pbarny's Custom Figures

ESB Dios III

2010-07-21T15:57:00.009-05:00

So here's my final set of pictures I'm submitting to FFURG.com's Casting Call #60.

Gotta Keep you warm kid, till I can build the shelter.

I thought they smelled bad on the outside!!!

In all honesty, I probably should have used LSMaker to do the lightsaber effect, and the small bits of vapor in Gimp instead of both in Gimp.

Stand by Ion Control...FIRE!!!!

ESB Dios II

2010-07-14T17:22:00.005-05:00

More FFURG's Casting Call #60: Dioramas of the Empire Strikes Back to look at. If I ever find the extra set of Hoth pictures I took, I'll really be in business.

So, how to make the BMF with crew look not like sitting on your dryer in full light? I don't know either, and lacking a black sheet or back drop, here's my best shot and probably the most work I've ever done to an image with GIMP. What I did do is obviously 3PO's eyes, as well as drop a light in the back over the hatch to the access corridor, and finally darken out the non-cockpit part of the images.

"The Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack."

"Through the Force, things you will see, far away places, the future, the past...old friends long gone."

"I see a city in the clouds..."

Agent Faces 25th Aniv

2010-07-14T16:30:00.003-05:00

So I have returned with my first post-baby custom and the first custom from the new house. Started off with a simple head placement. Took a v2 Spy Troops Agent Faces (v1 is actually the Crimson Guard Mailaway), hollowed out the head, trimmed some of it away, and put it on a Chuckles body. And the background is the downstairs fireplace in the house. Yeah, that's right, braggin' about the house because I got upstairs and downstairs functioning and passed inspection fireplaces.

Why not paint the shirt? I was going for the Timothy Dalton/Pierce Bronson era Felix Leiter/Thomas Magnum/Burn Notice sort of casual guy. His cover in various locations is probably tourist and leaving the shirt the print it is probably more stereotypical symoblic of that since the GI Joe line is a bunch of stereotypes.

ESB Dioshots I

2010-05-13T14:01:00.003-05:00

I have taken over yet another Casting Call at FFURG.com. CC60: The Dioramas of the Empire Strikes Back celbates the 30th Aniversary of the movieby taking and constructing scenes with toys, customs and whatever else we can imagine. It also celebrates diorama making/photo editing which is just as important to customs as making the figures themselves.

It is exciting for me because this is really my first real forray into using GIMP to add effects. I've merged pictures using photoshop but that was relatively simple and essentially a microscope lab manual how to. This I'm doing all by myself free handed.

There will be more, if they survived the switch from Win7 back to Vista due to a job. And hopefully customs will resume production here by the end of summer.

Gavin Darklighter

2010-01-28T20:26:00.001-06:00

Rather simple with same basic recipe as Traest Kref'yla, but with a GI Joe Greenshirt head that's been dirtied up in a few places. So this is Gavin as he has now become a fleet Commodore in the second galactic civil war.

Dace Diath

2010-01-28T20:23:00.000-06:00

Head: bbi Elite Force
Body: Anakin Skywalker, Walmart Droid Factor 09
Right Hand/Saber: RotS Anakin Skywalker
Left Hand: ????

I only tried to paint match the skin colored areas and make the head fit. The body is mostly left alone. This was done for www.ffurg.com 's Casting Call #57: Tales of the Jedi.

Monkeywrench

2010-01-28T20:14:00.001-06:00

The massive update of end of the year stuff continues with yet another Dreadnok from 1986, Monkeywrench. So the initial figure's head is just Outback. No glasses. I've seen a lot that just give him the glasses from the Baroness. Too easy. I took a Torch head, shaved the beard, sculpeyed it back in, than painted the hair a bit more orange/red. The body is still Monkeywrench.

Old Republic Trooper "B"

2010-01-28T20:09:00.001-06:00

Televiper head cast, Han Solo Torso, Death Star Trooper upper legs, Pilot Vander legs lower, hands???, Arms ???, body armor GI Joe ROC Pit Commando.

Master Orro, Celegian Jedi Master

2010-01-28T20:08:00.001-06:00

Just a repainted foam brain, some Force Lightning effects drilled in. No plans to make his special atmospheric tube.

RAM Motor Cycle (Rock-n-Roll's Personal)

2010-01-28T20:04:00.001-06:00

Just a splashing of some enamel chrome to make the engine and tail pipes. I have no idea why I went with the wheels. Now I have to go and touch up the tires in black. UGH.

Tresina Lobi, Jedi Master-NJO

2010-01-28T19:58:00.002-06:00

Now there is some confusion in the books as to this one's species. She is described as both Chev and Chevin. She is said to have flaxen wheat hair, which is a species trait for the Chev (humanoid, not pachyaderm) and an ultra rare one at that. Insider's Who's Who has her has a human (totally incorrect). So I went with Chev appearance. Parts are Adi Gallia arms, PotF2 Obi-Wan Kenobi legs, Wiolesa skirt and upper body, head is Marion Ravenwood cast from the Indiana Jones line.

Short Fuze

2010-01-28T19:57:00.000-06:00

The UBP Short Fuze head put on a Zap body, with a nicer dark green finish. Sorta pissed that I snapped the Zap backpack straps, but oh well.

BIG BRAWLER!!!

2010-01-28T19:55:00.000-06:00

Cobra Island Outback, with v1 Brawler head, hand scratched off/painted slogan, and bbi belt.

BRAWLIN~~~~

Thrasher

2010-01-28T19:53:00.001-06:00

This is a Torch body, with Mutt lower arms and I'm a different right hand. The head is Anakin Skywalker. There is a small green stripe on the top. The shoulderpads I'm told came from Gene.

