Custom Indy Figures – Marhan and The Chieftain

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year! Welcome to the year 2012!

Continuing on with my customizing of minor characters from the Indiana Jones movies…

#55: Marhan from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”

After the evil Thuggee cult had burned the fields of Mayapore Village, stolen the village’s sacred stone, and kidnapped all the children, Marhan the Shaman (holy man) prayed to the Indian god Shiva for help. And help arrived in the form of three mysterious strangers who “fell from the sky” and floated down the river where they were met by Marhan. The three strangers, one of whom wore a fedora and a leather jacket, were brought by Marhan to the village, where they were treated as honoured guests. Marhan then explained to Indy that it was Shiva who had sent him here so that he would go to Pankot Palace, the domain of the Thuggees, to retrieve the sacred stone and restore life to the dying village.

Recipe:
Head – Lobot (“Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back”), with Anakin Skywalker’s hair (“Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith)
Torso – Monkey Man (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”)
Upper arms, legs – Cairo Henchman (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”)
Forearms – Cairo Swordsman (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”)
Robes – Anakin Skywalker (“Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones”)

There is an almost universal agreement among Indy fans that Marhan the Shaman looked real creepy in “Temple of Doom”. And when I found the most suitable (creepy and bald) head to use for creating a custom Marhan, I purchased that figure and proceeded with my custom, using the other spare custom fodder that I already had. Two main problems were faced during the custom work: One was finding the suitable robes for Marhan, a problem which was solved by using the robes of the recently released Star Wars “Anakin Skywalker in peasant disguise” figure. The other problem dealt with finding and mixing the suitable skin colour for Marhan, which I feel the final custom still didn’t match up with Marhan’s onscreen appearance. Also, Marhan’s hair is a transplant of another Anakin’s long hair, which also didn’t match up with the actual Marhan’s fizzled hairdo, that which I thought is beyond my ability to create anyway. But this is close enough for me. A piece of pink ribbon and a small bead chain serve as the final pieces of garment on Marhan’s robes.

#56: The Chieftain from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”

When Marhan brought the three strangers to his village, the Chieftain warmly welcomed his guests, and offered portions of the village’s remaining food to them. Although the female blonde bimbo appeared to be at a lost as to what to do with her food, and the Chieftain had to gesture to her that she should eat it. When Indy requested for a guide to Delhi, the Chieftain generously decided to provide them with guides and elephants that could take them there. But of course, the Chieftain already believed in Marhan’s words that Indy was destined to first go to Pankot Palace and return with his village’s sacred stone.

Recipe:
Head, arms, jacket – Jan Dodonna (“Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope”)
Hands – Willrow Hood (“Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back”)
Torso –  Captain Antilles (“Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope”)
Legs, turban, shirtpiece – Monkey Man (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”)
Beltpiece – René Belloq (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”)

Okay, what the heck. I figured that a diorama scene with Indy and Marhan could do with another figure who could fit into the scene. And since I already had the spare parts, it was a go ahead for The Chieftain. Actually, the original idea was to procure a Sio Bibble figure, who has a beard similar to that of The Chieftain. However, I couldn’t find that figure anywhere, so I decided to use a Jan Dodonna’s head which I already had. His beard didn’t match exactly with The Chieftain, and additional touch-up was required. Fortunately, the rest of the custom work is just like pieceing together a jigsaw puzzle, with painting only required on the face, turban, shirt, and legs. Even the jacket didn’t require painting as it came in the same colour as The Chieftain’s jacket. One thing is missing, the chest pocket on the jacket, but I decided, I’m not going to care about that. Nobody is going to notice it.

The Chieftain tells Indy how the Thuggees stole the sacred stone.

Indy finds and return the Sankara Stone, and Marhan explains to Indy the miracle of the stone.