Where's the customizers have been

[MarfMaster]

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

I dunno, the work being offered can still be appreciated by those not interested in buying.

 

[uscmhicks]

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

You're right. I'm only messing around though , I don't think that guy has been on for a long while anyway.
I understand where Seb is coming from, the custom section used to feel a lot different when Les , DA and all those guys were posting new things every other day and then people would be inspired and give it a shot themselves.
I don't think this place will ever be like that again though , for one , half of the customizers ended up in big trouble and still owe things out today , hot toys seem to make most things that people want and now as mentioned it seems to be more of a buisness section nowadays.

Look how many customizers ended up in financial trouble or how many got ripped off by Chris Howes myself included. This ended up putting a downer on the whole custom section and I'd imagine making more people who were originally inspired by guys like them stop posting there stuff too.

There are still people who were great at what they were doing back then and still do it the same now though , Spenser for example.

In the end most people around now don't need to make there own customs and post them to have ten guys tell them there is a better version in another thread and that they should try to copy that.
They want their figures to look the best and there are already people and companies to do that for them.

There isn't much creativity in it this way but it seems it's what 90% of people prefer.

 

[Deckard]

There is less time for creativity for a lot of us. I'm 25, I can't spend 10 years learning to sculpt right now so I can have the custom House M.D. head I want at the quality level that won't get made fun of as you point out, when I'm 35.

Then I'd have to spend a few years learning to paint and sew. If I'd found this hobby 10 years ago it'd be differant but things have evolved so that others can now offer stuff like headplay and I don't need to learn what to do. BTW materials, sculpty, etc, you think that stuffs cheap plus learning how, far cheaper to buy a head cast.

I'll take a custom in 2 months time from 3-4 people who are incredibly talented and be just as happy.

Next time you need a flight to wherever, stop and think are you less creative because you bought an airline ticket instead of building your own plane and learning to fly, or is it just far more practical because you already dedicated your life to learning another skill.

Les, Josh, Chris Howes, all brought it on themselves with greed. The end.

Proof? Elvis. Knew he had a kid coming, said sorry no more commissions right now. Responsiblity and alot of respect is what that showed me.

 

[intothevoid]

There is less time for creativity for a lot of us. I'm 25, I can't spend 10 years learning to sculpt right now so I can have the custom House M.D. head I want at the quality level that won't get made fun of as you point out, when I'm 35.

Then I'd have to spend a few years learning to paint and sew. If I'd found this hobby 10 years ago it'd be differant but things have evolved so that others can now offer stuff like headplay and I don't need to learn what to do. BTW materials, sculpty, etc, you think that stuffs cheap plus learning how, far cheaper to buy a head cast.

I'll take a custom in 2 months time from 3-4 people who are incredibly talented and be just as happy.

Next time you need a flight to wherever, stop and think are you less creative because you bought an airline ticket instead of building your own plane and learning to fly, or is it just far more practical because you already dedicated your life to learning another skill.

Les, Josh, Chris Howes, all brought it on themselves with greed. The end.

Proof? Elvis. Knew he had a kid coming, said sorry no more commissions right now. Responsiblity and alot of respect is what that showed me.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

I guess in the end it all depends on what customs mean to you. For me, it's the process of painting and assembling, it's not really about "collecting." When most threads have people showing off their purchased customs and they all have exactly the same paintjob, exactly the same clothes on exactly the same bodies, it's just less intersting for me personally. Again, that's not a criticism against those who prefer to purchase, but it would be nice to see more folks, the average guys and gals, doing their own thing like the old days and not being totally ingnored because they're not a pro or aren't offering a service.

 

[beeshaw]

I guess in the end it all depends on what customs mean to you. For me, it's the process of painting and assembling, it's not really about "collecting." When most threads have people showing off their purchased customs and they all have exactly the same paintjob, exactly the same clothes on exactly the same bodies, it's just less intersting for me personally. Again, that's not a criticism against those who prefer to purchase, but it would be nice to see more folks, the average guys and gals, doing their own thing like the old days and not being totally ingnored because they're not a pro or aren't offering a service.

That's the biggest problem IMHO.

 

[elvis1976]

Exactly for me customizing is about collecting parts, tnrasforming them, spending days on ebay trying to find the jewels you were looking for, painting etc....
Actually i don't care much about collection, I sell most of the stuff i make in the end, but the making is the thrill for me.
Once done i'm most of the time bored with the figure i have made.

 

[galactiboy]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that the projects being offered are a bad thing... I know I wouldn't as I've taken advantage of a number of them.

But I do think the section could be split which would allow more people to share their individual work yet also sell.

For instance a customizer could have one master thread with all of their work in one section, yet multiple commission threads in the commerce portion. That way you have a little more room for all customizers irregardless of how much stuff they offer for sale.

 

[Greggo]

All very good points are being raised here! But all this talk about no customizers is making me feel very depressed! I always class myself as a customizer and kitbasher but from Reading this I'm sure some of you guys just think this is no my hobby and I'm only in for the money which is not the case I love everything I get to work on! I love it even more now as I get to work on the things that I have always wanted to do for myself but I just don't have the money! So I say thank you to all the people who give me thier customs

 

[galactiboy]

Greggo... I'd certainly consider you a customizer. You take what is stock and customize it into something else. You also happen to offer a service of customizing which for the time being is more of your focus then personal projects.

Same as people who offer full figures, they are certainly making custom figures... but sometimes that focus seems to be more on making them for others. There is nothing wrong with this, but the forum is very imbalanced (partially due to the large number of projects) towards the commerce/service side.

