TPC Top 10 Report: The First Winner of 2026 Turns Medical Supplies into Art
- ronniedcreates
- Jan 3
- 3 min read
Date: January 5, 2026 Category: Community News / Artist Spotlight Reading Time: 3 Minutes | Host: TPC Top 10 (Toy Pic Community)
The TPC Top 10 2026 Season Has Officially Begun
The Toy Pic Community (TPC) just launched their highly anticipated Top 10 project for 2026, and if Week 1 is any indicator, this year is going to be about way more than just buying figures—it’s going to be about building them.
The community has spoken, and the very first crown of the year goes to long-time Zillion collaborator and master builder, Gabriel Balda (@gbalda).
His entry wasn't just a photograph; it was a statement on creativity.
Inside the Build: A Masterclass in Upcycling
For those watching from the sidelines, Gabriel’s image of Krang piloting his Android body looks like a high-end product shot of a premium statue. But the reality of this build is much grittier.
Gabriel didn't buy this figure. He engineered it entirely from "trash" and household items.
In a stunning display of D.I.Y. ingenuity, the breakdown of materials reveals that you don't need a massive budget to create industry-leading art.
The Material List:
The Skeleton: Constructed from cheap water bottles and aluminum foil.
The Flesh: Detailed sculpting using Sculpey air-dry clay.
The Armor: Cardboard and foam, hand-painted to replicate battle-worn heavy metal.
The Devil is in the Details (and the Diabetes Supplies)
What makes this TPC Top 10 win so significant for the community is the use of "found objects." Gabriel managed to integrate medical waste into the design so seamlessly that it looks like factory tooling.
Those mechanical vents on the side of Krang’s module? They are actually caps from glucose sensor applicators.
As Gabriel noted on the submission:
"It is fascinating how many times you can use diabetes supplies in your builds and nobody notices."
And for the most iconic part of the character—Krang's menacing eyes? Two ping pong balls.
The Official Soundtrack: "I Deserve This"
As part of the new TPC Top 10 format, the winner doesn't just get exposure—they get a soundtrack.
Epic Toy Sound has stepped in to produce the official audio anthem for Week 1. Titled "I Deserve This," the track is a sonic tribute to the "grind" of the customizer—the hours spent sanding, painting, and problem-solving.
It serves as a reminder to every collector and creator: whether you built it from scratch or hunted it down in the wild, you earned it.
🎧 "I Deserve This" will be available for streaming on Spotify & Apple Music this Friday, Jan 9th. You Can Pre-Save the Release by Clicking Here.
How to Join the Movement
The TPC Top 10 is designed to be a weekly showcase driven by the community, for the community. This week’s winner was nominated by fellow heavyweight @chava.fernando, proving that the project is about artists lifting each other up.
If you are a photographer or customizer, this is your signal to start shooting. The TPC is watching.
Need to upgrade your shelf? You don't have to build it from foil to enjoy the Turtles. You can shop the latest TMNT inventory—vintage and new—right here at Zillion Marketplace or visit the physical storefront at the Cobb Antique Mall.
Please Do this for all Releases this year!