I have added 4 new customs to the Archives of Awesome. These 4 start the 2010 selections with plenty more on the way. In the mean time here is a teaser pic:
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
New page added! - Conflict on Kubindi
To kick off the August Blog overhaul I have opened a new page that will be solely devoted to a photonovel from 2007 - Conflict on Kubindi! This page showcases the biggest eBay custom crossover flop of 2007! It purposely featured some of worst customs to ever grace eBay! The Photo Novel is so bad it's spawning two upcoming sequels!!! Click on the logo to the right side of the Blog to begin the adventure!!!
Here is a teaser pic to entice you:
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Custom Flashback - Conflict on Kubindi 7/07- COMING SOON!!!
Get ready for the biggest custom figure crossover flop of all eBay time! It was so bad stocos28 and I are planning a sequel 4 years later!!! The Photonovel event of 2007 is coming to my blog on it's own dedicated page to display the adventure of the finest crappy customs the eBay Galaxy has ever seen! I will also be including 12+ never before seen images (Not that anyone remembers the original story.) Until then, enjoy the promo from 4 years ago...
Custom Flashback - Cad Bane (5/09)
This particular custom flashback may not be the most exciting to many of you as two figures of this character currently exist. But this Cad Bane custom was made the day after his first appearance on the Clone Wars cartoon well before any official figure of him was released. I used what little reference was available at the time and stills from the show to make him. I think he turned out great and this custom was actually spotlighted on Actionfigurecustoms.com the weekend I posted him on eBay. I thought he was cool enough to share and he still stands up as a solid custom. I also needed to update my Blog as I have not posted a lot in the last two weeks. I love this character and I would love to see Hasbro release a realistic style Cad Bane one day. (Hint! Hint!)
It's worth noting that the new Cad Bane with Pirate Bike is really superior to the standard release. He is much larger, more realistic looking and even more articulated, he passes enough to blend in with your movie style figures. His only downside is he does not have a trench coat.
It's worth noting that the new Cad Bane with Pirate Bike is really superior to the standard release. He is much larger, more realistic looking and even more articulated, he passes enough to blend in with your movie style figures. His only downside is he does not have a trench coat.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
New custom - Cantina Patron Arleil Schous the Deffel
I am always honored when someone asks me to do a commission but to be honest they are a bit of a pain. While I am very appreciative of the request I like to freestyle customize. When I "have to" make something it takes out most of the spontaneity of the hobby and makes it feel like work to me. I am not opposed to commission requests but I prefer not to do them. (I also tend to be slower fulfilling them.) There was one recent request that came in that I was intrigued by, the Deffel from the Mos Eisley Cantina. I never made one before nor have I ever seen one in the custom world. I am 100% sure there are some out there, I just personally have never seen one. I accepted the request and once I looked at some character reference I had an idea on how to execute one.
The perfect base was defiantly Voolvif Monn from the 30th TAC line. I like to keep my customs super articulated so he was a great choice. I had to really rework the head by cutting down the snout and reattaching it. I then I sculpted over it to get a look that was close to the Deffel. If you look at the reference pictures above you will see the SW miniatures card art has a different face and really long arms. I did not like that face but I really liked the long arm look so I went with that. It makes him look like an Monkey-Bat thing and if real life tells us anything it's that a Monkey makes everything more fun! So take a look at the outcome and LMK what you think!
The perfect base was defiantly Voolvif Monn from the 30th TAC line. I like to keep my customs super articulated so he was a great choice. I had to really rework the head by cutting down the snout and reattaching it. I then I sculpted over it to get a look that was close to the Deffel. If you look at the reference pictures above you will see the SW miniatures card art has a different face and really long arms. I did not like that face but I really liked the long arm look so I went with that. It makes him look like an Monkey-Bat thing and if real life tells us anything it's that a Monkey makes everything more fun! So take a look at the outcome and LMK what you think!
As always your feedback comments and hate mail are welcome!
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Little Differences - Ultimate Sailbarge, Jedi Knight, Final Duel Luke Skywalkers
This weeks "Little Differences" is all about making three perfect Jedi Luke figures that Hasbro seems very reluctant to do. I am making up for missing last weeks Little Differences by showing you three easy mods to satisfy your collection until Hasbro does.
To me, this image of Luke is the most iconic of him as a Jedi Knight. The Sailbarge scene was my favorite sequence of ROTJ. I remember the first time I saw that picture, I was 6 years old. That image made we want to swing a Lightsaber and fight Jabba's goons along side him. I actually did swing a green wiffle ball bat Lightsaber and defeated goons (Pillows, lamps and my older brother, who eagerly kicked the crap out of me afterwards).
While we have had several modern Jedi Lukes before we have never had a dedicated Sailbarge Luke figure. Hasbro released an excellent Sandstorm Luke figure in 2008 and the head actually has the look of this image I referenced. In addition to a great head sculpt his skin tone was a lighter, he had shiny black boots and a final duel belt for a more accurate look than his predecessor, the 2007 TAC Rancor Pitt Battle Luke. That previous 2007 figure was not a bad one but was far from perfect. It suffered from a dark tan skin tone, an awkward cloth robe, dark gray boots and no alternate non blasted hand . Of the two, the Sandstorm was way better and improved many of the flaws. So Hasbro was making progress, right?
