Karen of @kaypeacreations pays tribute to the Horizon series with an awesome figure construction of the animal-like machine, Tallneck.
Machines of epic proportions roam the lands of Horizon, dominating the post-apocalyptic world with sheer power and strength. Their highly-advanced tech presents the player with a plethora of unique combat challenges, pushing them to think outside of the box to advance.
These machine creatures are certainly some of the coolest aspects of the Horizon series, wholly unique in their design. Inspired by the machine's intricacies, one Horizon fan constructed an epic poseable figure of a Tallneck.
The Tallneck, originally seen in the first Horizon game Zero Dawn, is the only Machine non-hostile to humans. It's a Communications Class machine, able to provide Aloy with more intel on the lands around her. Massive, giraffe-like, and covered in antennae, it's one of the most distinctive machines in the game.
KAYPECREATION'S HORIZON SERIES TALL NECK FIGURE
Despite the machine's daunting design, artist and art doll creator Karen of @kaypeacreations flexed her creative skills to recreate it in figure-form. As you'd expect from a Tallneck, the figure stands a few feet tall, imposing even in small scale. The creator even perched a small Aloy figurine atop the Tellneck's head, almost as if she had just scaled the creature's neck to override it.
Karen states that this project was one of her most complex, pushing her to tackle construction skills across a variety of new materials. Initially, she created a pattern for the doll from scratch, cutting pieces of MDF board to form a solid structure. Following that, a combination of high-density foam and clay build up the base shapes of the Tallneck, rounding out its edges.
What's especially cool in Karen's process here is her use of cable meshing. The meshing takes the figure from clay to full-on machine, adding just the right futuristic texture. Then, it came time to actually 3D sculpt the Tallneck's outer shell. Adding in little design nods to other characters and modifying existing antennae models, Karen's outer armor pieces are meticulously detailed.
Once printed, she spent hours sanding and painting each individual piece. Though incredibly time-consuming, her end result is simply stunning. Overall, the armor has a gorgeous weathered-metal look, adding realism to the highly fantastical machine.
Via @KaypeaCreations on Instagram
Via @KaypeaCreations on Instagram
Finally, you can see KaypeaCreations' full process below! She's also crafted other gorgeous art dolls on her Instagram, and you can keep up with her work on YouTube, Twitch, or her personal wesbite.
Otherwise, try finding a Tallneck in the wild yourself in Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West.