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 Hangarbay94.  Luke 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.

Custom Action Figure News - Episode #57: Customizer Roundtable (Custom Commissions)

Lucasclones and Tamer were joined by a very esteemed panel of custom action figure artists to talk about the very controversial subject of commissioning a custom action figure project. Just what is a fair price on a custom action figure or vehicle? Custom Action Figure News aimed to cover this entire process from start to finish, including both the commissioner and the commissionee perspective. CAFN would like to thank Luke Sprywalker, Darth Daddy, and Ratfink's Customs for giving CAFN some time to talk about this.

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: 

 http://www.imperialshipyards.net/cafnpage.html

If there is anything you would like them to feature on a future podcast be sure to let them know at:

chad.cafnpodcast@yahoo.com

tamer@imperialshipyards.net




 

RebelForce Radio 06.21.2013 - DAVID W. COLLINS, DAVE FILONI & LUKE SPRYWALKER

NEW SHOW! This week on RFR, they have a big preview of Star Wars Celebration Europe 2 with a couple of major players. First, host of the Digital Stage David W. Collins joins them to talk about what's in store for fans next month in Germany, they pull back the curtian to talk about "Smuggler's Gambit" and go behind-the-scenes, and they congratulate Luke Sprywalker the winner of our custom action figure contest. Then, they provide an inside look at The Clone Wars big win at the Daytime Emmys and welcome Supervising Director Dave Filoni to their show. Dave talks about the Emmy's, the upcoming Clone Wars Bonus Content, and a little about the next era of Lucasfilm animation - Star Wars Rebels. 

 CLICK THE LINK:

 http://traffic.libsyn.com/rebelforceradio/RebelForceRadio_062113_WeeklyRFR.mp3

“SMUGGLER’S GAMBIT”

CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE CONTEST

 

"Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest Entries

WINNING ENTRY:

"Ro Kurota"

created by Luke Sprywalker

Click the links below to check out Luke Sprywalker's work:

http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u130/sk8twistedtrees/Jedi%20customs/


http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=1200.0


http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=1202.0


http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=1212.0


http://www.yakfaceforums.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2971

"Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest WINNER ANNOUNCED

 

For those of you who don't know, RebelForce Radio and Customs for the Kid have just wrapped up their "Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest.  The winner of the contest was none other than well-known Star Wars customizer Luke Sprywalker for his Ro Kurota action figure submission.

Some of you might remember Luke Sprywalker from the first ever Star Wars Custom Action Figure Panel that was held last summer at Star Wars Celebration VI where he was one of the first speakers to give the panel. 

Luke Sprywalker is a great ambassador for the Star Wars customizing community and we here at Customs for the Kid are looking forward to hearing him appear on RebelForce Radio.  Luke Sprywalker is an excellent representative for the art form.  He has been displaying his custom creations since 2008 and has put out some awesome action figures.  He does a lot of vehicle and diorama work too.  Sprywalker even created the characters for a photo novel called Star Wars Apocalypse written by Nate Ciurla aka Kessel Run Imports and with graphic design and action figures created by Julian Maurice aka  Hangarbay94.   Luke Sprywalker has had his hands in every aspect of action figure art.  He is always there to offer encouragement to the newer custom action figure artists and is there to support the veteran's as well.  He creates a super positive environment around him wherever he goes and he's always there to lend a helping hand to those in need of customizing advice.   I couldn't think of any customizer more suited to get some air time on RebelForce Radio than this seasoned artist.  Can't wait to hear him interviewed by Jimmy MacInerney (Jimmy Mac) and Jason Swank on their RebelForce Radio podcast.

"I decided I wanted to make the character Sam Witwer voices in Smuggler's Gambit radio drama. I am a huge fan of Sam's, since the release of the Force Unleashed. I wanted the figure to feature sleek tight lines, not bulked up like many of my other figures. I also wanted to go a little bold with color choices for his clothing. It is mentioned that he wears mostly black so I wanted to stick to the description but add interest. When modifying the GI Joe head sculpt I added a small scar to show he had been around the block. Since Sam also plays Starkiller I threw in a few homages to those designs. I wanted him to have several belts, the collar is reminiscent of his Raxus Prime gear cowl, the shoulder armor is a reflection of his training gear design. In the end, other than some resemblance to Sam in the face, I hope it doesn't look like Starkiller, but mildly influenced by his many looks. So on with the show, presenting Ro Kurota, a young spacer just turned bounty hunter with his sights set on Han Solo."  - Luke Sprywalker

The judges for the contest were "Smuggler’s Gambit" writer Kyle Newman, co-writer F.J. DeSanto, Jimmy MacInerney (Jimmy Mac) and Jason Swank of RebelForce Radio, voice actor David Collins (Han Solo in "Smuggler's Gambit"), artist Paul Bateman from The Art of Ralph McQuarrie, actor Sam Witwer (Galen Marek aka Starkiller of Force Unleashed & Force Unleashed 2, Darth Maul in Clone Wars, and Ro Kurota of "Smuggler's Gambit") and Darth Daddy of Customs for the Kid.

