Prom-Wild-Horses - 7 Figure Set (October 2006)

For those unfamiliar with customising, the pale pink stuff is the colour of the 'super sculpey' sculpting clay that I put over the plastic figures. It can be translucent, so you can often see the original colour of the figure underneath. Once I've finished sculpting, I always completely repaint the whole figure.

I bought a figure from The Matrix and was impressed with the mansion house set it came with. At the same time, I got hold of DST's new Buffy and Angel Prom set. I liked parts of those figures but not all. I liked the balloons best of all.

Anyway, I was inspired to make a diorama of "The Prom", with lots of characters, slow dancing to "Wild Horses" by The Sundays. I love that song and that moment.

I have made a prom dress Buffy before but it was one of my very early attempts at sculpting and the dress was rather clunky. I'm pretty sure she doesn't exist any more and that the buyer used her for parts, so my muse felt OK about making a new version, in a different pose.

Ideally, I would have made a 9 figure set, including Wes and Cordy dancing, but I felt that I had made a very good custom of Prom Cordy recently and didn't want to copy it. So, I made Buffy/Angel, Willow/Oz and Xander/Anya dancing, with Giles watching fondly.

"Wild Horses" The Sundays

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Reference Photos

The Parts

The Sculpting

To make Giles, I used a Giles head, Lorne body and Wesley arms. I reshaped the hair around his temples. I removed the pelvis and positioned him with one leg raised on the step, leaning forward and one hand in his pocket. I reshaped the trousers and sculpted his waistcoat and jacket. I altered the Class Protector award that came from DST to make it less like a full-size parasol and more like the little Mardi Gras jazz wedding umbrella it was supposed to be.

To make Buffy, I used a Prom Buffy torso and arms, Anya legs (repositioned) and a deluxe Buffy head. I removed the hair and sculpted her long tied-back hair. I removed the dress and sculpted her in dancing position with a more fitted dress. I used the train and sculpted more folds. I repositioned her arms.

To make Angel, I used a Wesley bow-tie body and Angel 1 head. I altered his hairstyle a little. I removed the jacket and arms and just used his hands. I sculpted the jacket and sleeves in the appropriate position.

To make Willow, I used a Willow head, Anya body and Buffy Prom arms. I removed the hair and sculpted it tied up with tendrils. I sculpted the dress, shawl and corsage. There were some good reference photos of her outfit in the "Sunnydale High Yearbook".

To make Oz, I used an Oz head and Spike body. I removed the pelvis to make him shorter and positioned the legs for dancing. I sculpted the shirt, bow-tie and jacket.

To make Anya, I used a Wedding Anya head, Anyanka torso, normal Anya legs and Buffy arms. I sanded down part of the skirt and sculpted her long dress, adding some pattern for the lacy parts. I removed her hair and sculpted her ears and tied-up curls.

To make Xander, I used a builder Xander head and legs with a Wesley torso and hands. I removed the hair from his forehead and sculpted new hair. I also sculpted his mouth closed. I fixed the position of his legs and then sculpted the jacket, arms and lapel rose.

The Set

I know the Sunnydale school gym didn't have a grand staircase, but I thought it worked anyway. I roped in my nephew and niece, Harry and Hannah, to help me convert The Matrix set into The Prom set.

After seeing my recent use of fairy lights, my buyer, Annette, asked me to try to use some multi-coloured ones for the set. I managed to find some and it's very effective. I drilled 20 holes along the back of the stairs and put them in. They make great effects with different light-shows in the dark.

I had a "Congratulations Class of 1999" banner that I made years ago and this was a chance to use it. I cut out card to cover the rough walls and Hannah painted them red. She also painted the stairs like red carpet. Harry painted the yellow detail and the beige floor. I painted the wood and used a gold-leaf pen for the gold details.

I printed out a "Sunnydale Razorbacks" logo to hide the raised shield on the wall of The Matrix set. I used balloons from the DST Prom stands to add the final touch.

The Whole 7 Figure Prom Set

Small Animated GIF - Showing Different Angles and Disco Lights

Giles

Buffy & Angel

Willow & Oz

Anya & Xander