Customizing forum?

[Zoomaround]

I’m basically an outsider looking in. I LOVE to visit the Custom Gallery even though I have nothing to do with customizing. I totally enjoy and respect all the hard work that is put into this craft and have learned a considerable amount about 12” figures; thanks to this board.

Since I’ve been lurking in the Custom Gallery since it’s inception, I just wanted to add some feedback in hope that it may be helpful.

It’s true that this section needs to be revamped. It doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Whatever the decision, it’s vitally important that a customizer or two moderate the section/forum. There has been occasion whereas a thread truly deserved a sticky but unfortunately, there was no moderator visiting the thread to know that a sticky had been requested. (I’m embarrassed to say that I was the one to PM Tom to request the DEADFEST Response and Image threads be made a sticky.)

Whatever the decision, this lurker will follow….

 

[Mooncat]

Of course, I would never intentionally denegrate anyone's work, in fact, I don't even like when someone posts a link to a custom selling on Ebay for example, just to mock or make fun of it.

Now you see thats were you over me would make a better Moderator

Recently I felt compelled to take the urine

There was a Padme kitbash on ebay posted in these forums (the one with breasts the size of mountains)

Had the customiser asked for a "decent" price then I may have felt less compelled to take said urine in my post and resolved to just thinking "jeez more effort needed"

As it was I thought the price reflected nievity

1. to think it was worth that
2. that someone would be dumb enough to pay that

now I understand that I was wrong and you shouldnt mock afterall it was just my opinion

but

if your gonna put yourself up on ebay at that price - expect some, if not alot of criticism

theres covering costs and then theres taking the urine
I felt compelled to take it back

Now if the shoe was on my foot and it was one of my customs . . .
then id have to say yep by all means take the urine if Im asking for payment for something and if I ask an unreasonable price

Now I also know that "art" is subjective, and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and thats why we have art critics

but I would say that ebay is fair game for critics, as your putting it in the public domain and asking money for it

If I put an item of mine up and asked a monetary figure for it, I personally think Im open to criticism as Im asking people to value it !

Not having a pop as I know at your core your courteous and respectful Les and do it for those reasons.

But I feel ebay . . is fair game for criticism

 

[automaton]

art is meant to provoke! you were provoked! this is the necessary circle! not everyone liked Andy Warhol...

 

[amarcord]

I would not create a sister site for customs: that way it can be seperated and split in time.
And that would be a shame.

I would prefer to keep it incorporated within the Freakssite.
Never change a winning team, not?

But I think more people would visit the custom threads should they be classified in "Discussion forums", as in "galleries" people" expect only to see photos (and less conversation)

Just my opinion

 

[Les Walker]

Thanks Zoomaround! So it was you! Much obliged.

And I agree Mooncat, that posting on Ebay is a different arena than posting here, or in Dave's possible Customs forum, and I am not a heavy seller on Ebay for just that reason, not that I fear criticism, lord no! Just that I don't like pricing. I hate it. That is the single hardest part of my work, putting a price on something I have labored on...
But anyway, I just meant to be nicer to folks trying to do the best they can. But, I can see your point. If they go to sell it on Ebay, for an exorbitant price, then yeah...I can see your point.

Still got mixed feelings Dave. I sure would wanna be a part of a NEW site, but am unsure, like Amarcord said, why mess with success. There is a degree of it here. Altering that, may have unforseen consequences. OR...it could be a tremendous success. Who knows!

I don't have a lot of time to Mod, nor do I have a lot of experience at it, but I wouldn't turn it down, IF DAVE NEEDED ME, for the sake of a successful enterprise. I just hope you think this through, and first, maybe, let's revamp this customs area, and clean it up some, and then try a new site.
Just my two.

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

Dear Darklord D,

Yes, these thoughts of yours are very interesting. Some way to break the customizing discussion away from the brand-centric nature of the rest of SSF and just focus on customizing. We all know we would never have gathered without Sideshow, so now let's move on without the Medicom, Tonner, or DCD bashing...Just, here's what you could do with this because I did, and here's how.

(...might motivate me to finish horse #2...wonder what page that thread is on now...)

The most exciting stuff happening today is independently sculpted heads, and this new forum could be the place to discuss developing those into full figures. If it's a separate board it might have forums about sculpting, molding, casting, and painting, about 3D printing (Printapart), and about building costumes and bases and dioramas.

In the end, whether it's part of SSF or affiliated and linked is your call. It's your brand we're developing now. As you envision it, I think you should ask yourself: who would I like to have join in that might not visit the current site? Then figure out how to build it so they will come. Back oh maybe a year ago, there was a woman who had designed clothing for Sideshow -- I can't find the thread, and can't recall her name now -- she introduced herself and vanished because there wasn't a discussion here she could really join. How about a place where she and Greg Mowry and the designers at Ha-Rue all eventually visit? Or maybe 1:6 saddle makers Jean Ross, Ben Perry, and Cesar Dubon? Can you imagine?

("Ken Kesey & the Merrry Pranksters Welcome the Hell's Angels!")

A new forum that started with charter members like those in this forum could be a real magnet. I encourage you to follow your vision, Dave, wherever it takes US.

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

PS: Of course, the success or failure of the entire thing hangs on whether Kurt Frankenfan will do graphics for it....

 

[Darklord Dave]

For this figment customizing board I was thinking of making it so that there would be broad appeal, but will Barbie designers mix with military 'bashers and do the little plastic men makers care about mixed media? It just seems that there's a niche here that's not being filled.

These are the questions to address, but it seems obvious as this site becomes more and more about high end collectibles, that the "do it yourself" segment gets ostracized.

