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Action Figure Customs BlogThis blog is dedicated to discussing the world of custom action figures. There are many talented people creating customs from toy lines such as Transformers, GI Joe, Marvel Legends, and Star Wars. I also interview various customizers and they shed light on their philosophy and showcase their talent. The blog is updated daily so check back often for updates.
Custom Optimus Prime Transformers Movie Custom Voyager Class Figure by Jin SaotomePosted by Mig on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 @ 9:55 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() Jin Saotome is on a roll with his latest Transformers Movie Custom Battle Damaged Optimus Prime in Voyager Class scale. One aspect of this Optimus Prime that sets it apart from the rest is the removable truck back! With the Voyager Class Optimus Prime, the original figure suffered from hunchback syndrome but Jin has found the key to making this figure tolerable: the removable truck back! Removing the hood from Prime's back really makes this figure sleek and agile. The paint job reflects one heck of a battle that happened at the end of the movie and what always puzzled me was that Prime's Truck mode (and all of the Autobots) looked immaculate even after a opening a big can of whoop a$$ on the Decepticons. Jin's truck mode actually reflects what Prime would look like before he had a chance to hit the car wash. The cracked windshield is a nice touch too (I wonder what auto insurance Prime has...). As Jin states, "This auction is for an 8" tall custom 'Final Battle' Optimus Prime figure with removable truck back (ah hah, finally!) removable gun-hand, and twin missile firing smokestacks. He has multiple points of articulation, far too many for me to count so I'm not even going to try. This means you can pose Prime in all sorts of awesome Autobot-leading poses and he'll look great in every one. He transforms just like the store-bought Voyager Optimus Prime and changing his form around won't affect the paint job at all. Instructions are included because let's face it these suckers are like skill-puzzles sometimes. ![]() ![]() Labels: Custom Optimus Prime, Custom Transformers, Custom Transformers Action Figures, Custom Transformers Movie Figures, Jin Saotome, optimus prime, Transformers, transformers movie customs, Voyager Class Galvatron Transformers Movie Custom by Jin SaotomePosted by Mig on Monday, October 29, 2007 @ 9:52 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() As Jin states, "This auction is for an 8 inch tall custom Movie Galvatron figure with removable back wings and firing arm cannon/cockpit. He has multiple points of articulation, far too many for me to count so I'm not even going to try. This means you can pose Galvatron in all sorts of awesome Autobot battling poses and he'll look great in every one. He transforms just like the store bought Voyager Megatron and changing his form around won't affect the paint job at all. Instructions are included because let's face it these suckers are like skill puzzles sometimes. ![]() If you are unfamiliar with Galvatron please read on below: ![]() Check out more Custom Transformers on eBay! Labels: Custom Transformers, Custom Transformers Action Figures, Custom Transformers Movie Figures, Galvatron, Generation 1, Jin Saotome, Transformers, transformers movie customs, Voyager Class Jetfire Masterpiece Custom Transformers Made from Yamato VF-1S 1/48 by deafinoneearPosted by Mig on @ 7:29 AM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI JoeThe Masterpiece line has been a huge hit for Takara and the figure line keeps growing (Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream, Ultra Magnus, Skywarp). What if Takara made a Masterpiece Jetfire? deafinoneear shows you what it might look like with his custom Masterpiece Jetfire from a Yamato VF-1S 1/48. I think I can speak for most when I say that Jetfire is one of the most popular Transformers from the Generation One line back in the 1980's. As with any Masterpiece Transformers, collector's love the scale and G1 molds that are used to portray their favorite characters. This custom is no exception! The scale for this Jetfire is very close to Optimus Prime's scale (with Jetfire's armor just reaching Optimus' head) but without the armor Jetfire comes up to his shoulder. No detail was spared when creating this G1 Classic. For this one, I am letting the pictures do the talking so enjoy the show and make sure you bid on this one of a kind Custom Masterpiece Jetfire! