New X-Men Cyclops Custom Action Figure

It's been a while since I've worked on an action figure. The only one I've really produced was the one of myself, which was just an experiment. Still, I was hoping to make a few others using the skills I've learned from making SuperPat. One of those figures I've been wanting to make was a Cyclops figure. Now I know Cyke has had a lot of figures made of him but I wanted one of Cyclops in a particular costume: that of which he wore for about 3 years when Grant Morrison was writing the X-Men. Well, I finally had the opportunity, so here he is, Cyclops:

Grant Morrison's X-Men was by far my favorite take of the franchise. More than just heroes and villains fighting each other in fight after fight, his run ended up being a commentary on how the X-Men property has been handled by Marvel Comics throughout the years. Cyclops was pretty much the central character in his run, himself a metaphor of the X-Men, afraid to change in a world that doesn't want him to. He's never been allowed to be anything but a superhero. I found an excellent site that analyses Morrison's run right here. I find it fitting that the main villain of his 40+ issues is based on the editors of Marvel Comics.

When ToyBiz released their new X-Men toy line, I was hoping they would release the Scott Summers I desired. After all, they did release a Wolverine based on New X-Men. But instead, they came out with this:

Yup, that's ruby-quartz armor he's wearing, by the way. I guess he wears it in case he shoots himself with his optic blasts. Or perhaps his optic blasts burst out of his nipples (niplic blasts?). In any case, this just won't do. I figured as time goes on and Morrison's plots keep getting retconned by Buffy the Serenity Slayer, the chances of any more figures from New X-Men being released were slim to none. I noticed that with a little work, this could turn into the figure I want. He's tall and has the slim build that Cyclops has, so I started dreaming up a way to turn this fabulous specimen into a leather and kevlar wearing X-Man.

I started by removing his backpack, missile launcher, shoulder pads and those stupid tubes coming out of his body. Then I cut off the X on his chest and put it aside for later. I cut a collar out of toothpaste tube and fitted it on him. Here's where the plumber's epoxy putty comes in. I sculpted his jacket on him, then filled out his arms to make them look like sleeves, and then the elbowpads. I then sculpted the X's on his calves, dremeled his inner thighs a bit and sculpted pants over them, and filled the hole in the side of his head from that stupid tube. Next I formed the belt and put the X I set aside in the center of it. After a bit of sanding, he was ready to paint. I brought out the old Warhammer paints from a forgotten hobby and went to work. I ended up painting several coats, especially on the yellow parts. When that's done, a couple sprays of Dull-Cote and VOILA!

He's not exactly the way I thought he'd turn out. I realize I made the collar too big and he's not as poseable because the arms on this figure don't move out, and I lost articulation in the torso. But as long as he can stand and as long as his hands can reach his visor, I'm happy. He's in scale with the rest of the X-Men too, which is always good. But the best part is that his light up visor still works! And I can still replace the batteries because I sculpted around the battery cover on his back.

Overall I feel content that my collection finally has the figure I desired, even if it wasn't...er...professionally made. I wouldn't be surprised if I try to improve on it later though.

Sure, he'll die in X-Men 3, but Cyclops will live on in the palm of my hand!