Looking for a hard boiled detective/P.I. figure.

[cheetor]

I dont really collect pulp figures and am unfamiliar with the large number of ranges available.  I am however looking for a 28mm that has a very pulp feel for another project.  Maybe one of you guys will be able to help me locate a suitable figure.  

The figure MUST:

• Be wearing a fedora
• Be wearing a trenchcoat.  The coat MUST be open, revealing a shirt, not a suit jacket.  Braces optional.
• NOT be wearing a necktie (edit: or have a neck tie that can easily be removed from the figure).  A bow tie would be fine, but not a regular necktie.

Ideally the figure should also have the following characteristics.  These requirements are ideal, but not essential.  I would like the figure to be:

• Brooding, rather than leaping into action.  Hand(s) in pocket(s) or smoking a cigarette would be good.
• Wielding a pistol, preferably a revolver.
• Available cheaply and preferably singly without exorbitant shipping costs to Ireland (which rules out Foundry I think...)

If this Black Cat Bases figure (below) had a fedora and either a bow tie or no tie at all then he would be close to ideal.



This figure from EM4 would work if the coat was open and he didnt have a necktie or suit jacket on underneath:




Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[Heldrak]

I think the problem that you're going to have here is the no tie/bowtie issue. Otherwise the world abounds with trenchcoated PI types.

A possible solution would be the Reaper Chronoscope Max Decker figure, if you're will to file off his long tie and sculpt a bow tie in its place:

http://www.reapermini.com/FigureFinder#detail/50051

Otherwise he fits all of your criteria (open coat, smoking, armed, fedora, etc.). He should also be available singly and relatively inexpensive, depending on distribution for Reaper figures in Ireland.

Personally, I like this guy from Copplestone Castings:


and this guy from Pulp Figures:


But they both have closed coats and long ties (and the Pulp Figures model has no fedora).

You might be better off looking for models with open coats and bowties/no ties and then converting the other elements that you need (hat, revolver, etc.).

[cheetor]

I think the problem that you're going to have here is the no tie/bowtie issue.

The tie does seem to be the biggest issue alright.  I dont mind having to remove a tie from a miniature (assuming that it is easy to get at) but I would like to minimise the work that I will have to do. As it is the figure will require some putty work, something I am inexperienced at and reluctant to engage in too much.

A possible solution would be the Reaper Chronoscope Max Decker figure, if you're will to file off his long tie and sculpt a bow tie in its place:

Max is very close (and I have a Reaper supplier) but two things put me off: 1) the upturned hat brim isnt what I am looking for and 2) I have burned by very large Chronoscope figures before.  I am not *that* fussy about scale but some of the Reaper humans are incompatible with my existing figures.

To make what I am looking for clearer (or arguably confuse the issue...) here are a couple of pictures of Jack Point, an undercover Mega City One Judge masquerading as a PI... who also dresses as a "Simp".



And in an uncharacteristically dynamic pose...




The Wikipedia for Jack should go some way to explain the odd outfit.

I plan to add the nose, large bow tie and clown shoes (not visible) with ProCreate.

I think that Jack Should be a fun little sub-project, both for painting and for helping me to develop my rudimentary sculpting.  As you can probably see, the open coat is crucial.

Otherwise the world abounds with trenchcoated PI types.

I have checked EM4, Black Cat Bases, Hasslefree, Artizan and Copplestone so far.  Any further recommendations?

Thank you for your help

[Argonor]

Maybe start from a clown mini instead? Just off the top of my head.

[cheetor]

Maybe start from a clown mini instead? Just off the top of my head.

The thing is that I reckon that adding the tie, nose and shoes to a guy in a coat and hat is easier than adding a coat and hat to a clown.

Largely Jacks silhouette is that of Mike Hammer type, barring the shoes and upon close inspection, the nose.  Without wanting to get too arty farty and conceptual, he is a cop dressed as a clown and has that sort of stance and body language.

Crucially, I dont think that I have the putty skills to add a coat to a clown figure

I am open to suggestions though.

[Heldrak]

One thing that occurred to me is the Heroclix Johnny Thunder figure (he's got the bow tie, anyway). In addition to all the woes incumbent on working with converting clix, you may run into scale problems again (they're all over the map, like Chronoscope). Try entering "Heroclix Thunder" into an eBay search and he should pop right up.

I own the Chronoscope Max Decker figure, so I can take a scale comparison shot for you if you have a question about it.

[cheetor]

I own the Chronoscope Max Decker figure, so I can take a scale comparison shot for you if you have a question about it.

If you were willing and it wasnt too much trouble then that would be great, thank you.  Max looks like the line of least resistance for the project I think.

Grenadier/EM4 or Copplestone or Hasslefree sound like the figure ranges that we are most likely to have in common I suspect.  I have the foundry zombie cowboys too and I recall you submitting them in last years LPL.  They would be a good common reference point if convenient for yourself.

Thanks for all of your help Heldrak.

[Heldrak]

Here you go, Cheetor:



As you can see, he's pretty tall in comparison. As regards the hat, I believe that Reaper makes some separate hat sprues (although I don't recall if there's a proper fedora on there). What Max Decker has is not so much a 1930's-style fedora as a 1960's-style "stingy-brim".

Heroclix can also provide a supply of cheap headgear, as shown in my Spirit conversion here:

[capthugeca]

Are you up for a bit of conversion?

Artizan's PLP004 Yusuf could work if you could lengthen his jacket into a trenchcoat and replace the fez with the fedora.

[cheetor]

Here you go, Cheetor:

That was much faster than I expected Heldrak!  And with Foundry zombie cowboys, Hasslefree and Copplestone figs.  Comprehensive, thank you very much

Max looks a little too tall for the miniatures that I plan my version of Jack Point to hang out with however.

Heroclix can also provide a supply of cheap headgear, as shown in my Spirit conversion here:

Actually, all of this talk of Heroclix has reminded me that I may have access to this old "The Question" figure.



  I am going take a look at the figure when I get home to see if maybe I could remove/repurpose the waistcoat and tie and possibly base the whole project on that figure. 

The pose is more dynamic than I would like and the clothes dont suit perfectly but if the scale is ok then I ay just go with that, largely to save me a few €. If nothing else then I can definitely swipe his hat if I require it.

Artizan's PLP004 Yusuf could work if you could lengthen his jacket into a trenchcoat and replace the fez with the fedora.

There is a lot to like with that figure actually.  The sculpting style has a slightly baggy trousered look which suits the source material.

Thank you all for your help.

[Black Cat Bases]

Hi,

If our detective is almost ideal if he had the hat then why not add the hat! http://blackcatbases.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=458_461&zenid=bd1c850a3d6beeac5f1dee7507da08de and file off the tie? Or for a clown in a long coat: http://blackcatbases.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=437_626 some have hats some do not! Most have weapons that would be easy to snip off!

I don't know if that helps?

Jo:)

[magokiron]

How about this from CROOKED DICE STUDIO?

He even has suspenders.

http://www.crooked-dice.co.uk/store/images/lg-jimbarrowight.jpg

http://www.crooked-dice.co.uk/store2.html

Just add the nose and a fedora from black cat bases, and Voila!

Hope that helps.

[cheetor]

Thanks Jo and magokiron for some other solid suggestions