Jay Kushwara / Digital Renaissance

In 2009 I was given the single most complex 4 inch figure project I had ever had – the Vintage Collection C-3PO. With 14 points of articulation, 4 separate removable plates and 29 separate parts 3PO required more engineering than any other figure I’d done at that scale. The amount of detail required on his inner structure was extreme, with all the intertwining wiring and tubing carefully researched and modeled.

C-3PO

 Here’s an exploded view showing how the digital model was engineered with all the articulation, seperate parts and assembly taken into account.

I had the opportunity to model Hasbro’s latest Battle Droid figure for the 4″ scale Vintage collection series. Having been a big fan of Doug Chang’s beautiful design it was a pleasure to create the most faithful representation of the droid for Hasbro’s 4″ figure series to date.

Vintage Battle Droid

Here are photos of the final production piece, used with kind permission of Paul Harrison and Chuck Paskovics from the Jedi Temple Archives website.

After releasing the Ralph McQuarrie Collection Darth Vader Concept Helmet, EFX and I started working on a follow up Concept Stormtrooper helmet. Based on one of several early concept sketches Ralph created for the Stormtroopers, we completed the digital model and went as far as getting Ralph’s approval.

Ralph McQuarrie Collection Stormtrooper Concept Helmet

 Here are a series of renders showing how the final production piece might look.

And here is the prototype on display at SDCC in 2011. Photos courtesy of the member “Shadow” on Rebelscum.com

For the past 2 months or so I’ve been working with Paul Harrison and Chusk Paskovics over at Jedi Temple Archives on an exclusive interview. JTA is a Star Wars collector’s site that features just about anything and everything related to Star Wars collecting with an emphasis on action figures. The interview will go live July first.

Along with the help of Dave Vennemeyer and Hasbro, we’ve put together a great behind the scenes look into almost every 4″ scale Star Wars figure I’ve done. Included in the interview is an exclusive series of renders I put together for most of the figures – the first ever public look at the master digital patterns. I’ll be posting many of those same images here about a week after the interview goes live on JTA.

A big thanks to Paul and Chuck for their enthusiasm and allowing me the opportunity to reach out to the SW figure collecting world!

Link – http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/specialreports/Jay-Kushwara/

In 2006 I got the chance to do my first figure in the 4″ Star Wars line – R2 from the Ralph McQuarrie signature series exclusive 2 pack. Based on one of the early concept sketches Ralph did for R2 D2, I loved the more industrial style of this version.

Ralph McQuarrie Signature Series R2-D2

Here are photos of the final production piece, used with kind permission of Paul Harrison and Chuck Paskovics from the Jedi Temple Archives website.

 I wanted to highlight the beautiful job my friend Clyde Duensing did on my logo. My graphic design skills are pretty sad, and after a few days of trying to design something on my own Clyde came to the rescue and offered the logo concept I’ve been using ever since ! I owe Clyde a huge thank you, and offer a link to his great site !

http://www.xenoglyphic.com/index.php

Here is a project started as an exercise in digital sculpting and realistic CG rendering. I based it on an old Joker figure I sculpted in 1997 while at Kenner Toys  – the Laughing Gas Joker from the Legends of the Dark Knight series.

Arkham Sculpt

Along with all the cool action figure and prop replica projects showcased here, I have also done a lot of work that would fall into the “cute” category for clients like Fisher Price and In Zone Brands. This piece was one of three high relief sculpts I created for the Disney Pixar Cars line with In Zone Brands. These sculpts are used as “toppers” for the Belly Washers and Tummy Ticklers line of juices.

Lightning McQueen Topper

Along with the digital pattern, I also provide In Zone with a digital deco master as a guide for the manufacturer. Both the sculpt pattern and deco master are specifically designed to meet the exacting manufacturing and painting constraints of the final product.

In 2009 I created the digital pattern/action figure for one of the most popular characters from the first Force Unleashed video game. Proxy was a sidekick training droid for Darth Vader’s secret apprentice Galen Marek.

These renders are of the final fully engineered digital pattern – the exact same model files used for the final physical RP output and the master tooling patterns. He stands at 4” tall, has 20 points of articulation and has 23 separate parts.

