Serra Keto custom

Star Wars Jedi Knight Serra Keto

This is my first figure, well actually the 3rd version of the same figure: Serra Keto, who is the Apprentice of Master Jedi Cin Drallig.

This character was created originally for the Revenge of the Sith videogame during Anakin/Darth Vader assault on the Jedi Temple during the execution of the Order 66.

Motivation

The motivation for creating this figure is essentially the convergence of many reasons:

1. I wanted to discover how to create an action figure from scratch, to gain more insight of the things to take in account.

2. After a research made Blogs and Tutorials in Youtube channels, I realized not to much people have dared to create a figure from scratch. Usually customs are based on paint jobs or minor sculpting adaptations. So accept the challenge.

3. As a Star Wars fan, I wanted to enrich the spectrum of action figures made of the saga, so for me is important bring a character that does not exist in Hasbro Portfolio and that is interesting for me. That´s how Serra Keto came to my mind: the human geometry relatively simple compare with other aliens and I have human body figure which I can start with.

Challenges

I think the main reason why not to much people create 3.75" figures from zero is the amount of work needed and this come for a simple reason: articulation. A sculpture is relatively easy to produce having a base figure: its only a mater of reproduce what its done. Here there are 2 ways: printing it with a 3D printer or casting it. In my case I used casting since I have no 3D printer :(

Therefore all the following info is about casting an action figure.

The real challenge came when you need to articulate a figure, because you have to decide on the type of the joint: ball, swivel..etc and the choose the material strong enough to withstand the wearing and the loads by moving the part.

Here I started with articulation made from Resin from a local German Supplier, but It broken all the time (ARRGGG!!!) that´s why a decide to switch to a special resin supplier (Smooth-On) I used the Smooth Cast 65D because I wanted to have a tough casting but some flexibility. Parts like arms and legs were ok but the joint pins broke again (2nd ARRRGGGG).

The challenge continued how to make the resistent to bending and at the same time tough enough to resist the wearing: well, I used PLA wires to reinforce the resin pins, metal wires, even I switched to Smooth-on Resin Task 4 PU Resin. I got even worse results :( .

Conclusion: I utilized the original Aayla's joint pins (I think those are from ABS or maybe Nylon, but I´m not sure). My idea was not to utilized any part from the reference figure, but cast everything, and it is because everytime you want to make a figure, you need to break the reference. I saw another guys cutting out the joints from a 6'' figure to make their own, but at the end of the day this is a destructive 1 to 1 process: you "sacrifice" one figure to get one custom.  

Creative Process

Once I selected Serra for my figure development, I analized which figure I already had which body is compatible with, and how many modifications are necessary. The decision was clear: Aayla secura from the Vintage Collection. Why? because she´s tall, athletic body and has the ideal number of articulations (16 around) needed to create a decent figure (sorry but I hate the 5 POA that Hasbro has implemented in the new lines).

Next step was the breakdown of the figure: separate the components. I separate every arm, fore arm, upper and lower body, modify them sculping them utilizing Sculpey mass, seal them with paint and once sealed and made a silicon rubber mold from them. Once silicon is cured, I took the master out and made the casting.

Once I had all the components I joint the together (pin joints+ body component) and the final figure is assembled.

Las step is the paint work and fabric Accessoires like the skirt and tabard. For those I utilize model painting and finally I cut and glue the skirt and the belt of the hip.

It is recommended to put protection mate cover on that to protect the paintwork from scratching.

Result

So, after many months of try and failure I got my revised version of Serra Keto: please enjoy!