Zandar

2010-01-28T19:52:00.000-06:00

Oh, ye forgotten Dreadnoks. I put a casted head on, gave the Chuckles holster from the Cobra Island pack, on the dreadnock Torch body. I put a couple of the odd tattoos on. I should have used the Young Indy or Tunnel Rat Bandana too, but I figure he lost the head band, so losing the bandanna too would make him slightly less flaming.

Zarana

2010-01-28T19:49:00.002-06:00

Long time. I know. Let's get to it, shall we.

It's just an Agent Helix repainted in classic Zarana pink and blues with a few punk liberties taken with the hair and make up.

FFURG Casting Call 55: The Force Unleashed Secret Aprentice Outfits Kento's robes

2009-07-18T16:13:00.002-05:00

Quinlan Vos legs and upper body, GI Joe Major Bludd/Blackout lower arms, Boba Fett upper arms, GI Joe Greenshirt head and Luke Skywalker BAD hood.

I decided not to cut the tails of the robe because I am not really able to make an organic/smooth cut line.

FFURG Casting Call 55: The Force Unleashed Secret Aprentice Outfits Bounty Hunter Disguise

2009-07-18T16:09:00.001-05:00

Head is GI Joe Greenshirt head, interior body is mostly a BAD Jedi Luke with Obi-Wan upper arms, Boba Fett lower arms, BAD Luke thighs, Anakin Skywalker lower legs, 30th Aniversary Kamino Jango Fett armor, a Vader BAD skirt piece for the soft goods, a Fett cloak coped to the armor line, Lady Jaye 5pack belt and finally a POFT2 robe portion from Bib Fortuna cut away in the skirt.

I think there's a rat liver and sink in there too, but I have no clue.

Footloose, 25th Aniversary Version

2009-07-18T16:06:00.002-05:00

So take one Stalker body, remove the lower arms, put in the DTC lower arms and head. To make the web gear, a 21st Century knife sheath was attatched by punching a small hole in the web gear and gluing it on.

Scarlet

2009-07-18T16:03:00.001-05:00

Well, the o-ring saga draws to a conclusion. The movie versions of the Scarlet and Baroness enabled me to "wait" for different or at least more realistic takes on the characters. However, Scarlet's just seemed off. Why would the more causual outfit have the hair up? Why would the more armored have it down? Well I decided to swap heads. This was no simiple matter as when I set off to do it. I ended up having to cut each neck post just above the neck line and glue to the other figure. The result is slightly better versions of each figure.

Outback

2009-07-18T15:49:00.002-05:00

Outback

As I mentioned in the Review off Cobra Island post, this is a custom. I just drilled down in the head about 1/8" to make the neck not be so long. Rather simple. Than I gave him a bbi belt with gun holster dropping down the side and a bbi HK36c or some other model with double clip. His native gun is just too big and guady for my tastes.

Review of Invasion of Cobra Island Set (GI Joes)

2009-07-18T15:13:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the first ever "review" of the customs blog. FULL disclosure, I am not keeping 2 figures. I'm trading them away for other things. Neither will be pictured here. I will take a few moments to talk about each. Wetsuit is perhaps the most blah of all seven. He is yet another Torpedo repaint. A new backpack, partially redesigned. His breathing tubes insert into the corners closest, and not the back like the original figure. Next is the most confusing of all the figures. Spc. Altitude. The design to the classic fan screams "Ripcord" aka Walace A. Weems from the file card. Yes, I have to go to the file cards to tell this story. It is not however Wallace A Weems renamed Altitude and bumping out the Skypatol's John-Edward O. Jones, the original Altitude. This figure is actually Freefall aka Phillip W. Ardnt who seems to have taken a demotion in his title, because E-4 is Specialist or Corporal while E5 I thought was Sergeant. Anyways, Ripcord/Freefall/Altitude/Brains Scrambled cuz I jump out of plane is going to get me a Dr. Mindbender from the Cobra Set.

Onto the ones I'm actually keeping.

Hit & Run

Pretty boring. For the most part its a Cobra Trooper with what appears to be either an Airborn or Flash head in his cammo face paint. Being the Iowan on the Joe team means he probably knows how to cook sweet corn better than Roadblock, and that's it.

Chuckles

From Custom

He's slightly more interesting. Made from a Shipwreck body, with General Hawk's holster. You can stretch that out to go over the shirt lapel without too much trouble. It's a nice touch, the second pouch is even Shipwreck's as well because you can see the perch for Polly built into it. I suppose some day I'll have to take a picture of Polly on that perch with a Jimmy Buffet CD booklet as the background.

Outback

Outback is a nice figure overall. I've gone ahead and done a slight bit of tweaking to rid him of a neck that is too long even if you leave on his web gear. I like him without it, much more original that way.

Zap

Zap completes the original 13 (YO JOE!!!!). And he doesn't disappoint. He is built off the Snake Eyes Commando body entirely. He has a belt with holster and canteen on the back. His backpack comes with 4 removable rockets. The rockets fit inside the hole of the bazooka. And the Bazooka splits in 2. Not to mention, they actually try to make him look Hispanic/Latino (probably Puerto Rican) as opposed to his original release that didn't work at all. The accessories are great. Now, why couldn't they do that for Shortfuze?

Recondo

Let's just hold any pretense, the hat is removable. Yep, that's it. That makes him automatically cooler than the rest, and any version of Recondo ever. The body Dusty's. He has his harness straps, as well as the same holster that Chuckles has. The backpack doesn't match the classic version, but is painted up nicely. Oh, and did I mention the hat is removable?

Overall, this set should be a pretty easy buy for most. The pricer per figure once you include shipping, is roughly the same if not a little bit less than what current store bought figures cost. That's right, an exclusive is cheaper per figure than a single card, so that away makes it a decent buy. The fact is that many of these figures are unique to this set and some like Zap are ones that have been asked for for nearly 4 years, should make all but the most ardent 25th Aniversary hater buy it without blinking an eyelash or breaking the bank (too much).

