Star Trek Figure Conversions

The figure with the white base is the original pose for the four female figures behind her.  By scraping off detail, or by swapping heads, or legs I have been able to create a number of new poses.

Painted in a blue jumpsuit, with new legs, she is now wearing a mini-dress.  The legs were swapped from a small male figure, and trimmed down to fit.  I painted the legs Tamiya XF-15 Flat Flesh color and then used a transparent color called X-19 Smoke by Tamiya to paint over the flesh, creating the look of nylons.

This figure has a long skirt and a long coat.  By cutting the bottom third of the figure off and repainting I was able to make nylons or pants, so I got a couple different looks out of her.  The legs were donated by male figures.  Most of the figures in this set are male, and two of the poses are rather small.  One is waving and the other is saluting.  I used all the figures that donated their legs as drivers in a vehicle that went to my Starship Troopers figures.  Service guarantees citizenship.  They fit the drivers seat perfectly once they were trimmed down.  I try not to waste any figure.

A similar female figure to the one above this time with a pleated skirt.  Again, cut off the lower third and changed out the legs.  One in nylons and the other in pants.  I also cut off the jacket that is draped over her arm.

This one was easy, just paint as a jumpsuit.  These figure have a bit of flash on the top of the head where they were removed from the sprue.  Also most of them have a mold line all around the outside edge of the figure.  I was able to scrape that off with a #11 X-Acto blade.  I tried to paint each of the poses for both red and blue shirts for greater variety.  About 12 of the 60 figures were painted in a dark skin complexion.  I used Tamiya XF-64 Red Brown and XF-10 Flat Brown.

This was another easy one, just paint them in different uniforms.  The insignia is just a dab of gold paint applied with a toothpick.  I made no effort to paint the Enterprise boomerang shape on the uniform.  My goal was to paint them quickly, I did not want this to be a major project in either time nor money.  I wanted them to look good from 18 inches away and I think I accomplished that goal.  Since most of the floors on the Enterprise seem to be gray, that's what I used for the bases.  Three of these figures were made by Dapol, I used them for the Captain, the guy pointing in the background; Scotty, in red next to him; and the Doctor, in blue at the edge of the photo.

My hope is to make a few more of the rooms of the Enterprise, and there will likely be a need for a few more crew members here and there.  I may do Klingons or perhaps Vulcans later also, but probably only a few of each.
 

How To Make Star Trek Figures

Amazon sells some very cheap and inexpensive figures.

They are called "200 Pieces People Figurines 1:75 Scale Model Trains Architectural Plastic People Figures Tiny People Sitting and Standing for Miniature Scenes."

While reorganizing some boxes I found my two shuttle craft and thought it might be nice to have some Star Trek figures.  Playmates made the shuttle craft and they came with two figures, and they also sold the figures separately in small packs of about six figures per pack,  But they were very expensive, hard to find and only had a few poses, they also had a weird two part body so they could sit in chairs.  They did not make TOS figures only those for one of the later shows.

I realized that Star Trek characters did not wear any equipment or carry any gear of any significance.  The tricorder is only about the size of a couple paper back books, the phaser about the size of a pack of cigarettes and the medical scanner the size of a lipstick.  In 1/72nd scale that is hardly worth bothering to make.

The other thing about TOS uniforms is they are simply a pullover shirt and a pair of pants, or a jumpsuit, or a minidress.  These are all very easy to do in this scale.  So my plan was to use those cheap Amazon figures and make my own Star Trek figures.
 

Star Trek Figure Collection

These are some close up views of the new Star Trek figures I have made.  Note the bases.

Red Shirt, and the Gold Shirt next to him, have a gray base and the other two have a metallic silver base.  "Hero" figures have a metallic gray base in my ruleset.  It is subtle enough that unless you are close you won't know they are particularly different.

Under the base I have used a marker to print information.  S for Security, C for Command.  The other two are named characters, Spock, and Sulu.  Since this photo I have developed a way to print a small name tag with my printer so they are easier to read and can contain more information.  I also use the letters A for Administration, E for Engineering, M for Medical, and S for Science.  Since Security wears Red Shirts and Science wears Blue Shirts there is no confusion despite using the same initial.

Here is my full Star Trek collection, apart from my ship bridge.  I have two shuttles and 60 figures.  Most Star Trek episodes and movies don't have more than a few people in most scenes so I think 60 figures is enough.  There about 24 red, 24 blue, and a few gold figures.
 

Star Trek Shuttle

This is a Star Trek shuttle craft by Playmates.

I added three passengers.

This toy came out in the 1990s.

I got one when they were new and I picked up another one along the way.

Here a security crewman enters the shuttle.

Door closes and ready for take off.
 

Star Trek

It has always seemed strange to me that none of the many plastic figure companies that make 1/72nd scale soft plastic figures no one ever made Star Trek figures.

The TV show was popular and despite being cancelled after only three seasons, they did come back with movies, cartoons, other TV shows and video games.

So I recently decided that I would just have to make them myself.

When you look at Star Trek uniforms they basically are a pullover shirt, and pants, jumpsuits, and for women, short skirts and nylons.

All of their gear is very small, most not even as large as a tablet.

This is part of a the bridge section of the Playmates Starship Enterprise playset that was available about 30 years ago.  I added a new long wall with new computer screens and buttons.  It was not my intention to create an exact replica of the Enterprise from The Original Series.  I wanted a reasonable representation of a starship that had reasonable play value.  This is mostly cardboard and more in the nature of a mock up rather than my final version.  My intention is to create a few more rooms of the starship and eventually do them in plastic.

Station Survey

The orange plate is, of course, a electromagnetic transfer device.  It only works within the system and there must be another orange plate a the reception location.

Electro-cannon, 1/3rd are always manned.

Fighter with one pilot on station in case of attack, he will power up and be ready for lift off when the second pilot arrives.

Station overview.

Weird plant life.
 

Shuttles and Ground Combat

The bugs move in.

Planet Davis 706 is a hostile planet.

Even a simple science survey has to be rescued by troops.

The troops fight up close.

The bugs get right up to the drop ships and shuttles.

A close victory for the humans.

Starship Troopers Meets Star Trek

The assault unit commander brings down the troops.

The troops deploy.

They know the science team is in danger.

The scientists try to get back to the shuttle craft.

The bugs close in!

The assault team enters combat.

The battle begins.  (click on the pictures for a larger version)

Welcome readers from France.

Assault Team

Security to science team...

We detect movement and have called for an assault team.

The assault team commander lands.

The men exit the vehicle and begin to deploy.  (click on the photos to enlarge them to see the detail)

The assault team commanders controls the landing of the assault team.

The assault team lands.

The men deploy in the forest.

The science team tries to make it back to the shuttles.

The battle is about to begin.