Posess Your Zombie Doppelganger

Who hasn't wondered what they would look like once the zombie virus takes over?  How would you have been infected?  How much of your flesh will be torn off before you escape the horde in order to die alone and eventually change into one of them?  Would your skin be pale from a fresh reanimation or blue?  Or maybe green?  Now that your zombie self is fresh in your mind, allow us to take that image and create a one-of-a-kind collectible capturing your vision.  And what self-respecting zombie fan reading a blog about zombies and toys wouldn't want that?  Are you a fierce rage-infected killer or a docile, mindless drone? 

As heard on Kevin Smith's S.I.R. network, Zombies & Toys can make your dream a reality.  We work with artist, Philip Hynes, to create a collectible that you will cherish forever.  Literally.  Because when the zombie apocolypse does eventually overcome you, this cherished item can be carried around for eternity.  What irony, you wondering around as a zombie clutching a sculpted bust of yourself as a zombie.

With the holidays around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to showcase the talents of Philip and explain the process and steps we take to make your dream a reality.

*  First, rush over to The Zombie Toy Store and add a custom magnet or bust to your shopping cart and checkout as usual.


*  In 24 to 48 hours, you will be contacted by master craftsman, Philip.  That's less time than it would take for the virus to take over!  Hopefully. 

*  Be prepared to answer Phil's email with details about your zombie self.  Any particular physical damage?  Skin color?  Amount of gore?  You will also want to include several photos of yourself including a good, clear picture of the front of your face and a side profile.  Take care to make sure your expression is how you would like it to be immortalized.  Admittingly, you will feel a bit goofy, but this is important in order to accurately capture your likeness.  You can also include any pictures of zombies you like for reference.


*  You will be in contact with Phil throughout the process.  This will allow your bust or magnet to take form as you watch!  It also grants you the ability to make any changes or adjustments prior to the product being finished.

*  In 6 to 8 weeks, your zombified self will arrive at your doorstep! 

Below are some pictures of Phil's work.  We welcome any questions you may have and can be reached by emailing phil@zombiesandtoys.com or jason@zombiesandtoys.com.

Philip Hynes - presented by The Undead Bazaar

It is my pleasure to introduce our next featured artist of the Undead Bazaar, Philip Hynes. Phil should be familiar to many of our readers. We featured Phil in last year's bazaar, he is an active member of our facebook community, and has provided many of us with amazing sculptures of zombies. As many know, Phil is the talent behind the custom busts and magnets that we offer in our zombie toy store. For those asking "what customs", allow me to elaborate. You provide a few pictures of yourself along with a description of how you would like your zombified form to look. Within a few weeks, you will be the lucky owner of an undead version of yourself! If this sounds sounds too good to be true for a zombie fan, read a bit further and I'll tell you how you can win one for free!

Phil has been drawing since he was a child. "I've always liked to draw. As far back as I can remember, drawing was an activity I would do in my free time. The sculpting wasn't something I tried until I was in my thirties. I was inspired by the superhero sculpts you see in comic book stores. I made a Spiderman sculpt for my son, Finlay, which really sucked - but I kept at it and I'm still learning and refining the process with each sculpt I make."

Phil realized he could make money from his talents from the feedback he would receive from work colleagues. After making some caricatures for friends, he offered a custom wedding cake topper on Ebay. "I don't make a great deal of money, but it pays for the materials which is great. The best part by far is meeting new people and maybe my work making someone's day. That's the biggest motivating factor."

So, what are Phil's favorite things to sculpt? "Zombies, of course! They're brill, lots of fun to be had making them, and a broader colour palette. What's not to like? I'm a geek at heart and anything Sci-fi or Horror related will get my juices flowing. I don't mind making straight forward busts and Wedding Cake Toppers, but mix in a Zombie theme and you've got yourself a new best friend. Beyond what I've said above, it's thrilling when you see the likeness of a subject emerge from the blob of clay."