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Labels: custom, Custom Figure Reviews, Custom Transformers, Custom Transformers Action Figures, Custom Transformers Movie Figures, G1, Generation 1, Jetfire, Masterpiece, Transformers Wheeljack Transformers Movie Custom Made from 2009 Camaro Bumblebee by darthleon_customsPosted by Mig on Sunday, October 28, 2007 @ 7:47 AM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() Wheeljack's head is very accurate to his G1 counterpart and the faceshield that makes this figure unique fits nicely over the existing Bumblebee head. By leaving the mouth exposed and the top of the head, darthleon_customs takes Wheeljack to the next level by giving him a more robotic look with a human touch. In car mode, the detail on the paint pays a nice homage to the Generation 1 classic. Without overtly putting Autobot stickers on the car, Wheeljack can continue to hide in plain site, a welcome change from the original. darthleon_customs urges you to bid early as I am sure this one will be hot and very sought after. Check out his Custom Wheeljack on eBay as he has more customs coming! ![]() Labels: custom, Custom Bumblebee, Custom Transformers, Custom Transformers Action Figures, Custom Transformers Movie Figures, G1, Generation 1, Transformers, transformers movie customs, Wheeljack 2009 Camaro Custom Lego Technic by crowkillers-incorporatedPosted by Mig on Friday, October 26, 2007 @ 9:55 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() "As a Camaro owner myself I was in awe when I feasted my eyes on Chevy's New Concept Camaro Last Year. After a Few months I decided to build one. This model contains Well over 2300 New parts and has been constructed in 1/8 Scale studless form. Some of you may be confused as to what the term "Studless" actually means, well here it is:Rather than having bricks that actually "Click or Snap" together with studs, my models are pinned and joined together courtesy of different length friction pins and axles. This method makes for lighter and stronger models and is the only style that I build in. Studless building is like playing Chess where you must always be 5 or 6 steps ahead. Now that you know what studless means, on to the Car's specs: ![]() V8 Engine with removable LS2 Style Engine Cover. This engine features a moving crankshaft with 8 pumping pistons. 6 Speed Transmission with Reverse. As you can see in the pictures, This is a Fully Funtional 6 Speed transmission with a working Reverse gear. Not to be confused with Lego's 8448 5 Speed+Reverse Transmission, My Model has 6 Forward Gears Plus a Reverse. I needed to clarify this because many people refer the Lego 8448 tranny as a "6 Speed"(5+R). My Tranny is much more complex and works very smoothly through all 6 gears. Or 7(6 Speed + Reverse) Depending on if you consider Reverse a Gear or not. Oh Yeah, The shift pattern also follows the Real Camaro's! Working independent 4 wheel suspension. Opening Hood, Doors, and Trunk. Operational Front Wheel Steering system with a "Hand of God" Steering system that also operates the steering wheelinside of the cockpit. ![]() "Hand of What?" Ok, I always get the e-mail asking, so I will explain what "Hand of God" means. "Hand of God" refers to your own hand (Making You "God from above using your Hand") Turning a somewhat hidden wheel (In this case on top of my model's dashboard) that in turn steers the front wheels. And with my model, also turns the Actual steering wheel accordingly.Note: If you are the winning bidder, please don't consider yourself a God and start a silly cult. That would just be well... Wrong. Detailed interior done in Tan. Check out the cool arm-rests on the doors. And the awesome Black exterior With Red-Stripes. This is a complete custom model, not a set that you can buy at Walmart or Lego Shop At Home. And the only instructions that exist are embedded within my head." There is still one day left to bid on this masterpiece of Americana! Head over to eBay and put yourself in the running to own this Custom Black 2009 Lego Camaro. Labels: Camaro, custom, Custom Figure Reviews, lego Beastbox Custom Transformers Generation 1 Movie Style by FugayziePosted by Mig on Thursday, October 25, 2007 @ 11:04 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() It takes a keen eye to see how a custom will play out before it is made but Fugayzie has hit this one on the mark! He brings us this Custom Beastbox Generation One style with customized cannons and paint. The color matches the G1 cassette very well and the removable cannons that were added to the shoulders brings this custom closer to its G1 counterpart. Although not as well known as the other cassette transformers (Rumble, Laser Beak, Frenzy, Ravage, etc.) from Generation 1, Beastbox was a great addition to Soundwaves arsinol as he was also a combiner who was packaged with Squaktalk. Together, they made Squakbox (I know, I bet it took them a long time to come up with that name), a very cool idea for cassettes. ![]() If you are not familiar with Beastbox, read more about him below: Beastbox basic function is an interrogator His violent