Astra's ENT action figures in action

[Hopeful Romantic]

Your work table looks half like my dad's garage workbench, and half like an art class desk. I love seeing how the pieces come together to make these miniature works of art - that are recognizable in TrekWorld. You remind me of the crew members in the Art Department of a production studio who get to design props and decorate sets.

Diving headlong into a hobby and giving it your all is just the sweetest feeling in the world. The creative juices are a high unlike any other.

If you ever teach kids, or have kids, or do playtime with neighborhood kids, or work for a toy company, or an R&D or art department anywhere, you would be the best most funnest ever. Rock on!

 

[Astra]

Your work table looks half like my dad's garage workbench, and half like an art class desk.

My work table is also my kitchen table is also the table I photograph my figure scenes, so I HAVE to clear it up at the end of an art project. I would love to have a standing work and photograph area.

I love seeing how the pieces come together to make these miniature works of art - that are recognizable in TrekWorld. You remind me of the crew members in the Art Department of a production studio who get to design props and decorate sets.

Yes! I always was more interested in the making props and sets stuff. But I think actually working on a set would be very stressful as you are always working against a deadline. I like to try and then try something else, if the first does not work.

When I was in the "Gotham" fandom one of my creations made it to a lady that worked in the props office and she was so excited about it and showed it to everyone. We chatted a bit on Twitter and she was happy to hear that somebody appreciates her work. (I was secretly hoping for an invite to a set visit but alas it never came to that )

For example, when they show a character looking at a photoalbum, someone has to make this album first. And I always make a point of really looking at it.

In "Quantum Leap" they once showed a diary that was written in German. What the guy reading and translating said it said, was NOT what was written in there Not even the date was correct"!

If you ever teach kids, or have kids, or do playtime with neighborhood kids, or work for a toy company, or an R&D or art department anywhere, you would be the best most funnest ever. Rock on!

I don't have kids and I also don't think I would make a good teacher. They scare me '

Okay, back to Enterprise! Oktoberfest has started in Germany!







Did you see what Malcolm did?!?



In case you were wondering why Jon and Travis had to stand - I could not manage to make them sit. Normally you can bend the legs of action figures into a sitting position, but these are so loose, they kept falling back. Maybe they were drunk...

 

[Reanok]

That's so cute and funny thanks for posting this really made my day.

 

[Hopeful Romantic]

Love the detailing on that railing. And Malcolm slipping a little sip to Porthos is priceless.

Trivia Time! I first heard the "Drunken Sailor" song sung by the immortal Michael Dunn, playing Miguelito Loveless on "The Wild Wild West." (The episode was 4:12 "The Night of Miguelito's Revenge," for anyone playing at home.) It wasn't till years later that I heard the song again - sung by a madrigal group, The King's Singers, I think? - and heard a bit of history about it being a traditional sea chanty. I really liked seeing it here in your story!

 

[Kor]

...
In case you were wondering why Jon and Travis had to stand - I could not manage to make them sit. Normally you can bend the legs of action figures into a sitting position, but these are so loose, they kept falling back. Maybe they were drunk...
...

There is a liquid that can be applied to loose action figure joints that creates more physical resistance so they will stay in place better. But with the ENT figures I don't know if it's possible to peel back the rubber/silicone/whatever external layer that was used for the trousers, to have access to the joints.

Kor

 

[Astra]

That's so cute and funny thanks for posting this really made my day.

Thank you! Hope to more often make your day!

This is what the table actually looks like - for your barbecue:

Love the detailing on that railing. And Malcolm slipping a little sip to Porthos is priceless.

Trivia Time! I first heard the "Drunken Sailor" song sung by the immortal Michael Dunn, playing Miguelito Loveless on "The Wild Wild West." (The episode was 4:12 "The Night of Miguelito's Revenge," for anyone playing at home.) It wasn't till years later that I heard the song again - sung by a madrigal group, The King's Singers, I think? - and heard a bit of history about it being a traditional sea chanty. I really liked seeing it here in your story!

Many - also on Facebook or Twitter - have told me where they first heard this song. I honestly can't say, for me it seems to be one of those that has been around forever and everyone knows it? Apparently not! I would first know the German version, perhaps from TV shows with choirs singing?

There is a liquid that can be applied to loose action figure joints that creates more physical resistance so they will stay in place better. But with the ENT figures I don't know if it's possible to peel back the rubber/silicone/whatever external layer that was used for the trousers, to have access to the joints.