Tollbooth, redux!

2009-07-07T21:33:00.002-05:00

I did an older version of this figure using pretty much a Barrel Roll body with this same head. So I put it on a GI Joe Greenshirt instead after it's O-ring frakin' broke again!!!

Mutt in Cobra Disguise

2009-07-07T21:31:00.002-05:00

Well since they made the Flint version, I figured doing the Mutt version. Sadly this commemorates the forcing of Shipwreck upon the GI Joe cartoon, although without Polly it's slightly more tolerable. This figure is directly inspired by the Revenge of Cobra Miniseries.

Python Patrol Copperhead

2009-07-07T21:25:00.003-05:00

I have never had any version of a Copperhead figure. So when I got the body with no arms from meandnonelse at FFURG, I wondered what could I do with the Cobra tank top? Well this is the result. I decided to go with a full sleeves or at least rolled up. The head is an AVAC head cast.

Cobra Trooper, Generic

2009-07-07T21:23:00.002-05:00

So after giving the Missile Trooper's gear to some one else, you got a decent cobra emblem. Put the other web gear on, and it's done. The netting gives some credibility to a sniper, but the whole blue suit, still don't know.

Cobra E.O.D. Trooper

2009-07-07T21:15:00.001-05:00

So this guy has evolved. I just revised his accessories a bit for a final look. He gets the Cobra Missile Trooper's web gear, a Marauder RPG and claymore. It also covers up the blank shirt, and shows off the cobra sigil on the arm.

Unnamed Custom

2009-07-07T21:13:00.001-05:00

I haven't decided if the below is going to be a Smuggler's Alliance helper or a Rogue that's off duty yet. You make the call folks...with who it is and why. Mutt Williams head and pants, Han Solo torso/arms, Luke Endor belt w/Bail Oragana blaster.

Mirax Terrik-Horn

2009-07-07T21:11:00.002-05:00

Long story, hate the look she has in the Rogue Squadron comics, if it isn't boarderline wrong from literary descriptions. For most of the "rogue" books, Mirax has long brown hair, specifically worn in a braid for Krytos Trap in Corellian mourning style. By about I, Jedi to the NJO she picks up a bob and is known to dye her hair to pull off various assignments. She specifically is shown in the shower scene in the Union comic with a jet black bob. I've sort've taken liberties here to hybrid a lot of the source material to end up with a Lady Jaye head, Agent Courtney Cover Girl Krieger Comic pack arms/jacket, Commando Deena Shan legs, and Indiana Jones KotC russian babe torso with what you see here.

Old Republic Trooper

2009-07-07T21:09:00.002-05:00

This was inspired by one of the panels in the Tales of the Jedi comics where the Krath use battle meditation. I used a Tripwire head, a Han Solo body/arms, with a Death Star Trooper legs.

Han Solo, New Jedi Order

2009-07-07T21:07:00.003-05:00

I decided that I wanted an older looking Han Solo. I took a description of him at his worst in the Agents of Chaos books. This is just an Indiana Jones head on a Cantina Han Solo body with Mutt Williams jacket/arms

Yuuzhan Vong Warriors

2009-07-07T21:02:00.002-05:00

So here's a pair of Yuuzhan Vong warriors. They're made from a Mattel Batman figure that I picked up in a two pack that included a Bruce Wayne. The head is a PTE/World Peace Keeper SWAT officer. I used a skin color from Uieseddtts at FFURG. The Tsai is from a SWAMP RAT GI Joe figure.

FFURG Casting Call 55: The Force Unleashed Secret Aprentice Outfits Sith robes

2009-07-07T20:59:00.003-05:00

For the most part this is a Darth Vader body with a GI Joe Devil's Due Comic pack Hannibal head and Darth Maul Robe. Used and Obi-Wan belt and Xizor robe for the front skirt.

I went with a dirty face to show the ravages/consequences of using the Dark Side.

Cobra Trooper

2009-05-15T11:49:00.002-05:00

Got a Scrap Iron body in a trade. Have spare Cobra Trooper heads and helmets. I'm out of web gear, so borrowed extra joe gear.

Reading around I guess there's a lot of desire for a Cobra trooper with a red mask since it was first seen on the box of the 84 Cobra Rattler. Don't know what all the grief was about, joe fan hysteria I guess.

It's Me, sorta

2009-05-15T11:42:00.002-05:00

The Forgetten Force Ultimate Resource Group to Customizing aka FFURG is celebrating the 5 years of their forums going line. As some one who came to the site and joined at that time, I have been a long standing non-model citizen. Actually I'm a pain in everyone's ass, they just have to live with it or ban me.

So to celebrate, we dug out a feature called the Casting Call. Make a figure based on a given theme. We went back to the first and opened it up making customs of ourselves.

Mostly an amaglamation of PotF2 Star Wars parts (Bespin Han Solo, Darth Vader, and Royal Guard) with a Dutch Vander head supporting my Ammish/Taliban baby beard.

Do not fuck with my glassware, ever.

The World's Greatest Detective

2009-05-15T11:25:00.003-05:00

Yep a Batman in his early days trying out suits and materials. This was made primarily from cast off parts. The legs are made from Darth Vader along with the belt, which really was one of the pieces that insipred the whole figure. The torso and arms are a SW Death STar Gunner. The cape is a PotJ Darth Vader cape. The head comes from a 2 pack figure of Bruce Wayne/Batman from Target.

Vedain

2009-04-20T15:21:00.002-05:00

This is just a head and hand swap. I ripped this off from DnJcustoms (Don). The pants are a bit rough because I was trying to go for a dirty look, but missed on the application. This is one of the beings Luke Skywalker cuts down the Jabba's Sail barge and is not a Skiff guard per se. It is made from a Klattuu Skiff Guard body and a Red Nikito head and hands.

