First, check out the finished product:
Long time no see! Recently, I watched Marvel's "What If...?", specifically the episode where Hulk is transported to a universe where most heroes have turned into zombies. Seeing former heroes become bloodthirsty monsters was such a mind-blowing concept. It got me thinking about incorporating that element into my own work. What if Sun Wukong from "Journey to the West" became a zombie? That's where this project began.
Story Setting:
After the "Three Attacks on the White Bone Demon," Sun Wukong was banished by Tang Sanzang. Still feeling indignant, Wukong consumed the last of the dried rations his master had given him. He then decided to journey to the Heavenly Court to borrow the Monster-Revealing Mirror from Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, hoping to prove his innocence. Unbeknownst to Wukong, those rations were Lady White Bone's final trap before her demise... Upon reaching the South Heavenly Gate, Wukong attempted to explain the situation to Erlang Shen, who was guarding the entrance. However, Erlang Shen's dismissive remark, "Demon Monkey," infuriated the already agitated Wukong, and the two erupted into conflict once more. Suddenly, Wukong felt an uncontrollable urge for human blood. When he regained his senses, his teeth were already sunk into Erlang Shen's flesh. After being bitten by Wukong, Erlang Shen transformed into a mindless, bloodthirsty walking corpse. Wukong, perhaps due to his nature as a stone monkey born from the essence of heaven and earth, sun and moon, did not lose his intellect. Nevertheless, the Heavenly Court was destined to be thrown into chaos once again, perhaps even a bloodbath...
I started by sculpting the head in ZBrush. I didn't need to get too detailed at this stage, as Sun Wukong has a lot of hair! XD
Next, I modeled the hair in Blender.
Then I sculpted the body. Initially, the mouth was closed, aiming for a more imposing, "Great Sage Equal to Heaven" look. But it didn't quite convey the zombie vibe, so I ultimately went with an open-mouthed expression.
Finally, I added the finer details and rendered it for a satisfying preview.
After that, I added supports, preparing the model for printing.
Given its 1/6 scale, the printing process took approximately 31 hours from start to finish.
First, I removed the printing supports.
Then, I sanded it down to thoroughly remove any remaining support marks.
A quick test assembly to see how it looks.
After applying primer, I addressed the Ruyi Jingu Bang. Since it was too long to print as a single piece, I printed it in two sections and joined them with a brass rod for a stronger connection, rather than just using adhesive putty like before.
One final check before painting.
Then, it was time to apply the colors.
I sprayed the armor parts with metallic paints. I don't know why, but applying metallic colors always feels incredibly satisfying! XD
For areas that were difficult to airbrush, I used brush painting to fill in the details.
The pupils were painted somewhat casually, as they would eventually be covered with a layer of white. This was just a placeholder for the "still human" eyes! XD
Finally, I applied a wash to give it a grimy, weathered look (though I might have overdone it a bit...).
After attaching the limbs, it's complete!
I've uploaded the entire creation process to YouTube, so please subscribe and hit that like button! See you on the next project.
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