The first zombie sculpture to spawn from Phil's hands was a 30mm Zombie Surfer made for Hasslefree Miniatures. Still available on their website, the surfer is a figure he would like to do again. "He's a figure I would like to revisit and make into a larger scale statue type, but that'll have to wait." Future zombie sculpts came about with a collaboration with fellow artist, Martin Whitmore. Together, they created the Dead Ringers.

 
Phil is also a contributing artist for Zombies & Toys. You guessed it; The custom zombie busts and zombie magnets we offer are all hand-made by Phil. I asked Phil to explain his process from start to finish.


“Once I get photographs and a brief from the customer, which hopefully includes as much detail as possible to prevent any ambiguity, I'll plan the sculpt on graph paper to help keep the figure to scale. I then make a wire armature and bulk it up with clay to get the basic form, then it's baked hard.


Adding more clay, I then start to sculpt the detail, head first then clothes and arms. This is where good, clear photographs are essential. Once I've finished I seek the approval of the client, then bake.  Once baked, I prime and paint with good quality acrylic paint, then varnish and move onto the next project.”

Are any particular materials your favorite or do you have any brand loyalty?

“I've tried lots of products and I guess they all have their various strengths. Just now I mix two parts Sculpey with one part Sculpey Firm. I like to call this Sculpey Just Right, not too soft and and a good colour to see the detail clearly. Citadel Colour acrylic paints work well, but I am coming over to Vallejo Game Colour, which has a longer working time, so it's easier to blend colours.”
What was your first introduction to zombies?

“My initial thoughts was the Thriller video, but on reflection it was probably An American Werewolf in London and the dead friend who keeps turning up in different states of decomposition, not a classic Zombie, but a classic Horror movie character.”

Do you have a favorite zombie?

"I guess the bicycle girl from the Walking Dead. I don't think the bicycle was in the TV series, but she's the first Zombie Rick meets. Amazing effects and she conveyed the horror as well as the tragedy perfectly."  (editor's note:  The "Bicycle Zombie", played by Melissa Cowan, was kind enough to give us some signed photos that we will be giving away soon!)


If bitten, would you want left alone to change or would you rather be shot?

"Left to change I guess. I'd like to think I would also have the presence of mind and opportunity to get into a giant Chicken costume or something, to provide some comic relief during the Zombie Apocalypse."

How can readers find you and keep up to date?

"I have a blog, which I keep up to date with my work, Facebook and of course Zombies and Toys. I also have an Etsy page that I hope to fill with some cool stuff, I'm planning to have it stocked for Christmas."

Are zombies your favorite monster? Why or why not?

"Zombies are just terrifying. Not only are they relentless, decomposing and practically very hard to kill. They stir up primal fears of disease, cannibalism and simply being outnumbered. Their is no reasoning with them and they're all united with only one objective - eating your brains! One aspect of the Zombie theme is everyone must have considered what they would do to survive, where to go etc, which is an element you don't get with other horror villains."
 
Now for the essentials.  You can find Phil and see progress of his latest works (which could be your's) by visiting his blog.  You can email Phil with any questions or just to tell him what a kick-ass job he does at phil@zombiesandtoys.com.  You can purchase your likeness as a zombie head magnet for a mere $25 by visiting this link at our Zombie Toy Store.  You can also purchase your likeness as a zombie bust for $80 by visiting this link at our Zombie Toy Store.  You can here what Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes (yes, Jay and Silent Bob) have to say about our custom-sculpting service by visiting our Sound Cloud page.  And, finally, Phil is giving you the chance to win a free custom zombie magnet to help us celebrate our second annual Undead Bazaar by emailing your name and address to philrules@zombiesandtoys.com.

Custom Zombie Busts on Sale!

Mother's Day is around the corner and it's never too early to plan for Christmas.  Take advantage of our custom zombie busts in the Zombie Toy Store.  These mini-busts are approximately 1/8 scale and made to your specifications.  You supply the pics and tell us what zombie features you would like to have.  In four to six weeks, your zombified self or the one you love will arrive at your doorstep.