Clutch, 25th Style Tan Uniform

2009-04-20T15:12:00.002-05:00

This is my crown jewel and it grew out of disatisfaction of having a tan Steeler from the Ultimate Battle Pack. My original Clutch is green, and I have a couple of Vamps. I don't have any Vamp 2s. But in the cartoon, Clutch is always drawn in this uniform. I found a Vamp on clearance for my 25th for o-ring clearance. I than just painted everything up. I like this one. It is possibly one of my best customs I've done.

Grunt, 25th Style

2009-04-20T15:06:00.002-05:00

So Grunt was going to be one of the two figures I knew that would have to be custom versions were I to switch to 25th Style. The other is/was Grand Slam. Grunt was included with a TRU 3 pack but that is now way too expensive/hard to find. Since I was having an equally hard time finding Firefly, I came up with the solution, Firefly and the Greenshirt pack. Kills multiple birds with one stone, plus gave me 3 other bodies free for customs (2 taken by Mainframe and Hacker).

So I painted up, painted around the flag (a nice added detail), used the Hawk/Flash head with brown hair.

Grand Slam, 25th Style

2009-04-20T14:57:00.002-05:00

Grand Slam has always been shafted. There was the 82 original, which I've copied the colors here, the 83 Jetpack version, than nothing until the DTC days, and finally another a few years later as a Target Exclusive 25th back in his Jetpack colors.

I don't know why I gave him a Jetpack. IT seems like every other figure now comes with one. I think the jetpacks are silly, but I just couldn't dig out the HAL in time to take the picture. The body like the original is shared with Flash. The head is even Flash's original.

Steeler, 25th Aniversary Style

2009-04-20T14:55:00.001-05:00

Steeler is related to the Clutch custom. I wasn't happy with the Tan Steeler from the Ultimate Battle Pack that I got clearanced out. So I tried to make him that green/brown color of the original. I didn't quite match it, but I'll live. This is the body of a 25th Clutch, the head and helmet of that Steeler with Steeler's lower arms.

25th Style Flash

2009-04-20T14:36:00.001-05:00

I liked my Flash custom. Pitty his o-ring kept snapping. Flash was my very first GI Joe figure. I've had several versions of this custom mostly because the comic pack shorted him by just making him an astronaut. I settled on the VvV Comic Pack Grunt head and just modified that to make it fit on the 25th style body.

Mainframe Custom Update

2009-04-20T14:33:00.001-05:00

So meet one of the custom figures that inspired the switch to the 25th style body and away from o-rings. Hacker and Mainframe were both originally 2004 Comic Pack Grunt bodies with their respective heads. They're o-rings broke usually about every 2-3 months. So I swapped them here using the heads already given; for Mainframe a cast of the 2000 GI Joe ARAH Leatherneck, modified it to the 25th body, used a Firefly vs Greenshirt troopbuilder. Put on the old vest and now he looks like a posesed Marine hacker.

Sgt Hacker, 25th Style

2009-04-20T14:30:00.002-05:00

So meet one of the custom figures that inspired the switch to the 25th style body and away from o-rings. Hacker and Mainframe were both originally 2004 Comic Pack Grunt bodies with their respective heads. They're o-rings broke usually about every 2-3 months. So I swapped them here using the heads already given, in Hacker's case the original, modified it to the 25th body, used a Firefly vs Greenshirt troopbuilder.

25th Style Shipwreck

2009-04-20T14:28:00.001-05:00

This was a relatively simple custom. I disassembled the leg with the holster and cut the back end off so the pump shotgun could fit.

And Just because I can...

More Weapons and Accessories

2009-04-20T13:10:00.002-05:00

Combat Shot Gun

So here's a gun for Flint. This started as a Marauder Inc Combat Shotgun. Trimmed off the stock. Painted the shells. Painted the handles.

Double Barreled Sawed-off Shotgun

This was one of those Marauder Inc guns that I'd been curious about for a long time. However the pictures I've seen of it aren't that imporessive. It took using a brad point bit to make holes for the double barrels to finally see this one reach its full potential. Add some brown paint to the handle, and silver dry brushing.

Modified Pump Handle Shotgun

You've noticed this is heavy on the shotguns so far. This is/will be the final one. It started with my desire to be rid of o-rings for 25th Aniversary figures. I wanted something that could pass for Shipwreck's gun. I have this one but use it for Zanzibar. Trimming off the front handle than painting it took care of the rest.

Bandolier for Duke

Just a Simple use of accessories here. I took a Clone Wars Obi-Wan Bandolier, reversed it, glued on some Grenades from bbi.

Compound Bow

This is just the bow from the 25th Aniversary Comic pack 21.5 (battle damaged Snake Eyes and Stormshadow with a cloak). I painted the bow black, gave it to Zartan (along with the cloak).

Finally, not a custom because I really didn't do much here. I just have the Marauder Inc Tactical Pistol to Gen Hawk and put it in his holster. Fits better than the Hasbro guns and just about any other pistol from any other line I tried.

Stun Cannons

2009-03-22T20:23:00.001-05:00

I got around to playing with the STUNs and HISSes today. I was testing out the shot to try and take a bigger shot for a possible dio picture in the future. So I fixed the cannons on the STUN as well.

Cobra HIgh Speed Sentry Tank Mark II aka HISS II

2009-03-22T20:15:00.003-05:00

So I took 2 Cobra HISS II, and changed their red to glossy black. Along the way I lost the side missiles. No biggy, doesn't seem to be that much lacking. I spray painted the guns grey with primer than with gloss black. Both paints were the Walmart brand spray paint. With one, I lost the side gun as well so I glued in a Scrap Iron Missile launcher which could be a variety of things. On each one I did some combination of silver on the headlights.

