I used to build and paint model kits of some of my favorite movie characters. The REAL model builders always customized their kits by improving the details, changing the pose, and building dioramas to better display them. I really got into customizing as my own form of artistic expression. I always saw the potential in everything to be better than it was, and I really liked making things my own.
Then Sideshow came out with 1/6 Classic Jason and Freddy figures and really got my attention. The likenesses were as good as any model kits I'd seen, and I didn't need to paint them or go through a whole bunch of trouble altering the pose to something I prefered. I started collecting them, and then Hot Toys showed up. Between the two, there wasn't really any need to collect and build models anymore (which were much more expensive than figures innitially anyway). Even so, I still saw potential to make improvements. When I discovered forums like onesixthwarriors and this one, I started sharing what I was doing like I saw others doing. The response was extremely positive and it wasn't long until people started asking me to do similar things to their figures or help them make their own vision a reality.
I now use these skills professionally doing work for Sideshow and others, but I still love to see how advanced and impressive the customizing has gotten on this forum. There are so damn talented people all over the world doing incredible things. I still learn new tricks by seeing what others are doing.
Then Sideshow came out with 1/6 Classic Jason and Freddy figures and really got my attention. The likenesses were as good as any model kits I'd seen, and I didn't need to paint them or go through a whole bunch of trouble altering the pose to something I prefered. I started collecting them, and then Hot Toys showed up. Between the two, there wasn't really any need to collect and build models anymore (which were much more expensive than figures innitially anyway). Even so, I still saw potential to make improvements. When I discovered forums like onesixthwarriors and this one, I started sharing what I was doing like I saw others doing. The response was extremely positive and it wasn't long until people started asking me to do similar things to their figures or help them make their own vision a reality.
I now use these skills professionally doing work for Sideshow and others, but I still love to see how advanced and impressive the customizing has gotten on this forum. There are so damn talented people all over the world doing incredible things. I still learn new tricks by seeing what others are doing.
Feel the same way. I have almost stopped kitbashing altogether. I'm starting to become a collector now. 
No, not quite. By that reasoning, Freddy Krueger can now be part of the DC Universe, and through him, Jason, neither of which is my current project. I would add 'unfortunately', but what I'm working on does rank highly on the awesome-ometer.
But this takes nothing away from the fascination that I can manifest with respect to your talent!!! 
