Hello, I'm new here so I apologize if this isn't in the right place. I'm having fun with this project and I wanted to show it off here.

When I got back into Star Wars collecting in the mid 90's I tried to keep my focus on Boba Fett and Han in carbonite. It always bugged me that I never had a vintage large size Han in Carb. to go along with the large size Boba. I've finally decided I'm going to make the Han in Carbonite that I imagine Kenner would've make had they continued the line. To start out I bought a old Han Solo figure that will be sacraficed for the project. I hate to destroy something that's nearly 35 years old but I won it on ebay for less that $10. The shirt has some stains on it but the pants are perfect, Oh well.

I've built a wood frame for the carbonite block and cut some side panels. Not sure if I'm going to sculpt detail on the side panels or make stickers like the slave 1 han in carbonite had. Any  opinions? whatever I do I don't want it super detailed. I want it crude like it was make in 1980. I'll keep posting my progress.




2nd UPDATE

Good News, I went up to my attic I dug out my old 12 inch figure box and a found a pair of pants that has the same stitch patten as the vintage Han pants, so I won't be destroying the original pants.



I'm happy with the carbonite block frame, I made it a little larger so it goes with the boba figure which is taller than standard 12 figures. I put some putty on the frame and now have to sand it smooth.

this is going to be a cool one to follow and as far as the stains remember what Han went through I am pretty sure his shirt would not have stayed clean lol. I am looking forward to the finish product.

Really looking forward to seeing the progress on this - very cool idea  

 to TIG  

I assume you are going to create something similar to the original potf version for the 12 inch figure? Some sort of vaccuform type of thing for the figure to rest under? If so the stitching detail of the pants and other clothing may be to muddled or covered. This looks like it will be a good thread to follow. I like this type of thing and look forward to seeing more.

Thanks everyone!

trappedtexan wrote:

I assume you are going to create something similar to the original potf version for the 12 inch figure?  Some sort of vaccuform type of thing for the figure to rest under?  If so the stitching detail of the pants and other clothing may be to muddled or covered.  This looks like it will be a good thread to follow.  I like this type of thing and look forward to seeing more.

Nope, what I'm going to do after I finish the frame is cover the clothes with a glue so it's hard but retains the detail, cut and reposition the arms and then I'm going to take clay and sculpt the "carbonite" and sculpt the eyes closed and the drool. Then I'm going to mold it and cast it in resin. All the detail of the vintage figure will remain.

The only part I haven't figured out is whether I should sculpt some detail into the side panels or make some stickers.

  to TIG dragonula,

looking forward to seeing your custom project develop, cool idea!

 to TIG

Cool Idea!

Looking forward to watching it grow!  

Putty and sanding the frame until the wood grain is gone. Putty and sand, putty and sand, putty and sand.

Filled in the neck seam and sculpted the eyes shut.

brushed some elmers glue on the clothes they'll be sturdy for molding later.

Cut off the arms at the elbow and starting to fill the frame with clay.

Looking good looking forward to further progress pictures.

Now it's getting fun.

  This is moving along very fast.  Very nice work too.  Looks better than I had imagined.  When you cut the arms off I was wondering how they would look once placed inside, turned out to be a really good placement and makes it look very nice.

I dont know anything about mold making, but what type of material are you going to use for the mold? I assume a two part mold with the mold break on the side so you have a front and back half? even better if there is room, you could leave a void on the backside for a battery compartment and run small electronics to the sides to give it flashing lights and whatnot.

I cant wait to see it once it is casted. Awesome job.

trappedtexan wrote:

  This is moving along very fast.  Very nice work too.  Looks better than I had imagined.  When you cut the arms off I was wondering how they would look once placed inside, turned out to be a really good placement and makes it look very nice.

I dont know anything about mold making, but what type of material are you going to use for the mold?  I assume a two part mold with the mold break on the side so you have a front and back half?  even better if there is room, you could leave a void on the backside for a battery compartment and run small electronics to the sides to give it flashing lights and whatnot.  

I cant wait to see it once it is casted.  Awesome job.

Thanks! The figures original hand position works well for a Han in carbonite. I'm glad kenner didn't give the figure a more defined "gun holding" grip.

I was planning on just casting it up solid but making it hollow and experimenting with lights might be a better idea.

I wasn't planning on having a back to the mold since there is no detail on the back so the mold will be simple. Much easier than my last mold which was my life size Tauntaun head that I sculpted.

You sculpted that tauntaun head !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to TIG Dragonula.  

Kudos for making that great looking 12 inch Han Carbonite.  

BTW: Wow that Taun Taun head looks very professional!  

How about the big carbonite block? Did you make that too?

Awesome work mate, great sculptures, WOW, we have a pro on our hands,  

walkie wrote:

You sculpted that tauntaun head !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes. Sculpted, Molded, cast, painted, and furred.

Dr Dengar wrote:

Welcome to TIG Dragonula.

Kudos for making that great looking 12 inch Han Carbonite.

BTW: Wow that Taun Taun head looks very professional!  

How about the big carbonite block? Did you make that too?

Thanks! I discovered this board from listening to the chive cast vintage podcast a couple months ago. I don't have any mint vintage toys just the one from when I was a kid or better condition ones I bought on ebay. I've been getting more and more into the vintage stuff lately. I'm also building some display cases for the old toys:


I'm also planning on building a "vintage style" Jabba's Palace diorama for my figures with rancor pit and droid factory below.



I didn't build the life size carbonite, that's a Illusive concepts one I bought 15 years ago. I also have the Don Post Boba Fett.

very excellent quality work - that Taun Taun is incredible    

WOW! really cool.

Made any more progress on this? I don't know much about mold work so I am unsure if there has been time to make one or whatever, but I look forward to seeing more.

wow, what an amazing project    the han 12" carbonite is coming along really well, what a cool idea   I look forward to seeing the completed model.
That Tauntaun head is just staggering  a real masterpiece, congratulations.
I also really like the custom acrylic display cases, it would be great if you could let me know how you put them together as i was thinking of doing something similar to help protect and display my Palitoy death star playset.

BTW: Congrats selling the life sized Taun Taun head for what seems to be a good price.  

Do you plan to make more in the future?

Dr Dengar wrote:

BTW: Congrats selling the life sized Taun Taun head for what seems to be a good price.  

Do you plan to make more in the future?

Thanks, I was planning on making another one for myself but the high bidder turned out to be a deadbeat and I just completed a cancel transaction. I could contact the 2nd place bidder and do a 2nd chance offer but I think for now I'm just going to keep it. It was just too much work, all the fur on the face and head had to me laid by hand and it took forever. I'm really enjoying the "1 of 1 tauntaun" it looks so cool hanging on my wall.

I can't believe I took this much time off from the vintage han in carbonite. look for a update this weekend!

WOW! I can't believe it's been 5 months off from this project. I was molding a couple other sculpts so I decided to pull the bag off of this and mold it as well.

here is the sculpt before molding:






And here is some of the first casting

Congratulations, that is very nice work. I've enjoyed following your progress!