Where's the customizers have been

[galactiboy]

There are less boardies that specialize in customs now so there are less 'ME' threads and more 'JOKER' or 'INCEPTION' or 'HOUSE' threads.

Yep, this is what I see as one of the major differences now then when I first joined. Typically custom artists (be it sculpting, painting, ewing, kitbashing, etc.) would have a master thread dedicated to their work and updating customers if they took projects.

Now most artists have multiple threads dedicated to individual projects which certainly pushes back the individual customizer threads. This proliferation of project/limted run/commission threads has made this more like a commerce section than a forum for sharing art.

I don't know where a logical separation would occur... but I wouldn't mind seeing some kind of subforum to sort them out.

 

[meth head]

I do agree that more kitbashers would be a good thing!

Like MM pointed out I think it is just a case of people competing with Seb and being scared possibly to show their efforts

I can't however agree that this section is falling apart with the the awesome stuff Rainman,VM,Kai,Feng & Kato etc are pumping out

These guys are very inspiring to me

 

[elvis1976]

I don't think nobody is fearing me, well i hope so.... haha

 

[krec9]

I think there is also a percieved lack of actual talent when it comes to customizing. A lot of folks will look at your work Seb, and be like, "Yeah, I could never even come close to that" and not bother. Or those that try to customize, well, quite honestly, a lot of their customs are pure rubbish. Just a thought.

i look at sebs work and get inspired to make my own thats what art is about i think the problem not many are willing to go the extra mile to make their figure look good .

 

[galactiboy]

I can't however agree this section is falling apart with the awesome stuff Rainman,VM,Kai,Feng & Kato etc are pumping out

These guys are very inspiring to me

I wouldn't say falling apart, but it has a different and sometimes less personal feel. And since there is so much interest in completed pieces these threads get bumped much quicker than works by individuals. Just looking at the first page of this section 17 of the 25 threads are individual commissions... that is pretty imbalanced.

I think an example of the more communal threads would be the recent Matrix Neo thread where people are discussing how they will assemble figures rather than just buying a completed one from somebody. And even in that thread some commerce talk is happening... but the overall feel is more sharing of information and discussing pros and cons of different items.

 

[meth head]

I wouldn't say falling apart, but it has a different and sometimes less personal feel. And since there is so much interest in completed pieces these threads get bumped much quicker than works by individuals. Just looking at the first page of this section 17 of the 25 threads are individual commissions... that is pretty imbalanced.

I think an example of the more communal threads would be the recent Matrix Neo thread where people are discussing how they will assemble figures rather than just buying a completed one from somebody. And even in that thread some commerce talk is happening... but the overall feel is more sharing of information and discussing pros and cons of different items.

I can only speak for the last couple of years and really that is the only way I have known it to be so for me it has always felt like this

 

[elvis1976]

i look at sebs work and get inspired to make my own thats what art is about i think the problem not many are willing to go the extra mile to make their figure look good .

ANd that is what im' also trying to do and that what customization is all about to me.
Inspire peolple and helping people going the extra miles in their worK.

 

[Deckard]

So whats the beef exactly, without these supposed pushers of their heads or custom clothes, there wouldn't be anywhere near as many customs.

Whats the complaint not enought people sew or sculpt themselves?

Instead they need to get a head and then put togeather an outfit.

It almost sounds like, "wtf you guys can't sew and sculpt and paint high quality stuff, whats wrong with you?"

You dont know how to fly, why don't you just learn, its not easy for some of us, so I rely on others with talent just as willing to help as some of you claim the help is more prevelant in the SW Section.

Thats Bs.

And what happened? Let me tell you what happened, people were coming here showing there stuff all there own as you say, and once in a while it was for sale, but now when someone shows a one of a kind amazing thing, everyone has a self entitled, I get one right? attitude, that led to most people realising other's would want what they made and so they just started offering it from the get go. Right now 1/6 is bigger and more publicly acessable thanks to Hot Toys and the like, then ever. The hobby exploded and so naturally people are seeking to fill the gaps in there collection that Hot TOys won't offer.

There are still plenty of full customs being made, because there is more then one doesn't make it less custom.

Velevt and Kato on the Walking Dead is a perfect example of this, if I close up shop on the project right now, I think your going to have trouble building a Rick Grimes figure no? Do you not need the custom head of that actor and that uniform, did we just waste everyones time?

Its the same as its always been in terms of people customizing there own figures, look at Feng and Kais recent show, but that doesn't mean they can't help the rest of us out and cast a few heads that aren't out there in any other capacity.

Do I make my own stuff? No.

But is a custom/kitbash I do any less special to me? Hell no, I spend months of work on them, gathering the correct parts, finding things needed, still doing little mods, meeting people all over the world. Its an adventure the same as it always was for me, thats what makes it fun. Look at Ray F's masterpiece figures, he puts a ton of work into the outfits but relys completely on others for parts like painted heads etc, his figures feel no less "personal".

 

[beeshaw]

Deckard, I think it's more the fact that there are less individual customizer threads. It's not so much that others are making their services/products available, it's that there are less people showing what they've done with them. At least that's what I've gotten from this thread.