 

[beeshaw]

All very good points are being raised here! But all this talk about no customizers is making me feel very depressed! I always class myself as a customizer and kitbasher but from Reading this I'm sure some of you guys just think this is no my hobby and I'm only in for the money which is not the case I love everything I get to work on! I love it even more now as I get to work on the things that I have always wanted to do for myself but I just don't have the money! So I say thank you to all the people who give me thier customs

Quite the opposite Greggo.

I don't think there's really a debate to be had here, but that's what the internet is for I suppose. There are those who prefer to purchase full customs, those who would rather put them together piece by piece, and others who offer services, be it big or small, to make this all possible.

I think Seb was just trying to encourage other customizers to be proud of their creations and post them.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

I don't think anyone's just in it for the money. I don't think this thread was meant as any sort of condemnation of the artists who sell their skills here on the board, there's nothing wrong with that, I think it was just meant to express more of a desire to see the "homemade" alongside the beautiful professional works instead of ignored in favor of them.

 

[vodoun]

In the end most people around now don't need to make there own customs and post them to have ten guys tell them there is a better version in another thread and that they should try to copy that.
They want their figures to look the best and there are already people and companies to do that for them.

There isn't much creativity in it this way but it seems it's what 90% of people prefer.

Thats the problem though. Respect is lost between so many members today even though they deny or try to backtrack or twist discussions for their personal gain. Their actions and conversations shows it up causing a bitterness or trashing it as well as the works of others then offloading stuff here or eBay. When the next commission comes along, rinse and repeat.


Look at the 89 Batman figures. One time nobody would have parted with them. They were gold in their eyes. One time I was enquiring about some of them as they really looked good. Some had too much of a backlog as well as waiting 6 months to a year plus. Another I just wasn't prepared to pay that much for just the figure.

Now the present day 99.9% members offloaded them as if they had the plague. What does that say to the creator(s)? Now I'm not caring what that member(s) does with their figures but you can't deny at some point thats going to boil with some of them over time as they may or may not have read such discussions and as one member has already created a thread on similar circumstances. It's all about profit?... or as it's been said on Football TV, it's a cattle market.


Respect, attitude and as Prog said, elitism is the thing thats been causing the biggest rift on this board. Not what's being made or for sale or what it costs. Most times in the past on this board quite a handful of members so to speak have been walking about with the middle finger up to justify their purchase(s).


From time to time I lurk on Onesixthwarriors and from what I've seen there's a huge entirely different tone of conduct with their members. Perhaps the mods don't take any crap over there and are very firm... Who knows but I've found it rare over there for the least little thing to blow up because somebody disagreed or took great offense to it. Even the foreign boards to a greater extent aren't as derogatory as this place as of late.

Another thing as well I've noticed with this board the respect towards each other only comes into play is when somebody has been scammed. Anything else and it's sour grapes.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

From time to time I lurk on Onesixthwarriors and from what I've seen there's a huge entirely different tone of conduct with their members. Perhaps the mods don't take any crap over there and are very firm... Who knows but I've found it rare over there for the least little thing to blow up because somebody disagreed or took great offense to it. Even the foreign boards to a greater extent aren't as derogatory as this place as of late.

OSW is a totally different exprience. It's a very laid back and supportive place, where everyone shows off their stuff without fear of ridicule, and what criticism does come is almost always constructive. If it weren't mainly military focused, I'd post there more.

 

[KBA]

Typically custom artists (be it sculpting, painting, ewing, kitbashing, etc.) would have a master thread

Now most artists have multiple threads dedicated to individual projects which certainly pushes back the individual customizer threads.

Totally. Even Rainman use to have one master thread after his debut in the GBU custom thread.

 

[Dark Passenger]

Exactly for me customizing is about collecting parts, tnrasforming them, spending days on ebay trying to find the jewels you were looking for, painting etc....
Actually i don't care much about collection, I sell most of the stuff i make in the end, but the making is the thrill for me.
Once done i'm most of the time bored with the figure i have made.

I'll remember this when it comes to the Metal Gear Solid figures you're making.

 

[thainer]

I agree with the people who are saying that there is a certain elitism among some members here when it comes to custom work. Face it we aren't all Seb, or Rainman, or whomever. But those of us who do custom figures (or kitbashes or whatever) work very hard on our figures-very hard indeed. I have worked for days or weeks on a figure and had it sink without a trace amongst the other commerce threads or threads by the greats here (or worse had people completely knock the figure) so, to be honest, I am very reluctant to post custom figures here. And I am fairly certain I am not alone in that feeling.

 

[toyadventurer]

What gives? I have read through eight pages of this thread and I can't find anything to buy.

 

[krec9]

I'll remember this when it comes to the Metal Gear Solid figures you're making.

remember the agreement i want mantis

 

[Platty]

I think it all boils down to how you prefer this aspect of the hobby. People love making their own stuff, searching for the parts, putting them together. I know I do. It's my favourite thing about all of 1/6th! I'll post the finished result in my thread whether good or bad

Whereas people love getting in on these comissioned full figures, and fairplay to them, I know teddy Daniels is in on a lot of them and he has one of the best collections around. I would be in for more if the subject of the figure was my cup of tea.

I agree comission / interest threads are getting more common but it's just another part of the hobby, that's the way I see it anyway.

I don't know. I'm no good with words. If I was good with words i'd be bigger than WHSmith.