I've always liked the HISS II since seeing it way back when. I like the double cockpit, which was often shown on the cartoon. I like the tripple barrel, bit more fire power. The machine guns on the side that can swivel up or down can take out people on roof tops or trying to set up for an anti-tank missile shot (take that Bazooka or Zap!). If I could guarantee the survival of the decals, I'd remove them, spray the whole thing black, and leave the nice red cockpit.

IA R6 Astromech

2009-03-14T18:13:00.002-05:00

This came about out of desire and an online chat. I wanted to have a complete series of Industrial Autontons R-Series (although now there's R9s, so who knows what R8s and R9s look like!). But up till now the cannonical versions of an R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R7 have been released through battle packs, single cards, and Build a Droid (sic). I was talking with DnJCustoms (Don) on how to cast this and he offered to do. well I finished it up.

L to R: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, & R7

General Horton Salm, Defender Wing

2009-03-14T18:11:00.002-05:00

Not pleased with the head painting. It is a 25th GI Joe Roadblock head on an A-Wing pilot body (that used to be Han Solo as an A-Wing pilot). This is the leader of Defender Wing, a group of Alliance/Republic bombers that included Y-Wing and B-Wing fighters.

Pash Cracker

2009-03-14T18:10:00.003-05:00

One Bruce Wayne head from a Batman/Bruce Wayne 2 pack from The Dark Knight, and the A-Wing body that once belonged to Tycho, than Luke, finally it will be Pash's. Red hair the signature feature.

Captian Lon Shev, Galactic Alliance Guard

2009-03-14T18:07:00.003-05:00

Made from 1 Tripwire body, a cast of a 21st Century Platoon head, Comic Pack Mara Jade Belt and Gun, and a Rebel Fleet Trooper helmet. It's mostly black as per most descriptions. I think I got the hair right. This is the former police detective who takes Ben Skywalker under his wing.

Storm Shadow

2009-03-14T18:02:00.002-05:00

So taking the Comic Pack 21.5 Storm Shadow, making him more white/grey. Also touched up his swords and backpack. The bow and cape will be given to Zartan. I used gold highlight on the tunic.

Breaker

2009-03-14T18:00:00.001-05:00

So here's my take on the 25th Aniversary version of Breaker. I took off his arms and gave him Spy Troops Dusty. His helmet has a microphone glued on for another helmet. I than had to make the tan arms green, so I had to repaint the whole body instead of go through the pain that is a paint match. Finally, gave him Comic Pack 21.5 Snake Eyes (battle damaged) web gear, and a PTE backpack.

Zap

2009-03-14T17:58:00.002-05:00

Here's a bit of an old one. He's also part of the o-ring melt down, but some how I missed taking a picture of him. Just a comic pack Shortfuze with a Comic Pack Zap head.

Swords and Helmets

2009-03-07T16:11:00.002-06:00

Ashrikage Clan Swords

Just some red paint on the symbols on the sword hilts and their scabbards/sheaths.

Short Fuze's Helmet

After reaquiring a short fuze from DnJCustoms oldest son for a few clone troopers of a given color, I made him a custom helmet from I don't know the source. It had a mic, but I cut that off and gave that to Breaker's helmet. I painted it dark green, than dry brushed light green and brown before adding the bbi goggles.

DVD Pack Duke (why is he yelling?)

2009-03-07T16:07:00.002-06:00

Barely a custom here. I just took some gold paint to Duke's wings and his buttons and belt buckle. Sealed them with some semigloss. I did however figure out why Duke is yelling...

He maybe self pleasuring himself a bit too much. That or he stuck it some Cobra prisoner skank again and now it burns when he pees...

OR for something completely different...

For all those who think Duke has a stick up his butt, well you're right apparently.

Jungle or Forrest Cammo Cobra Trooper

2009-03-07T16:04:00.003-06:00

Well this is the one Cobra troop who always lives to fight another day. He wears clothes appropriate to his missions. This guy terrorizes some jungle or forrest land someplace. The body is a Stalker, head of DVD pack Cobra Paratrooper and helmet, 25th Cobra soldier web gear, Marauder Inc 25th RPK machine gun with drum clip.

Iron Grenadier Destro 25th Aniversary

2009-03-07T15:59:00.001-06:00

So take one comic pack Destro, make the boots black, fill in the belt gap, add some pouches, give gold highlights all over the place, arm with Mutt Williams sword. Seal with semi gloss.

Councilor Pwoe

2009-03-07T15:55:00.003-06:00

Councilor Pwoe was one of the principal political antagonists in the NJO. He breifly assumed the position of Chief of State (Chancellor for the kiddies) of the New Republic after the fall of Coruscant. I made this figure from a Quarren Warrior from the BAD Saga Collection head and hands, a Borks Fey'lya body. I pained the jacket white to resemble "senatorial robes". I painted the pants, collars, shoulder accents blue because Mon Calamari is an aquatic planet. I thank took a PotF2 Orrimako cape and painted it white. You'll notice a faint green stripe on the pants as well as the cape. I added this to bring out a sculpt detail. The boots are painted aproximately and equal mix of brown and white to simulate a more faded leather that could possibly be made out of some aquatic species.

SG-1 Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell

2009-03-07T15:51:00.001-06:00

I've been working on customs in 3.75" scale of SG-1 figures for a long time. I have completed desert and green camo versions of the original team. I finally got around to doing a Cam Mitchel now that the right head was found. That head is a casted Dusty 25th Aniversary GI Joe head. The gun is a Marauder HK36c and the body is an Elite Force soldier. The helmet is from a GI Joe DTC footloose.

Keyan Farlander in X-Wing Gear

2009-03-07T15:50:00.001-06:00

Take one Evolutions Farlander head, build a neck post on a Vander/Biggs style body. Get Keyan Farlander, hero of the Farlander Papers and the X-Wing Strategy guide.

