X-Men: Custom 90's Cyclops by
O.G.Trilogy Strikes Back, on Flickr
I first became a fan of the X-Men in the 90's from watching the X-Men animated series on Saturday mornings. Comics artist Jim Lee redesigned the Cyclops costume he wore at the time and it is very indicative of the 90's. It's got a militaristic style with lots of superfluous straps and utility pouches. It is pretty silly, but that's what he wore when I was first getting into the X-Men and it's still my favorite look for the character.
Toy Biz actually did make a Cyke figure in this costume at one point, but it was fairly hard to find and goes for a fortune on the secondary market. I got a really good deal on a Marvel Select Cyclops figure and thought I could make my own. He originally came in his old school uniform with the hood that covers the whole top of his head. I sculpted the hair on and painted his forehead fleshtone. I sculpted the belt on his chest and back, the utility belt around his waist with all the pouches, and I sculpted all the bands around his forearms, thighs and calves. I cut thin strips of sculting clay and placed them on the figure the way I wanted and added the compartments and pouches on top of the strips. This sculpting clay is supposed to be baked in order for it to harden, but I couldn't put a plastic figure in the oven so instead I boiled water and poured it over him in the sink when I had all the clay parts just the way I wanted. I used yellow sculpting clay so I wouldn't have to do as much paint work, but I still did a wash and some drybrushing with a couple different shades of yellow.
Marvel Select figures are marketed more toward adult collectors and they aren't really meant to be played with very much. The plastic they use is not as durable as what Hasbro uses for the Legends line and unfortunately, Cyke's right arm broke off at the elbow joint when I was taking him out of the package. I tried to drill out a couple of holes and use a nail as a new pin to save the articulation, but I couldn't get it to look right and function at the same time so I just glued the arm back together at the elbow. Cyclops often puts his hand to his visor when he uses his optic blast, so I glued the arm with the elbow bent so he could accomplish his trakemark move. He retains all the rest of his original articulation besides the right elbow joint.