An Alpha for Sheva

I remember how excited I was years ago when I saw the first promo pics for the Hot Toys Sheva Alomar action figure. I knew that she would be expensive, but I wanted her anyway. As the time came closer for her release, her expected cost became known and it gave me serious pause. However, I communicated with another collector and we made a deal that we would go half and half on the figure. I wanted Sheva only, and he wanted all of her gear. By the time Sheva was released, he was dealing with health issues, and we never followed through with making the purchase (R.I.P. Paul). 

Here is one of the promo pics that had me so excited.

The Sheva figure sold out, and her price skyrocketed on the secondary market. I regretted not buying her when she was first released. I could've sold all of her gear that I did not want. But, she was the one that got away.

Last year I started thinking about her again. I checked on eBay and the complete figure was selling for 3 or 4 (or more) times the original retail price. In some cases, her head alone was selling for what the original retail price of the entire figure was. I kept watching the auctions for her head, and finally won the head for a price that I was willing to pay.

When the head arrived, I gathered up my female action figures to see which one was the closest skin tone match to Sheva, and it was the Triad Alpha (Hispanic).  The Alpha temporarily lost her head as I tried the Sheva head with the Alpha body. It did not go well. Alphas have a cone-shaped neck knob, while Hot Toys figures have a round neck knob. Below is a photo of an Alpha neck.

I wondered if the plastic grape trick would work, but it did not. Below is a photo of the Alpha body (with plastic grape attached) holding the Alpha head on the left, and the Sheva head on the right.

I asked fellow collector Codename Silent G for help because I saw that he had rebodied Sheva and other Hot Toys heads on other bodies. He told me what I needed to do, but I procrastinated.

Sheva popped up on my blog once last year in a holiday photo, but her head wasn't really attached to her body.

I put the Alpha's original head back on the body, and Sheva's head has been languishing in my Drawer of Forgotten Heads ever since, until recently.

I decided to stop procrastinating, and I purchased Sheva her very own Hispanic Alpha body. I opted for the small bust version, since none of my other Alpha ladies have this version.

This figure came with no spare hands and no spare feet. I wasted no time in opening the figure, which had never been removed from the package. I've had problems with Triad figures in the past, so I was really REALLY hoping that there would be no issues.

There was an issue. :( Her upper torso articulation does not, ummmm, articulate. Her upper torso is immobile, as if someone glued it in place. Ok, I REALLY dislike going to the post office, so I asked for (and received) a partial refund instead of returning the figure. So I proceeded with the modification.

I had in my possession some vinyl shelf caps from Home Depot. I purchased a pack with large and small caps because that's all they had, but I only needed the small ones.

If you only place the shelf cap over the neck post and then put the head on, the head will stay on but it will not sit properly on the neck. Below is a photo of Sheva with her neck tilted back prior to the modification that I describe below. Not a good look.

I needed to make a permanent modification to the Alpha body. I gathered the items that I would need:  a vinyl shelf cap, a ruler, scissors, something sharp and sturdy enough to cut through hard plastic (I used garden shears, but wire cutters will also work), and a metal nail file (sandpaper would probably work better).

I cut off the bottom 1/16" of one of the shelf caps with scissors. Then I cut off the top 1/16" of the neck knob of the Alpha body with the garden shears. I used the metal nail file to smooth out the neck knob after I had cut off the tip.

I submerged the shelf cap in boiling hot water for 1 minute, and then I pushed it down on the Alpha neck post as far as it would go. This turned the neck post into a vinyl ball that would grip the inside socket of the Sheva head. Then I attached Sheva's head. Her head is now securely attached and she has full range of motion. 

I'm not completely satisfied because the Alpha neck looks a little thick for this head, but I'm happy for the most part. I'm going to find her something to wear that covers her neck a bit, and this is a done deal. I've finally got my Sheva Alomar!

Sheva is quickly making friends.  Pictured below are from left to right GI Joe Colin Powell, Sheva, Samuel Wilson, GI Joe [Jane] Helicopter Pilot, and Triad Hispanic Alpha. Sheva and the Hispanic Alpha both have a set of flat feet, but they will have to share the heeled feet and spare hands.