This service is available for $80 and will now include arms.  We are also still offering custom magnets and statues.  If you have any questions, email us at custombust@zombiesandtoys.com.

Custom Magnets and Busts

Congratulations to Scott J. from Decatur, TX!

Thank you to everyone who entered!


We are starting our November celebration with a bang!  As you know, Zombies & Toys has partnered with Philip Hynes to bring you the opportunity to have your likeness custom-sculpted as a zombie magnet.  This service has been available in our Zombie Toy Store for $24.99.  The process is simple:

*  You add the magnet to your shopping cart and pay as usual
*  After, email pics of yourself and a description of your zombie details to magnet@zombiesandtoys.com
*  You will be contacted by Phil shortly after to verify any specific details
*  4-6 weeks later, your magnet and any other items you ordered arrive

All through the process, you are emailed images of the sculpt as it is being made.  This gives you the opportunity to request any adjustments before the final product is made.  These would make the perfect gift for the zombie lover in your life.  In order to guarantee arrival by Christmas, all orders must be received by November 26th.

I am excited to announce that we will now also be offering this same service only as custom made zombie busts!  The process is the same as with the magnet only a few more photographs are required of the specimen.  Since this will be a fully detailed bust, a posed picture of the front, side, and rear is needed.  Price of a full bust is $99.99.  Like the magnets, in order to guarantee delivery by Christmas, all orders must be received by November 26th.

Now for the really good news... to celebrate our ability to offer custom busts, we are giving one lucky reader the chance to receive one for free!  If you would like the opportunity to win a custom bust of you as a zombie, email your name and address to custombustcontest@zombiesandtoys.com.  One very lucky winner will be selected November 25th.

See more of Phil's work and become a believer by visiting his blog.

Custom Zombie Magnets Available

Some of you may remember the contest for a custom magnet of your likeness as a zombie. Well, Zombies & Toys along with Philip Hynes are excited to offer this service in the Zombie Toy Store!

Here's how the process works:

* Add the custom magnet to your shopping cart.
* Check out and pay and make sure to include your email address in the notes. If you forget, just drop us a line at magnet@zombiesandtoys.com.
* You will receive an email within 48 hours requesting front and profile pictures of yourself.
* In addition to the pictures, please include details of the zombification you would like (skin color, marks, bites, damage, etc).
* You custom magnet will arrive in 4-6 weeks!
* Your magnet will ship from the UK to the Zombie Toy Store. Once it arrives, the magnet along with any other items purchased will ship together.

Progress emails will be sent to you as it is being made. This will allow you the opportunity to request any adjustments prior to the final product being shipped. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email us at magnet@zombiesandtoys.com.

Phil's Custom Sculpts Contest Winners!

We have a winner of the Zombie Santa! I would first like to ensure readers that the contests are completely random. This contest winner is actually a featured artist here on The Undead Bazaar. At least, he's one of the final few to be featured this week. So, congratulations to Timothy C. from Crestview, FL!

There is still hope for those who long to have a Zombie Santa displayed in their home. We will have a few resin casts of this sculpt available. Speaking of sculpts...

Congratulations to Steve U. for winning the custom sculpt of his zombie likeness! For your viewing pleasure, here are some of the other submissions and Phil's amazing work. Zombies & Toys is teaming up with Phil to offer custom zombie sculpts! More info to come.

Half-Dead Fred Contest

Just a reminder that Zombies & Toys along with Philip Hynes are sponsoring a contest over at Toy Break. The prize is the now sold-out Half-Dead Fred resin bust sculpted and painted by Phil!

Toy Break is long-time personal favorite of mine. To win, all you need to do is go over to Toy Break and leave a post in the contest forums and post anything zombie-related. Links, videos, pictures, whatever. Deadline is June 23rd.

Also worth mentioning is ZT will be featured weekly on YouBentMyWookie. This Week In Zombie News will be every Friday and will recap what has been going on. YouBentMyWookie is an Internet media and online community for pop culture enthusiasts, toy collectors, and the inner geek in all of us.

