Thanks for the info, scowlingone. I'll make sure that I keep all of my future projects 'within the lines' when it comes to just using 20% of a particular figure. I wonder ... would it matter that I made each portion of Bizarro's legs seperately due to casting errors?

And, since it's been decided that it's not illegal, I'll share with you how I did it.

For those of you that are interested, the figure itself is 100% molded epoxy resin. There is not a single piece of WizKids plastic to it at all. Period.

And, the way that I did it is actually relatively simple (though extremely time consuming).

I started with liquid Latex Rubber which I purchased from a model train shop, but is also available at stores like Hobby Lobby. You decide what portion of the mini you want to re-create and paint the Latex Rubber on. It dries over the course of several hours, then you repeat the process until the rubber is the desired thickness. Just keep in mind, it usually takes at least four good thick coats to keep the mold's shape once you remove it from the miniature ... and you never want to mold around something that would make it impossible to remove the mold without destroying it (like, for instance, that tiny gap in Crimson Dynamo's legs).

Then, I used a liquid epoxy resin. Basically, you mix the two parts in some sort of disposable container, pour it into your mold, and then let it cure. Make sure to remove air bubbles, and be aware that air bubbles can get sucked back into your resin each time you push them out. It's a frustrating process, but the results are worth it.

Epoxy Resin (at least the kind I use) requires at least 75 degree temperatures (Fahrenheit) to cure, and it cures faster with heat, so I usually bake it in our toaster oven on a really low setting ... though anything above 175 degrees causes additional air bubbles and can also ruin the Latex Rubber mold.

Once that's done, you remove the resin figure from the mold (and the mold can be re-used in most cases), and get it ready for joining to the other resin figure pieces as you would normally with any mod parts.

Once you've put the figure together, you just paint it and you're done ... It's really quite simple, and well worth the effort if you're willing to spend the time to do it. And, you save yourself the hassles of cutting up figures you might have to trade to get more of later.

Any questions?

Excellent tips!

This also makes it easy to have unpainted figures to use!

Realistically, while it may not be legal to cast more than 20% or so of a single figure, even for personal use, it's so minor and irrelevant that it's not realistically actionable. It's illegal in the same sense that downloading one song from Kazaa is illegal. It's illegal in the sense that shortchanging a cashier a penny on purpose is illegal.

No miniatures company is going to come down on anyone for copying the legs of one figure. They'll take action when someone starts doing it a hundred times and selling the results.

well, I can extend apologies for accusing you without asking, but your mystery definitly made you seem like a wanker.

Flame me?

You fanboys cant flame me, you're already burned

HAHAHA, I called it! Molding. Well, I didn't really, but I brought it up first.

Maybe it is illegal, but as long as you are just doing it for your own hobby and not selling them, I don't see a problem.

Coolness! Is the epoxy resin also a hobby shop type item? And do you have to take any special precautions ot make sure the latex mold doesn't distort once you remove it from the model?

With all this talk of trade secrets, and molding and so on, the point that everyone really missed is that you mislead us when you called this the most expensive mod ever. In reality the mod cost you pennies.

Seriously though, I think this is excellent work, and I like your use of textured railroading paper for a wall. I use railroading stuff as well, as you well know, and never thought of using the textured paper.

I'm missing the crucial piece to be able to duplicate your work, the hypertime U superman. But now I'll have to get one.

Ahh...yeah, that's what I was kind of thinking...sort of made your own bed there with the estimated ebay cost and all, so don't fault ol' Constantine too much.

Regardless of the discussion ... by far, that is the best looking Supes I have ever seen - two thumbs up

If I hadn't revealed how I had done it, and LovaX didn't bring the subject up, it would have cost someone that much to re-create it based simply upon the parts I had used.

For that matter, if you don't have the figures to make the molds from, it'd likely cost you that much to get them.

Or, while we're on the subject, if you were playing the 'booster lotto' it could cost you four or five times that in order to finally get the figures to make the molds from as I used mainly uniques and they aren't exactly easy to pull, expecially the exact three that you would need to make this particular mod.

So, yes, even though I didn't cut up any Uniques, I would still say that this mod will cost you more to make than any other that I've seen on these forums yet.

Of course, now that I've shown you can mod Uniques without destroying them, I expect to see them used more and more ...

All contraversy aside, great mod Jacin, can't wait to see what crazy stuff you decide to do next!