So my Gerard Butler story...several years back at New York Toy Fair I went to dinner with a bunch of friends. We went to this cool restaurant called Craft Bar www.craftrestaurant.com/. There was a bunch of us just hanging out having fun. Then someone at our table mentioned that across the restaurant was Gerard Butler http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0124930/

We thought it was cool and started talking about his movies. My bestest friend Xavier Marrero then drew an awesome stylized/urban vinyl Spartan. For the rest of the night we debated giving him the drawing, finally we decided to give it a cute waitress so she could to take over to his table. He got it and laughed out loud then he yelled over to us:
"Is that what I look like?!" ...We all laughed and said: "NO!!!"

He came over to our table with his group and we all hung out the rest of the night. He asked what we all did and we said we all worked in the toy industry. They all thought it was super cool, then he asked me:
"So you could make this for me?"...and I said "YES I can!"

 We talked about it and exchanged information. When we got back home X did some turn around drawings for me and we went to work! I kept Gerry (yeah we are buddies now) in the loop and sent him work in progress pictures. Finally the sculpt was done and I hand painted it for him. I sent it to him and the last I heard it was on the mantle in his apartment! Here are some pics...

I have a new holy grail...a new quest!

When I was a kid I used to paint metal miniatures. I never really got into the whole Dungeons and Dragons thing...but I loved the miniatures! My dad and I would cast little metal soldiers and I would paint them. He even helped me build a smaller scale Castle Grayskull for all my miniatures. Some of my favorites were my ElfQuest miniatures, which I found again couple months back.

But the other day, thanks to He-Man.org, I found out Grenadier made Master of the Universe miniatures!!! Now the quest begins to find these...

So it turns out most everyone liked version A, so that's what I am going with. Truthfully it was my favorite. Here is the final design with all the modifications needed. Now it's on to making the 3D model. Thanks for the help!

Since I missed the Spy Monkey Creations and other peoples offerings of a weapon for a 12" figure...I decided to make my own. Problem is I can't decide which one? Below are some concept sketches. I need to make the handle thicker and maybe loose some of the rivets, I think I have too many.

Version A - I like becasue it is a blunt weapon and a tool, perfect for making powerful mystic fortresses.

Version B - I like because it looks like it cause some serious damage!

I estimate the size around 4" tall. Since it will be done in 3D I plan on making it hollow so it is lighter and easier to hold up. I'll keep you updated on the progress by posting images here and if you guys like it I'll offer you a chance to own one....as promised!

Click the link below to choose:

http://www.joeamaro.net/hammer_poll.html

 

In my life I have been very blessed to work with some very talented people, many of them my heroes.These past few years I have been extremely lucky!!! I got to work on some Star Wars toys and even met George Lucas at Skywalker Ranch...I finally got to work with the Four Horsemen on various projects...and now the great Rudy Obrero!

For those who don't know, Rudy was one of the original painters of the Master of the Universe packaging art form the vintage line! More recently he did the artwork on the 2011 Wind Raider for the Master of the Universe Classics line.

It was really the packaging art that pulled me into the He-Man universe.  I used to stare at the art work and pretend with my toys in hand to live in that world...let's be honest...I still do...I based my Castle Grayskull sculpt off his original painting!

So you can only imagine how excited I was when Rudy and I started talking about working on a fun project together! He is also a big He-Man fan so we bonded instantly, Especially because, like me, he also makes He-Man art for himself for fun. He sent me one of his personal paintings. It was a He-Man type character on what he called a Manta Raider. I fell in love and quickly responded to him: "I can make that for you" (I have another story like this with Gerard Butler from the motion picture 300, but that is for another time.)

Back to the story...so off we went...for the next months, on our spare time, we went back and fourth. First working out the design since he only had the one view. I made turn around drawings for him to approve and he tweaked them and sent them back to me. Rudy's comments are in red...

 Then I started sculpting...made the model in 3D and when Rudy approved I out-putted it.

Next I painted it based on his original painting and here we are...our figures now have a Manta Raider to ride on!!!
 

Thanks again to Rudy...be sure to check out his website and look for him on Facebook!

Rudy Obrero Illustrations, Inc.
http://rudyobrero.com/

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rudy-Obrero-Illustrations/212544212111745

I am not a huge fan of the vintage Snout Spout...but I loved the 200x version! So I did a little mash up of both. I used the head, hands and feet of the Staction figure and put them on the MOTU Classics figure. But it's just not simple swap, I also removed a lot of the detail from the Staction figure so it looked cleaner...to match the MOTUC figures more. All the joints are fully functional and the head has full movement. Finally I repainted it to match the vintage figure more.

Thanks to the Four Horsemen Studios for inviting me to be part of Toypocalypse 2: Futuretro.

It was a huge honor and I had a great time in NYC. And thank you to however bought my OSM custom of Galstar!

You can see tons of pictures of the show at TT Undergrounds Flicker Page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/levarekgallery/sets/72157629440265701/