Proxy

Here are photos of the final production piece, used with kind permission of Paul Harrison and Chuck Paskovics from the Jedi Temple Archives website.

This is the final digital pattern for the Silver Samurai figure created for Hasbro in 2007.

The figure was never produced, but was showcased in prototype form as part of a “Marvel Legends Fan Poll”. 

This model stands at 6.25” tall, has 25 points of articulation and has 38 separate parts.

 Silver Samurai

Here is the painted prototype as featured in the Fan Poll. Image courtesy of Toyfare magazine.

This is the final digital pattern for the Iron Man Subterranean Armor figure from Hasbro.  Originally modeled in 2008, the base figure was used for several Iron Man figure variations including the Arctic Crusader and Hulkbuster.

This figure stands at 6.25” tall, has 31 points of articulation and has 39 separate parts including the Hulkbuster helmet.

Iron Man Subterranean Armor / Arctic Crusader / Hulkbuster

This is the final digital pattern with the added Hulkbuster helmet.

This is the final packaging and production figure for the Subterranean Armor version as featured on the Marvel Legends web site.

Iron Man Subterranean Armor, photographed by Dave Huffman for MarvelLegends.net

After doing the initial run of Iron Man Mark 3  figures in 2007, I got the assignment to create a figure based on a character to be used in the Iron Man movie tie in video game – the classic Iron Man villain Titanium Man.

These renders are of the final fully engineered digital pattern – the exact same model files used for the final physical RP output and the master tooling patterns. He stands at 6.25” tall, has 32 points of articulation and has 36 separate parts.

Titanium Man

Here is the final packaging and production figure as featured on the Marvel Legends web site.

Titanium Man, photographed by Dave Huffman for MarvelLegends.net

“Ralph McQuarrie’s comment that never before had someone reproduced his artwork so faithfully is a true testament to the skill of Jay Kushwara.”

 – Bryan Ono, CEO / President at eFX Inc.

In 2008 I started working on what would be one of the most fulfilling professional experiences of my career. The client was eFX Inc., and the project was the Ralph McQuarrie Collection Darth Vader Concept Helmet. Over the next year I would work closely with the entire eFX team to bring Ralph McQuarrie’s original concept painting to life, creating the most faithful 3D version ever made of one of the most iconic concept paintings in science fiction film history. To say it was an honor would be an understatement! From the age of eleven I had that painting etched in my mind as the definitive vision of the greatest villain the galaxy had ever known.

This is the final digital pattern created for eFX. The helmet is 1:1 scale and measures approximately 15” tall.

 Ralph McQuarrie Collection Darth Vader Concept Helmet

These renders show the facemask and rear neck collar piece without the outer helmet.

This is a three panel sequence from the eFX website “In Development” page. It provides a rare glimpse into the helmet’s development process. Also shown is an eFX newsletter with a photograph of Ralph McQuarrie and eFX’s Bryan Ono taken during the final prototype approval meeting.  

Here is the master pattern as seen on display at the San Diego Comic Con in 2008 

This figure was created in 2008 for the GI Joe 25^th anniversary DVD battle pack “Arise, Serpentor Arise”.  This project was a welcome break from Iron Man suits and Star Wars droids ! As much as I love the hi tech mechanical models, it’s nice to do the occasional “organic” character and get back to my special effects makeup and creature design roots.

This is the final digital pattern for the Skeleton King figure. It stands approximately 4” tall, is limited to 4 points of articulation and has 10 separate parts.

 GI Joe Skeleton King

As cool as the updated Iron Man Mark 6 design was, the biggest surprise for me (and the general movie going public) was the addition of a second armored “Hero” character, the infamous War Machine!

Bulkier and more  “military” in style this was one of my favorite designs from either of the films.

This is the final digital pattern I created for Hasbro. I had created the digital prototype for the 4” figure first, and then the 6.25” version a few months later.

War Machine stands at 6.25” tall, has 36 points of articulation and has 40 separate parts.

War Machine

Here is the final packaging and production figure as featured on the Marvel Legends web site.

War Machine, photographed by Dave Huffman for MarvelLegends.net