Cleocatra Chubz the Cat!

This is what happens when I ignore the blog for ten months.  A new custom appears!

Mark Nagata and Jay222 were kind enough to invite us to work on their newest collaboration: Chubz the  Cat.

We went all out on this little monster kitty.  Probably too much.  Custom beadwork, including curtains, custom pillows (with more beadwork) and a custom-built pavilion.  It looks pretty great, all told.

She can be yours now, in the Max Toy Co web store!

Thank you!

Huge thanks to those that bought kitties from the Nyagira show!  I hope all are happy with their new little monster cats (=^･ｪ･^=)
There are still a few pieces left, and a little time to get them!
http://www.maxtoyco.com/shop_cat.php?cat=7

Nyagira Walks Among Us!

The Max Toy Co Nyagira show is live!  Over a dozen artists put their spin on Mark Nagata and Makino-San's new creation!  I called in help from my Mom Laura, to make my pieces really unique, and she was more than happy to contribute her expert sewing and jewelry skills!

Chestnut on the right has sold already, but Jade still needs a home!  You can find him, and all the other lovely pieces at the Max Toy co Store:

http://www.maxtoyco.com/shop_item.php?id=990

Huge thanks to Mark and Makino-san for letting us play with their toys!!!

Painting Journal: Max Toy Kaiju Dualos

That picture above? I should have stopped there.  Just painted the eyes, and called it good. But no. Increasingly poor decisions follow:

This was a 2011 Mega Glitter Kaiju Dualos from Max Toy Co.  It started life looking like this one: http://jme7315.blogspot.com/2011/11/maxtoyco-mega-glitter-kaiju-dualos.html

Nifty, but I really wanted the detail on this awesome sculpt to stand out, and glitter plastic isn't known for doing that.  A rub seemed ideal to bring out the sculpt, while still showing some nifty glitter.

Deciding I wanted him to look like a well-loved vintage toy, I set to work.

Instead of my usual Monster Kolor base coat, I went with a rattle-can of black Krylon.  The spray-paint doesn't come off as easily, and would add another layer to the rub that I would have to work through to get to the glitter.

After covering with the spray paint, I set to work with the Monster Kolor.  Standard Red blended with Brown and Green from the then-just-released military set got the colors I wanted.

The turpentine rub worked nicely, with the Monster Kolor coming off easily on the raised areas, and more effort needed to get the Krylon gone.  The result is a nice contrast to the layers, with the glitter as the chewy-nougat center.

But then I wrecked it, apply waaaaay too much Monster Kolor dullcoat.  Which turned the dullcoat into a glosscoat.

I tried several different clear matte finishes to try and take away the sheen, but I'vew never gotten back to the finish in the picture at the top.  It remains on my shelf, mocking me with it's almost-but-not-quite-ness.  (I'm tempted to strip it completely and start over, but I really do like the paint job, I just didn't stick the landing.)

Orbitdyne Bulletin #1!

AKA. I'm only mostly dead.  And mostly dead, is slightly alive.  New releases, and more things to look at soon.  In the meantime, enjoy this picture of Maggie inspecting Mark Nagata's Kaiju Dualos.

Painting Journal: Max Toy Monster Boogie Poodra

Poodra is one of five new micro kaiju figures Mark Nagata launched last year, under the new Monster Boogie banner.  Large for micros they're around 3" tall.  Poodra is a hefty little chunk of vinyl.

I took me a long time to warm to the sculpt.  Just something about it wasn't clicking.  It took me a couple test schemes before I settled on 'Happy Fun' Poodra here.  My paintjob still lacked personality until I started on the pupils in his eyes.  That finally sold the crazy mutant puppy for me.

Unusual too is that I avoided metallic and special effects paints.  He's just covered in bright, bold monster color, and given a basic satin acrylic varnish.

The scheme is based on vague recollections of McDonald-Land commercials, and other 70's vestiges that slouched into my childhood, and seared themselves on my brain.

Take Poodra home, won't you? Thank you!

How can you resist a face like this?*

*(Stray cat hairs, and weird artifacting on his left eye, not included)

Update: SOLD!

