1st Sideshow Freaks Custom Figure Challenge: RESPONSE thread

[figuremasterles]

Yeah, that Zam is an inspiration! Now, I know I need to do that too! I have her, but never got round to ever working her into more.
Super stuff bro!
You did a great job on her.

And Josh, I like how you worked your's up with a storyline. Mine is for sure a part of a growing story for customs I have, a line, not unlike my Batman 1939 set. Makes for an interesting focus for creativity. You can create your own aesthetic, and work within it.
And, I love that her pants are large. I like all that. DON'T CHANGE A THING! She has a LOT of character. Shows your skills, and more importantly, your range and imagination. And, your creative photography is getting better too.
Love the red tones. Intentional or otherwise, it gives her a lot of anger.

All the others are great too. All show amazing skills. To see one of Hurricane's non-Vaders again, is always an inspiration. To think, he used sterling silver...
Man! We all are a step or two down in our creative thinking here.
That's what you can do.

And by the way, this is what this challenge is for, to spark creativity in all of us. I hope we see even more amazing creations this week. To think, we have a whole week to go! What further wonders await us!?!?!?
I'm ready for CW's Speederbike girl!
And, Mikey!!! You had to get special permission from Dave! Where's she at?!?!?!
I don't think King Darkness is aware you haven't posted yet! Wake him up will ya! Let's see your girls!

Let's see more gang! :chew

And by the way, I see some gratuitous butt shots in there too! Who asked for those again?

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

I see that many people had problems pasting image addresses into their posts. Had to use the image-insertion button which doubles the image tags, and that's why so many images are framed with visible tags. Today it seems an address from PictureTrail or Photobucket can once more be pasted right in.

After a night's sleep:

Hurricane, this really is mind-blowing. You really do have an engineer's grit when it comes to breaking a vision down into physical steps. That the tasks might be mind-numbing, finger-breaking, or eyeball-splitting seems not to faze you. The use of metals is the type of decision that makes your stuff museum-quality. A machine-tooled lightsaber hilt that will accomodate a slender Sideshow blade is coming? Oh good grief. Once more, I I'd like to know more about these FW Inks. I've only heard of them from airbrush artists. Can you apply them with a brush? Are the permanent, or can you clean up mistakes? Are they translucent enough for layering, and how does sealing affect them? What did you use to color the leather embossing? I've also heard wild comments about Tamiya -- any notes for using their stuff?

Xander, the new hair you've sculpted has so much detail I have to ask whether you used an apoxie-type two part medium, or Sculpey. I'm going to start my own customs thread here soon by unveiling a figure for which I too removed rooted doll hair and sculpted new hair. I didn't get the fine detail you achieved here. I've gotten myself some Sculpey and am headed out to get a cheap toaster oven before my next attempt.

Josh, you really have made Les' teachings your own. I wouldn't have guessed it was a Buck head. What did you use to make the scar? Did you roll your own cigarette out of Magic Sculpt? And finally, quit following me from board to board...it's not my fault I get all my stuff shipped faster than you! You've now got me thinking about a scarface character...you're inciting me to customize again...

Ian, I'm unfamiliar with the Hasbro original, but I wonder if the metal helmet and parts were already painted like that. If the metal finish is your improvement, let's hear how you did it.

That leaves only you, FigureMaster and chief instigator of all this. Some of the sources you list I've never even heard of -- Plastic Xmen Nightcrawler?? -- and my favorite source is "I dunno, a friend gave it to me a while back." I'll bet your friends all think you're the easiest guy on earth to buy for. Now let's talk eye shadow: pastels under Dullcote? When you seal lips and eyes with gloss, are you shifting to an enamel or lacquer over Dullcote, or sticking with acrylic clear gloss? And now that you've shown us that rooted hair isn't the devil's work...any suggestions how to tame it once it starts frizzing?

