Custom: Chuck Bednarik over Frank Gifford by 4Star Customs

[4StarCustoms]

Charlie Conerly, hit Gifford out of the backfield over the middle and Bednarik slammed into him 15 yards downfield, hitting him in the ribs. Gifford's head hit the ground and he immediately lost conciousness.

Chuck Bednarik then stands over a prone Frank Gifford, his right arm high in the air in celebration, a 1960 version of a fist pump. It is was a perfectly legal hit, even by today's far more stringent standards -- a blow to the ribs that was so hard that it knocked Gifford's head to the ground, causing a concussion.

What caused the biggest ruckus was the picture of Bednarik, the Mack Truck, giving the impression, particularly in New York, that he was celebrating the unconscious state of his rival's star player. Celebration. Yes, because Bednarik's teammate Chuck Weber had recovered the ball to clinch the game. Celebrating the injury? No way, says Bednarik.

"I was thinking 'this f---in game is over,'' Bednarik says. "It appears from the picture that I was gloating over him. I wasn't gloating over him. I had no idea he was there.''

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/chuck-bednarik.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05729.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05735.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05736.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05739.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05742.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05744.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05745.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05754.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05755.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05756.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05765.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05767.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05768.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05770.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/Sepia.jpg

[4StarCustoms]

Some WIPs:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05473.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05474.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05475.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05476.jpg

To make the shoulder pad, I first carved out a spot on the shoulder where I could place the shoulder pad. Then, using styrene, I cut out and sanded a pad to glue to the figure. Then I sculpted over the whole pad and used an exacto to cut out the tear in the jersey.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05506.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05507.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05508.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05509.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05510.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05511.jpg

You couldn't tell from the reference pic but Chuck wore a really unique facemask. Luckily, I just happened to stumble across it while looking for more reference photos for decals.

http://www.helmethut.com/Eagles/bednarik%20001.jpg

http://www.helmethut.com/Eagles/bednarik%20002.jpg

I tried making it with styrene rods first but they just wouldn't hold their shape. Metal was the next option but I never soldered and you can't super glue metal to metal very well.

I started scouring the hobby shop when I came across coated metal wire from Plastruct. It was a little pricey at $9 for 15 16" rods but it's very stiff, holds it shape and you can super glue it to itself.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05696.jpg

Where the bars meet here, the super glue wasn't really holding so I took a tiny strip of plumbers tape and wrapped it tight. I'd later find out it was just the glue I was using and not the rods.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05700.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05701.jpg

Here's the vertical bar. This is actually styrene from my first attempt. I wanted to use something I could carve some notches into so it would rest nice against the other bars.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05703.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05704.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05705.jpg

So, that last bar doesn't come all the way to meet the other bar (like in the reference pic). So, I cut and fit a tiny piece of styrene to fill that gap. Once it's all primed, it should look pretty sharp.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05708.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05709.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/jweber26/Bednarik/DSC05710.jpg

[steelbus36]

hahaha that is flippin insane man what an awesome custom. I tell you trying to match photos is challenging as hell but is awesome when its pulled off correct. And let me tell you bud you hit a homer here. Great work.

[zartanman]

WOW. I'm not into sports customs, I'm not even into sports but this is some amazing and impressive work. VERY Well done, and the level of detail and work that went into it is amazing.

[4StarCustoms]

Thanks guys, very much appreciated.

[zim-5000]

That's the most impressive sports custom I've seen in a loooong time. Original.:) Great idea with the classic photo!

[Sculpt-bot]

Hell yeah! Way to take a classic moment (and photo) and bring it to life man! Beautiful execution, and I love the mini-tutorial as well! The only respect I had for Gifford, came in a docu-film, when he said he thought this was a clean hit all the way (although, I think he has also negated himself in other interviews!)