Painting Journal: Max Toy Co Mini Alien Xam

I'm still fighting off the flu, apologies in advance if this post is less-than-lucid.

One more Max Toy Co Mini figure, this time in clear vinyl!  Xam is the alien baddie in Mark Nagata's Max Toy universe.  Like Captain Max, his figure is on the small side, almost micro-scale.  A nifty sculpt, and a cool design, somewhere between the Metaluna Mutant and Doctor Zoidberg.  I like it.

Monster Kolor C-thru on the job again, to preserve the transparency.  Obviously, I like playing with opacity, and first I sprayed the eye, feet, and claws with Monster Kolor silver, my go-to primer and base coat.  I put it on thick, and faded into the transparency.

I masked off the eye with silly-putty, and went to work with the C-thru paints.  First Seashore stripes for a blue ringed octopus look, and contrasting yellow to fill the gaps.  Then the silly putty mask came off, and I highlighted the unblemished silver with Moon Dust.  It's a very fine silver pearl coat with a subtle shimmer.  It makes the silver really pop.

For your own Alien Xam, check the Max Toy Co Store.

Painting Journal: Max Toy Co Mini Captain Max

One last Max Toy glow-in-the-dark figure.  Captain Max is the superhero mascot of Max Toy co, presented in mini form, he's tiny and cute.  Almost micro size at under 3" (the boundaries of the definition are vague and flexible) with plenty of detailing on his costume.

I decided to use some masking to create negative space on his eyes and ears.  I often completely fail at masking, either not masking enough, and overspraying, or peeling the paint below when I pull the mask off, or letting the mask slip while I paint.  I managed to avoid all those here, probably because the masks were simple, and the piece is very small.

Monster Kolor C-thru at bat once again, and not disappointing.  Violet, Bad-apple red, orange, and yellow for the fade from the center out.  No pearls or special effects paints, just gloss coat to finish.  I figured the glow and colors were vibrant enough.  He glows like a little champ, and I'm happy with the finished product.  No mini captain max minis available at the moment, but full-size figures are in Mark's store!

Painting Journal: Max Toy Co Mini Dragigus

Here's Drazorus glow-in-the-dark twin, Dragigus.  Baragon with a lobster tail?  That'll do!  Another fine Max Toy Co design, from Mark Nagata.  I went in intending to do a swampy green and purple scheme.  It didn't really come out that way; I'm especially disappointed with how the green stripe on his back just stops at his neck.  It's not one of my better efforts, that.  I think I didn't want the green overspraying the purple and darkening too much.

I probably should have left off the pink, and definitely the yellow.  Swap the pink for a different shade of purple, and he's back to being a swamp creature.  Dump the yellow, and he no longer looks like holiday candy.  A bright lime green would have worked better, but I don't have one of those in a clear paint.  There's a rant on public perceptions of certain color combinations in there somewhere, but I'll spare you.

Monster Kolor C-Thru does the heavy lifting again, and a coat of white pearl metallic gives him a fantastic glazed pottery look.  The sheen is nice an visible in the group shot below, hanging with more of the Max Toy Mini family.  If you want on of your own, there's a brilliantly painted Mt. Kubo variant available in the Max Toy Co store.

Painting Journal: Max Toy Co Mini Drazorus

Max Toy Co Mini Kaiju Drazorus

Max Toy Co, brainchild of Mark Nagata, was my first introduction into the world of real Japanese Kaiju figures, his mini figures will always have a special place in my heart, and they're always a joy to paint.

Above is one of my favorites, Drazorus, part of an unpainted glow-in-the-dark pair (with his buddy Dragius) offered a year or two ago. They don't show up nearly often enough for liking, I want more!

Drazorus is another fascinating sculpt, with lots of spikes and armor plates.  I am incapable of completely painting over a glow in the dark figure, which meant deploying the Monster Kolor C-thru!

A little C-thru paints go a long way, and it can be very easy to overdo it, which is my way.  I think I was able to pull back enough to give him a nice amount of color, without going overboard.