R7 with Vintage legs

2009-03-07T15:49:00.001-06:00

Take one BAD R7 body and head. Add vintage R2 legs. Paint white and purple. Viola. Simple droid custom.

Traest Kre'fey

2009-03-07T15:41:00.003-06:00

Rather simple custom to make. Take one Borsk Fey'lya head, fill with sculpey, but on a 25th Aniversary Cobra Commander. Next, pick a color scheme. For some reason WotC has decided that the New Republic military will have a color scheme of green and white. I went with that. White jacket. Green pants. The fur of the mane was to be white as per Michael Stackpole's descriptions of Gavin's memory making this clan marking unique. The eyes are violet indicating some sort of relationship to Fey'lya's clan.

O-Ring GI Joes, Bitterness

2009-03-03T09:07:00.002-06:00

I'm about to comit a form of self-hyprocrisy. I said on the other blog that I'm not going to buy much if any of these figs. I'm going about to make a whole reversal of that perogative. In the past 7 years, I've spent nearly $100 on O-rings mostly to keep the figures from 1999-2004 together. I have had little to no problems with my 1982-1990 aged figures. I believe I have only replaced about 15 o-rings in that group and most were just in the last couple of years.

I want to trade away most of the figures I bought in the last 5 years and try to swing it so I get 25th Aniversary styled figures of those same characters. I know I'll have to customize some, but I think that I broke my own rule of patience and waiting for a figure to come out.

Guns of the Helicopters

2009-02-08T20:01:00.002-06:00

As shown earlier with my Firebat and Skyhawk customs, i hollowed out a few more vehicles to add a bit of realism. I did the side cannons of the GI Joe Dragonfly and the Primary/only cannon of the Cobra FANG helicopters. These were much more complicated because they're also hanging from the ceiling right now.

A-Wing Pilot (Luke or Tycho)

2009-02-08T19:17:00.001-06:00

I had to take my Dress Uniform Tycho head off his normal body. So I put another blonde haired man on, using the Luke Commando head from the Basso Custom. I'm big on recycling the parts between various customs (means I have a low level of fodder). This will probably be replaced later on if I need this head as I figure out what head I have a lot of. I did this earlier to make an X-Wing pilot Tycho, putting a Han Solo head on the A-Wing pilot. So my A-Wing Pilots are Luke, Han and the PotF2 versions, plus whatever Sullustans you say are A-Wing pilots.

Moff Livonia Tavira

2009-02-08T19:14:00.002-06:00

First appearing in the Rogue Squadron comics as a young, impish girl who slept her way into an older man's bed than killed him to take his position of power. She than became more rigid and ran pirate gangs as her defense fleet and primary source of income. I painted a Juno/Shan body a dark olive green like the uniforms of Tarkin and the Death Star crews. And that put on an Indiana Jones "Cate Blanchet".

Tycho Celchu, Dress Uniform

2009-02-08T19:04:00.003-06:00

This is another simple head swap based on the Dress Uniform that the Starfighter command possessed but Wedge Antilles didn't know existed at the time of Rogue Squadron novel, but was yet drawn in the comic. Skepticism raised at that point because obviously the artists were ignorant of Stackpole's intention to use that line later on. Also dubious is the use of Sandy Brown/Brown haired Tycho Celchu as a bleached blonde. This is the fault of Hasbro, not Dark Horse. DH did draw him in a shade between brown and blonde, this is Hasbro's fault all the way. I'm just too lazy to fix it in this case.

Basso, Rebel Commando

2009-02-08T19:02:00.002-06:00

Good ol' Sergent Basso. He's lost comrades. He has a mopey Deena Shan and he's absolutely overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, potential and ability of one part time commando named Luke Skywalker. This figure was done with a Basso in Stormtrooper disguise and put on a Comic Pack Commando Luke Skywalker body. In all cases, this would be the proper source. Basso orginated in the comics, as did this uniform, so it should be based off comics.

Kwinn, The Eskimo in the Jungle

2009-02-08T18:56:00.003-06:00

I don't think this is what Bob Dylan had in mine when he wrote the lyrics for the song that was later covered by Goldfinger. This figure was made (crappily) with Super Sculpey Legs, Darth Vader boots, a Chap Mei Jungle explorer, and a Kwinn head with the fur trimmed away. I tried to match flesh tones, but soon after 4 years of sculpting, resculpting, painting, waiting for Kwinn cast/finding a kwinn head, I've thrown in the towel for now. I may come back later, but because I don't follow the comics, I got no clue what I'm doing here beyond the GI Joe comic homepage link from yojoe.com.

I should take a shot later on to show the perspective on how much taller he is than the normal ARAH joes, not the 25th.

Skyhawk

2009-02-06T17:38:00.000-06:00

I've been big on making my GI Joe's more "realistic". One thing I've been doing is making the tips of gun barrels actually hollow so that a projectile could come out of it. I did that here with all 4 of the Skyhawk guns.

GI Joe MOBAT

2009-02-06T17:32:00.002-06:00

The MOBAT was GI Joe's initial tank. The toy is grossly undersized based on the cartoon and the comic. Also, I don't envision GI Joe needing or using tanks. This is a rapidly deployed, covert face. There's nothing covert about a tank. That being said, I decided to highlight the various tools and surfaces.

Classic Cobra Paratrooper

2009-02-06T16:54:00.002-06:00

This is my update to make a slightly better "classic" Cobra Paratrooper. It puts the head of the Air Trooper along with the helmet on the body. Simple head swap.

