AGE APPROPRIATE WARNING

*ADULT SUPERVISION & PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT ARE REQUIRED WHEN UTILIZING THE TOOLS, PRODUCTS & TECHNIQUES DESCRIBED HERE ON OUR BLOG TO CREATE STAR WARS CUSTOMS.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Patricio Berroeta added to "Customs I Wish I Owned"



One of my favorite things about Star Wars custom action figure art is that it's a global phenomenon. Patricio Berroeta aka Pato Berroeta lives in Santiago, Chile. He is a graphic designer, digital art director, illustrator, and comic artist. He is also a Star Wars action figure collector, and action figure customizer.

Pato started to share his customs with the world in 2011. His personal goal is to complete all the characters that were not produced by Hasbro for the Battle of Carkoon, Jabba's Palace and the Mos Eisley Cantina scenes so he can add them to his personal collection. His representations of these characters are just spot on and every time I look at them I think about how much I'd like to add one of his customs to my own collection one day.

Sometimes he does figures from other Star Wars episodes, but only when spare pieces allow. His work inspires me to take up his cause and make these much needed additions for my own collection one day as well.





Patricio Berroeta aka Pato Berroeta











Monday, August 26, 2013

A VISIT TO SPRYWALKER RANCH

A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity to see some awesome Star Wars custom action figure art created by one of the most talented customizers out there today, Luke Sprywalker. Some of you may know L.E. Spry aka Luke Sprywalker from the Celebration VI "Star Wars Custom Action Figure Panel" that was held in the summer of 2012.  Luke Sprywalker was a speaker at the panel along with Star Wars customizers Sillof and Sith_fire30.  Dad and I had the opportunity to visit Luke Sprywalker's home, affectionately dubbed Sprywalker Ranch while on a trip through North Carolina on our way to visit family. Getting to hold some of my favorite custom action figure art in my own two hands was a real treat.  I thought the photos of his work were cool, seeing them in hand was just mind blowing.



 Luke Sprywalker on the right drinking the blue milk.



Dad decided the best way to mark the occasion of our visit to Luke Sprywalker's was to update the video of his custom action figures that way you all can see the artwork that we got to see when we visited.  His figures are just amazing.  Seeing his art was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had since I started this hobby, and making friendships like his has made the adventure all worth while.  Hope you enjoy the video.




LUKE SPRYWALKER

Dad updated the video of Luke Sprywalker's custom action figures for this post.




THE SIGHTS

While I was there I go to see my friend Jaxon's awesome Starkiller costume.



We got to check out Luke Sprywalker's super cool vehicle creations too. Up close and personal. We always loved this swoop bike.  It was really cool to give this one a closer inspection.  The paint work was impeccable.




I was always a big fan of a photonovel called Star Wars Apocalypse that was written by Kessel Run Imports and illustrated by Hangarbay94Luke Sprywalker and Hangarbay94 made all the custom action figures and vehicles for it and I got to see the actual pieces they used during our visit.



I even got to see this Jabba's Palace diorama from Celebration out in Luke Sprwalker's garage.



 It was really cool to get to hold the winning figure from our Smuggler's Gambit Custom Action Figure Contest that we held with RebelForce Radio.




THE SWAP

While we there, Luke Sprywalker taught Dad how to make molds for resin casting, and we did a parts swap that landed some really cool items in my fodder box.  I already made a custom from some of the parts he gave me.  All I did was paint some flames on this Clone Pilot's helmet, but I like the way he looks.



CLONE PILOT "TORCH"
created by Elias

















Luke Sprywalker gave us these awesome iconic Star Wars boxes during our visit.  I can't wait until Dad molds and casts these so we can have some more of them to scatter around my room.




He also gave us two casts of this piece for diorama building.






PARTS FOR DAD'S PROJECTS

Dad parted this guy out and started to modify the base figure so he can begin sculpting.




Luke Sprywalker and Dad did a parts swap that helped Dad acquire some much needed parts to complete his figure.



These two pieces, although looking a tad rough around the edges, are going to save Dad hours of sculpting time and will help him complete the larger pirate at a much faster pace than if he had to make these elements from scratch.







MOLDING & CASTING LESSON
RESULTS

Coming soon.



Dad made a cast of the Finn Tegotash head that he created so he can make pirates more quickly.



Eight templates ready to go



Dad's cast held all the detail.



Dad also utilized what he learned during his molding and casting tutorial to make a duplicate of the lightsaber hilts for his soon to be finished General Pong Krell custom action figure.



Dad just has to paint in all the fine details on this figure before shipping him off to Star Wars customizer Hyperdrive so he can create the soft good clothing on this artistic collaboration.  Luke Sprywalker got a good look at this figure during our visit and gave it his stamp of approval.




 

REST & RELAXATION

Swimming in the pool at Sprywalker Ranch with Jaxon Spry.  Our visit wasn't only action figure related.  Good times were had by all.





Saturday, August 24, 2013

Custom Action Figure News - Episode #58: DS CUSTOMS








Custom Action Figure News was joined by Darth Streams aka DS Customs and really enjoyed talking about his great custom figures. In addition CAFN really delved into the process of making your own custom cardbacks with removable bubbles from both a materials and hardware perspective, as well as the photo-editing work. Stay tuned as CAFN showcases some of Bill's great PSD templates and all the places he gets his materials from.










Here is a link to the materials and supplies used to create custom cardbacks:
http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=8766.msg164601#msg164601




If you haven't seen the brand new and improved CAFN Page yet, be sure to give it a look.




Go here to listen to the Custom Action
Figure News podcast: 









Tuesday, August 13, 2013

THE BUST UP - VINTAGE CHEWBACCA MASH UP

A week or two ago on Facebook, I saw the coolest Chewbacca action figure ever.  It was a custom Chewbacca figure created by Colins CustomsColin had used a Gentle Giant Bust Up Chewbacca with Hasbro's Vintage Chewbacca action figure to create one of the best representations of the character I've seen yet.  Especially, Chewbacca with the slicked back hair look from A New Hope.

We're not surprised that Colin came up with such a cool custom as this Chewbacca, Colins Customs' probably the most prolific Star Wars custom action figure artist out there today.  His collection is incredible, including almost every Star Wars character you can think of.  Colin's created them all.  

While on vacation, I made me a version of Colin's Chewbacca for Elias' collection.  Thanks Colin for one awesome idea for a Star Wars custom action figure.



"Chewbacca"
created by Darth Daddy







SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNER


 Chewbacca created by Colins Customs




Dad's Chewbacca figure was featured on the front page of Imperial Shipyards.