Heath Ledger Joker Customs

[Gipetto0812]

I learned lol @Gipetto0812

Ha!

In all fairness, you didn’t mention anything about specific customs. It was the “looking down on” vibe that bothered me. I don’t like an elitist mentality. Not saying anyone in here has that currently, but that was the vibe I got from the gif/post. Apparently it was a joke that went over my head, which I have apologized for reading too far into.

I clearly have no problem with customs, though. I’ve been on a decent amount of customs runs and got into this hobby customizing old Sideshow and HT figures along with repainting their sculpts when my paint skills were better than production paint.

I don’t mind customs being called out as better than a mass produced item. However, I believe there should also be some grace as a lot of what we’re getting now is pretty great for mass produced items. Even with inaccuracies that may be in this or that, I can still appreciate the level of advancement that has been made, particularly since InArt came on the scene. In my opinion, the gap is closing faster and faster. It looks to me that mass produced stuff is advancing at a quicker pace (mostly due to rival competition and not customs), while the level of customs hasn’t made quite the leap. Maybe b/c custom items have been the ones setting the bar this whole time for the last couple of years. But, customs will become less and less necessary, at least for the popular mainstream characters, as time goes on unless they continue to raise that bar.

Even taking in Heise’s repaint and rehair of the newest HT DX Joker sculpt. Hair work is a definite improvement, but it takes a real keen eye to really see any upgrade in the paint work in my opinion.

Or that customized InArt Superman with the body modifications that were so minimal it barely made a difference.

 

[Vortex]

Make sure not to mention custom anything in a mass produced figure thread, no matter what thread.

I believe the issue is too much talking about customs in a mass produced figure thread. Most people, the "normies" I guess - consider the HT to be a banger of a figure and are excited about getting it. Yet before anyone has their chance to bask in the glory you come in and drop this:

..and then proceed to point out everything else that is wrong with it thus killing excitement for the common person or the normie. You are right where you need to be in the

Heath Ledger Joker Customs​

 

[Nick D]

This is why you shouldn’t send Heise a mass produced sculpt.

He can’t strip the paint completely on it, therefore he can only touch up areas with more paint instead of having the ability to take the paint away in areas he normally wouldn’t want it to be. Whereas a custom sculpt is a complete blank canvas allowing him to work freely on it, every last detail.

You hit the nail on the head regarding customs, customs have been responsible for advancing this hobby into greater realism to the point the advancements they make aren’t as substantial as they once were.

If you see a cool idea implemented on custom work, only a matter of time before one of these companies bite it and are praised as if it’s their own advancement with the normal crowd none the wiser.

 

[Gipetto0812]

This is why you shouldn’t send Heise a mass produced sculpt.

He can’t strip the paint completely on it, therefore he can only touch up areas with more paint instead of having the ability to take the paint away in areas he normally wouldn’t want it to be. Whereas a custom sculpt is a complete blank canvas allowing him to work freely on it, every last detail.

If that’s what he’s told you, I’m sorry to say that it’s not true. I’ve stripped plenty of HT sculpts just to test and play around with painting again. Not difficult to do at all. Just takes patience and some rubbing alcohol. Areas around the eyes can be a bit challenging though, particularly in the small space between the bridge of the nose and eyes.

Not to mention, if he really wanted a blank canvas, but for whatever reason couldn’t strip the paint to the level he wanted, the simplest solution would be forego stripping it and spray a light coat of primer instead just to get an even color. Theoretically, you shouldn’t paint directly on the raw sculpt without primer anyway, but idk his specific techniques. Maybe b/c he’s so talented he doesn’t do that. But, it’s an option if he feels stripping the paint is a no go

 

[Nick D]

I believe the issue is too much talking about customs in a mass produced figure thread. Most people, the "normies" I guess - consider the HT to be a banger of a figure and are excited about getting it. Yet before anyone has their chance to bask in the glory you come in and drop this:

View attachment 740099

..and then proceed to point out everything else that is wrong with it thus killing excitement for the common person or the normie.

The first things I mentioned were -
Happy to see HT surpassed their own prototype,
but I canceled my Artisan in favor
of using those funds towards bettering my customs.

Then, the inevitable InArt vs HT Artisan debate of which I didn’t start.

Comparing those two was pointless to me as there’s a clear winner. Comparing to an old figure accomplishes nothing as all it does is act as a pat on the back comforting the buyer into feeling like they have the best product. I felt the same way when people wanted to compare their new InArt figure to the decade old DX11 like that was some kind of accomplishment.

So, in order to give the Artisan proper competition, I mention custom work and the yet to be released JND as that’s the only way forward at this moment, not for bragging rights, but because I feel the JND is worth the price tag over the Artisan and if you care about accuracy you’d compare it to things that are more accurate, no?

 

[Nick D]

If that’s what he’s told you, I’m sorry to say that it’s not true. I’ve stripped plenty of HT sculpts just to test and play around with painting again. Not difficult to do at all. Just takes patience and some rubbing alcohol. Areas around the eyes can be a bit challenging though, particularly in the small space between the bridge of the nose and eyes.

Not to mention, if he really wanted a blank canvas, but for whatever reason couldn’t strip the paint to the level he wanted, the simplest solution would be forego stripping it and spray a light coat of primer instead just to get an even color. Theoretically, you shouldn’t paint directly on the raw sculpt without primer anyway, but idk his specific techniques. Maybe b/c he’s so talented he doesn’t do that. But, it’s an option if he feels stripping the paint is a no go

I’m not saying it is impossible to strip the paint completely, we all know that’s not true.