Kor

Do you mean Superglue? I read that in forums for the 1/6th scale figures. Sometimes the joint comes off when you want to change the hands and then people apply it but you need to turn the joint until it's set so it does not glue permanently (as you still want it to move, just not come loose). I haven't dared to try that yet nor any idea where to get Superglue but my 12" Rick Grimes would be in need of this treatment.

But yeah, I guess cutting up the rubber is not really worth it. I do want to buy another captain's chair which comes with an Archer figure that is able to sit. Sadly the one I had was the one I painted in desert uniform and the one that comes without the chair has not the joints snapping in place.

Malcolm also comes with a chair, surprising that Trip sits so well though since he does not have any bridge pieces. And the helm console with Travis never was produced.

So where were we? Catching up with some more Summer pictures - Vacation, yay! (and proof that they can sit indeed)








Always the gentleman, opening the door for her...



And when I got the police officers, someone requested this:







And then I realized Jon had forgotten to take Porthos with him... so he got his own doggie vacation!

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

So where were we? Catching up with some more Summer pictures - Vacation, yay! (and proof that they can sit indeed)

This is my first time seeing this stuff and I love it. Both the setting and the scenario are fantastic.

 

[Kor]

...Do you mean Superglue? I read that in forums for the 1/6th scale figures. Sometimes the joint comes off when you want to change the hands and then people apply it but you need to turn the joint until it's set so it does not glue permanently (as you still want it to move, just not come loose). I haven't dared to try that yet nor any idea where to get Superglue but my 12" Rick Grimes would be in need of this treatment.
...

The exact product I was thinking of is called "Kiki Fix Loose Joints," but it looks like it is not available anymore. It seems to be a water-based polyurethane solution. You may be able to find something similar from a hardware store. Floor-polishing products often have this ingredient, but they also have additional ingredients such as fragrances or oils that may not be great for the figures.

I have read about the superglue method, but I would be cautious with that because of the risk of fusing the parts together. If you really, really want to try that, then I think a German equivalent may be "Sekundenklebstoff." Basically, if the label indicates that it is in the "Cyanacrylate" family of adhesives, then it should be basically the same thing.

Kor

 

[Cyfa]

Amazing! I have just caught up with this thread, and absolutely love it - both your meticulous work & the wonderful scenes, @Astra, and all the suggestions and tip swapping from everyone else. Very inspiring.

Scruffy Chakotay is quite a looker, just sayin.

- RAWR! Yes!

 

[Astra]

This is my first time seeing this stuff and I love it. Both the setting and the scenario are fantastic.

Thank you very much! I hope you've gone back a few pages and checked the rest, wouldn't want you to miss any good things!

I have read about the superglue method, but I would be cautious with that because of the risk of fusing the parts together.

Yeah. That's what I'm afraid of myself. I guess I'll be better off to buy another captain's chair with Archer, because that version can sit very well. It's just the single Archer that can't.

Amazing! I have just caught up with this thread, and absolutely love it - both your meticulous work & the wonderful scenes, @Astra, and all the suggestions and tip swapping from everyone else. Very inspiring.

Aw thank you! If you like, there is also a general action figure thread I have posted in once in a while, especially TOS-stuff. You can find it here, but it is rather long!

https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/the-action-figure-and-toy-collecting-and-discussion-thread.170698/

- RAWR! Yes!

Glad we agree there

Every year I do a Halloween story with my current fandom. So far I've had TOS, Gotham, Stranger Things, Voyager - this year it's Enterprise!

 

[Hopeful Romantic]

"Holy Moly."
"BARK! BARK!"

A nice treat for the spooky season! *applause*

 

[Tosk]

Astra, I love your work. I hope this constructive criticism is taken as such, and I promise no offense is intended.

Best reading is created when the word balloons make it clearer what order they should be read in. Left to right first, with some indicators from top to bottom when needed.

This is a pretty ugly example, but you'll see what I mean.

 

[Astra]

Astra, I love your work. I hope this constructive criticism is taken as such, and I promise no offense is intended.

Best reading is created when the word balloons make it clearer what order they should be read in. Left to right first, with some indicators from top to bottom when needed.

This is a pretty ugly example, but you'll see what I mean.

First, I am pretty easy going and always happy to learn, so feel free to shoot away! No worries!
I have a friend who knows a lot about photography and has given me hints and tips (about focus and blurry background and such) and I feel that my pictures have become much better because of it. I also once in a while am happy to give concrit when reading a fanfiction, when I feel the author might appreciate it.

