After a LONG break, I decided I needed to get back into custom making. Being a hardcore Gearhead, I was thrilled to see the announcement, and eventual pick-up of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for the Xbox One. I got the code for the Savage Drone, and remembered I had made a custom in the past. After digging him out of my wardrobe, I couldn't help but grimace at the lack of effort I invested into him. After plucking him apart, and reverting him back to his glory days a s a Cyclops Drone, I managed to find an abandoned 'Headshot' Drone, that needed some love. And paint. Lots and LOTS of paint.

I started off by cutting away at the lower layers of the breastplate to give a large space to create the worn fabric of his mid-section (I'll get to that) and gradually filed it to a smooth edge, I also clipped off the large left shoulder pad, seeing as he won't be needing it anymore. Then I got on to the netting.

Using some old, black scrim netting, I cut off large sections at a time, before applying them to the Drone's bare skin, which had been lathered with a thin layer of glue. I pressed the netting into each crevice to give it a feel it was both skin tight, and secured well. It looks authentic too. (In my own, big-headed opinion :) ) Then came the real meat of the custom. Making the armour/bodysuit.

Because the model putty I used in the past is both cheap, and unreliable, I dug deep into my wallet, and bought a large reel of Games Workshop's green stuff (So damn expensive...), because not only does it mould to whatever shape, and texture you want, but once it harden, its ain't coming off without a fight. I began on the arms, pressing them into even strips and applying them over the scrim net to form the bandages they wear, carefully tucking them between the fists without hindering too much grip capability on weapons and pros, whilst still looking bulky and authentic. On the left arm, I rolled a goblet of green stuff into a ball, before pressing it into a pan. This became his angular pauldron on his left arm. I used a few more strips to form the buckles and numerous cords that tie the bandages to the netting, and used a knife to make any textures on the bandages themselves.

The chest and stomach was the REAL root of the problem. I had to start by covering all of the breastplate in green stuff to remove any remaining detail of the previous figure. I also then had to make the 4 small silver buckles that plant on his chest, followed by the large central fabric. In order to maintain the articulation of the waist ball-joint, I cut the green stuff off just at the end of the breastplate, and continued it from the Drone's stomach. Numerous belts and straps were moulded to the figure's waist before I continued with the central fabric.

The boots, I simply covered the rears with green stuff, and created a bobbling effect with a knife. The head, I had the most fun doing. Using VERY fine strips, I began to overlay them in criss-cross patterns over the Drone's face, and he looked like a mentally-challenged Frankenstein. But then I made the gas mask, applying a Locust sigil clipped from the side of a Gorgon pistol onto the central metal clasp.

The chest respirator was made from the Drone's ORIGINAL pauldron, which I cut up and re-modified into a cube-like shape, with a little green stuff. The pipes and other details were all made from green stuff. The tank was also forged from green stuff, but the pipes connecting from the gas tank to the Drone's mask were a simple plastic wire, that doesn't hinder movement in any way. For the connecting pipes from the tank to the chest respirator, I used a couple of those thin pipes from a random Bionicle, and they proved to be really sturdy. I also rolled up two small snippets of scrim netting, and sealed it together with a strap of green stuff. These were stuck to the shoulders. I then used a couple of pouches from unknown Gears figures (points to whoever identifies them) and stuck them to his green stuffed belts. Then came the painting.

The Savage Drone required lots of warm shades of bone and brown-grey colours. The head was simply dry-brushed subtly, and the jumpsuit was lavished with a thin brown-grey mixed glaze. The weaved fabric on the chest, leg straps and boots were painted in a warm crimson, mainly Citadel's Mecherite Red. The bandages and straps were painted with numerous, thin layers of Privateer Press's Jack Bone, and inked heavily with Citadel's Agrax Earthshade. The small lights on the chest respirator I gave a small dab of Mephiston Red, followed by a watered down Troll Slayer Orange, and finished off with a wash of Baal Red, which now gave it a glowing look.

And alas, after the week of work, the Savage Drone was done, and I was HUGELY impressed...I scavenged a Lancer assault rifle, giving it a darker paint job, and applying a blood paint to the chainsaw to make it more authentic. The articulation remains the same, but unfortunately, the green stuff bandages has restricted him to holding only one weapon. I'm just glad it was the Lancer and not a weedy pistol. After this success, I felt compelled to create MORE custom Ultimate Edition figures. Starting with the NEW General RAAM. Keep your eyes out people.

- RecklessRedcoat