Collectors and fans alike have a chance to own one-of-a-kind Star Wars art pieces while giving to a good cause with The Empire Muggs Back. Lucasfilm asked artists, comic book creators, toy designers, and celebrity fans to get out their markers, paint brushes and glue guns and transform blank Mighty Muggs (donated by Hasbro) into custom Star Wars art which will be auctioned by The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Starwars.com chats with artist Frank Duran about his process for turning a blank Hasbro Mighty Muggs figure into a special tribute to 2-1B Battle Damage Medic Droid.
What did you choose to do for your Mighty Muggs art piece?
As a child I was always a fan of 2-1B and admired the work that went into fabricating it. I love the use of an old microphone as the mouth piece and the translucent abdominal area is classic. I decided to make my droid in a military field unit because I've never seen a 2-1B in a battle scenario before and with a weapon.
What was your step-by-step process for making the 2-1B Battle Damage Medic Droid?
First thing I did before starting anything was to buy a high speed rotary tool which is very useful. When you have no tools it is a life saver. I first cut off the bottom part of the back of the head. This is where I will fit a plastic piece later. Then I cut the arms off and the feet as well. I then proceed to cut around the stomach area this is where the clear plastic will be placed. I add clear plastic tubing cut and formed to fit as the abdomen. I used the clear protective packaging that the Muggs came in and removed the area around the head. This will be the plastic behind the robot's head.
I filled the head with foam. Then I added small flashlight components into the head and ran the on switch through the neck and into and through its back. I used wooden cloth pins for legs and carved the hands from a bottle cap size solid piece of Bondo. After fabrication I sanded then primed it. The base color I used is a metallic copper. Then the spots were added with acrylic flat black paint. I inserted thin individual small wires in the head and painted each a different color again using acrylics.
What were some of the challenges you had while making 2-1B Battle Damage Medic Droid?
The biggest challenge was not having the tools you need and having to work around that to get what you want.
Why did you want to participate in The Empire Muggs Back art project?
It was a great opportunity to be a part of making a child's dream come true, and a dream of mine to have something I made seen by George Lucas.
Stay tuned to StarWars.com for in-depth coverage on The Empire Muggs Back.