A while ago somebody already told me about the speech bubbles and I have tried to heed this advice ever since.

Unfortunately I am limited by two things. I first and foremost do my pictures for Twitter. The arrangement there is either one portrait and two landscape, or four landscape. I try to think what I want to say beforehand, and arrange the figures in a way from left to right so it falls naturally.

Sadly that was not possible this time as we all know the captain always sits right. It would have felt odd to have him at the left side.
I also could have done more panels, like doing another picture in between with Trip's question and I sometimes do that for my personal Livejournal but again I limited myself with the four pictures.

And because of the way the Twitter landscape pictures are long and thin (they used to be square like Instagram so many of my old photos don't fit the new frame now anymore) there was also a limit of having the bubbles coming from the top to the bottom. What looks like empty space here in the first picture and the captain bubble could have been set a bit higher as first, on Twitter would not be visible. Yes, people can click on the picture to open it in a new window, but I prefer having everything visible on first glance. Which resulted in this kinda squished together way.

I hoped that this once while I knew it wasn't perfect, I would get away with it and after a short confusion people would figure out what was meant.

The way you did it, by having that long line added, is a very interesting way and makes it look indeed like a real comic (of which I have not read many I must admit as I don't really like them). Unfortunately I use a very basic photo edit program where I can only choose to have the little arrow at the bottom left and right or up and down. Not sideways or more in the middle, which often has frustrated me also. And also not possible to draw it over to the side that long. All I get is a bigger longer bubble.



So, those were my reasonings!

I think arranging the figures in the right way is the best solution for the future. But definitely thank you for your input!

 

[Astra]

So let's see, where did we leave off? I am already through with watching Enterprise (I am now watching Scott Bakula as Terry in "Men of a certain Age" - great show!) but I still have some episode pictures left.

I had watched the episode "Bound" and realized that the background looks similar to a thing I have. My co-worker - who I have trained well - once brought me this piece of yellow cardboard with holes, which stood like a room divider. I just added some seen-through paper and I got myself an Orion set! The other side with the marble effect is the back cardboard from Jurassic Park figures from the Amber collection. I liked it too much to throw it away.



Sadly I only have one green woman not three. It's the thought that counts.












The "glass table" is made from photo frames.




They are held together by magnets so easy to take apart.



I can also do a table with legs like this, but it would have been too high with them sitting on the ground:

 

[Cyfa]

As an episode, 'Bound' raises too many questions to pass muster, but your Orion set is just brilliant! You're so resourceful

 

[Reanok]

Astra I like your new pictures with Archer and Malcolm your Orion set is very clever.

 

[Kor]

I really like the adaptation of the frame as a table! I'm always looking out for items that can possibly be used as scenery for figures.

Kor

 

[Hopeful Romantic]

That "Bound" tableau is great. The colors! The food spread! The creativity! Always fascinating to learn the details. Great work!

 

[Astra]

As an episode, 'Bound' raises too many questions to pass muster, but your Orion set is just brilliant! You're so resourceful

Thank you! I love talking about the behind-the-scenes! In TV shows, they also make a lot do with what they have. That inspires me!

Astra I like your new pictures with Archer and Malcolm your Orion set is very clever.

Thank you!

I really like the adaptation of the frame as a table! I'm always looking out for items that can possibly be used as scenery for figures.

Kor

I somehow have a huge love for anything plexiglass! It is so shiny and clear! When I saw these photo frames, I HAD to have them. Any shop I go, I look for stuff to use, once you have gotten the miniature bug there is no getting rid of it LOL

I haven't seen these particular frames since though, it has been several years. Glad I grabbed them while I could.

That "Bound" tableau is great. The colors! The food spread! The creativity! Always fascinating to learn the details. Great work!

I won't lie, my tiny food items always make me hungry, they look so tasty! LOL

So today something for the thirst, then. Did you know, that before they had replicators, there were soda machines on Starfleet ships? Don't believe me? Here's the proof!














The left is a WWF accessory that I just got, the right is a model set I had to assemble myself. Here's a close-up. The names on the bottles are real Japanese brands but slightly altered.





I even have a video - it's a working machine!

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Astra]

Happy New Year everyone! Malcolm had to show Jon how to do fireworks in a safe way.










I made the fireworks from wooden sticks and colorful paper.