 

[DarkArtist81]

It's pretty true that the fabricators have no place here to post their work, so we don't see anything from them. People ask me all the time if I even KNOW any fabricators and I never have a good answer for them. I don't know anybody.

But if there was a place for them to come and share their work, it would only help to expand the business all around. I know I would have a bunch of projects that a talented Fabricator would help me blow out of the water.

It's a win win for customizers and Fabricators... I know it would be fantastic to see those two worlds collide a bit more.

 

[Kevin Ellis]

Back oh maybe a year ago, there was a woman who had designed clothing for Sideshow -- I can't find the thread, and can't recall her name now -- she introduced herself and vanished because there wasn't a discussion here she could really join.

I believe this was Gidget Earle, if I recall correctly. When I joined I remember doing a search and finding her post. As a Sideshow tailor and a part-time customizer myself, I find myself in this section the most because I enjoy seeing what people can do and because I like to help out where and when I can (and I like to show some non-Sideshow stuff I'm working on...when it happens). Whichever way this decision goes, I'm sure to follow...whether I have a discussion I can join or not, its the enjoyment of the hobby that keeps me coming here.

 

[icruise]

So I take it that there is a subculture of Barbie outfit makers out there? I really don't have any idea. If that's the case, I do sort of wonder if they would mix well with the typical user of this site. Let's face it -- we're overwhelmingly male, and tend to like sci-fi and fantasy, while I would guess the average Barbie customizer is a female who likes cute things and sewing. Might work, might not. Are there any well-known forums for Barbie people at the moment? Is it a large group?

 

[Anzik]

I would like to see the expanded 'all sorts of customs' site but I think taking the custom section from here would be horrible. Is there a way for posts here to be automatically duplicated there? This way the SIDESHOW freaks can have instant access to SIDESHOW customs.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I don't see it as changing this site at all. The custom sections here would remain the same.

And one reason for this is I'm interested in fabricators too (perfect word for toy tailors). Creating a pattern from scratch is even more difficult than doing a portrait sculpt. At least with a portrait sculpt you are trying to make something look like something else. But pattern creation seems elusive to me without trial and error and many iterations and discarded clothes. I've tried it before and a good pattern is worth it's weight in gold. (okay, they don't weigh very much).

I've been looking into ways to scan patterns for full scale clothes and reduce them to 1/6th but haven't come across a good way to do this yet.

 

[Captain Faramir]

I don't see it as changing this site at all. The custom sections here would remain the same.

And one reason for this is I'm interested in fabricators too (perfect word for toy tailors). Creating a pattern from scratch is even more difficult than doing a portrait sculpt. At least with a portrait sculpt you are trying to make something look like something else. But pattern creation seems elusive to me without trial and error and many iterations and discarded clothes. I've tried it before and a good pattern is worth it's weight in gold. (okay, they don't weigh very much).

I've been looking into ways to scan patterns for full scale clothes and reduce them to 1/6th but haven't come across a good way to do this yet.

Well that would interest me. Costuming is one thing that I can do very well. I found a FANTASTIC fabric for my 1:6 Leia during my stay here in Cali, and it's turning out great. It'll take a while to finish since I've decided to do it entirely by hand, but it's this fine knit which hangs just like the real thing. Plus I've got Boromir's cloak on the way, Aragorn's blue shirt, Faramir's green cloak . . . it's taking a while since most of them have to be done by hand, but they are coming. Slowly, but surely. Leia's dress will look GREAT.

 

[Shai]

I think, Dave's Ultimate goal is to have a board who can appeal to a maximum of people, not only Sideshow fans,but figure collectors, cutimizers, doll collectors, statue collectors etc....This could very well become one of the biggest and most massive board on Vbulletin....I am in favor of this.Also, more people here = more people cliking on the affiliate banners wich is good for Dave.But more important,As more people join in,more mods will be needed and one day,DLD will have no choice but to let me be what I am destined to become: The Great Worm Moderator.

 

[lerath666]

As far as sewing goes, I'm starting to get into tat, and would love pointers from anyone, Especialy with my Rushuna tendo figure I'm working on. A place to ask for help and tips with sewing would be a big boon.....

Working on a 1/6 REAL LEATHER outfit for a hurricane vader too.....:

 

[Anzik]

As long as this stays as is, I would be all for playing in a new forum. I'd love to hear what the costume makers have to say, as well as giving guys like myself that do more obscure work like backgrounds and props.

 

[JustinLuck]

I don't see it as changing this site at all. The custom sections here would remain the same.

And one reason for this is I'm interested in fabricators too (perfect word for toy tailors). Creating a pattern from scratch is even more difficult than doing a portrait sculpt. At least with a portrait sculpt you are trying to make something look like something else. But pattern creation seems elusive to me without trial and error and many iterations and discarded clothes. I've tried it before and a good pattern is worth it's weight in gold. (okay, they don't weigh very much).

I've been looking into ways to scan patterns for full scale clothes and reduce them to 1/6th but haven't come across a good way to do this yet.

As someone who is designing an entire outfit of patterns for one of my Sideshow figures, I wholeheartedly agree, and fully appreciate why good 1/6 clothing costs so much!

 

[Les Walker]

What the hell, I'm IN!
I need to hone my sewing skills anyway. If I could offer this, I would be free! FREE! To soar and make anything I wanted!

OK, blissful/dream moment over. Just make the site already so we can start asking all the serious questions and stuff.
And I will help if I can.

 

[The Josh]

Didn't want to start a new thread. Who did the custom obi-wan head from TPM again? Also are there any for sale someplace?