3D Printing a Safer World: Firebox Personalizes Superhero Figures

If you’ve always wondered what your head would look like on the brawny shoulders of a superhero, Firebox is here to help you out. Using the magic of personalization made possible by 3D printing technology, you can now have your head printed and ready to be simply snapped in place on top of the muscular action figure’s frame. You can choose your alter ego from Captain America, Iron Man, Cat Woman, Thor, or Wonder Woman or, since the head is detachable, change your affiliation as often as you’d like. In fact, if you already have a figurine you would like to use, you can order the head by itself and after decapitating your figure, replace it with your likeness.

“We’ve all wanted to see ourselves in miniature; to be able to re-enact scenes from movies and our own wild imaginations, using iconic characters and our favorite figurines. Or maybe you’re just looking for an original gift idea for a professional puppeteer or voodoo doll connoisseur.”

To get your face on the figurine, the only thing you need to do, aside from having the funds to pay for it, is to follow Firebox’s instructions and submit two photos for them to use to make the head look like you. They will match your skin tone, eye and hair color, and choose the closest match they can find from a number of pre-set hairstyles. The head can be ordered in one of three sizes, small, medium, or large. The smallest size fits perfectly on Lego figures, the medium in proportion for a 6” figure, and the large head at 1/6 human scale works for 12” figures.

Firebox, a UK based company with an affinity for the bizarre, (such as their Alien Chestburster Plush or Zombie slippers) has identified a unique way to use the portraiture that is becoming a more widespread application of 3D printing. As with 3D portraiture, there are limits to what is sensible to print. As such, they ask that your photo be taken with your mouth closed and your hair be kept out of your face. Flyaway strands won’t be printed and in fact, the hair will become stylized.

In addition, because they print from two photos rather than from a scan of your actual noggin, the head is not a perfect match – the shape of the face will most likely be slightly different for example. However, they seem to capture enough of the details that the figures are instantly recognizable as a particular individual rather than as a generic human. Also, if you wear glasses, you have to leave them off for the photos and they won’t be made for the personalized head. After all, the glasses are the only thing that prevents people from recognizing the connection between your mysterious disappearances every time a superhero rushes to the scene to save the day.

Firebox reminds those ordering that these figures are not toys and at $136.95 per figure, it’s hard to imagine you would buy one for the kids. It’s also important to note that the heads are not water resistant and so you shouldn’t have them on display in your shower, for example.

The only real world danger you will face while getting ready for your transformation into a superhero is getting lost in all of the strange and hilarious things that Firebox has to offer.

Let us know if you have tried out this creative service in the Firebox superhero forum thread on 3DPB.com.