temper overcomes his natural curiosity More willing to whittle down his captives with his fists than with his words Few survive his interrogations long enough to reveal anything useful Can record up to 6000 hours of testimony Equipped with two compression cannons, which crush a target with tons of compressed air "Speak now if you intend to ever speak at all" Labels: Beastbox, custom, Custom Figure Reviews, Custom Transformers, Custom Transformers Action Figures, Custom Transformers Movie Figures, G1, Generation 1, Transformers Custom Marvel Legends Wolverine Luke Cage Thing Silver Surfer Cyclops - All as Zombies by rayscustomsPosted by Mig on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 @ 9:42 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe
Just in time for Halloween! rayscustoms brings us a truly one of a kind set of Custom Marvel Legends Zombie Figures. Rare forms of Wolverine, Luke Cage, Thing, Silver Surfer, and Cyclops are up for grabs on eBay so go check them out! It is night of the living dead in the Marvel Legends Universe and rayscustoms is the harbinger of death.
![]() ![]() Be sure to view all the Custom Marvel Legends figure on eBay! Labels: custom, Custom Figure Reviews, Custom Marvel Legends, Cyclops, Luke Cage, Marvel Legends, Silver Surfer, Thing, Wolverine Custom Marvel Legends Snake Eyes by Kyle RobinsonPosted by Mig on @ 4:18 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() What is cool about this figure is the prominent Arashikage on his right arm. The Arashikage is the Clan of Ninjas that were part of The G.I. Joe comic book story line. The clan was founded many centuries ago by the Emperor of Japan in order to protect the Jewel of Amaterasu. The jewel allows its owner to control the chi surrounding him. The "map" to the jewel is a kata that only members of the Arashikage ninja clan have access to. Members of the Arashikage clan wore a tattoo on their right forearm, representing the 63rd hexagram of the I Ching. Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow were first shown to have this tattoo in their first battle at the Silent Castle. The weathering on the weapons and armor adds much depth to the figure. The face is also spot on and pays a nice homage to the 1985 version and the comic (as shown above). The darkened grooves on the mask also creates a nice shadowing effect. Deadpool was an excellent choice for the base mold of this Snake Eyes. Often I will see Snake Eyes done in a more skinier base using other Marvel Legends figures but Deadpool compliments the figure nicely as Snake Eyes and the muscles and head look very proportional to each other. the ninja weapons add a nice touch to figure as often he is couched as a Commando with uzi's and grenades. ![]() Kyle also does commission work so hit him up on his website! To see more picture of Snake Eyes, check out his dedicated page on Kyle's site! Labels: custom, Custom Figure Reviews, Custom Marvel Legends, GI Joe, Marvel Legends, Snake Eyes Custom Battle Damaged Bumblebee and Longarm Transformers Movie Diorama by passiondesignsincPosted by Mig on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 @ 10:07 AM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() "Now this is a custom that I'm very excited about. It's a slight recreation of a battle scene with in this summer's blockbuster movie "Transformers". """"" Spoilers""" Now Bumblebee gets blasted during the big fight and loses his legs. Next thing you know, his new human friends are straping him to a towtruck and helping him to keep fighting. The minute I saw the Longarm Towtruck Figure I had to do this diorama. But with a slight added bonus Longarm comes with flashing lights, a trick I learned from Jin using Barricade roof lights . Bumblebee has been customized for battle damaged, re-paint from different metallic washes, drybrushing etc .... Longarm also has slight been repaint, the same, but with running lights. This auction is for 2 custom Transformers and the diorama based! . It's a 3 for 1 deal, get while its hot!!!!!!!" ![]() I personally love the city scape that he designed as his creation looks like all hell broke loose on the streets (you can even see water effects from the busted fire hydrant). As for the Transformers themselves, passiondesignsinc has taken some liberty in his interpretation of what happened to Bumblebee in the movie (getting ripped at the legs not at the waist) but he explains his decision in his own words, "it's my creation" and he wanted to keep the ability to transform Bumblebee and breaking the legs simply would not have worked. I actually think this was a brilliant idea as you can do so much more with the dio this way. If you notice carefully, he has tried to bring a human element to Bumblebee with the creation of an exposed robotic spine from a Doc Oc tentacle. This really adds a higher