DIY website Instructables has managed to create a fruit bowl using nothing but the little green soldiers, a heat gun, and a metal bowl to use as molding. You also will need oven mitts to protect your hands from the heated metal, and paint if you want to get even more creative after creating your bowl. One last suggestion by user N36 is to use a combination of PVA glue and water upon completion to strengthen your creation. To begin creating the army man bowl, start small. Placing a few figurines in the bowl with their bases touching, use the heat gun to fuse them together. Continue this layering process carefully until the bowl is completely outlined with army men. You should take care to connect the bodies of the soldiers together, as connecting them by the arms or guns might weaken the structure and create unwanted holes. A few things to keep in mind when putting together your creation:
Do this project outside! The plastic fumes are toxic, so make sure no one is breathing them in as you melt the figurines. When heating, be sure to hold the heat gun a few inches from the soldiers to avoid overheating them. Also, only heat them for 5-10 seconds at a time so they don’t melt completely. Make sure you wear oven mitts when touching the bowl! It can get incredibly hot, and will definitely burn your skin if you come into contact with it.
Comments have already begun pouring in on the Instructables page with suggestions for other creations. What would you like to see your favorite old toys remade into? Featured photo credit: Instructables via cdn.instructables.com