CREATIVE CUSTOM: Ricky Lam's Cyber Spawn 1.5

Modified mecha comes to life thanks to Hong Kong based artist...

A Hong Kong native, Ricky Lam collects both Japanese and American action figures, but especially enjoys collecting and customizing McFarlane Toys. “I started to collect Spawn figures (with) Series 1,” says Lam. “Back then, the McFarlane figures had a big impact on the toy industry. (They) introduced good body proportions and decent paintwork.”

At that time, Hong Kong didn't have a McFarlane Toys' distributor and Lam was paying top dollar for figures which, in the United States, cost much less. “I had to buy the (figures) from US comic shops,” he says. However, Lam was transferred to Singapore and, during his time there, was able to amass a fairly large collection. “While I worked in Singapore, I visited the official Spawn Store - Spawn.com Asia - every Sunday. That’s where I got most of my collection…”

Sadly, Lam stopped collecting McFarlane Toys after Spawn Series 14. “I found the quality has dropped,” he comments. However, he again started collecting McFarlane Toys after the Comic Covers series began to appear. Though he's unable to buy them all (“Hong Kong’s residents have limited space,” he points out), he now collects only his favorites, which include robotic and mechanical figures like Cyber Spawn 1 and Cyber Spawn 2.

Inspired by these two mecha designs, Lam recently decided to customize a third version - Cyber Spawn 1.5. “I felt there was a huge difference between Cyber Spawn 1 and Cyber Spawn 2 and I wanted to build a version 1.5 to fill the gap in between,” says Lam, who used the re-released white Cyber Spawn 1 as a base figure for his custom (above).

“At first I thought of just repainting the figure from white to red, but then it would only be a repaint of a repaint. So, I started to add some modification...”

These modification included removing all of the originally attached parts, replacing the bulky shoulder pieces, modifying the head and chest armor, and using magnetic joints. Lam then sculpted a skull belt piece (“Every Spawn should have (one),” he’s quick to point out) and then converted the leg armor into shoulder and arm armor.

“I normally customize comic characters that no figures have been made for…or the factory product was really bad,” Lam adds, explaining how he used magnets to allow the right hand to be interchangeable and the back-mounted machine gun to move. “I gather as much character information as possible and find a suitable base figure for the custom. It actually takes a long time to find a suitable figure, but then I use epoxy putty and Sculpy to build the parts that I wanted. I (then) paint it last…”

Lam’s Cyber Spawn 1.5 boasts an impressive metallic black and red paint application and has joined Lam’s collection of previously customized figures, which includes an impressive Wolvenom, an updated Captain Britian, and a super sexy Luis Royo Batgirl amongst others...

“I keep all of my custom figures for my personal collection (and will) probably keep the Cyber Spawn 1.5 in a display case in my office for awhile,” says Lam, who continues to live and work in Hong Kong. “I’ve been (making) G-kit models for a long time. I just simply apply the technique to the action figures (I customize). Applying surfacer, building the extra parts and painting (the Cyber Spawn 1.5) were the same as the G-kit figure building procedure.”

Surprisingly, Lam even created a custom package for the Cyber Spawn 1.5 (below) which in and of itself is impressive. “I'm a McFarlane Toys fan for sure,” Lam states matter of fact when asked his favorite toy companies. “McFarlane Toys has the best sculptors and most of their products have great details and (are available) at an affordable price.”

However, when asked what his favorite figures of 2007 are, he’s quick to point out Marvel Toys’ Legendary Comic Book Heroes - and the Pitt build-a-figure in particular. “The Pitt has good paintwork and articulation. I like the plastic they used (as) it brings out more detail and (is) lighter in weight. I hope McFarlane will make a build-a-figure Malebolgia in the future, and also add more joints to their figures...just like Marvel Legends.”

Whether McFarlane Toys ever makes a build-a-figure or increases the articulation of their figures is still in question; but there’s no doubt Ricky Lam will continue to customize his favorite toys - including McFarlane Toys figures like the Cyber Spawn 1 - in new and creative ways...