level of detail and goes well beyond the interpretation of the movie and delves deeper into the mechanics and underlying construction of Bumblebee. I like the way he used scrap wire to give that freshly shredded look to the wire as it really looks like Bumblebee has a spine that connects and gives him the ability to move his arms and legs. Go check out passiondesignsinc's Custom Battle Damaged Bumblebee and Longarm Transformers Movie Diorama as it is a real treat to see something different in the Transformers Customs arena. I am super impressed by his work, making the decision to deviate from the movie, and the overall quality of the custom work as this dio is on steroids and there are so many possibilities for display! ![]() ![]() Labels: bumblebee, Custom Bumblebee, Custom Transformers, Custom Transformers Action Figures, Custom Transformers Movie Figures, Diorama, Long Arm, Transformers, transformers movie customs Custom Helghast Soldier from Killzone by Jin SaotomePosted by Mig on Monday, October 22, 2007 @ 11:01 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() Jin Saotome outdoes himself again as he brings us his Custom Helghast Soldier from the Killzone game. In Jin's own words, he describes how he created this work or art: "Let me first say that I've never played Killzone but was extremely impressed with the super-reaslistic trailer I saw at the E3. Killzone 2 is coming out next year and yes I'm picking it up! That being said I hope I did the game justice in bringing this figure to live. Don't scream at me if I missed something, I don't even know if this matches Killzone 1 or 2's Helghast, lol! After taking these photos I sat back and did a few double-takes. Not because of anything wrong, but how even tho I had no idea what the character was about I loved the final look! This may look like a 1/6th scale figure but it's only 8" tall! The base figure was a Sigma 6 'Shockwave black ops' body with a Sigma 6 Iron Grenadier head and hands. I resculpted the face portion of the Iron Grenadier to match the Helghast face but afterwards decided that he needed more than just painted on eyes. That's where I got a little creative. I drilled the old eyes out and replaced them with clear plastic rod sections I got from a Xevoz Hyperfury staff accessory. The staff was already a clear orange and it works for the eyes when they're not lit up. Yes, they really do light up! Dilling out up under the faceplate I put an orange LED in there and glued the wires back under his helmet rim so they came out the back leading to the battery pack on his back. You can depress the button and his eyes light up bright orange or slip a small piece of metal lever in the battery pack to keep them on all the time. Everything else was paint work.. lots and lots of it. For his jumpsuit a basic dark gray was laid down with a dirty black wash, some brown, highlights of gray, then gunmetal for the armor. I did a muddy brown splatter on the boots/underside then decided to go all out, giving him a blood-splatter to his left side as if he had just gunned someone down. His Helghast Rifle was made from a Frontmission 3 shotgun and various random parts cut and glued on to make it resemble the gun in the game as close as I could get it. The two sides of the flag were printed out on Photoshop and given a texture-filter so it looked a little like material. I tattered the edges then glued it to aluminum piping. It's huge, a foot tall by eight inches long! So there you have it, one Helghast Soldier from the game Killzone! Light up eyes rule... hehehe..." I have never played the game either but judging from the looks of this figure, this makes me want to go out and buy it! My favorite parts of the figure are the light up eyes (of course), the weathering to give him a fresh from combat look, mud splatters on the boots, and the splatters of bloof on his left side. You can still bid on Jin's Custom Helghast Soldier on eBay so don't delay and get to bidding!!! Labels: custom, Custom Figure Reviews, Custom Video Game Figures, Helghast Soldier, Jin Saotome, Killzone Custom Marvel Legends X-Men Moonstar by K&L CustomsPosted by Mig on Sunday, October 21, 2007 @ 11:17 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() K&L Customs capture her intense psionic powers with their comic accurate tribute to Moonstar. The energy arrow, which can stun an opponent by disrupting their central nervous system, is a very nice accessory and really brings out the uniqueness of this custom. Capturing a burning arrow is difficult but K&L did a very nice job sculpting the flames, as if this arrow was really on fire. The bow, string, and stance really pay homage to the comic depiction (as shown below) and the hair and headband compliment the head, which are nicely proportioned to each other. The eyes and lips on the figure bring out Moonstar's