Destro

2009-02-06T16:47:00.003-06:00

This is probably the cheapest custom there is out there. I don't like the sword look. I purchased the Target Ultimate Battle Pack for the vehicles and because it was on sale making it just as much as buying 1 vehicle out there right now (so 1 MOBAT, 1 HISS, 1 Flight Pod, 1 Jet Pack and 7 figs, good deal for 20 bucks). I removed the belt, filled it in with Sculpy and than put on an Indiana Jones gun belt. I like this look. It is the best of the v1 and v2 originals, that says nice high tech ultra modern design without being gaudy.

Cobra Commander, Interchangable Heads

2009-02-06T16:32:00.002-06:00

As readers or people who've followed both blogs and my various posting around the internet know my feelings on the 25th Anivesrary and my purchasing habbits. So far DVD packs and it seems there's been 4 or more Cobra Commanders in that plus the one single card Cobra Commander to get the MASS device element. I decided to cut back. One Cobra Commander for the CLAW, the other for display. So I swapped some gloves around, put the Chrome hat and hood on what matched the best and there's my Cobra Commander.

Serpentor, Cobra Emperor

2009-02-03T17:31:00.003-06:00

I wanted to make the 25th Aniversary DVD pack Serpentor look more like the cartoon representation he is based off of. This basically involved the deciscion to make this the default Serpentor and the earlier comic pack and original figure retired versions. I ended up taking the lower legs from the Single Carded version and putting them on this one. I painted the chest gold. I painted the Cobra Hood gold. I took the helmet from the comic pack Serpentor and painted it gold and the teeth and eyes white. I than swapped the skirts on the two 25th figures.

R2 Unit, Hybrid

2009-02-03T17:26:00.003-06:00

This is an unnamed R2 unit. It is a hybrid from the Build A Droid parts and the OTC Y-Wing R2 head. All that was done was widening the hole to place the droid's head post in the main body with a drill. There's nothing else done.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, P.O.W.

2009-02-03T17:20:00.003-06:00

In the Clone Wars Comic, Obi-Wan Kenobi is captured. He is bound in a mask in what could best be called the Count of Monte Cristo allusion. This figure was made from a Clone Wars Comic pack Body, alternate head, with a RotS Obi-Wan lower arms. The hands are not original. I dirtied up the character with black paint to make it look like he was in a dungeon as depicted in the comic.

Prince Admiral Krennel

2009-02-03T17:15:00.003-06:00

Admiral Krennel is the Sector Patrol leader for Citruic, Corvis Minor, and I'm leaving it out. He has a bionic right hand that can crush a human skull or make the index finger a stilletto. I used a body based off Admiral Ozzel, a robotic right hand, and a GI Joe Roll Bar head.

I am not happy with the eyes and may revist this one later.

Imperial Leia Organa

2009-02-03T17:04:00.002-06:00

This custom is based on the Star Wars Infinities Comics and some of the Rebellion comics where Luke, Leia, Deena, Basso and Able infiltrate a variety of Imperial installations. This was a relatively simple to make. Take one Juno Eclipse body and put on the VOTC Endor Leia head. The hat even fits!

Admiral Dalaa

2009-01-21T20:26:00.001-06:00

More of the "Juno Phase". This time it is the Deena Shan body with a GI Joe Scarlet head that was adapted to fit on the peg. Simple and elegant.

Yassane Issard, Director Imperial Intelligence

2009-01-21T20:17:00.002-06:00

The greatness of the Juno Eclipse body rides on. This is a GI Joe comic pack #1 Baroness head with a white stripe, and one eye blue and one eye red. The outfit is black. The rank insignia has been removed per the descriptions provided by Michael Stackpoles prose and notes!!! Yes, sometimes the comic art is WRONG!

Deena Shan, Rebel Infiltrator

2009-01-21T20:08:00.002-06:00

Using the ingenious Juno Eclipse body recolored to more Imperial Fleet colors, a figure was renamed. However the head was off. The fix: a head swap. Using the Bomb Strike head from GI Joe with the post cut off, than a hole drilled to accept the post on the body and the neck line trimmed.

Captain Juno Eclipse

2009-01-21T20:01:00.002-06:00

The prospect of a female Imperial was always appealing. From a customizing point of view that meant some prominent characters could finally be done, but using the body originally left a bit of disappointment. Juno Eclipse has a very different figure in the video game (like most females). Essentially I gave her a boob job of sculpey. I switched the lower arms to that of comic pack Mara Jade's hand on the same packs Luke Skywalker lower arms. The gun belt is Endor Luke Skywalker. I added a stripe of olive/dark green to sort of hide the seams by making it appear she had a jacket over the tank top.

Jack Bauer

2009-01-21T19:38:00.002-06:00

This is one of those things that just happened by accident. I was painting up some heads trying to do some Smuggler's Alliance type figures. I was going to use this for Aves, but I put it aside and went to my wife, "Does this look like who I think it looks like?" She replied, "You have a Jack Bauer head?" "I do now". The rest was just painting it up.

The arms/torso are DTC Barrel Roll, the legs some version of Spy Troops Dusty. The bag is Indiana Jones, the gun Marauder Inc M119A as is the Nokia phone.

More Building the Beast

2008-11-22T18:54:00.000-06:00

More of the building of the beast...the Cantina

Rahm Kota, Scarred Jedi

2008-11-22T16:25:00.003-06:00

I titled this one scarred Jedi because that's what he is. Alright, the pictures don't pick up what was exactly tried here. I was trying to accent his scarring to make it a bit more video game accurate before he takes a dive. I used my "normal" scarring technique of deepening a slice with a hobby blade, than filling in with pink paint with a 00 or smaller brush.

Obi Wan Kenobi, Clone Wars Armor

2008-11-22T16:20:00.001-06:00

This was a rather simple custom. The head comes from the Obi-Wan Kenobi/ARC Trooper Alpha comic pack. That's it. The lightsaber effect was done with LS Maker.