Zombies & Toys on Toy Break

Zombies & Toys is currently sponsoring a contest along with Philip Hynes over at Toy Break. The contest is for the last sold out Half-Dead Fred bust. Entering is easy, all you need to do is watch Toy Break episode 122 for details. Really? Did you think I would spill the beans?

Toy Break is a weekly show that provides you with toy, art, and collectible news. It's seriously a great show and one I rush to throw on my iPod every week. It is presented by some of the greatest folks I've had the pleasure of meeting since starting Zombies & Toys. Show some love, have some fun, and go win Half Dead Fred!

Philip Hynes - presented by The Undead Bazaar

Our next featured artist for The Undead Bazaar is no stranger to Zombies & Toys. Philip Hynes was first featured here as the sculpture for Dead Ringers. A joint project with Martin Whitmore, Dead Ringers gives you the opportunity to have a custom sculpture of yourself as a zombie made. More recently, Philip has begun to produce more solo works many of which have been announced on his blog. He does plenty of commission work including wedding cake toppers and several items for Zombies & Toys. “I make caricatures for friends and work colleagues,” Phil explains. “I made one for a friend who was leaving work and then everyone else wanted one when they left. I do enjoy that they get something personal that they genuinely like; It’s better than a clock. Making zombies is lots more fun, though.”

When did you first start sculpting and when did you begin to sculpt zombies?
“I'm serving in the Royal Air Force. Six years ago I was stationed in Scotland and 350 miles from home, I couldn't go to the Pub every night and I needed something to fill my spare time, so after seeing some Superhero sculpts in a Comic book store I had a cunning idea. I made my first Zombie several years ago, the first look alike Zed was for Martin Whitmore, after I saw he was as passionate about Zombies than I was.”

Have you done any professional sculpting work or has it always been a hobby?
“It's always been a hobby and I'm still learning a little from every project I make. Sometimes I have fluffy ideas about one day being able to make a living from my artwork. I really enjoy what I do and if it grows into something bigger then all the better, but I won't hold my breath. I did get a 28mm Zombie Surfer picked up by Hassle free miniatures, which was very encouraging.”

Phil’s amazing pieces have included the now sold-out Zombies & Toys exclusive “Half-Dead Fred” bust, the Dead Ringer me that was reviewed, and a custom head I commissioned to place atop one of my Clone Trooper busts. Up next for Phil will be a Zombie Santa for sale exclusively on Zombies & Toys. These will be cast in resin and hand-painted. While there will only be 3 of these guys up for sale, the original sculpted piece is being given away right here as part of The Undead Bazaar!

Phil is also producing a small number of zombie head magnets to be sold in the Zombie Toy Store. To make things fun for our readers, Phil is graciously accepting submissions to have your image chosen as one of the zombies to be made! Details on how you can have this opportunity can be found here.

Those who shed a tear at the knowledge of missing your opportunity to pick up a Half-Dead Fred bust will be happy to know that there is one left being given away by Toy Break! Phil’s Custom Sculpts along with Zombies & Toys has donated one of only 6 pieces produced to be given away. Details on how you can easily take home this piece can be found by viewing the Toy Break episode announcing the contest (which you should watch anyway) or by heading over to the Toy Break Forums. Details will be announced on Toy Break episode 122.

What and when was your first exposure to zombies?
“Night of the Living Dead started it all for me...... or was it the Thriller video? Whichever, I've been a fan ever since.”

If you were being made into a toy, would you be a zombie or a survivor? What accessories would you come with?
“I would have to be a survivor. As I live in the UK we don't have any access to firearms, so my accessories will have to be a frying pan, dustbin lid and a crowbar (which I bought under the pretence of ripping out an old bathroom, but secretly it's in case of Zombies).”

If you were bitten, would you want to change or be shot?
“I would want to change, if only for the irony of having made Zombies and then finally becoming one myself. I would also have to be outside and free, not stuck in a cellar or a cupboard.”