A Thread For Custom Figures

[GermanAstra]

Hullo all,

done these photos in a hurry, but here they are - Corrected Colonel Sheppard (minus tac vest) and Atlantis Expo Jonas Quinn!

You know, if you hadn't told in detail what exactly you have done to change Shep for the better, I would have not spotted the difference and would've thought it was the original figure. I guess that is well done then!

I did debate his forearm hair but left that for now.

Heh! Has anyone ever attempted to use wool or something really fuzzy, instead of painting it? Because if I am ever going to make that David Tennant in short pants then I need very hairy legs...

[Thunderbird 2]

You know, if you hadn't told in detail what exactly you have done to change Shep for the better, I would have not spotted the difference and would've thought it was the original figure. I guess that is well done then!


Heh! Has anyone ever attempted to use wool or something really fuzzy, instead of painting it? Because if I am ever going to make that David Tennant in short pants then I need very hairy legs...

I take that as a major compliment Astra! I always try to aim to make the figs I do blend in with the offical releases as much as is possible.
Technically Shepp is not finished, not till he has a tac vest. I think I might address the arm hair issue in the way DST were going to do their short sleeve version of Dr McCoy from Star Trek, but I will deal with that later.

I have one final SGate custom planned, but it is going to have to wait for a while. There is a certain character head I need, and I can't find it anywhere right now.

Re facial and arm hair, to be honest its not something I have thought about until the SG1 / Atlantis figures because of their scale and level of detail. - Anything smaller like the Dr Who, Primeval, or Playmates Trek figures of the 90's are just too small to concern detail that fine. - Not unless its a distinct moustache or beard. As to body hair such as the legs? - It just would look odd to attempt to address it.

[Mooncat]

Had chance to paint my Sunohc 1/6th scale heads heres the results, have to say that Sunohc got the likeness down on these headsculpts imho Im very pleased

[Thunderbird 2]

Impressive work Moony! My only criticisim now they are completed, is the expressions of Teal'c and Carter seem kind of neutral? Maybe I just can't get that 12 inch Teal'c going "Grrrr" out of my head! O'Neill and Dr Jackson look great, right down to Daniel's traditional glasses and hat!

Any full length team shots?

[GermanAstra]

I think they are very nice, Mooncat! I'm not sure, Thunderbird2, how the painter could change the expression with painting? Surely this is up to the sculptor?

I want to share two new custom figures as well. Again those are real people - Carole and her brother John Barrowman. It all started with some action figure story I made, where my figures read the book "Hollow Earth" which those two had written together. But for the official miniature book signing in Cardiff I did not have a figure of Carole. So, I wanted to change that.

Here is the story first, you will even find some Stargate action figures along with the others, all reading the book!

http://dieastra.livejournal.com/39004.html

And you can see detailed step-by-step pictures of how I made the figures out of a Willow and a Captain Jack Harkness over at my Livejournal:

http://dieastra.livejournal.com/41677.html

[Lilac736]

I know most of you are working with action figures, so I'm not sure if it's the right place to post this, but I finished my Horus guard Playmobil figure yesterday.
It's not perfect, but I'm okay with the way it turned out.



Here is the making of, if you're interested:

Spoiler:

[boom stick]

Very cool custom you have there, love the detail. The sculpting looks top notch, have you ever considered trying to make customs of the 7 inch figures range?

I wish i had your sculpting talent!

and welcome to this part of the site

[Lilac736]

Thanks! I'm glad you like it. Until now I've never done anything beside Playmobil figures. I loved them when I was a kid and I never had any action figures so I never considered it until now. Maybe I'll try it now.

[Thunderbird 2]

I know most of you are working with action figures, so I'm not sure if it's the right place to post this, but I finished my Horus guard Playmobil figure yesterday.
It's not perfect, but I'm okay with the way it turned out.

Hi Lilac - firstly, I have seen 12 inch scale customs and one or two Lego customs in here - you have broken new ground and fantastic new ground at that. Playmobil Stargate, that's inspired! I can almost imagine large Playmobil boxes with images of An F302 fighter, Death Glider and Atlantis puddlejumper all with figs, as well as a light up gate! Very nice work indeed! Are you planning any more Jaffa, or possibly a version of SG1?

I had a couple of Playmobil figs as a kid but no vehicles and certainly nothing like this!


Astra, sorry I have not commented sooner. Nice work on the Barrowman siblings. You must have had a very steady hand doing the line pattern on Carol's top!

[Lilac736]

Thank you so much, of course I've made SG-1! That's how I started. I can't find a really good picture at the moment, I'll take one and post it here.

[GermanAstra]

Thank you so much, of course I've made SG-1! That's how I started. I can't find a really good picture at the moment, I'll take one and post it here.

Oh yes please do, I am eager to see it! When you first told me about what you were doing I am honest, I couldn't really picture it, but that Horus guard? IS AWESOME! And the scale on Playmobil figures is even tinier than on some of my figures, so you need a steady hand and a sharp eye I guess!

You are absolutely in the right corner of Gateworld, it is called "Custom figures" after all, so everything that is a figure does count. Plus you found a very unique way I think.

Hope you come back soon with more goodies!

Astra, sorry I have not commented sooner. Nice work on the Barrowman siblings. You must have had a very steady hand doing the line pattern on Carol's top!

LOL the hand was steady, unfortunately the brush wasn't That's why the lines sometimes are thin and sometimes are thick. When the difference became too much I cheated and put some white on it again afterwards to straighten it out a bit. I am not entirely satisfied but then again, when are you ever?

