MerCars®: Series 1: Classic Muscle

So things seem a bit quiet in Savannah over at Troublefish® - deeply entrenched in pre-production and prototype experimenting for a new line of designer toys - the MerCar®: half collector's dream car, half angler's trophy. Currently in the works; Series 1 (the pilot set): Classic American Muscle cars from the late 1960s: 1968 Merstang® (Mustang GT and Largemouth Bass), 1969 Mer-Goat® (GTO and Pike), 1970 Ca-Mer-O® (Camaro and Brooktrout). 


... currently in the throws of 3D sculpting: The car bodies for the Merstang and Mer-Goat.

more to come

Lipstick Face - Insidious Demon - final pin-up for Series 2

This was too long of a break - almost 6 months! But there has been much in dev. (i've been keeping to the social medias, mostly - the cheap thrills of instant gratification and the likes)...

For all of those not joined to the web by the hip, here's a post on the final addition to my Classic Horror Movie Pin-Up series #2 - Lipstick Face from Insidious.

Take a look at the other 2, Michelle Myers and Pyramid Head from previous entries (conveniently linked)...

Michelle Myers - Classic Horror Movie Pin-Up Series 2

I go her done in September - and was going to post it - but 'twas a month o' much ado! I got derailed focusing on "grown-up" work and moving... though not much of and excuse, but i am getting older and need my beauty rest...

The final character of this series will be a contemporary antagonist (a ghoul from one of the modern horror franchises) - i'm adhering to some form of sequence here...

so here are some of my options:
The Conjuring
Trick 'r Treat
Sinister
Insidious

...let's see.

Michelle Myers - Classic Horror Movie Pin-Up Series 2: sketch 'n' ink

Introducing Haddonfield's newest antagonist - Michelle Myers, of Halloween fame; the latest installment to Series 2 of my Classic Horror Movie Pin-up Girls. Just like the infamous Michael Myers, the white (well, here, marred with make-up), William Shatner mask and butcher knife are trademark accessories!
... I changed out the eyebrows on the mask to make the expression look more vaccuous (allows for a better make-up canvas - kinda like the old-school Barbie "make-up bust" from the 1970s)...

... coloring currently in progress.

FISH CARS - finished design, new name

Dear Readers,

I promise your patience and your much appreciated dedication shall be returned in due course! I have completed my initial concept sketch of the 1966 Ford F100 White Catfish (Ameiurus catus) "MER-CAR". 

Straight from Lake Oconee, Georgia comes the redesigned Mer-Ford! 

I've updated the FISH-CAR place-holder name to Mer-Car - in reference to the legendary, half human, half fish creature from myth of a bygone era...

FISH CARS - redesigning the catfish F100 ('66) for prototyping

The cross-country transition is nearing an end - yet I still have to wait until late September before I can even think of setting up my Seattle workshop... Alas, progress will be slow.

I have the original sketch - scanned and ready to go in Photoshop - set up digitally. Now, I'll redraw and add color.

I've changed up the dimensions and ratios a bit (fin size, whiskers, fenders and front end) to give the character a little more fluidity (the original was a bit rigid - looked like a car body slapped onto a fish chassis - no good)...

FISH CARS - soon to make their debut in Seattle

I've been working on a new nautical bio-mech series for 2016, with chrome and retro styling, of course... I've been plagued with a rather arduous move from Savannah (the current location of my toy company, Troublefish) to Seattle (pretty much where everyone else is) - much of what could go wrong, did (animal bite infection, finger filleting, broken stuff, cancelled car transports, extensive house re-modelling, etc...)...but, i digress.

stay tuned in for progress posts!

Classic Horror Movie Pin-Up Series 2 - Pyramid Head

YAY! Progress! Way past due, Pyramid Head Pin-up Girl is finally done!..

...going back to the 70s for the next one in the series; Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise.

Pyramid Head - Classic Horror Movie Pin-Up Series 2 - progress report

Progress is being made - albeit quite slowly...

... yes, its still due to the move and single-handedly (now, literally, as i just had 15 stitches in my left hand) packing tons of stuff over the past few months (while working full-time)...

I'm finishing up the backdrop and quote shortly (it's a promise i'm sticking with!)

Check in later!

Pyramid Head - Classic Horror Movie Pin-Up Series 2

Between packing moving boxes, a full-time job and commuting back-and-forth from Savannah to Seattle, I'm finding time to work on the next 3 gals of the second series of my Classic Horror Movie Pin-Up line...

... Pyramid Head; inked and ready for color (currently underway!).

Capt. QUINT color variations #2 and #3

Set up nicely next to the original green and red camouflage coat (far left) - Capt. QUINT proudly displays the prototype versions for the tropical camouflage and his nighttime stealth colors (front)!

As you may have discovered last via my social media portals (twitter, facebook and instagram) the Kickstarter campaign for the vinyl toy release for Capt. QUINT failed miserably... though he may seem dead - this is far from the truth. I have negotiations in the works for going with a small (100 units) batch resin production run...

...stay tuned!

SpankyStokes.com | Vinyl Toys, Art, Culture, & Everything Inbetween: "Capt QUINT" Evolved - an urban vinyl, designer to...