Lets be honest, we all depend on other artists to get the parts together. Head sculpts, clothing, painting...

 

[krec9]

this is a interesting topic

 

[meth head]

this is a interesting topic

Very interesting

I have no shame in admitting I have not one ounce of talent in this field!

I went to college to study Civil Engineering not Art!

I therefore rely on people like Rainman, Kato, VM and Feng etc to release their awesome work so I can enjoy this hobby

I am not getting it, I don't understand what the problem is with that?

 

[elvis1976]

Deckard, I think it's more the fact that there are less individual customizer threads. It's not so much that others are making their services/products available, it's that there are less people showing what they've done with them. At least that's what I've gotten from this thread.

Lets be honest, we all depend on other artists to get the parts together. Head sculpts, clothing, painting...

It's that is what i was trying to say, i know my english isn't that good and sometimes it's hard for me to express what i want to say in enlgish but i think yes deckard you misunderstood what i was trying to say.

 

[Deckard]

I can only speak as for myself, but the reason I haven't been updating my own thread regularly is that I am so backlogged.

I have about 20 figures that are customs from head to outfit finished literally just waiting for bodies.

But I have to keep spending that body money on securing the next head before x date so I can at least come back and make that figure as well.

Eventually I will have a giagantic update when I just buy a case of bodies.

 

[uscmhicks]

You guys are crazy. The best customizers are still here , you just have to look around.

https://sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71557

 

[meth head]

You guys are crazy. The best customizers are still here , you just have to look around.

https://sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71557

 

[galactiboy]

Well and that could be part of the problem... no need to dredge up an old thread to make fun of someone.

 

[MarfMaster]

After thinking a bit more on this, I realized that there has been a shift for me personally. When I started out with "customs" I was doing much more bashing. Malcolm Reynolds was my first, followed by a few others like Marty (with inspiration from Deckard), Indy, House, Robert Neville, and Martin Riggs. I had a blast putting together all of them, but I've definitely gotten away from the thrill of finding all the right parts.

I really miss that, but for me it has become not only a time issue, but also a lack of satisfaction with my results in comparison to the work of "professionals." I find myself wanting to start interest threads instead of searching through pages of 1/6 parts on ebay. I think it comes down to the fact that I want the best quality for all my figures, and I don't feel that my limited talents fit the bill.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Yes, more figures get done and figures get better.

But now its a business.

Big rich churches get a lot of missionary work done, but their members feel like cattle and employees and not "members".

I'm willing to bet many of the people in this forum feel more like "customers" than "customizers".

There is nothing wrong with that, but lets not blow smoke and view this forum as anything but a marketplace.

 

[meth head]

After thinking a bit more on this, I realized that there has been a shift for me personally. When I started out with "customs" I was doing much more bashing. Malcolm Reynolds was my first, followed by a few others like Marty (with inspiration from Deckard), Indy, House, Robert Neville, and Martin Riggs. I had a blast putting together all of them, but I've definitely gotten away from the thrill of finding all the right parts.

I really miss that, but for me it has become not only a time issue, but also a lack of satisfaction with my results in comparison to the work of "professionals." I find myself wanting to start interest threads instead of searching through pages of 1/6 parts on ebay. I think it comes down to the fact that I want the best quality for all my figures, and I don't feel that my limited talents fit the bill.

And I think there is nothing wrong with that mate, that is also exactly the same for me!

 

[Deckard]

Yes, more figures get done and figures get better.

But now its a business.

Big rich churches get a lot of missionary work done, but their members feel like cattle and employees and not "members".

I'm willing to bet many of the people in this forum feel more like "customers" than "customizers".

There is nothing wrong with that, but lets not blow smoke and view this forum as anything but a marketplace.

Complete BS and no offence but do you custom/kitbash figures?, I'm not use to seeing you in this section, just an honest question.

If you did, you should know that last line is a total load. THere is a ton of help, support and friendship in this section, especially through PMs you may not be aware of.

A customer? I'm sorry did I miss the subscription notice where I need to have all my money ready for every project. The mindsets of indivuals changed, "I Need that head" is not the fault of the talented customizer who sculpted it.

You don't have to buy anything, you can sit and observe but its not as fun. I'm watching 4 threads relating to things I need to buy, a head, outfit or whatever, all the rest are for my enjoyment.

Its like saying you have to keep investing in school, so its a buissness, you have to invest in your hobby of flying so now its not a hobby, its a buissness, its BS, it takes money in alot of hobbies/aspects to move forward.

If I have a son, do I view that as a buissness because I have to pay for school, dentist etc, of course not. Again if you don't customise figures, you just don't understand the reward of a finished one after months of work, searching, and help from members all over the world, that lead to a work of art that represents not just a great character from a great movie, but also all the time and effort everyone put into making it happen.

I will sell the best Hot TOys figure ever regardless of its value to fund a custom in a hearbeat. Its an entirely differant experiance with an actual investment of time and emotion instead of, "I like Iron Man, I'll go on ebay and buy one."