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PROJECTS : Heat Redux 2004 -
Preview
"What? Me obsessive?"
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(January 5, 2004)
Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer & Tom Sizemore in "Heat"
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Creating figures based on the characters from the film "Heat" has been on my mind since I discovered this hobby
back in the late 1990s. I kitbashed a few figs in early 2002, but I was never satisfied with them. The outfits were off,
the weapons were wrong and the headsculpts were only a crude approximation. Since that time, I've
been slowly but surely researching the outfits from the film, developing my customizing skills, and gathering
parts for a new set of figures. 2 years may seem like a long time, but for various reasons, there are only a
few times a year where I can actually sit down and physically work on my projects, so the real time spent putting
together the outfits & what not was in fact quite compressed.
As 2003 closed, I had planned to use my holiday vacation time (and the digital camera of a visiting friend) to finally
complete the figures and put this baby to rest. I believed that through my research, I had figured out
some elusive details regarding
the outfits used in the film, so I had grand plans to put together an "ultimate" Heat diorama. Of course, these plans
were introduced to reality and they quickly went up in flames. Trying to do quality work using skills you've only recently learned
and doing it all on a rushed schedule is not a recipe for success.
The last day of my vacation rolled around and the camera (and its owner) were ready to leave, so I had to snap these
preview pictures of the work-in-progress figures. The extensive amount of planning helped me get a lot done, so you could say
that De Niro (goatee) and Kilmer (blonde ponytail) figures are about 90% done and will not look much different upon
full completion. Sunglasses and some colour changes are all that is left. Sizemore is considerably less finished (I hate his eyes!)
and there is still an Al Pacino & another figure forthcoming.
I present them here unfinished because 1) I am unsure when I will have another chance to finish to them, 2)
the site needs some new content for the Project section, and 3) I believe they are in a fairly presentable form already.
I have a vague plan to complete them in the Spring, which probably means you should make a note to come back around 2006-2008 to see the
finished product. :)
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Robert De Niro as "Neil McCauley". Figuring out the style of vest worn by DeNiro & Kilmer
as well as the layout of the
attached magazines took much research. Frame by frame analysis yielding hundreds of screen caps from the film.
These were then magnified, lightened, rotated and had all other manner of
enhancement performed on them to draw out the detail. These mesh vests are
as close as I can make them given my current "skill" at sewing (truth be
told, there was more gluing than sewing going on). The fabric was from
a local store and looks like genuine 1:6-scale mesh.
The headsculpt is from the same makers of the Three Kings & Saving Private Ryan headsets (see HK Headsets A & B in
the celebrity list). They did a great job as the headsculpt is VERY detailed. One of the best I've seen. It has been repainted with oils & acrylics.
The sling system used in the film was another thing that took a lot of analysis to uncover. They used bungee cord
and lobster clasps and it seems like quite a cool setup. Also, for someone who isn't a gun fanatic,
recreating the weapon from the film took a helluva lot of arduous research, but I'll save that
story for the 100% complete figures.
The black duffel bags are the same dyed black Dragon bags used in my 2002 Heat figures. However, the main strap
has been replaced. It is now adjustable and its clips are essentially accurate to the film.
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Val Kilmer as "Chris Shiherlis". I really like the visual design of his character in the film. The
way the gun hangs under the jacket and how all of the
weaponry is just barely peeking out from behind a nice suit. It flat out looks cool to me.
Same with the way Kilmer's wild man hairdo contrasts with his suit. The juxtaposition of these
disparate elements makes the figure more interesting to look at.
The headsculpt is from the same head set as De Niro, repainted & "real haired" with mohair as is the
fashion right now. The hair had not yet been gel'd in the closeup shots, so it's a bit messy. Alarmingly,
mohair seems even more difficult to
handle than English viscosse (which is what I misidentified as mohair on my Hard Target Van Damme figure).
I guess I could just point out that Kilmer's hair gets very messy during the film's infamous gun fight scene, so
I was merely trying to recreate that look. Yeah, well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)
Canadian Content Warning: There is more hockey tape - both visible and hidden - on these figures than
you can possibly imagine. Seriously, though: Creating the little pull tabs
at the ends of the tape straps was a giant pain in the rear. It's probably a
good idea to invest in one of those combination magnifying lens / desk lamps
if one plans to stay in this hobby.
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Tom Sizemore as "Michael Cheritto". Sizemore proved to be a difficult figure to create. Can you believe
that no one has made a 1/6th-scale Sizemore look-alike yet? This guy has starred in Saving Private Ryan, Black
Hawk Down, Heat and many more action films, yet somehow there's no Joe version of him. Mind-boggling. Can you
figure out which headsculpt was used to simulate Sizemore? The likeness is not that close since it's not supposed
to be a look-alike at all, but with the glasses on, it is an acceptable alternative.
I chose it mainly because of its broad face and slightly pudgy flesh under the chin. New hair was sculpted on and then the
entire thing painted with oils & acrylics.
The body has a foam "fat padding" to add bulk. Does it show? The problem is that the
belly cannot be padded or else the pants will not fit. Thus, the figure ends up looking muscular instead of fat.
Anyway, in the film Sizemore wore what can only be called a "tactical girdle". Similar to what might be worn
by furniture movers or the workmen at Home Depot, it is heavy duty elastic and
wraps around the waist with
pockets for magazines and what not (Props to Minuteman2 for helping identify this item).
This one was created in 1:6 with various layers of elastic fabric and a micro hook & loop
enclosure was put in the back. It still needs more pockets & detailing but you get the picture. His weapon is a Galil assault rifle.
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