SpankyStokes.com | Vinyl Toys, Art, Culture, & Everything Inbetween: "Capt QUINT" Evolved - an urban vinyl, designer to...: From the shadowy waters of the deepest abyss rises a new breed of apex predator, perfected by evolution and honed by technology: " Ca...

Capt QUINT is going to KICKSTARTER

Hello dear readers,

If you have been following allow with my various social media channels, you may have noticed that I am about to throw something close to my heart out there for the public to judge worthy of their money...

...my very first designer toy, Capt. QUINT, will become available for 500 of you on February 3rd, 2016!

Check out this teaser video of me making the prototype of Capt. QUINT...

Starting the second series of my Classic Horror Movie Pin-Ups

2016 is off to a busy start! Only days until I launch my debut designer toy (Capt. QUINT) on Kickstarter - preparing the campaign is quite involved and has demanded much of my time (hence my lengthy "radio silence") - I'll post a comprehensive article later this week - with video...

...now back to the topic at hand - the demand of my 1st series of Classic Horror Movie Pin-Ups has led me to designing Series 2; comprised of Pyramid Head (pictured here), Leather Face and a female Cenobite (based on Pin Head's appearance)...

...if you haven't yet - take a look at Series 1 (still available in very limited numbers) at my online store: troublefish.bigcartel.com

Thanks!

Classic Horror Movie Pin-Ups (Series 1) Limited Art Prints for sale!

You asked for them, and here they are!
 
I am selling a limited run (66) of my Series 1 Classic Horror Movie Pin-ups as 9x12inch (22½x40½cm) hand signed and numbered APs (Artist Proofs). They are printed on 100% cotton rag watercolor paper (285gsm) in Savannah, Georgia, USA.

Series 1 includes: Freda Krueger, Jacie Voorhees and Billie the Puppet (all pictured below).

They are available exclusively at: http://troublefish.bigcartel.com/

How to Make a Toy Prototype

Dear reader,
I have been away from this blog for the past month as I was working on building out my asset library for my upcoming Kickstarter campaign for my (under the Troublefish brand) very first vinyl designer toy - Capt. QUINT. 

Capt. QUINT is a jet-turbine, battle-paint clad, stylized great white shark; the first in a series of 8 inch adult collectable vinyl designer toys.  Set in our mid-1950s, in a universe devoid of humans, sharks have evolved to become the apex species.  Alongside the unique and colorful retro-nautical theme, the series is backed by an engaging plot and involved character developments.

I am planning to fund a limited run in vinyl on Kickstarter in early February of 2016...

Stay tuned, I'll be posting updates as that date draws closer, but for now I'll leave you with a special treat - the making of the Capt. QUINT prototype (by hand, by yours truly)....

Enjoy!

Troublefish and Social Media

Did you enjoy gluing together scale models of harrier jets and hot-rods as a kid? Are you intrigued by the SyFy Channel's SFX completion show, Face Off? Ever wanted to know how to design and build your very own small batch resin toy (just like the one in the image to the left)?

Well, I'll let you follow my process, step by (painstaking) step to make your doodle into a limited edition collectible toy!

Check out one of my brand's (Troublefish) social media channels to follow along at your own pace, or to simply connect...

Instagram: @troublefishtoys
Twitter: @troublefishtoys
Facebook: Troublefish Toys
ello: troublefish

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thomas Troisch

Troublefish - the New Brand in Designer Toys

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Troublefish has trademark pending!

What does this mean? Well, the Troublefish brand (logo, mark and name)have been approved for registered trademark (international, exempt in China) - the mark is pending and will be complete upon release of a product for sale to the public (conspicuously announced and posted) within 6 months of its allowance date...

 

...the first product to be available under the brand is not other than Capt. QUINT - the 8 inch vinyl designer toy of a camouflaged, retro jet engine donning, stylized great white named after the ill-fated skipper in Steven Spielberg's 1975 JAWS. To adequately and shamelessly promote Capt. QUINT, the product is featured over the entire Troublefish website (including mobile) and social media channels (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and ello) - check it out...

Piggly Wiggly triptych commission - stage 3

better late than never, right?  I completed Stage 3 (see Stages 1 and 2 here) over three weeks ago, scout's honor!  I even had the pictures stored on the SD chip of my Canon, though, the marketing work for my nascent company, Troublefish, and it debut toy, Capt. QUINT, monopolized much of my energy...

...ready to paint some pigs now, aka Stage 4. And the tag lines, too, off course. Then, Stage 5 will include the embroidered velvet strip for the black pulled Pork painting and a "Pork SALE" label for the white logo painting...

...Stage 6 is a satin clear coat and the mounting hardware - you'll see.

Horror Classics - Pin-Ups with a Twist: #3 Jacie Voorhees

... and then there were three! Jacie, along with Billie and Freda are going to the printer next week for their limited, artist (me) signed and numbered release - I'll be sure to specify the online location on my (troublefish's) social media channels - instagram, twitter and facebook... so stay tuned!

#4 is geared towards my "younger" audience and avid Konami fans - it shall be none other than Pyramid Head...