BTW, I was at a convention back in May and I was able to show the figures in person to John Barrowman, who was amazed (and told me I should sell them on the internet and make loads of money ). I also gave him a photoalbum with the story about his and Carole's "Hollow Earth" book. In fact, he asked for a copy. I was a happy camper then

And I got this autograph from him:



"Antje, this is amazing!!! Love your work, John Barrowman"

Can you tell I was floating a few feet in the air the whole weekend?

[GermanAstra]

And the madness continues. Last Tuesday my customized Carole & John Barrowman figures were shown in the US TV-Show "The Morning Blend". They are talking about them in part 2, starting at the 06.55 min mark.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veBEUXmNyCM
or http://www.themorningblend.com/videos/157809405.html

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMxmjNpTVv4
or http://www.themorningblend.com/videos/158174075.html

[Lilac736]

That's so cool Astra!

I had no time to take a good picture of my SG1 figures, yet. RL is really taking its toll, but in honour of the Firefly reunion at ComicCon this weekend I thought I should share my Firefly crew with you guys.

[highwayman57]

Does anyone know where I can acquire accurate black utility vests for my 12 inch figures? I have a few DML vests, but the pouches are all wrong. Any help that anyone can provide will be appreciated!

[Stubba2]

Hmm, it seems a bit more complex, given the two colours, I'd say a slightly lightened battleship grey mixed with a fraction of metallic blue for the underneath, and then some rust/bronze in very light airbrush over the top.

I use "mini-metallics" made by Narco products, wax paints that are commonly used in plaster model painting, you prime the object with a base colour and smear the metallic paint over the top ( black base with pewter top colour is an excellent effect there is also copper, silver, gold etc.. ).They come in palettes of seven colours. The Base coat acts as highlights to enhance model detail, it is a great look and lends itself to Stargate paint effects like purple base coats with pewter or gold overlay.
The address is National aircraft co, Beechwood, Ohio 44122 USA
These are now known as metallic rub on paints and are available for $6.95 Aussie Dollars from http://www.destinationart.net/. They come in 4 palette colour schemes, the one I use the most is palette kit #2 "Earth Tones" it has three golds, Bronze, Pewter, Gunmetal, and Nubian

[Stubba2]

I have been doodling with my new 3d modelling software and splashed out and bought myself a 3D printer, so in the not tooo distant future I hope to be posting some truly unique custom 7 inch figures based on the same construction types as the DST line. The first characters on my wish list will be Carson, Woolsey, Zalenka, Cadwell, The System Lords and yes a Super Soldier. I will post them as I finish them. Additionally, for all the modellers that are into head swapping there is a new site that offers custom action figure heads for various scales, based on a standard head shot photo, if you add a profile they guarantee better quality and you can manually edit the head before production. The cost is between $60-100, however, this seems reasonable compared to a recent quote I received from an E bay Scultper (who was selling a 1/6 Carson head for $5) of $230 per character head. That quote is what pushed me towards buying my own 3D printer. The company is "thats my face", who use an undisclosed patented facial recognition software suite to produce 3D heads for CAD, here is the link.
http://www.thatsmyface.com

happy modelling

[Timespirt]

I have been doodling with my new 3d modelling software and splashed out and bought myself a 3D printer, so in the not tooo distant future I hope to be posting some truly unique custom 7 inch figures based on the same construction types as the DST line. The first characters on my wish list will be Carson, Woolsey, Zalenka, Cadwell, The System Lords and yes a Super Soldier. I will post them as I finish them. Additionally, for all the modellers that are into head swapping there is a new site that offers custom action figure heads for various scales, based on a standard head shot photo, if you add a profile they guarantee better quality and you can manually edit the head before production. The cost is between $60-100, however, this seems reasonable compared to a recent quote I received from an E bay Scultper (who was selling a 1/6 Carson head for $5) of $230 per character head. That quote is what pushed me towards buying my own 3D printer. The company is "thats my face", who use an undisclosed patented facial recognition software suite to produce 3D heads for CAD, here is the link.
http://www.thatsmyface.com

happy modelling

I wouldn't mind a few of those if you ever decide to make and sell? Wouldn't mind a 12" Rodney head either.

[Stubba2]

I wouldn't mind a few of those if you ever decide to make and sell? Wouldn't mind a 12" Rodney head either.

I have been playing with this software all day and it is very frustrating. The biggest issue is not having access to good quality photos for the morphing process. Unfortunately I have discovered my BluRay does not have a screen capture function, who says technology continues to advance? my DVD player did this 8 years ago! The photos need to be like a passport head shot and actors always seem to want the glamour profile, oh well I am sure it will work out in the end.

[Stubba2]

I have a novice modeller question to all you expert model poppers. Is it possible to separate articulated joints (elbows and knees) that are joined with some sort of plastic pin, without damaging the pin/joint. I want to make a 3d model (but don't want to destroy the original) of each section so I can model them in my modelling software at the correct scale, this will also allow me to make slightly chubbier versions for characters like General Hammond, Urgo and the last Ori preacher to visit earth.

[Stubba2]

I wouldn't mind a few of those if you ever decide to make and sell? Wouldn't mind a 12" Rodney head either.

Haven't finished any of the models yet but thought you may be interested in these links for Dr Beckett heads and 12" figures $12 and $30 respectively.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dr-Carson...ht_1217wt_1037

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dr-Carson...ht_1021wt_1037