Customizing How To: Turning A Bobblehead into a "Standard" Funko POP! Vinyl Figurine
I posted this video over on my Instagram a few weeks ago. It's a quick process video of how I turn a bobblehead POP into one with a plug at the neck. (In this case, I was making Anthony Bridgerton.)
Supplies: Box window (but any thin flexible plastic should do); cyanoacrylate glue (any "super glue" should do); Apoxie Sculpt Modeling Compound; water (for smoothing); acrylic craft paint
Tools: Sharpie; scissors; cotton swab; nitrile gloves; paper towel; dulled X-acto knife
Using the box window (i.e. the clear plastic on a Funko POP box that allows you to see what's inside), trace the size of the hole at the bottom of the bobblehead POP head.
Cut a disc of the box window slightly larger than the size of the hole. You want to make sure it rests on the inside of the head, so it needs to be just slightly larger in circumference.
Fit the disc you just cut out into the hole. The spring should keep the disc in tension with the rim on the inside.
Secure the disc to the inside of the head with cyanoacrylate glue. Let dry.
After dried, mix up enough Apoxie Sculpt Modeling Compound to fit into the hole and over the disc. I wear nitrile gloves whenever handling this clay due to an allergy.
Place mixed modeling compound into the hole and smooth with water until flush with the outside of the POP's head. If you have any extra clay, scrape it away with a flat tool (like a dulled X-acto knife).
Insert the neck of the body of your custom into the still soft clay. Gently twist while pulling the body out to maintain as much of the shape of the neck hole as possible.
Smooth out any bulges in the clay with water that may have resulted after you removed the neck. Reinsert the neck for proper fit. Repeat this step until you are satisfied the neck hole will fit your custom's neck.
Wipe away any clay that ended up where you didn't want it. Especially take care to do this if you don't plan to paint the entire head of your custom, because the watery clay will dry as a noticable thin film on your finished piece.
Allow Apoxie Sculpt Modeling Compound to cure completely, at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Paint.
Attach finished body and head at the neck with cyanoacrylate glue.
This is only how I personally developed doing this. I've also maintained bobbleheads by attaching the spring connecter at the neck and gently screwing the body and head together. You might find an even better solution! But this has worked best for me.
