Ivan Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 I'm finally able to share with you guys a project that has been consuming my free time for the last couple of months. But first you may need a bit of back story. Pantone is a company that provides a commonly used color chart. It's basically a de facto standard that allows companies to specify exactly what a printed color will be. For example, DST uses it on their control art, check out the Deadpool specs. It doesn't just say Deadpool should be red, but that he should be colored Pantone 1797c. Anyway, a couple years ago Medicom produced a series of Pantone Kubrick sets, where the color labeled on the figure exactly matched the color of the figure. One of the products was a set of 30 translucent Kubricks. It was expensive from the start, but I didn't realize how much I liked it until it was out of production and going for a lot more on the secondary market. When the Wolverine/Iceman packs showed up at Target I figured that would be an easy way to pick up some transparent Minimates to create my own version. Unfortunately those sets didn't have the market saturation to make that feasible, so I was again left wanting. Then came the eBay sellers with their factory discards. I picked up a couple lots that included a fair amount of Twilight Frodos. After several hours of tampo-removal I had an army of transparent Minimates. Next came the coloring process. I remember people using Rit dye to color transparent plastic on Xevoz parts and found that it worked with Minimates as well. The only problem is that these transparent Minimates are made of two different kinds of plastic and they took the dye at different rates. Some parts would have to be in the dye longer than others. After some experimentation I came out with these: Next came the case. Originally I was planning on making my own clear acrylic display with that could be backlit by hanging it in front of a window. But after looking at some of the darker Minimates that wouldn't look like I wanted it to. They had to be lit at all times. Enter the magic of LEDs. I purchased a bunch of these at a local BigLots and started disassembling them. Of course the little stands wouldn't turn the way I wanted so I had to make some custom clips to attach them to the case. Mmmmm solder resin. I then rewired the whole lot into a pre-made shadow box and created a logo panel. Here's the end result in a darkened room. Now I don't know the Pantone numbers for any of these 'mates, and I really don't care. I just love the glowing, translucent Minimates. It's still not absolutely completely finished. I have to find a way to keep them from toppling when I replace the batteries. Probably a few LOTR bases hot glued to the LED stands should work. I might try to create a new front panel as well. I'm not satisfied with the green 'mates either, so I'm looking for more Twilight Frodos to sacrifice. Here are a few more photos, click for larger versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBT! Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 These are obviously going to take up way too much display space in your house/apt. Please ship immediately to my location for storage... WoW great job Ivan... I too coveted the Pantone Kubricks and am still kicking my self for not picking the set up when it was a relatively cheap $80. As you say they go for sily money these days I really like your display cabinet and wondered if you'd also take some pix of non translucent mini's in there? I'm thinking this might be a great way to display a bunch of Iron Man minimates. T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fujis Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Incredible. Simply incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthRaider Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Absolutely fantastic! Terrific job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttheadsmate Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Minimate Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, cooooooooooooooooooool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke314pi Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 My jaw hit the floor as well. Those are absolutely stunning. It is truly a work of art. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacksun1520 Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 You're like, the Andy Warhol of minimates I absolutely love it! BS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murderofcrows Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 that is SICK!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyd Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 That is beautiful. Please tell me you're my Secret Santa this year and that's for me. I really wish DST would make a set of colored translucent Minimates like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinimateEspo25 Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 as someone who deals with printing alot, i really do admire that display, it is beautiful. although, then i remember deadlines aand i freak, but even so, bravo on a nice set there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM2 Dinobot Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Damn you for discovering my weakness for all things transparent. I think I just jizzed myself... I've wanted DST to do just this exact thing for a long time. I've even tried doing it myself like you. Didn't come out like that though... Man, that's amazing. IF, you were going to sell it, speaking hypothetically here, how much do you think you could get out of it? With the frodos and the LEDs and all the labor I'd think $300+? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karamazov80 Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Wow. . .what else can be said? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke314pi Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 IF, you were going to sell it, speaking hypothetically here, how much do you think you could get out of it? With the frodos and the LEDs and all the labor I'd think $300+? Hell, if this were on ebay, I would bid it higher than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM2 Dinobot Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 IF, you were going to sell it, speaking hypothetically here, how much do you think you could get out of it? With the frodos and the LEDs and all the labor I'd think $300+? Hell, if this were on ebay, I would bid it higher than that. Well I bid what you bid +1! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chazwinski Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 So....You're the reason I never could find an Iceman and still don't have one. You bought them all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fo Shizzle Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 They look like little pieces of Minimate jewelry!! Amazing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttheadsmate Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 as someone who deals with printing alot, i really do admire that display, it is beautiful. although, then i remember deadlines aand i freak, but even so, bravo on a nice set there I spent almost thirty years as a printer & there ain't much I don't know about mixing Pantone colours & deadlines but all I can still say after looking at those pictures all day is .... Mind you I guess we all take the Minimate Database for granted & that is frakkin' awesome on a daily basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZArox Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Must...have...translucent purple...minimate! Those are amazing!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punisher Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 wow... wonderful work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gledzee Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 woah just cant stop starring with amazment that is truley stunning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shup Dude Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 *Speechless* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttheadsmate Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 I couldn't help thinking of this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattallica Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 That is in-fucking-credible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Amazing work Ivan. It looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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