touch.

[dr baghead]

I replaced Thor Reborn's head with Ultimate Thor's... it's not comic accurate or anything, but I think it's more 'mythologically accurate' to have a Thor with a beard.

[pioad]

I gave Spider-Woman both Black Bolt's wings and X-23's hair, which I think looks alot more comic accurate. I also gave Batwoman Black Queen Jean's cape, which looks pretty cool IMO.

[pawcanada]

I gave Spider-Woman both Black Bolt's wings...

That's a good idea . Fingers crossed I should be getting a dupe Black Bolt in a few days time, so I might have to borrow that idea

[buttheadsmate]

Here's a quick one...

I love that

[Rheul]

I replaced Thor Reborn's head with Ultimate Thor's... it's not comic accurate or anything, but I think it's more 'mythologically accurate' to have a Thor with a beard.

In the myths I think Thor has red hair... Better break out that Sharpie...

[TBT!]

The simplest improvement I've done is to put Pepper pots hair from the first movie on Ms Marvel, for such a small swap it makes a big difference to the figure imo.

A quick question for those who like to hot swap, do you also keep a figure " as published" for collection purposes?

T.

[Twisted Two-Face]

The simplest improvement I've done is to put Pepper pots hair from the first movie on Ms Marvel, for such a small swap it makes a big difference to the figure imo.

A quick question for those who like to hot swap, do you also keep a figure " as published" for collection purposes?

T.

Pepper Potts?? Really?? Huh...i dunno...the "strawberry" blonde doesn't seem right for Carol. I'm a huge Ms Marvel fan, and i think she's always been more straight blonde than anything.

I know i gave her TRU BSG Kara's hair. BIG improvement.

And nope, when i swap it's only that one. If i wanted one as-is, i wouldn't have fixed it in the first place!!

[drgnrbrn316]

Depends on how big a change I make. For the Astonishing X-Men, all the paint apps I added go on the figure, whereas the part swapping I did to make a definitive Thing created a new figure to stand beside the versions they produced for us (so far).