“Limited Killer Klown 9″ Bust Resin Kit” 1988 00individual TLL
The Original Independent GARAGE KIT Era – ’80’s and Beyond!
Featuring Killer Klowns From Outer Space!
In the beginning . . .
. . . back in the early ’80’s there was a very small group of innovative U.S. sculptors and mold and casting artists who were inspired by Japanese modeler’s established cult / specialty hobby / business of limited production cold-cast resin assemble and paint model kits of horror, sci-fi, TV, anime, and movie figures and monsters.
Originally, the potent resin stunk and kits were confined to being made in one’s garage; hence the commonly known name: garage kits. These kits’ sculptures and poses were far more intricate and detailed than any mass-produced models, of which, most were cars, planes, and military vehicles, as figural models were scarce.
While fond memories existed – like the famous styrene plastic Aurora Universal Monster and the Weirdos kits of the ’60s – hard-core fans of figural models had dedicated interest in horror and sc-fi icons and now there was a way to actually have, in one’s possession, a 3D replica figure of just about any cult favorite. Once garage kit models were assembled and painted they were original and rare pieces of art.
“Aliens” Chestburster
00 became one of the initial dozen or so in the U.S. who dove into this hobby, that soon became a side business; to sculpt and mold and cast a popcultural figure model kit.
“Aliens” Chestburster 1:1 Resin Kit” 1986 00individual TLL
For his first kit he chose, sculpted, molded, and cast the Aliens Chestburster at a roughly 1:1 scale referenced from the woman on the wall from the sequal, Aliens.
That version was more detailed than the first chestburster in Alien and actually 00 sculpted the yet fully-developed legs, which in the victim’s body, were not seen.
Outlaws vs Outlaws
While still in its infancy, the demand for just about any pop cult subject guarnteed at least a dozen sales from collectors across the country. But resin kits were expensive, and rightly so, the level of sculpture of some, not all, was world-class. The time to make good silicone molds took knowledge, skill, and patience. Costs for the silicone and the resin added alot to the over-all cost to produce a dozen kits before the molds would start to show “wear”. Fifty to three hundred dollars for a kit was normal.
The excitement was high among the small community of resin kit producers as to who was going to do what figure / monster, and there would be bad-blood between kit makers as to who had “dibs” on early-on characters in demand.
The most unethical were recasters, slime who would by-pass the hard-working efforts and talent of the original’;s process and basically steal another’s work by purchasing a popular kit, recasting it, and then sell their cheaply made kits for cheap as their own. Legally, of course there was nothing one could do, so the word would spread as to who they were, and the low quality of the recasts usually told the tale.
Outlaws vs Licensors
The irony was that none of them had the rights to do any of this, they were producing model kits of popular characters without the license to do so.
“Flintstone 5.5″ Parody Resin Kits” ’80s/’90s 00individual TLL
The fun started when the companies who owned the rights to these limited edition garage kit characters got wind of this underground hobby and wanted to actually come after the kitmakers. 00, doing business as Dangerous Playthings with the Resinator (mold and cast back east), got a cease and desist AND a demand for accounting of how many Fred Flintstone parody kits were sold, etc.. Yeah, that happened, instead, 00’s response to Hanna-Barbera’s lawyers was treated as if they were a customer; “Thank you for your interest, but we are currently out of stock of that item.”
Legally, back then one could produce twenty-two of anything and not be considered mass-produced, nor an infringement on intellectual properties. Since these kits weren’t cheap twenty-two was about the kit run back then anyway. And then there’s Warhol’s solution.
00 somewhat carved-out a whimiscal niche of kits while most of the other companies chose to stick with well-known movie monsters and film / comic characters.
Eventually, financially-backed hobbiests obtained licenses and legitimized the hobby, and in 00’s mind, drained all of the fun out of it.
What was once a fun underground exchange of esoteric wonders had now become “business”.
However, it was the absolute perfect place and time for 00, for as he was honing his sculptural skills he was also learning model part design, which paid off huge in his later action figure design career.
Today, while the garage kit hobby still exists, it has moved from the garage to the home studio computer. Through zbrush files and 3D printers, anyone can make a model kit, a statue, or an action figure – without getting their hands dirty.
And as far as the availability of resin kits and pre-painted statues, just look to the internet. Additionally, there are pop culture conventions filled with various hybrid-resin kits and statues that took the love of the art of the original Garage Kits to gorgeous, involved, engaging works of art that are nothing less than astounding.