personality. Hands are really tough to do but they pulled it off as the clutch of the bow string and bow seem very natural and proportional to the rest of her body. One thing I may have added to this figure would be some detailing on the headband to put the finishing touch on it but this is a very minor detail. The coloring pulls this figure together and and is another awesome custom from the talented people over at the Toy Soup Forums. This Custom Marvel Legends Moonstar is available on eBay where you have a chance to own this awesome work of art. If you would like to learn more about Moonstar, please read on below. ![]() Labels: Caramel's Customs, Custom Figure Reviews, Custom Marvel Legends, Custom Marvel Legends Reviews, Custom Marvel Legends X-Men, Custom Marvel Legends XMEN, Marvel Legends, Moonstar, X-MEN Leader Class Nemesis Optimus Prime Custom Transformers Movie by zildjianPosted by Mig on Friday, October 19, 2007 @ 11:30 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() ![]() "This auction is for a Transformers the Movie custom figure of NEMESIS PRIME!! This figure started out as a Leader Class Optimus Prime produced by Hasbro! I disassembled the entire figure, primed each part, then painted each part with flat black, metallic black, blood red, and a very special MIRROR CHROME on the robotic parts. You will NOT see another figure with this type of chrome look!! This figure had well over 40 pieces when taken apart, and took quite a long time to complete. He was also given new extended, more dynamic and accurate smoke stacks, as well as more firepower that connect to his arms with rare earth magnets." If you would like to read more about Nemesis Prime, read more about his character as he appears in the comics below. ![]() In Transformers Universe, Nemesis Prime was a Cybertronian leader (Most likely an alternate form of Optimus Prime) from another dimension conquered by Unicron. In that reality Prime was defeated by the Herald of Unicron known as Megazarak. Captured, it had its spark tortured and experimented on by the Chaos Bringer. Unicron kept the Prime locked in a state of unbeing, it's spark separated from body, yet prevented from joining the All-Spark. Tortured for an eternity until pain became indistinguishable from pleasure and the former Autobot longed for only this sensation. Broken, he was reformatted into Nemesis Prime and granted Unicron's Dead Matrix, the former Primes' Matrix which during the centuries of torture had rotted and been perverted into a weapon capable of annihilating Primus, just as the Autobot Matrix possesses the power to destroy Unicron. Check out zildjian's Custom Nemesis Prime on eBay for your chance to own this awesome custom Transformer! Labels: Custom Optimus Prime, Custom Transformers, Custom Transformers Action Figures, Custom Transformers Movie Figures, leader class, Nemesis Prime, optimus prime, Transformers Speedball Custom Marvel Legends Figure by punstarrPosted by Mig on Thursday, October 18, 2007 @ 8:30 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() ![]() ![]() Labels: custom, Custom Figure Reviews, Custom Marvel Legends, Marvel Legends, Speedball Marvel Legends X-Men Custom Set by Kyle Robinson CustomsPosted by Mig on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 @ 10:27 PM | PERMALINK | More Custom Figures: Custom Transformers | Custom Marvel Legends | Custom Star Wars | Custom GI Joe![]() ![]() Kyle Robinson runs a website called Kyle Robinson Customs and he also admins the Toy Soup Forum! Kyle has been customizing for a long time now and have over 200 figures in his gallery. He graciously added a section for my blog on his forum and for that I owe him a huge thank you! He also does commission work so check out his website if you are in dire need of custom action figures. ![]() ![]() ![]() I was perusing through his custom gallery and came across a unique set of custom X-Men figures he created for CustomCon, a convention that showcases new custom toy creations by customizers around the globe. To give a little background on his, Kyle explains why he created this special set of Jim Lee style custom X-Men: ![]() ![]() ![]() "I have always wanted to have a PERFECT Jim Lee X-Men Set, and in my eyes this it. I created to 10 figures that I still needed for my set, and now it is perfect and complete. I put of making this for a log time but thanks to the discovery of a customizer named Double Dealer I was finally motivated to make it. As you can see I use alot of ideas from 2D with my own spin, so I want to than you 2D for the Great inspiration. I hope you all enjoy my set as much as me, I personally think its my best work yet." ![]() Labels: Archangel, Custom Marvel Legends, Custom Marvel Legends X-Men, Cyclops, Forge, Gambit, Iceman, Jean Grey, Jubilee, Kyle Robinson, Marvel Legends, Psylocke, Rogue, Storm, X-MEN |