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The Story of Rex.

 

First and foremost, I am the biggest action figure nerd in the world. It's my passion so I was lucky enough to catch a break and get my own figure produced.

 

I'll take you through the steps of how I got it done. I can't say the formula can be repeated to exact results, but at the very least will shed a little light and maybe inspire.

 

Step 1 - The Setup

Rex was actually the name of a certain 12inch action figure I had as a youth (still have him, see pics). During all the stories I acted out with Rex, I needed some sort of rationalization for all the damage he took and his non-chalant reactions. What made in persevere after being tied to a rock and dunked in the pool? What inner strength propelled him to get up and keep walking after a faulty trash-bag parachute failed to open? How did he bare the torture of the patio tiki torch?

 

I think all the corny eighties action movies lead me to believe certain humans possessed a enormous pain threshold and a indestructible quality (adding fuel to this was my older brother's claim you could learn to be "unallergic" to fire).

 

I kept drawing Rex and really developed the story more when I went to college for animation. With few jobs locally for animation, I decided to think about my other passions and how what else I might be happy doing for the rest of my life. In a musical montage moment (we'll say to the tune of The Shins - Know Your Onion) I got a internship at Play Along Toys, went on tour, met the guys at Plan B toys, and secured a little gallery space for an art show about toys.

 

Step 2 - The Hard Work

Now that I had an in for the toy industry, I asked Jay from Plan B if they would make me an exclusive for my upcoming SubCultures event. Originally it was going to be just a small matchbox with a head of Rex and a spare set of flesh hands. Fairly cheap idea for an exclusive, most likely to be used as a give away to promote the show. But how many people had Special Forces figures to swap a head onto? And how much cooler would it be to be able to play with Rex right on the spot instead of chasing down a Plan B figure?

 

So the idea got bigger. Jay told me in order to save a lot of money I could get the Rex figure manufactured the same time as their World War 2 line (in stores now) was being pressed in Hong Kong. By using one of their pre-existing bodies I also saved a astronomical amount of cash (the high cost of figures has to do with the steel molds needed to create the figures).

 

I sent Jay a turn around and he produced a head sculpt. Then I did a couple different color tests to see what kind of scheme I wanted Rex to have. I wanted something with a retro feel, yet far off from the muted color tones of the other Special Forces figures. I also choose to stray from Rex's original designs and make his skin tone match the other WW2 figures so he wouldn't look out of place with his new pals.

 

Aside from paying up front for the unit cost, spray masks, and steel cavity, I offered Plan B the chance to be the Featured Artists in my SubCultures Exhibit. While at the time this was not much of a compromise, I think they saw it as a really great way of getting a little more exposure for their independent toy line. Either that or a lifetime of huffing latex mold release had warped their better judgment.

 

Step 3 - Oh god what have I gotten into?

I began frantically selling most of my toy collection to raise money for this project. I borrowed the remainder from my Dad (in a commendable show of good faith) at a reasonable interest rate of 45.09% (per month).

 

Jay sent over a couple gypsum heads and a first shot body for me to paint for use in ads and press. The paint master I did doesn't match the final too well (I blame a so-called "clear varnish" spray) but it was a thrill for me to have a semi-working model of my own character in my hands.

 

As the exhibit date drew closer, I got an email saying there was a shipping delay for Rex and the WW2 stuff in Hong Kong. These sorts of things are totally common and this is part of why it's so hard to have an exact date for when to expect things on the shelf.

 

A couple cases of Rex would have to be air-mailed over in time for the gallery opening. I was rushing out the door one morning and there was four cases sitting on the doorstep that read "Special Forces : Rex". As you can imagine I dropped my Pokemon cards and Hi-C fruit drink and X-acto'ed the box open.

 

Under some white tissue paper, there he was.....perfect! I blew off my plans and spent the rest of the day facing Rex off against the Punisher and any other figure in his general area. I made him try on all the clothing that was remotely close to his scale (it's okay if it's big because he'll grow into it). It was a gay, gay, sad, lonely time! But one of pure Nerdom.

 

So now I sell my Rex at $10 a pop. It doesn't make me rich, but it does make me happy. I try to sign every figure I sell, not so much because it might be worth more, but because it might remind the buyer this is not a mass-marketed product. It's more of a personal project made by someone who just loves action figures. It's a dream that with the right amount of passion (and dead sexiness) anyone could obtain*. Also you will be cool if you buy one.

 

You can purchase Rex here: http://www.millionaireplayboy.com/subcultures/rex.php#toy

 

And you can find more info on where to order Plan B's Special Forces: www.planbtoys.com

 

*with the proper means to distribute, promote, and sell.

 

I must also add this disclaimer: Please do not bother emailing Plan B to manufacture your figure idea. They only do one good deed per lifetime and I used it.

Rex Ganon

Final Piece

 

The Original Rex

 

Rex Ganon Mock-Up

 

Rex Ganon Mock-Up

Original Rex Ganon Package Mock-Up

 

Original Plan B Rex Ganon Design

 

 

Rex Ganon Head Shot

 

Rex Ganon Head Sculpt

 

Rex Ganon Head Piece

 

Rex Ganon Head Paint Master

 

 

Rex Ganon Color Samples

 

Rex Ganon Final Color Chart

 

Rex Ganon Paint Master

 

Rex Ganon and Friends

 

Questions? Comments? Jesse can be reach at [email protected]

 

We are currently accepting submissions! Care to share an interesting technique, or a refined method of an old standard? Let us know here.

 

 

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