Chadwick Boseman Figures Dyeing

Black Panther T'Challa figures 351 and 352 by Funko

After the untimely death of actor/artist, Chadwick Boseman on August 28, 2020, I began looking for collectibles, specifically dolls that would honor his memory as a talented actor. I purchased the above two 3-1/2-inch T'Challa Funko figures immediately after he transitioned. 

1/6 head sculpt of Chadwick Boseman

A Black Panther T'Challa head designed for a 1/6 scale body was later purchased in October 2020 after unsuccessfully finding a complete figure at a price I was willing to pay that was not dressed as the T'Challa character. I wanted a figure of the man, Chadwick Boseman, to dress as I desired.

Color mismatch

The complexion of the body I purchased did not match the complexion of the head as illustrated above and in the next two close-up pictures. 

The body is a couple of shades lighter than the head.

With the head attached to the muscular body, the complexion differences are more apparent.

I waxed and waned for several months on whether or not I should buy the body that an eBay seller suggested, or if I would attempt to dye the one I had. I opted for the latter. I had been wanting to test Rit DyeMore to see if hard plastics will absorb it and now was the opportune time to find out.

What Was Done

I ordered Brown Rit DyeMore from Amazon and gathered the necessary items I'd need to complete the dye job. In addition to the dye, I used a disposable aluminum pan, tongs to turn the figure and hold it down if necessary, enough boiled water to fill the pan so the body would be completely covered, and a few drops of liquid dish detergent (because the dye instructions indicated to use a few drops of liquid dish detergent for dyeing synthetic fabrics). A plastic trashcan liner under newspaper was placed under the aluminum pan of dye to protect my work area from dye stains.

The figure and all its unconnected parts (lower arms, two sets of hands, extra thigh muscles, and feet) were placed in the dye bath and rotated several times using tongs.

As illustrated in the above picture, the torso of the figure, which is made of pliable plastic or vinyl, absorbed the dye quickly while the other more rigid areas did not. Bummer!

From the dye bath, within a few minutes, I had to immediately remove the pliable extra thigh muscles, lower arms, and hands (which are attached in this picture but were not attached in the dye bath) because they were becoming too dark.

Likewise, the torso and upper arms were already as brown as I needed, but the rigid lower half of the body and legs were not absorbing the dye as quickly, if at all, as illustrated here.

I placed the figure into the seated position and sat it in the dye bath water which covered it from below the waist down. The unattached, rigid plastic feet were still in the dye bath, too.

The seated figure was left in the dye bath for at least 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the rigid plastic did not absorb the dye and the parts that did were a deeper brown than the head (see the next picture).

The body dyed a reddish-brown color that is not an exact match for the head.

Plans were already in place to dress the Chadwick figure in a turtleneck that I made several months ago using an infant-sized black crew sock*. So the head and neck color differences would not matter since the neck would be covered.

Final dyeing results

Even though the rest of the body would be covered with clothes, I had to have a body that was one color. I would either have to toss this figure and buy another one or keep it and paint the lower half. I opted to paint.

Dyeing and painting completed

I used the acrylic paint color Maple Syrup by FolkArt for the areas of the body below the waist and for the feet. Again, it's not a perfect match, but the body is now one color, as illustrated above, and the head and neck colors are closer than before dyeing was done. See the combined before-and-after comparison photos below of the head and neck. 

Before- and after-dyeing comparison

The inside opening of the head is about 1/2 inches wide -- too wide for the head not to fall off. To fill in the hole, I purchased 1/2-inch PVC tubing, cut about 1/4 of an inch of it, and inserted that into the head. There was still too much slack between the neck knob and the inside of the head, so I wrapped the neck knob with a small piece of self-adherent bandage to increase the circumference of the knob.

A piece of PVC tubing (seen on the right) inserted inside the head and a strip of self-adherent bandage wrapped around the neck knob result in a snug head and knob fit. This hack does not impair articulation of the head.

All Dressed and Posed

He's ready for whatever.

The long sleeves of his jacket cover the odd sleeveless turtleneck I made. (I have since broken down and ordered a real 1/6-scaled white turtleneck that had not arrived at the time of this post.)

He struck a serious pose here...

...and here,

...here,

...and here.

A couple of profile pics were taken.

Final pose, for now

About the Clothes and Shoes

The denim jacket and pants, designed to fit this muscular (V1-M) figure, were purchased on eBay shortly after the body was ordered. *After the body arrived, I made the turtleneck. The ribbed ankle area of an infant's crew sock covers the torso. I cut about 1-1/2 inch below the ribbed area to fold over and create the turtleneck area, which was tapered to fit the neck snugly. A hole on both sides of the ribbed area creates sleeveless armholes. Hand-stitching the edges of the armholes prevents fraying. For several years, I've had the black dress shoes the figure wears, which were part of a three-piece suit for 1/6 scale figures. 

Chadwick is finally whole and dressed, and he found someone to pose with for the last two pictures.

Chad and this lovely lady (Fashionista #156, the doll whose lips were originally blue) look like they are straight out of an action film or series where they are co-stars, fighting crime or racial injustice.

Closeup of the lovely couple

The real Chadwick Boseman left behind a great body of work, completing his last movies while battling stage IV colon cancer. Posthumously, in 2021, he received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for his role as Levee in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. He was such a talented artist who was dedicated to his craft, and for some he will forever remain a Super Hero.

Watch a video montage of the artist here.

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