Well lets move along to the almost all new 2009 Final Duel Luke. With this release Hasbro actually took a step back as things got worse. He sported a mediocre head sculpt, broad shoulders and narrow legs with a flat inaccurate belt. Good in concept but not in execution (I did like the switch out vest idea). All was not lost in 2009, that year did give us another Jedi Luke figure, the Endor Luke from the Battle Back. There are a few interesting things going on with that Battle Pack figure, he will be essential to complete this weeks mod customs. Underneath that Luke's poncho is another layer of soft good robes. These robes look so much better that the 2007 inaccurate neck wrap. In my opinion, I thought this one was much better than the single carded Final Duel one. If you take several of the previous Jedi Luke releases and combine them together you can make some great combinations creating near perfect Luke figures for your collection yourself. At least they are more perfect than what Hasbro conjured up to this point. (Technically they conjured up all of these but they did not combine them right.) Take a look to see what I created and the formula breakdowns so you can too:
Jabbas Palace Luke
These three combos look great and in my opinion better than what we got so far.You can get that essential Endor Battle Pack Luke fairly cheap so you should not have an expensive time making these mods. Please note to disassemble the Luke figures without breakage use the boil and pop method. It's the quickest and safest way to swap parts out.
Worthy of note is there is a now confirmed all new Jedi Luke figure coming in the Vintage line this year that supposedly fixes the issues with the 2009 Final Duel version. Until I see that Hasbro truly perfected Jedi Luke I will be using these three mods as my signature Lukes.
While we have had several modern Jedi Lukes before we have never had a dedicated Sailbarge Luke figure. Hasbro released an excellent Sandstorm Luke figure in 2008 and the head actually has the look of this image I referenced. In addition to a great head sculpt his skin tone was a lighter, he had shiny black boots and a final duel belt for a more accurate look than his predecessor, the 2007 TAC Rancor Pitt Battle Luke. That previous 2007 figure was not a bad one but was far from perfect. It suffered from a dark tan skin tone, an awkward cloth robe, dark gray boots and no alternate non blasted hand . Of the two, the Sandstorm was way better and improved many of the flaws. So Hasbro was making progress, right?
Well lets move along to the almost all new 2009 Final Duel Luke. With this release Hasbro actually took a step back as things got worse. He sported a mediocre head sculpt, broad shoulders and narrow legs with a flat inaccurate belt. Good in concept but not in execution (I did like the switch out vest idea). All was not lost in 2009, that year did give us another Jedi Luke figure, the Endor Luke from the Battle Back. There are a few interesting things going on with that Battle Pack figure, he will be essential to complete this weeks mod customs. Underneath that Luke's poncho is another layer of soft good robes. These robes look so much better that the 2007 inaccurate neck wrap. In my opinion, I thought this one was much better than the single carded Final Duel one. If you take several of the previous Jedi Luke releases and combine them together you can make some great combinations creating near perfect Luke figures for your collection yourself. At least they are more perfect than what Hasbro conjured up to this point. (Technically they conjured up all of these but they did not combine them right.) Take a look to see what I created and the formula breakdowns so you can too:
Sailbarge Battle Luke
2007 TAC Yavin Luke right hand. It matches perfectly!
2008 Sandstorm Luke figure minus the Belt. That was removed so the robes sit better.
2009 Final Duel Luke Lightsaber (They did add some paint details for more accuracy.)
2009 Legacy Endor Luke Soft Good Robe/Belt
Final Duel Luke
2009 Legacy Endor Upper body/head
2008 Legs/Belt from the Sandstorm Luke.
2009 Final Duel Luke Lightsaber
Jabbas Palace Luke
2003 Jabba Palace Luke Cloak
2007 TAC Yavin Luke right hand. (This picture does not reflect that. Oops)
2008 Legs from the Sandstorm Luke.
2009 Legacy Endor Upper body/head + Soft Good Robe/Belt
2009 Final Duel Luke Lightsaber (They did add some paint details for more accuracy.)
These three combos look great and in my opinion better than what we got so far.You can get that essential Endor Battle Pack Luke fairly cheap so you should not have an expensive time making these mods. Please note to disassemble the Luke figures without breakage use the boil and pop method. It's the quickest and safest way to swap parts out.
Worthy of note is there is a now confirmed all new Jedi Luke figure coming in the Vintage line this year that supposedly fixes the issues with the 2009 Final Duel version. Until I see that Hasbro truly perfected Jedi Luke I will be using these three mods as my signature Lukes.
As you can see the "Little Differences" can make a big difference to your figures! Until next time!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Custom Flashback - Gothika, Sith Witch of Dathomir 9/09
Like, get ready to feel the Darkside and stuff!
Like, what do you think? Does she conform too much or does she have real Goth cred? Like, hate mail is welcome!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
New page added - The Archives of Awesome
I have opened another new page section on the blog! It is still under construction but there is enough content to open it up for you viewing displeasure. This page showcases my off the wall favorite customs that I have made over the past few years! Most are not front page worthy but they should still be seen as they have a nice range of variety and detail. The majority of them are more on the humorous side with some serious ones sprinkled in. Click on the right hand side to begin the tour!