This Garage Kit hobby, started by a few innovative artists, spawned an ever-expanding multi-million dollar resin home and seasonal decoration and collectible market.
You are welcome!
Killer Klowns From Outer Space!
“Popcorn Baby Killer Klown Jack-In-The-Box” 1988 00individual TLL
Everything about this movie is terrififc and is why 00 has always been a huge fan.
Over 30 years later, the fun, clever, classic cult movie, Killer Klowns From Outer Space is finally getting its long, long overdue appreciation for being a truely entertaining cosmic shot of an irresistably fun, psychedelic, horror, sci-fi, comedy movie experience.
With the super best hard-rockin’ psychedelic circus movie theme song performed by The Dickies – just another highly enjoyable gem in this treasure chest of goodies.
(Best part is in the end of the video when the Klowns take over the song.)
Built, unpainted “Shorty” resin kit minus head sprout, below.
“What are ya going to do, knock my block off?” 
“Killer Klown Shorty Resin Kit” 1988 00individual TLL
Back in the late ’80s early ’90s(?) when 00 was doing a convention and was selling these KK kits, one of the genius Chiodo brothers, the creators of KKFOS, gave 00 the “thumbs up, and more power to you”, ‘cuz there were legal ownership disagreements between (Orion and MGM?) companys that kept them from any licensing deals – thus no product.
However, 00 is now excited, check out the exclamation marks!
With licensing resolved, for Halloween 2021/22, the Halloween pop-up store Spirit has literally filled the marketplace with licensed KKFOS merchandise! Some excellent stuff! It’s more than about time! Let’s see if they can pull a Lynch and get a 30 year sequel!
Quick trip on the Killer Klown jack-in-the-box above:
00 only made three of these, they were expensive and time-consuming – but with a hollow head they actually worked! Sold one at a L.A. Fangoria Con and the guy that purchased it was overly pleased, and smiled as he walked around the Con aisles turning the crank until the music released the lid and the KK head popped out! It was as if he was in a trance.
It is always a satisfying feeling to see the joy and appreciation that one’s works provides – and getting paid is nice too.
A Night On Bald Mountain
00 avoided the wrath of Disney because this big Chernabog kit was very limited and very expensive to make and thus expensive to buy, and is still occaisionally available – by a recaster.
Chernabog Resin Kit” late 1980’s/mid-90’s? 00individual TLL
Spaceballs Chestburster
Since the Aliens Chestburster kit sold well, 00 followed up with the dancing and singing Spaceballs Chestburster kit. “Hello, my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gal”
“Spaceballs Chestburster Resin Kit” 1980s 00individual TLL
Heavy Metal
Here are parts for the resin kit of Chiconi’s “Embrace” (Heavy Metal magazine cover)
it was sculpted and parts designed by 00.
It was Heavy Metal’s first licensed merchandise. These parts (above) – built and painted (below).
“Heavy Metal Embrace Resin Kit” mid-to-late ’90s 00individual TLL
O.J. Is Guilty But Not of Murder
Beavis and Butthead
Here, above, is evidence of recasting. 00 got this image from Worth(less) Point.
The above is a recast as Beavis’ hand/arm was never a part of the torso. Kudos for casting in a very close to cream-color of the originals, but all parts were cream-colored – sadly it was an easy kit to recast.
Recasting is the sincerest evil opportunist’s form of flattery.
This was a popular kit back during B and B’s first season – sold a lot of these through the Resinator, burned through several molds. It was their last venture together as 00’s life shifted from kits to action figures where there were still sculpts, molds, casts, and painted samples, only now done in-house on the west coast.
Here are a few of 00’s sculpted and designed kits from the Great Garage Kit Era!
Vincent Price as The Last Man On Earth, They Live, Lil’ Freddy, Mortal Kombat Goro, The Crow: City of Angels movie logo and figure (Vincent Perez), Thrashin’ with the Alien (kid Alien on skateboard), Surfin’ with the Creature (Black Lagoon), Ellen Ripley, Frankenstone (Flintstone parody), Rosemary’s Baby (original design), and others.
Rosemary’s Baby – 00’s original design – BOO!
It was a fun, very satisfying, and highly creative time when icons of sci-fi and horror came to three-dimensional life in clandestine garages where the desire to create what did not exist before, became a reality.
Sigh.
00INDIVIDUAL 
