I have to give credit to respected forum member Finn Varra, as it was his Phantom Rider entry into the monochromatic contest that got me thinking, "Wow. That's pretty cool! I think I have the parts to make one of those!" I have been on kind of a Western kick lately and so I knew it was time.
The Phantom Rider debuted way back in 1949 in some Magazine Enterprises horror themed Western publications under the moniker of Ghost Rider. After the trademark to the character's name and motif lapsed, Marvel basically stole the character in 1967 and featured him in his own title. With the introduction of the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider character in the 70s, The Western Ghost Rider was rechristened with the unfortunate title of Night Rider (a term used in the South to refer to members of the Klu Klux Klan), and finally to Phantom Rider. In reprints of the Magazine Enterprises appearances, due to licensing issues, he has been renamed once again as The Haunted Horseman. According to his wiki page, 7 different people have been The Phantom Rider, many of them descendants of the original Carter Slade.
The Phantom Rider was made using a movie Storm Shadow head, torso, and upper arms, all with some minor sculpting tweaks. His shoulder and elbow joints were pulled from a Han Solo figure to match the base coat color and combat paint rub. They were modded to work with the Joe limbs. His lower arms are from a RAH Cobra Commander. His upper legs and knees are from a RAH Wild Bill. His lower legs are from a RAH Hard Master (lol at that name!). His upper belt is from a RAH B.A.T. Not sure about the lower hanging belt but the buckle was swiped from Wild Bill. His cape is from a JLU Wonder Woman. His pistols and hat were cut off of a dollar store cowboy figure (on the bottom of his foot it reads, "JA-RU." These JA-RU guys make Chap Mei look like Hot Toys by comparison lol!)and modded to work with the figure.
Hope you dig it and THANKS for looking! Cheers!