Spaceballs figure on The Goldbergs

Back in 2015 I sculpted a set of 5 solid Spaceball figures for Darkmatter Props. They sold casted copies for a few years before the casting rights reverted back to me.

What I didn't realize was that someone in the TV show 'The Goldbergs' prop department bought a ''Princess Vespa" figure cast - and that Darkhelmet (voiced by Rick Moranis himself) played with it on screen:

Clip from "The Goldbergs" S5E21: Spaceballs

A big thanks to the show's prop master(s). Hopefully it's not the last Spaceballs segment on 'The Goldbergs'. 😁

Another big thanks to Galaxy of Toys for their positive review of the whole series of casted figures.

For a gallery of the finished figures, visit the gallery at ActionFigurePics.com


2026 UPDATE: Darkmatter Props will be producing a new wave of these original figures. Email briightcoredesign@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list for more information.

HOW TO: Hollow out a model for 3D printing

While looking for a way to save costs on 3D models printed through Shapeway's laser sintering SWF-material type, I came across a very easy to use tutorial that uses the (free) Autodesk Meshmixer.

https://www.3dhubs.com/talk/thread/how-save-material-costs-tutorial-how-hollow-out-your-model

Essentially, import your .obj or .stl 3D model, Click "Edit" > Hollow. Adjust where the 'holes' are in the model, click the confirmation button in that menu and it automatically generates a second surface between the inside and outside of the model. For some types of 3D printing, this can drastically reduce the cost and time spent printing.

3D Modeler Jay Kushwara – From Concept to Digital Model

An article detailing the process of concept art to 3D model to finalized action figure by artist Jay Kushwara.

Fallout Vault-Tech Pebble Digital Watch Faces

2026 Update: All available links updated to the Internet Archive where possible:

Back before the Pebble brand was purchased by Fitbit and Google (~2015) a friend gave me a first generation  'Pebble' smartwatch as a present. I loved the simplicity of the e-ink screen and designed a few a square-face version of the Fallout 'Vault-Tec' Industries' watch face for it.

My favorite watchface among those I put together is a revised version of 'Vault-tec 24' by Microbyte: I changed it to look better on a square original Pebble watchface, and to use 12-hour time measurements instead of the grainy/circular 24-hour one it had originally.

Vault-Tec 12 by Blayne: Download

How?: Using image editing software, as well as the Pebble Image Converter to properly dither image resources correctly while not looking too pixelated.

Then upload that .PNG image to the Watchface Generator v2 and add in/control the overall appearance. It lets you choose and adjust just about every conceivable detail.

Afterward, use a QR code reader App to easily open the URL on the phone which is paired to your Pebble watch. I made sure it opened in my default browser, so it could properly hand-off the URL to my Pebble iOS app. From there, as long as there's empty slots in you watch for watch faces, it then automatically transfers the new Watchface to the Pebble by Bluetooth.

Complicated to make, but fun to have.

Original 24h face:

Test shots of various faces on my Pebble + with my original GUESS wide-band leather watchstrap.

Restored Fallout 3 Original Watercolors

While browsing Fallout-related artwork, I came across an interesting IMGUR gallery, titled "My Collection of Fallout 3 Memorabilia - I was a producer on the game".

Among the various bits of Fallout themed ephemera are two of the original watercolors used for various promotional art, and in the game as representing old-world, pre-war bulletin board signs and propaganda. These two are by illustrator Natalia Smirnova.

Wanting to have copies of the non-weathered (i.e: in-game) imagery as a backdrop for my Fallout-themed figure work, I did some digital touchups and sizing to approximate the original in a printable size. Enjoy. :)

Original:

 Redux:

Original:

Redux:

HOW TO: 3D Models for Printing (Cosplay)

I came across another great resource for free, user created 3D models with accessible downloads for end-user 3D printing: 

"My MiniFactory": https://www.myminifactory.com/category/cosplay

I discovered it while looking around at alternatives for the Fallout 4 Pipboy. While there's some very great 1:1 scale items (perfect for cosplay), ytec3d's version(s) have many small pieces that don't scale very well if using for 1:12 custom figures that need a pipboy.

However, there are versions available for that use too, thanks to "Jim". :)
https://www.myminifactory.com/object/fallout-4-style-pipboy-mk-3-5-13032

Artist Profile - Transition from Physical to 3D sculptor

The process behind 1/6 HOT TOYS (Korean video with English Subs)