I want to thank you all for your encouragement, because it's my second attempt at a female face, and obviously an example of a very small bit of painting and a lot of shopping for parts someone else made. I approached this as an opportunity to practice painting faces. The Jakks head is flesh-colored vinyl, and given the hairline with the rooted hair, I did not apply a base skin color. I added blush using ground pastel under Dullcote, and used watercolors for the eye shadow and eyebrows, also topped with Dullcote. Lips are several layers of mixed-as-I-went acrylic colors and also some watercolor at the last. I was going to use the new Perfect Body with the small breastplate, but the color match with the head was very bad and the Triad catsuit was meant for a bigger breastplate, and besides I knew I'd missed the Cameron likeness but I like how the eyes came out (it was only the second try). So I went with an older Perfect Body. When I changed over to the Scooby-Doo outfit, I used a second PB (you'll note the skin match isn't as good) and figured what the hey, she's not really Cameron anyway so use the zaftig breastplate and take advantage of the stretchy fabric of that wild-colored dress. The last photo was just to see how much drooling I could inspire, and YOU ALL WENT FOR IT.

I'm very surprised no one has commented yet on the next-to-last picture...you're at a party, when across the room you lock eyes with this blonde. She seems to be looking right at you over her shades, and...is she offering a slight "toast" or just taking a sip? What's she doing fidgeting with her hem like that? Well, I guess the only thing to do is walk over there and...

Big trouble.

 

[Darth Loki]

Re: 1st Sideshow Freaks Custom Figure Challenge: FEMALES Image Thread

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Not that I have to say it, but me like

 

[Xander]

Thanks guys! I'm really loving the turnout so far and am really happy to be a part of it.

Josh and Les, I love the Pulp feel to your figures and the parts lists are unreal. I think you both used stuff from every 1/6 scale company out there!

Bear, I love the fact you can see Cameron Diaz in the head, gives it a lot of character, and the Dafney outfit is great!!!

Ian! Glad to see another Star Wars character, and Zam at that! She's great! Awesome outfit!!!

Hurricane, WOW you did wonders to that Shaak-Ti. Gives me hope that somebody will tackle Barris Offee soon!

Can't wait to see more!!!

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

Edit: Fixed. Hey, thanks Darth Loki!

 

[figuremasterles]

I just sent a PM over to Darth Loki
Maybe the response can be moved over to here.
I hope so.

Anyway, these things happen! I imagine it is not easy to notice or remember in the heat of enjoying the works.

 

[hurricane]

Great figures by everyone so far,nice to see some completely original pieces plus amazing SW femmes,many thanx to Les for organising this for us all.Eagerly awaiting the other contributions..........quick response to Gruffs querys,FW acrylics are pretty good stuff,premixed to airbrush consistency,great for washes etc, I use them both by brush and airbrush and have worked well on figures (handy as I have alot of them from my fine art work/leather jacket jobs)
As for tamiya, again good stuff,but for me anyway best airbrushed,or applied in thinned coats,can be a bit draggy and streaky if used straight from the jar.
...maybe a link from the other forum sections should be posted to here for a bigger audience.

 

[Darth Loki]

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Not that I have to say it, but me like

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

Customikey, those dames are dark. Real deep and dark. That Medusa is calling to a kill. Are you sure you've been playing Curly, and not Jud Fry? Brrrr.

Freakin' fantastic work!

 

[figuremasterles]

Mikey's in!

:chew :chew :chew :chew :chew

First up, your Aurra Sing...

Love her! You did an amazing job revamping that one! I do wish you'd have posted a redo list, but looks like another Buck redo? Looks great!!!!
The mood, the finish, as always....pure Customikey!
Excellent classy finish!



Second up....

*cracks knuckles...prepares to write...*

WOW!

There ya go! That's using some parts! I guess a parts list was again unneeded, as you used Pred dreads and another Buck!
(Kicks self, why wasn't this a BUCK Challenge?!?!?!!)

