Originally published March 16, 2006, at GJSentinel.com.

Every now and then, model-kit nuts like me see or buy a kit and think it looks fine, but it could be better. That’s probably why a healthy aftermarket has sprung up, with garage-kit producers making replacement heads and other parts to improve on the original without making it too expensive. A case in point is the GEOmetric Design Wolf Man. GEO has long been one of the best garage-kit companies around, offering wonderful Universal Studios monster kits cast in either vinyl with some resin parts or all resin. The Wolf Man is among them, and he’s OK … but he’s the only near dud of the bunch. Here’s the box art:

My problem with this sculpture (if you could call it a problem) is that it seems sort of narrow up top. The shoulders are rounded, the head a tad small. Plus, the facial expression is kind of bland and the hair at the top of his head looks sort of like some 1970s Shaun Cassidy ‘do. I’m not condemning the sculptor of this kit; his name is Mike Hill and he’s an astoundingly talented artist, particularly when it comes to werewolves. This just isn’t one of his best and he told me in an Internet chat room about three years ago that part of the reason for the kit’s understated impact is that it’s what GEOmetric wanted.

Even if none of this stuff bothered you, the feet probably would. This kit’s Wolf Man is standing way up on his tiptoes, making balancing the figure a challenge. I built one and he wobbles every time someone steps too heavily near the shelf.

Fortunately, Tom Parker of Cult of Personality Productions (cultofpersonality@peoplepc.com), working with sculptor Jim Maddox, recently stepped up with a new head and feet for the vinyl version of the GEO Wolf Man. Here’s a buildup by Germany’s Bernd Slominski (sometimes known online as “Classic Monsters”):

Cult of Personality’s Wolf Man replacement parts are made of resin and fit the 1/8 scale vinyl version of the GEOmetric kit. The replacement parts are sold separately from the kit, or you can buy both directly from Tom Parker for a great price. Price of the parts set alone is $25 postpaid, or $50 postpaid will also get you a bagged GEO kit (by “bagged”, I mean no box, no art, just the kit and you won’t need instructions to know what goes where). Just to make sure it’s clear, the kit doesn’t include a base. Bernd used one available from Resin Realities.

Here’s a comparison between the replacement parts and the originals; sorry, the photo is mine and I’m not the best photographer:

If you’re inter- ested, send him an e-mail at cultof- personal- ity@peo- plepc.… Read the rest