I’m saying don’t be upset if all he decides to do is touch up here and there on it instead of a full on repaint. On reworks he doesn’t strip the sculpt completely.

 

[Gipetto0812]

I’m not saying it is impossible to strip the paint completely, we all know that’s not true.

I’m saying don’t be upset if all he decides to do is touch up here and there on it instead of a full on repaint. On reworks he doesn’t strip the sculpt completely.

Not trying to argue but you literally said “he can’t strip the paint completely” how else was I supposed to take that? That does not translate to him choosing only to do a touch up on the sculpt vs full repaint. Not to mention proceeding to say how he can only touch up a few areas vs a custom sculpt he can paint from scratch and do what he wants. Again, none of that translates to him choosing to only touch up the HT sculpt. Your post very much reads like he couldn’t strip the HT one and start from scratch if he wanted to and that it could only be done on a custom sculpt.

Also, who’s upset? I’m not. I was merely pointing out the advancement of HT production paint compared to heise’s repaint. Happy to stand corrected if it’s just a “rework” and not a repaint. Didn’t see that translated or noted anywhere. Just “original sculpt by Hot toys” in his post.

 

[Nick D]

This is as much as he stripped the main InArt sculpt, just the areas he felt he needed to.

Again, you may be able to get him to
completely redo it from a blank slate.
I’m not him, therefore I’m not going to tell you definitively it’s a no, just an observation.

 

[Vortex]

The first things I mentioned were -
Happy to see HT surpassed their own prototype,
but I canceled my Artisan in favor
of using those funds towards bettering my customs.

Then, the inevitable InArt vs HT Artisan debate of which I didn’t start.

Comparing those two was pointless to me as there’s a clear winner. Comparing to an old figure accomplishes nothing as all it does is act as a pat on the back comforting the buyer into feeling like they have the best product. I felt the same way when people wanted to compare their new InArt figure to the decade old DX11 like that was some kind of accomplishment.

So, in order to give the Artisan proper competition, I mention custom work and the yet to be released JND as that’s the only way forward at this moment, not for bragging rights, but because I feel the JND is worth the price tag over the Artisan and if you care about accuracy you’d compare it to things that are more accurate, no?

I understand your compassion and appreciate the drive to keep moving these things forward but in my reality - one of which I have zero collector friends IRL - they think I am insane for paying what I do but are often still impressed by 15 year old HT figures. Like for them the OG BR Joker is still badass and in the end besides myself - they are the audience really.

I just said in the official HT thread I don't have issue with comparisons to obtainable official pieces once everyone has them in hand and the paint dries. We all already know the mightiest customs will beat anything.

 

[Gipetto0812]

View attachment 740103

This is as much as he stripped the main InArt sculpt, just the areas he felt he needed to.

Again, you may be able to get him to
completely redo it from a blank slate.
I’m not him, therefore I’m not going to tell you definitively it’s a no, just an observation.

That’s totally fine and understandable for him to strip it as much as he sees fit. That’s his choice.

I’m pointing out that there’s a difference between “can’t” and “won’t.” It is sounding more like he won’t strip it 100% if he doesn’t need to rather than “can’t” as you previously stated as if was a definitive no.

 

[Nick D]

I understand your compassion and appreciate the drive to keep moving these things forward but in my reality - one of which I have zero collector friends IRL - they think I am insane for paying what I do but are often still impressed by 15 year old HT figures. Like for them the OG BR Joker is still badass and in the end besides myself - they are the audience really.

I just said in the official HT thread I don't have issue with comparisons to obtainable official pieces once everyone has them in hand and the paint dries. We all already know the mightiest customs will beat anything.

No one I know in person collects these things, whether that’s custom or mass production,
it’s a weird hobby.

It’s not a conversation starter at a bar.
Certainly not one I’d see myself having with anyone.

It is solely for me, my need for accuracy on this character Ledger brought to life.
I don’t speak about these things with people in my day to day life, apart from say my brother perhaps, but that’s typically loose conversation because he’s into films as am I.

I wanted an accurate Ledger Joker in physical form because I’ve watched the film far too many times growing up. I know every part to it, every bit of dialogue, every theme before it starts. I’ve dissected the film and Ledger’s costume to no end. So in a way, my love for the character is how I found this hobby. I’d have no interest in this hobby if it wasn’t for that character and my need to see him outside of having to rewatch the film another time, and another time.

 

[Nick D]

Well I am having two different conversations in the same thread, so my apologies if my wording wasn’t specific enough.

I don’t believe any artist is willing to strip it completely as that’s a lot of work on top of already having to remove the sculpted / rooted hair.

If you really want it painted from the ground up, why don’t you tell him you’re going to strip it completely before sending it out to him, if he’s fine with that, then you’re guaranteed a full repaint instead of a retouch if you’re uncertain of what exactly you’d be paying for.

 

[Vortex]

^Yeah Nick D I'm on half a century of life plus two years now and can start to feel things winding down on the collecting front. I'm at the point where I'll get a figure here and there but I mostly find myself living through other collectors such as yourself. I will visit this thread more often and look forward to seeing your completed project as I believe it will be epic. I mean the head itself is already mind blowing.

I was just thinking the other day how sad it is that Heath never got to see the finished film that inspired all of the madness in search of perfection of his character in 1/6. I even went a bit spiritual and wondered if these were somehow working as voodoo dolls against us by a man who just didn't wake up one day. Like his actual restless spirit was driving this entire operation.