The spikes, claws, and armor made me think 'lobster monster' and I ran with that, with some magma colors for a fiery effect.  He's finished with Monster Kolor White Pearl for a little of sparkle, and ultragloss coat.  The result is one of my favorite schemes, and he lives in my permanent Max Toy Co collection.

If you want your own Drazorus, there's a really cool painted variant in the Max Toy store right now!

Tiny Shiny Kitties: For Sale!

The Shop link is live !  The three Micro Negora detailed in Tiny Shiny Kitties are up for sale, $35 each, shipping included.  Each one is lovingly painted with Monster Kolor paints, pearls, and clearcoat. Buy one, buy two, buy them all!

ORBITDYNE SHOP

Send me an email at info@orbitdyne.com with any problems or questions!

Painting Journal: Tiny Shiny Kitties

Candycat, Starbum, and Mossmulch

Micro Negora!  An adorable kaiju kitty from Konatsu and Mark Nagata.  He's lit the sofubi world on fire, and never stays in stock long.  Fortunantly I was able to get three unpainted Micro negora the last time they were available from Max Toy Co (he also comes in Mini and King sizes).

I had a horrible time photographing them.  A combination of shaky hands, bad lighting, and the the fact that shimmery Monster Kolor Pearl is notoriously hard to capture in pictures.

Candycat is has a gradient of eye-popping Vividtone pink, orange and yellow, with yellow-gold metallic highlights, and Pink Pearl.  The pink pearl is really subtle, but it enhances the depth of the finish.  I usually like to use a contrasting pearl color, but this time, I wanted the bright base colors to be the star.

Starbumb received a black base coat with Bell Gold highlights, and teal and purple spots.  Finished with purple and teal pearl.  Influenced by one of my Mom's favorite artists, Laurel Burch, and her wildly-colored cat paintings.

Mossmulch got a base coat of my favorite Green Tea Metallic with Clover Metallic, and Rocket Red metallic highlights.  Green and teal pearl gives him an amazing shimmer.  Green and red are one of my favorite schemes, it makes me sad when color combinations get relegated to a holiday ghetto.

I went back and hand-painted each face and eyes for extra definition.

Apart from my lousy photography, I'm really happy with how they turned out.

Eyezon 5th show at Double Punch - Thank You!

Edit: The remaining customs are on sale now!  Get 'em while they last! 

Word is both of my customs at the Eyezon show have sold, to the buyers, a huge thank you!  I'd love to hear from you (info@orbitdyne.com)!  Pictures below from Mark:

More pictures from the show over at the Max Toy Co Blog, and Toy Karma.

Thank you again to Mark, Double Punch, and to the buyers!  There are still a few customs left unsold, be sure to watch the Double Punch store for sale details!

Eyezon 5th Anniversary Video Preview

Toys'R'Evil put together a very nice preview video for the Double Punch Eyezon 5th Show:

My two start at 2:40, but please watch the whole thing, all the pieces are incredible!

Eyezon 5th Anniversary show At Double Punch!

Mark Nagata was kind enough to include me his 5th Anniversary Eyezon Show at the Double Punch gallery, November 3rd!  I'm honored to be a part of the show with such distinguished artists, and I hope my additions do everyone's favorite mutant potato kaiju justice!

I went all out and added LED's to a big clear Eyezon, and sculpted a galactic suit of armor for Neo Eyezon!

Meet GigaGuts, and Galaxy Captain Eyzono (and a sneaky micro eyezon)!

With the lights out, GigaGuts really shines!

In-hand, from Mark's Twitter.

Each figure is painted with genuine Monster Kolor paint and clear coat.  GigaGuts has a removable back panel to swap batteries on his lights.  I had originally tried to engineer a switch on his front, but that ended in blood and tears (literally, I accidentally stabbed an awl into my hand trying to fix the switch after it broke).

Galaxy Capitan Eyezono was much less painful.  I modified his arms with Glyos axis joints, and sculpted a galactic-themed suit of armor for his space adventures.  I also ended up removing his main horns, and replacing them with more eyes, since I had covered several with the armor.

Thank you again to Mark for five years of a great kaiju creation!