custom figures updated

[Dominic]

I managed to post some more pics this week. The "Takara/E-Hobby" is now a separate folder. A few other images have been moved to folders that make more sense then where I originally placed them.



- added a few pics of Detritus and Scrapager to the "Takara and "misc" folders.

- added Blackout to the "GI Joe comic inspired" folder. Blackout is a new favorite of mine. The character first appeared about 5 years back as a Cobra sniper. The back story was that he was a Joe wash-out gone bad. While I do not think the character was handled as fully as he could have been during the "America's Elite" run of the comic, he made a good enough showing that it was worth making the figure, even discounting the "World War III" arc.

-random jets pic added to "misc" folder: Back in '02, I took to customizing the "Heroes of Cybertron" PVC figures. (It was actually my second big custom project, after making my own Wreckers in '01.) The release of TFU Acid-storm and Starscream presented an opportunity to up-size an old project. I spin this off into its own folder. Depending on what I can find in my storage, I may also post pics of the old PVC figures. (Note the G2 colored "Classics" Ramjet in the front.)

-a sort of group shot added to "Takara" folder. Everything in that image is a custom figure. There are already images posted of many of the individual toys. More to come.

-Artfire completed and posted. Just one image for now. I plan to post more in the not too distant future. Note the "Inferno" comparison shots. Despite only needing 3, non-intensive, color applications (including an under-coat of Space Wolves Grey beneat the white), this figure took more time than I planned. This was largely due to the size and complexity of the figure. The fact it needed so much white paint did not help either.

Another challenge with this custom figure was differntiating it from TFU Inferno. Artfire as a Japanese exclusive recolor of "Generation 1" Inferno, sold as part of the "Target Masters" line. At the time, G1 Inferno was no longer being produced, and the two figures were never intended to share shelf-space, making it largely unnecessary to differentiate the two much by color. (Remember, this was the 80s, when long-term collectors were not the assumed norm, or even common. Most people buying Artfire toys were assumed to have never seen an Inferno figure.) Particulars of the molded and painted detail on TFU Inferno made it more difficult to change the coloring for Artfire. All told, it came out about as well as one could hope, (especially given the sheer amount of white paint used).

The Target Master gun is an unaltered Nightstick figure, taken from a spare Cyclonus. (I initially bought the extra Cyclonus in anticipation of making a TFU Stepper/Ricochet from a then rumoured TFU Jazz figure. In a way, that toy not coming out saves me from buying a third Cyclonus, as well as 2 Jazz figures.) Given the dodgy context, (including an ambiguous name), of the Target Master, I am in no hurry to recolor it. Lacking the necessary tools and skill, I am unable to customize the fire engine mode to accomodate the gun. But, as it is good idea to not transform custom figures too often, it is just as well to simply display Artie in 'bot mode.


Dom
-considering the next project.......

[Mirage]

For the uninitiated, where can we view your customs? I don't see a link...

[Dominic]

www.myspace.com/dominionhub


Sorry. I forgot the link in my sig is not explicitly noted as "Dom's blog".

[Mirage]

Cool-- some nice customs there. Here's hopin' we get an official Artfire at some point. Maybe for next year's Botcon...

[onslaught86]

I had not seen your Actionmaster Thundercracker custom before. That is beautiful. Pasteltastic.

[Dominic]

I could definitely get behind an official Artfire and Stepper set.

Thanks O86. If I can find it, I plan to post images of the PVC of Action Master Thundercracker I made years ago. I am considering applying those colors to an "Animated" Voyager Starscream.

Dom
-too tired to think seriously about customizing right now.

[Dominic]

G2 colored TFU jets are up.

www.myspace.com/dominionhub

Dom
-might not make anything this weekend.