The Grim Reaper in Miniature: Aivan’s Custom 1/18 Scale HUNK
An exclusive look at the kitbashing, realistic weathering, and dramatic toy photography behind a masterclass in 1/18 scale customizing.
If you caught our previous article covering Aivan’s custom Acid Rain builds and original Smiling Ark characters, you already know he operates on another level when it comes to 1/18 scale figures. Today, we are taking a deep dive into his latest workbench masterpiece: a fully custom, hyper-realistic build of HUNK from the Resident Evil franchise.
For collectors, a top-tier 1/18 scale figure is defined by how much precise detail an artist can pack into a 3.75-inch canvas without the sculpt looking muddy. Getting all-black tactical gear to look authentic instead of like cheap plastic is notoriously difficult. Aivan completely nailed it, and he sat down with us to explain the passion project behind this build.
The Lore: Introducing HUNK
If you’ve played Resident Evil 2, you know the legend of the “Grim Reaper.” For the uninitiated, HUNK is an enigmatic, gas-mask-wearing black ops operative for the Umbrella Security Service (U.S.S.). He isn’t a traditional hero; he’s a cold, highly trained survivor whose only objective is to complete the mission, often emerging as the sole survivor of his unit.
When I spoke with Aivan about why he chose this specific character, his reasoning hit right at the core of what makes the franchise great.
“Unlike Leon or Chris, he is not usually at the center of the story, and that gives him a strong sense of mystery,” Aivan explained. “The earlier games especially had a strong sense of tension created by confined environments, limited resources, and never knowing what might be waiting around the next corner. HUNK brings many of those elements together in one character, so I always wanted to create my own version of him and make him feel closer to how he might look if he really existed”.
Three Eras of HUNK: The Helmets
One of the most impressive aspects of Aivan’s custom build is its versatility. He didn’t just paint one head sculpt; he created three distinct helmet variations that span HUNK’s appearances across the franchise.
• The Classic RE2 Helmet: The iconic U.S.S. tactical gas mask from Resident Evil 2, featuring a pristine, rounded dome and glowing red lenses.
• The Broken Lens Helmet (RE2 Remake): A brutal, battle-damaged variant featuring a shattered left lens that exposes the operative’s human eye underneath. The micro-painting on this lens, complete with a bloodied facial wound and scratched armor, is a masterclass in miniature portrait painting.
• The RE9 Helmet: A modernized, highly tactical helmet design from Resident Evil 9. This gives the figure a slick, updated silhouette that looks incredible when aiming down the sights of his SMG.
Mastering the Scale: Paint and Micro-Details
Because HUNK is covered almost entirely in black tactical equipment, a lack of careful control over surface finishes can easily turn the figure into a chaotic visual mess.
“I think the biggest challenge at 1/18 scale is not adding more detail, but deciding which details are important enough to remain visible at such a small size,” Aivan said. “I use different shades of black and grey, with small amounts of metallic color, to separate materials such as rubber, hard armor, metal buckles, and tactical gear”.
The Lens Reflection Technique
Instead of just slapping flat red paint on the lenses, Aivan took a hyper-realistic approach. “I wanted them to look more like real transparent lenses with depth and reflection rather than simply being painted red”.
The Secret to 1/18 Scale Faces
When tackling the exposed eye under the broken mask, his approach is brilliant. “When I paint a 1/18 head sculpt, I usually do not think of it as a small model. I treat it more like a very small portrait painting,” Aivan told me. “Skin is never just one flesh tone. I use small amounts of red, purple, grey, and sometimes yellow or green to suggest blood circulation”.
Crucially, he manages the surface finish to lock in that realism: “Most of the skin should remain naturally low in sheen, while areas such as the eyes, lips, wounds, or slightly wet surfaces can have a little more shine”.
Behind the Lens: Lighting & Final Presentation
The final result is breathtaking, showcasing a massive amount of gritty realism. Aivan’s meticulous weathering, even right down to the blood spatter and grime on the tactical gear, grounds the figure in reality.
For HUNK’s final photography showcase, the lighting had to match the claustrophobia of Raccoon City. We shot the figure against a pitch-black background using dramatic, high-contrast spotlights. Because Aivan actively engineered the matte finishes on the uniform and the gloss on the blood and lenses, the studio lights caught those micro-details perfectly.
Aivan creates these figures strictly out of a deep passion for the hobby and does not sell them. His work serves as a massive inspiration for anyone looking to push their own kitbashing and painting skills to the absolute limit. Be sure to check back here at FuryPixel for more deep dives into the best customs in the community.