But man, what can I say?
Simply, gorgeous! Great, original paintwork and design. Amazing use of color and mood. When mixed with your enviable photography skills, you get one hell of a whopper!
And I don't find her all that taxing on the ratings. This is a piece of art. And a darned great one too!
Please say you will keep this one Mike.
Remember when you told me to not sell my Joker, or my Mr. Freeze, ever, as they are iconic to my portfolio? Well, you have just done the same my friend! This is one standout piece!


Fantastic work!

Please sir, may I have another?

Ya got a week, Mick! You got another one in ya?

 

[galactiboy]

Wow Mikey, love the Merdusamaid entry... a really creative and exceptional piece!

This challenge is really fun to watch unfold!

 

[DarkArtist81]

HOLY CRAP Mikey!!!

Dude, that Medusa/Mermaid is just insane.... Love the use of the Predator dreds, they really work here... and the paint work is top notch, damn fine use of the Art Buck. The depth in the shading is what sells it to me, and those wicked scary eyes....

And Gruff, to answer your question..... The Cigarette is from the CSM figure from the X-Files line. And the scars were sculpted onto the head using magic sculpt. It was really a lot of fun and she just looks comfortable smoking a cig. Maybe right after she puts two into the back of some ambassador's head.

 

[creecher]

Nice work Mikey, very stylistic. Nicely snapped as well. Love that splotchy paint, and you are really getting that sparkle of life into your eyes. The nips could have been a bit more sublime though. That medusa really suits the atmosphere and mood you have created. Looks like you have alot of talent for whatever you get passionate about.

 

[King Darkness]

You are ALL masters here!!!!

I am so impressed, they are all high quality figures, some of which I would like to own!

Just awesome stuff here guys! AWESOME!

 

[King Darkness]

Holy ass crap, I just saw Mikeys entries

Those are gorgeous!!!!!

The paint apps on Medusa looks wonderful!

I want some steamy S&M pix with Josh and Les' chicks

And Gruffs Midnight Angel too


The Shaaki Ti, Leia, Zam Wessels & Aurra Sing would look perfect with my SS SW collection.

Just great work by all!!

 

[rabidwolverine21]

hey les are you ever going to throw a male challenge? for custo making manly men figures

 

[Cocoboloboy]

I love em all but I have a soft spot for SW figs and that Shaak Ti is phenomenal. Hurricane...

And just remember if you're ever ready to sell the name is spelled C O C O B O L O B O Y, look me up.

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

And they said the Jaqtilda body wouldn't work with exposed skin!

The pop-up on the wrist reminds me of the first hour-long Twilight Zone, "In His Image" by Richard Matheson. Guy finds wires in his wrist after being hit by a car, realizes he's a robot.

Die, opposable thumbs are why we rule and our housecats don't eat us. Take care of yours. Sounds like you'll lose the nail. If you've never done that, it'll be fascinating. The old nail stops, the new nail comes in behind it, blank exposed skin between, oh it's fun.

Safety first, because we need to see more like this...

 

[rabidwolverine21]

that is one sexy piece of machinery:chew

 

[die]

Thanks Gruff & Rabid

would you believe that wrist screen came from a 3 inch Lobot figure? You can still see the image of Cloud City on the display

I'm hoping I don't lose my nail, it looks better today, but hurts like crazy.


I'm completely blown away by all the figures in the fem contest. It's awesome to see people step up & deliver such cool stuff with no egos involved and no prizes involved. I'm also excited to see new people getting into customizing here lately. I hope people will continue to post their works & we all continue to share tips & tricks with each other. DON'T BE SHY, POST YOUR STUFF.

Maybe for the next contest, we could come up with several ideas & post a poll seeing what people would like to see? I'd like to see a "duo" contest. You know, like Batman & Robin together, Obi Wan & Anakin or Han & Chewie....it could be a couple like Han & Leia or Padme & Anakin...or Brokeback Mountain Even something similar to the Doctor & Patient Zombies from Sideshow. Just any custom "set" of figures **cough** some Ghostbusters...tinister..cough**