"Ro Kurota"

created by Luke Sprywalker

Click the links below to check out Luke Sprywalker's latest customs:

http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u130/sk8twistedtrees/Jedi%20customs/


http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=1200.0


http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=1202.0


http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=1212.0


http://www.yakfaceforums.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2971

Click to listen to the latest episode from RebelForce Radio!

This week on RFR: RFR celebrates the 30th anniversary of Return of the Jedi with a report from the incredible VIP screening last weekend in Hollywood. They give us the inside scoop on Kyle Newman's new documentary "Return to Return of the Jedi". And we get caught with Clone Wars actor Stephen Stanton (Tarkin) and filmmaker Trey Stokes who gives us the lowdown about the "Pink Five" saga. All this and Patton "Frickin" Oswalt on RebelForce Radio!

"Customs for the Kid" Display at "Star Wars Spectacular"

On Sunday, April 7, 2013, Customs for the Kid brought their traveling museum of Star Wars custom action figures to the Star Wars Spectacular event in Woodbridge, NJ. Attendees were treated to an exhibition of Star Wars custom action figures created by talented customizing artists such as: Stronox, Sillof, Luke Sprywalker, Chewie, Wraithnine, Hangarbay94, Peakob1, SithHappens, Omar Rivera, Incom aka Mr. Black's Customs, Lucasclones, Stocos28, JACKOFTRADZE, Darth Daddy, Elias, and more.  Also on display were video tutorials that are featured on our blog as well as the entertaining Youtube cult classic show Kessel Run Review.

The display table stayed pretty packed throughout the day and brought attention to the blog's online museum of Star Wars custom action figures and the featured artists. We were really impressed with the crowd turnout, and loved the reaction of all the attendees to what we had on display. It was even cooler when our table recieved visits from Star Wars customizers darthstreams and Dave Castle aka StarWarsGeek.   StarWarsGeek even brought us a bag of his casted heads that he sells from his online store.  Hopefully we will get to take the show on the road again sometime soon.

Everything set up at our table.

Dad had his "Customs I Wish I Owned" videos playing throughout the day.

All the figures were on display with white tags displaying the names of the artists who created each figure.

Getting everything together the night before.

Setting up the display cases at home while we create all the display tags on the printer.  The "Mando" was created by Luke Sprywalker, the "Star Wars - 1942: Chuck Backer" was created by Sillof, and the "Nar Shaddaa Interceptor Patrol Vehicle" was created by Hangarbay94.  We later added Incom's "Weeguay Speeder Bike" to the display case.  We almost didn't bring it because Dad was afraid it would get damaged in transit.  I was right and it made it there and back just fine.

The "Nightsister" figures created by Darth Daddy, Peakob1, and Elias.

 

Orgainizing the figures we would have on display for our "Customizer Spotlight" display cases at SWS.  The "Clone Troopers" were made by Lucasclones, the "Mandalorian" was made by SithHappens, "Kelos" and the "Utai" were created by Chewie, "Vilmarh Grahrk" was created by Stronox, and “Arleil Schous” was created by JACKOFTRADZE.

We had a display case featuring "Hondo Ohnaka's Weequay Pirate Gang" created by Peakob1 and Darth Daddy.

"Shadows of the Empire" and "Clone Wars" action figures created by Peakob1.  "Mandalorian Bounty Hunter - Kel Sha'rak" and astromechs by Wraithnine.  The "Thisspiasian Jedi" was created by Omar Rivera.  The "Death Troopers" were created by Mikeys customs, Darth Daddy, Stocos28 & darthjohnboystoys.

"Dark Times K'Kruk" created by Omar Rivera.

A mix of figures on display from Darth Daddy and Elias of Customs for the Kid along with "Ziro's Droid" created by Wraithnine.

 Information was available on the "Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest that we are promoting with RebelForce Radio.

Darth Daddy's "Smuggler Ship with Pop the Ewok"

 Customs for the Kid was interviewed about the blog by local media that attended the event.

I spy Star Wars customizer darthstreams on hand at the event located in the upper right hand corner of the photo.

Our Star Wars Spectacular video was featured on the front page of Imperial Shipyards.

"SMUGGLER'S GAMBIT" CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE CONTEST