Recently got a life size Gemmy/Spirit Frankenstein's Monster animatronic and began the process of upgrading/repairing and generally improving his appearance.
He's modeled after Karloff's Frankenstein, and although the likeness is somewhat there, they def couldn't get the actor's likeness licensed. Regardless, i'll be airbrushing his face to better give off that classic Frankenstein appearance as best as I can.
His arms raise up and down, head turns, eyes light up and a few different lines from the movie along with his groans are played when he's activated. I used a Frankenstein themed doorbell as a housing for better electronics and to act as a remote switch for kids to bring him to life on halloween.
Here's my general progress so far.
As received:
(https://www.therpf.com/forums/attachments/photo-sep-05-2-36-53-pm-jpg.1615774/)
(https://www.therpf.com/forums/attachments/photo-sep-10-6-10-11-pm-png.1615786/)
Upgraded:
- new tailored suit
- hair cut and styled
- new tailored undershirt
- custom made activator switch using a themed doorbell re-wired withs lights to sync with Frankenstein's sounds
(https://www.therpf.com/forums/attachments/photo-sep-10-11-55-43-am-jpg.1615775/)
(https://www.therpf.com/forums/attachments/photo-sep-10-3-10-18-pm-jpg.1615793/)
(https://www.therpf.com/forums/attachments/photo-sep-10-11-55-55-am-jpg.1615777/)
Finished for now:
Going to start the following some time next week:
- Paint up the face and hands
- Weathering the clothes and boots
- Fix some of the animatronics on his left arm
- Further tailor the suit fit
Hope you guys find this somewhat entertaining.
Welcome to the UMA, agliarept! :)
Wow, what a transformation!
Impressive. Most impressive.
Great work so far, too bad company's can't put out a product that already looks good to begin with. Looking forward to more of your upgrade to him.
Thanks all!
I decided to forgo airbrushing and pivot to traditional makeup to update his face. I like that I get to channel my inner Jack Pierce here and bring him to life a bit more.
before
(https://www.therpf.com/forums/attachments/photo-sep-12-2-50-32-pm-jpg.1616485/)
1st pass
(https://www.therpf.com/forums/attachments/photo-sep-12-3-39-45-pm-jpg.1616486/)
New undershirt tailored
(https://www.therpf.com/forums/attachments/photo-sep-12-5-20-55-pm-jpg.1616487/)
2nd pass lower angle pov
(https://www.therpf.com/forums/attachments/photo-sep-12-3-50-13-pm-jpg.1616488/)
Final progress for now, i'll continue weathering/updating him further next week.
(https://www.therpf.com/forums/attachments/photo-sep-12-9-17-12-pm-jpg.1616489/)
Amazing stuff! I wish I was this talented and knowledgable.
Wow! This looks amazing! I picked up a used Gemmy Frank a few years ago and he needs work, this is just the inspiration I need. Thank you!
Cheers, feel free to post any questions you have on him here, happy to help.
also happy to have this page utilized as a localized page dedicated to the gemmy frankenstein :-)