There are so many options for Toy Photographers these days: building sets, action figures, model kits, miniatures, the list goes on. We have a nearly endless spread of choices, with budget as the only real limitation.

Except…there is one small problem. The vast majority of toys are licensed. Don’t get me wrong, recreating scenes from Lord Of The Rings in Lego is awesome, setting up shots of Stormtroopers on a picnic is amazing, and getting the newest Spider-Man figure is a ton of fun. However, I lose a little something when every toy in my collection is from a show, game or movie. Every photo is inevitably tied to that pre-existing story. That tends to drain my creativity a bit. The more scene-specific the toy, the less ideas I have. The less ideas I have, the more photography seems like a chore.

Meet Pinball. He’s my own original character, created using Desktop Vandals’ Artron base body. Desktop Vandals is an underground toymaker based in Spain. He is dedicated to creating toys that are poseable, durable and most importantly, fun.

His figures are made with a form of 3D printed resin, and the best part is: there’s no backstory. That is something I had to create for myself. Sure, Desktop Vandals has his own head canon, but he purposefully leaves the story of the Artrons open ended so his customers can go wild with their creativity.

The painting process

Painting 3D prints can seem intimidating at first, especially if said 3D prints are in the form of a fully articulated action figure. I myself am a very amateur painter in the grand scheme of things, but I am pleased with the ‘wasteland wanderer’ look I achieved for Pinball.

Durability is my main goal when it comes to paint projects like this. These are my main tips for beginners:

  • USE GOOD PAINTS: Model brands like Vallejo, Citadel and Model Master are a few brands I’ve had good experiences with.
  • SEAL EVERYTHING: Let me repeat that: seal everything. The paint will chip off quickly without sealer. For Pinball, I hit him with 3 separate coats of matte Krylon spray, and then used matte paint-on mod-podge to add thicker protection on higher-friction areas (either spots where joints rub, or spots my fingers will hit often when posing). Use gloss sealer for a shinier finish.
  • TAKE IT SLOW: It’s not a race, and there’s no point in getting the job done quick if the result isn’t up to par. Slow and steady is the way to go.

The figure

The Artron base body is nothing short of genius. It was created to be Glyos compatible, which is the origins of the stubby design. Personally, I have no connection to Glyos and think the Artron is awesome without that cross-compatibility.

Two sets of hands, a fat little blaster, a sword and an extra head come packed with Artron. Desktop Vandals also offers all kinds extra hands and weapon upgrades. I chose the eyeball head for Pinball. It reminds me of Bionicle somewhat, while also being new and iconic. He has an almost melancholy expression, which fits the lone wanderer of ruined worlds persona I made up for him.

As for posing, the Artron body can hit most poses I could think of. The only notable limitation is the up and down axis for the head, barely marring an otherwise superior range of motion. Seriously, this lil’ fella poses better than a lot of expensive import figures.

The photoshoot

To be honest, I was rather rushed for the photoshoot of Pinball (hopefully the first of many more, less rushed sessions). I had timed poorly and was late for a family event. Photographing the little guy was fun, but thanks to the stress of being late, I felt like the shots I got were messy and subpar.

Once I had a chance to edit them a few days later, I realized not only had I gotten more shots than planned, but they were way better than I had expected. That was due in no small part to the sheer photogenic-ness of the Artron system. It’s the perfect ‘stick anywhere and snap a shot’ type of figure. That’s my personal favorite type of figure.

In conclusion

There is something truly special about photographing a custom character. My Artron became Pinball, mechanical wanderer of the wasteland. The next Artron I get could be a wizard, a shiny space trooper, an evil assassin or any number of other things. I don’t feel like it’s an overstatement to say that Desktop Vandals’ work is the most fresh and unique toy that I’ve encountered in awhile.

I cannot recommend more that you try an Artron or even a Mokubot (one of the larger bot types). Support an independent toymaker and set your creativity free. If you pick up an Artron, please tag me on social media (@demarcation_media). I would love to see what you create!

• You can find Desktop Vandals’ shop here.
• Behind the scenes footage is available in my video review.

  • Zee Fowler