"CALAMARI CREWMAN" created by Elias

This was an action figure that was inspired by some friends of ours.  This custom Star Wars figure is just a simple repaint of The Black Series "Admiral Ackbar" action figure that can be found at Wal-mart locations  at a deep discount if you are fortunate enough to come across one.  All that needed to be done was a little prep work and some new paint.  The joints on the figure were reduced with a Dremel to prevent paint rub before any paint was applied.  After a few hours of effort was put into the paint application we had a new character to populate our Rebel alliance display shelf.

One of the coolest parts of doing this project was taking the time to bring attention to a great project that Star Wars customizer Peak-OB1 Custom Creations recently did prior to Toy Fair New York to give the Hasbro action figure design team some ideas on how to make some new Star Wars characters in action figure form using existing parts that have already been massed produced.  By using these parts, Hasbro would not need to spend more in production costs, only re-release old molds with new paint schemes and some minimal part swapping to give collectors some really desirable new characters to add to our collections.

"CALAMARI CREWMAN" 

created by Elias

SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNER

"Calamari Rebel"

created by Evilivo

Peak-OB1 used Star Wars customizer Evilivo's "Calamari Rebel" as inspiration when he made his own figure.  Dad bought the parts to recreate Evilivo's version.

"STOVEPIPE DROID" created by ELIAS

This custom was made from a resin cast figure produced by Hole In The Ground Productions that Elias had received as a gift for Christmas.  This past weekend, Elias took the time to add a custom paint job to the casted figure so he could add the new addition to his Jawa display of his collection here at home.  He painted it with Citadel's Chainmail, Mithril Silver and Gunmetal paints.  To get the rust effect, he sprayed the figure with Testors Dullcote Spray, sprinkled some Cinnamon onto the figure from our spice drawer, and then recoated the figure a second time with the Dullcote to lock in the weathered look.

Elias saw some hosing in a still shot we screen grabbed from the film that he wanted to add to the cast.  He found a skinny black hose from our fodder and used some wiring from a twisty tie to position the hose in the desired position before gluing it into place.

We really love Hole In The Ground Productions offerings as of late.  They have really enhanced the look of our collection shelves.  We highly recommend checking out their webstore to see if there is anything you see to add to your own collections.

"STOVEPIPE DROID"

created by ELIAS

SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNER

PURCHASE HERE

"ROGUE ONE" REBEL FLEET TROOPER ARMY BUILD

Sometime last year, eBay seller Tunghori was selling the Vintage Collection's Rebel Fleet Trooper in bulk and we jumped at the chance to diversify our Rebel brigade by doing some head swaps to swell our ranks. Most of the heads were just spares we had floating around in a container of random noggins from G.I. Joe, Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean action figures.  It was a quick and easy project that had a huge payoff.  Since these troopers feature so heavily in the film Rogue One, we figured that this would be a great time to show you all the possibilities for enhancing your home displays.  It was also a cool opportunity to show off our "Tantive IV Passageway" diorama made by Star Wars customizer, Boutros77.

Wouldn't it be lovely if Hasbro brought back the army building packs and issued us one of these sets to celebrate both Rogue One and the 40th anniversary of A New Hope?  We think army building sets of Rebel Fleet Troopers would fly off the shelves.

"REBEL FLEET TROOPERS"

from Customs for the Kid

SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNER

"TANTIVE IV PASSAGEWAY"
by Boutros77

click photo to view post

SUPER-ARTICULATED "REY (JAKKU)" created by Customs for the Kid

If only Hasbro provided consumers with a greater selection of super-articulated figures, or at the very least treat their consumer of the Black Series version of the Rey with all three heads for the character to justify the premium prices that they charge.  This version of the desert scavenger is just a simple head swap using the 5POA "Rogue One" Rey (Jakku) head with the Black Series body of Rey.  The combination looks great and the most lengthy part of the customizing process was opening the package for the two figures the parts came from. 

One day we would love to see Hasbro return to a larger super-articulated line and ditch the 5POA line all together. Until then, we have to create figures like this Jakku Rey by purchasing two figures to create the one we really want.

SUPER-ARTICULATED 

"REY (JAKKU)" 

created by Customs for the Kid

Background by thecardboardgalaxy

SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNER

CHECK OUT MORE BACKGROUNDS BY:
thecardboardgalaxy

"Princess Leia - Boushh" Hand Swap by Customs for the Kid

If you are like us, and you really miss the removable thermal detonator from the 2006 Saga Collection Princess Leia Boushh figure well it only takes a quick hand swap to give the newer Black Series version of the character that cool touch to give her the look that you want.  

We even added a silver chain to the new Black Series Chewbacca with improved articulation to update the prisoner version of the figure until we have time to redo the head sculpt so it includes the dog collar.  Stay tuned for the new headsculpt , because it will definitely be coming sometime soon. Until then enjoy the benefits of the swapped out parts to give your current figures that little extra something that makes your collection display that much better.

"Princess Leia Boushh" 

Hand Swap 

by Customs for the Kid

Come back soon to see an improved headsculpt complete with dog collar.

SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNER

"332nd CLONE TROOPER" created by Elias

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to watch the live feed for Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016. There were lots of great panels, but one of my favorites was Ahsoka's Untold Tales Panel with Dave Filoni, Ashley Eckstein, and Pablo Hidalgo.  The panel was focused on unreleased story arcs from The Clone Wars television series featuring Ahsoka Tano.  One of the story arcs was based on an adventure located on Mandalore where Ahsoka and Bo Katan team up to defeat Darth Maul with the assistance of the Jedi.  It was a really interesting story that I wish we could have had the opportunity to see animated.  In the story, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are the Jedi tasked with aiding in the conflict, bu they are called to return to Coruscant because Chancellor Palpatine was captured by Count Dooku.  This arc was special because it lead up to the events that took place immediately preceding Revenge of the Sith.  Dave Filoni explained that before Anakin left Mandalore he put the 501st clone troopers in his command under the leadership of Ahsoka Tano creating the 332nd clone troopers.  Even more interesting was that Captain Rex was part of this 332nd unit which explains his absence from Revenge of the Sith!

Dave showed some concept art for the 332nd Clone Trooper so I took the opportunity to create one for my collection.  All it took was a little paint and I was good to go.  I'm so glad to have one of these clones in my collection now!

"332nd CLONE TROOPER" 

created by Elias

The orange markings on the figure looked too red against the blue background, so I switched to the white background to show the true coloring better.

SKILL LEVEL: BEGINNER