Cartoon Accurate GI Joe Firebat

2008-11-22T15:28:00.003-06:00

The Firebat is perhaps my favorite jet in all of GI Joe. The Cobra Command vehicle was first scene in the cartoon as early as the pyramid of darkness. It wasn't until 1986 and the terrordrome that I finally got one. The ebay market on these have been ridiculous. The 25th Anniversary edition is welcomed. It is the same exact mold. In the cartoon, the jet is initially gray!

First, removed the labels/stickers, guns, bombs and cockpit canopy. I used Walmart Gray/Primer spray paint. Using small brief passes, added 3 coats all over the jet. AFter drying, reapplied the stickers. Than I took the cannons, and used a small drill bit to hollow them out to give the allusion of a barrel.

The Cantina: Building the Beast

2008-11-03T20:43:00.002-06:00

So I'm unemployed, looking for things to do. Interviewing at various labs every other day, applying to schools. I decide to take on something. My parents, who agreed to take me in provided I do look for work/apply for schools, encourage me because they figure they can allow me to screw up on this before letting me loose on the house.

I have no budget. Can only use scraps and all I have is a magazine article with very few dimensions. The rest is all up to me and my mind. I borrowed a neighbor's jig saw.

Grand Moff Tarkin

2008-11-03T15:49:00.002-06:00

If there has been one thing Hasbro did right early on with their Power of the Force 2 line was release and nail the likeness of Peter Cushing's Gov. Tarkin. What they have done wrong since is the color scheme of the uniforms. There seems to be 2 distinct colors. We'll call a greenish/brown as shown on the first Death Star and what I attribute to the Imperial Army. Than there is the more grey style which are more Imperial Navy. I've tried to make the more grey version of Tarkin released in the Death Star Briefing room pack its original color and use the original head and not the Revenge of the Sith version played by another actor.

The Guns and Accessories of Kyle Katarn

2008-11-03T15:28:00.001-06:00

So there's a few things going on here. First, this is the Expanded Universe Kyle Katarn figure from the original Dark Forces game. Kyle eventually becomes a Force User, Master, than forsakes it all, only to be drawn back in, only to train Mara Jade, only to have her save him from the Dark Side??? HUH??? Let's just keep him as a mercenary with Rebel leanings who's only really working so he can get into the pants of his contact/pilot/Rebel operative Jan Ors.

I did not do anything to Kyle but his previous owner (I aquired him via trade), did try something with the holster. What I did was work with his accessories. First I dyed some 25th Aniversary Cobra Officer Webgear in black RIT dye. Next, I painted brown on the Bryar Pistol. Finally I painted everythign a clean yellow, added some red dots, black line, and than weathered the rail gun before painting the handle area.

25th Aniversary Roadblock

2008-11-03T15:25:00.002-06:00

Well if you read my other blog you know that I don't have many 25th Aniversary figures. I wouldn't even have this one were it not for the DVD packs. But the head on this one never looked quite right. So after I finally getting a Valor vs Venom Roadblock head, I drilled a hole to convert him to this figure. I did have to back fill with sculpey (modeling clay). That's all I did and swap out his web gear with Stalker that came with another DVD pack.

Cobra de Aço

2008-11-03T15:21:00.002-06:00

I went on a kick of doing internation varriants based off Snake Eyes. This one is supposedly a version of a Brazilian mercenary Cobra de Aço that translates to "Steel Cobra". It again uses a Hulk figure that was based on a Zap/Grandslam figure for the Valor vs Venom/DTC lines. The chest is painted yellow, the heads and various parts were primed and than painted using ENAMEL silver. Yep, I used enamel and not acrylic as is the normal because it maintains its luster, no need for sealant, and it was already primed, so no fear of sticking. The head is a Comic Pack Snake Eyes that is based off the v1 Snake Eyes. I did use the drafting pen to trace around the visor/breath holes of the mask.

GI Joe SWAT/Steel Brigade Team

2008-11-03T14:52:00.003-06:00

From Custom

This is a 3 person team that consisits of Shockwave, Bulletproof and Sure Fire. The primary ingriedient is a Hulk epic Tunnel Clash 3 pack since they are just Shipwreck/Footloose figures in a different color that have the same heads but Convention/Steel Brigade helmets glued on. the helmets can be removed if you boil some water and than pull them off. The heads are useless for good parts, but can be used as junk figures to practice painting or give to kids to practice painting.

Bulletproof

From Custom

Bulletproof is made by swapping out the lower arms of the figure with Valor vs Venom GI Joe Duke. He's than painted using a mix of brown, flesh, white red and black skin tones. His helmet was RIT Dyed. The weapon is also a custom.
The gun comes from a bbi MP5 with Marauder Inc Scope and double clip.

Shockwave

He's made from teh same base again. The head this time comes from a Chap Mei figure (I believe). The lower arms are also from a VvV Duke. The gun is made by taking a Marauder Inc HK-36C and cutting off the clip and slightly into the gun, than trimming the connecting tab of a Marauder Inc double drum Modular M4 clip, gluing them together.

Sure Fire

Same base again (big suprise). This time with a Han Solo Power of the Force 2 head.

We'll see how this goes

2008-11-03T14:42:00.001-06:00

I have already a more new/politics/free thought blog. This one will be entirely devoted to my hobby of customizing. What is customizing? It is the art of modifying an exiting toy by changing it's parts, paints, and appearance (but not its accessories) to make something new that doesn't work.

Why do it?

Because, I'm into Star Wars. There are 1000s of named or pictures characters in the novels, comics and movies who'll never be made into figures. The ones I find interesting and play a major role in my view of the Star Wars Saga will be made by me. As to GI Joe figures, if it was the most racially and physically diverse toy line, it needs to reflect that. Also, there are plenty of characters who I lack who I can make at least as good versions as Hasbro has made.