Great work here Bog's. u took an average figure and made into something completely awesome. Great paint and design Bro.

I like that paint scheme better than the original green and orange shu-it!

Awesome redo! Very slick paintjob!

Damn, that is incredible! The paints blow my mind!


Talon


LOD

YES! Great work! u got my vote homes! really dug'im and he's schway better than the original by 18 fold! Kinda reminds me of something Steve Rude made...dunno what tho...Anyway, Yer skillz are fit 2 pay the...okay I can't finish that lame saying w/o wanting 2 punch myself

Like I told ya in pm Bogie, Hornet came out great and the amount of research you did is astounding. Looking at this makes me realize that he would be a great base for Killer Wasp from The InJustice Society

THANKS TO ALL WHO COMMENTED ON THE HORNET.
I apologize for not responding person-by-person.

The wait is over for my next custom, so dig it groovy Cats and Kittens...er..ah...
well, you'll get that after the next paragraph, I hope.

It is 2010, but I'm cranking the clock back to the 1970s
(get it now?) for this installment of Bogie's Customs Career Chronology.
(Did ya think I would give on the name of this gallery? NEVER!)
Last year one of my great local friends commissioned me to make one of his favorite
characters from the pages of Captain America comics.
He has not seen this as of this writing, but I know he's gonna love...




Alright, hang on people this is a big one for me because this custom had to be carefully done.
My buddy Sean proposed this commission after seeing my stuff over the last few years.
I had passed on doing a different character the year before and when he asked about The Falcon
I just couldn't refuse because I love the character too!
Sean won the regular TBML Falcon on Ebay and we had some discussion on what he wanted.
I hauled out my Captain America comics for reference and as time allowed I went to work.

This was not the easiest character to get right.
Sean wanted the 70s green and orange "First Appearance" or Silver Age costume.
The Falcon first appeared in Captain America Vol. 1 #117 during Stan Lee and Gene Colon's run.
The costume last appeared in Captain America and The Falcon #143 after John Romita Sr. had taken over the art.
My research, like that I did when working on the Classic Angel,
strolled me down memory lane which stoked my creative fires.
Also, like the Angel, I had to work hard to decide on the definitive look for the character.
A few details needed special attention like the design of the torso, boots, glove, belt, necklace and
the bands around the thighs.
See the text near the close-ups below for some comment regarding each detail.

Sean and I pondered aloud at times why the Falcon's costume was green and orange.
I noted during the research that in CA #117 that Sam Wilson (The Falcon) wore his falconer's glove
of those colors and had his costume made to match the glove.
Sean whimsically threw out the fact that The Falcon was the original "One Gloved One" long before Micheal Jackson!
Sean would be right, methinks.

Also, the custom's glossy green paint is Sean's preference, not mine.
If I ever do another I will use flat green.

So, after a long write-up you can treat your eyes to a boat-load of pictures!

Cover Gallery includes The Falcon's first appearance, Captain America #117, 126 (my first Cap comic btw) and, Sean's favorites, the Spider-Man arc from Captain America and The Falcon #137 & 138









Works In Progress (WIPs)









Falcon's BFF: Redwing!
I originally was to only make the Falcon figure, but I knew Sean would really love it
if I gave him Falcon's trained falcon, Redwing, as well.



DETAILS, details, DETAILS!

Anyone who has the Marvel Legends Falcon figure knows how poorly the Redwing accessory fits the back.
I filled the hole with kneadatite epoxy and cut a groove in the insert plastic Redwing is mounted on so after I refitted it
it wouldn't turn. I put a dab of veggy oil on the insert and pushed it in and let it sit over night.
It fits real nice, is removable and doesn't turn.



The torso of the base figure was a pain for two reasons:

One, the figure had those goofy ball joint arms.
I went over to the Soup's Customizing 101 section and followed SamHain's Shoulder Fix tutorial.
I improved the look somewhat, but I don't think I did the BEST job possible. Point is, I tried.

Two, the torso is not that wide which made painting the costume's strange shoulder design difficult for me.
Next time, if ever, I will use a torso like Kraven The Hunter.

Close-Up Gallery:





The necklace was made by tracing the tiny bird symbol from a comic onto clear plastic, cutting it out, painting it and then attaching it to elastic cord from a price tag, with kneadatite, and anchoring it into the back of the figure with kneadatite.


The boots and glove were not a problem as I am comfortable with sculpting with Aves Fixit Sculpt.
Toward the end of production I fashioned an accessory that appeared before The Falcon could fly; the Falcon's Claw.
Falc made a grapple hook resembling a bird's talon which he could launch a swing line with for use when patrolling.
It is not at all comic accurate and I made it from access Kneadatite just for fun.
It didn't turn out bad and i made it mainly from memory. Sean liked it when I showed it to him.




Those bands on the thighs did not appear in the early issues and were often omitted after they first appeared in #136.
And even more strange, they never appeared on any of the covers of the comics at all!





The belt had to be compromised a bit.
The comics show it much bigger at times, but to make the custom and preserve the waist articulation,
the buckle could not hang below the belt-line at all~b/c that is where the waist swivels.
The belt is a rubber band and the buckle is cut blister plastic backed with kneadatite.




Falcon wasn't an Avenger yet, so no group shot folks!
But here is something even better!
First, the three most well known costumes The Falcon wore in comics.


And then, his well known partner:
Thanks for the photo help Jokster 9 (Bogie Jr.)



And then, the TRIO showcased:


Hey everyone, Sean just picked up The Falcon today and he was very pleased with him.
I am hoping you like him too, but any comments pro or con are welcome.

Bogie, you've done a stellar job on this one Bro.
The painting looks amazing, i don't think they could've done a better job in the factory!
Bravo!!!

Holy Crap!! It's like you're touched by God Bogie!!
What a phenomenal custom!! Great pics! A lot of customizers shy away from close ups, but not you, huge applause!
And the character choice blows my mind!
Bogie, you got it going on!!


Talon


LOD

Sick dude! Love that Falcon! Great idea. I agree with Talon. I love that you have close ups. Very well done.

That's badass man!