Heidi of the West.

Alexis Nihon Park Shoot 2_0039-3 by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

The final figure in my collection is paradoxically the second oldest and yet the one with the least developed background.  This is due to an number of reasons.  First is that the body is a TBLeauge S09 body, which meant that it came with soft, rubbery non-detachable feet and I had not fully grasped that it would not stand on it's own without rigid feet. After about six months during which time I had bought more figures with detachable feet, I finally decided on a course of action and this was to cut off the silicone feet at the ankles and build hard feet onto the figure. See images below.

TB League foot conversion by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

step one was to make boo- sized cutouts from thin, flat bamboo. Would or hard plastic would also work, but I had this at my disposal so that's what I used. I then glued  these to the thin and pliable metal tongues that were the only rigid parts of the foot itself with a generous amount of epoxy glue before using Milliput epoxy putty to make roughly shaped feet.

IMG_2981 by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

IMG_2986 by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

This of course is very unsightly, but since most of my figures wear high lace-up boots that never come off, I did not consider it a problem in this case.  I would rather have a figure that can stand than one that has nice looking feet.  I also need to point out that because the feet are not joined to the ankles by ball joints, the figure went from being my most unstable figure to being the most stable one in my collection.

TB League / Phicen by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

I initially put a Super Duck head on it which was actually the first head sculpt I ordered but was quickly replaced as the smile just seemed inappropriate.  

TB League Size Comparison by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

I next tried a Kimi Toys Head and liked how it went together and named her Heidi.

20190817_The Squad_0018 by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

recruiting-poster by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

I liked how the body and head went together but realized that my collection needed a more figures with a southwestern look and so when I got this a set of denim shorts and tied off top from SMcG customs. I initially tried it on Erika's S22A body with only the top and the shorts from the TBLeague Nancy In Hell set, parted out again from Monkey Depot. I liked the results

See below.  

The business end.... by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

Alas, Erika wanted her body back, so I decided to try putting the outfit on Heidi, replacing her M4 carbine with an old-fashioned 12-guage double-barrel.

The business end.... by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

Alexis Nihon Park Shoot 2_0072 by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

This combination worked really well for me and the next step was to make her a hat using the Tony Barton technique. Again I was very pleased with the results.

Heidi the Bounty Hunter by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

Jul052020_0060-2 by Gary  Menten, on Flickr

So this being said, I've pretty much finalized WHAT this figure looks like, but haven't decided if she's a bounty-hunter, US Deputy Marshal or maybe just one of those rugged individuals of the frontier that are a staple of so many western films.

Whatever she is, she looks great! Good use of the Nancy shorts. And the hats you make look fantastic!

I'm impressed that you actually chopped the feet off the S09 body. I have an S09, and you are correct, they do not stand up very well on their own. Or at all. The stability issue has certainly been resolved through your surgery.

Interesting comparison picture. The S24 is considerably smaller in overall stature than the other bodies. I wonder how the S24 compares with the S26A/27B in size?

SCU_HQ wrote:

Whatever she is, she looks great! Good use of the Nancy shorts. And the hats you make look fantastic!

I'm impressed that you actually chopped the feet off the S09 body. I have an S09, and you are correct, they do not stand up very well on their own. Or at all. The stability issue has certainly been resolved through your surgery.

Interesting comparison picture. The S24 is considerably smaller in overall stature than the other bodies. I wonder how the S24 compares with the S26A/27B in size?

The S26/27 are really suitable only for teenagers and finding suitable head sculpts and clothing is a problem. Probably the only clothing that fits them reasonably is Barbie clothing as Barbie dolls are on the small side.

SCU_HQ wrote:

Whatever she is, she looks great! Good use of the Nancy shorts. And the hats you make look fantastic!

I'm impressed that you actually chopped the feet off the S09 body. I have an S09, and you are correct, they do not stand up very well on their own. Or at all. The stability issue has certainly been resolved through your surgery.

Interesting comparison picture. The S24 is considerably smaller in overall stature than the other bodies. I wonder how the S24 compares with the S26A/27B in size?

Also the SMcG top is one of the very few that fits her large bust very well.

Kimono Troop Command wrote:

SCU_HQ wrote:

Whatever she is, she looks great! Good use of the Nancy shorts. And the hats you make look fantastic!

I'm impressed that you actually chopped the feet off the S09 body. I have an S09, and you are correct, they do not stand up very well on their own. Or at all. The stability issue has certainly been resolved through your surgery.

Interesting comparison picture. The S24 is considerably smaller in overall stature than the other bodies. I wonder how the S24 compares with the S26A/27B in size?

Also the SMcG top is one of the very few that fits her large bust very well.

I have not yet found an outfit that I like for my S09. She is currently wearing the Nancy shorts... and the Nancy top, if I recall correctly. It's a large, long-legged body, quite solid and heavy. Unfortunate that the feet do not support it in a standing position.

SCU_HQ wrote:

Kimono Troop Command wrote:

SCU_HQ wrote:

Whatever she is, she looks great! Good use of the Nancy shorts. And the hats you make look fantastic!

I'm impressed that you actually chopped the feet off the S09 body. I have an S09, and you are correct, they do not stand up very well on their own. Or at all. The stability issue has certainly been resolved through your surgery.

Interesting comparison picture. The S24 is considerably smaller in overall stature than the other bodies. I wonder how the S24 compares with the S26A/27B in size?

Also the SMcG top is one of the very few that fits her large bust very well.

I have not yet found an outfit that I like for my S09. She is currently wearing the Nancy shorts... and the Nancy top, if I recall correctly. It's a large, long-legged body, quite solid and heavy. Unfortunate that the feet do not support it in a standing position.

The S09 is a large heavy body. However if you do the same foot conversion I did, and I'm not trying to encourage or discourage this, you will find it is extremely stable standing. I found the trade-off worthwhile, but that's just me.

Fantastic job on the replacement feet! and yu would never know if you hadn't showed us . I really like this figure, but then again, who doesn't like a cowgal?

Blondeactionman wrote:

Fantastic job on the replacement feet! and yu would never know if you hadn't showed us . I really like this figure, but then again, who doesn't like a cowgal?

As I've stated, she's now the most stable figure I have.

"the next step was to make her a hat using the Tony Barton technique"

I would be interested to know what his method is

Rogue-Trooper wrote:

"the next step was to make her a hat using the Tony Barton technique"

I would be interested to know what his method is

I'll see if I can do a tutorial on it in the near future.

The denim set looks fantastic on Heidi, another of my favourite head sculpts.

Beatlefan wrote:

The denim set looks fantastic on Heidi, another of my favourite head sculpts.

Thanks,

Great pics!

...and well done listing which body each character has. It's always good to know.

somekindajoe wrote:

Great pics!

...and well done listing which body each character has. It's always good to know.

Thanks, and you are welcome.