CUSTOMS FOR THE KID: 2013 VIDEO RECAP

Happy New Year everyone!  Another year behind us.  Well 2013 wasn't the most productive year we've had at Customs for the Kid.  In 2012, we created 2 vehicles and over 70 action figures.  In 2013, we only made 40 Star Wars custom action figures here at home.  Furthermore, we tackled about only half of the projects we had hoped to take on. That said, we definitely don't see our lack of productivity in a negative light.  

Part way through the year, Dad made a decision to stop creating fan fiction characters and wanted to only create Star Wars characters that never made it to plastic.  As a result, Dad's  action figures took longer than one day to create with sculpting factoring into his projects more than before, but he added molding and casting to his toolbox this year so I'm curious to see how that adds to his repertoire.

Customs for the Kid also hosted our first Star Wars custom action figure contest with RebelForce Radio that promoted the Star Wars: Smuggler’s Gambit radio drama.  It was a lot of fun and maybe Customs for the Kid will try and do another custom action figure contest in 2014.  

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.  It was our first ever Star Wars event.  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 and slideshow videos that are featured on our blog.  While there we had the opportunity to meet up with Star Wars customizers darthstreams and Dave Castle aka StarWarsGeek. 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 help promote. We were really impressed with the crowd turnout, and loved the reaction of all the attendees to what we had on display.

Customs for the Kid also 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.

The highlight of this year for me as an artist was creating seven Cantina aliens for my display. Dad said his highlight was finishing the Clone Wars General Pong Krell custom action figure collaboration with Hyperdrive.  

Definitely a year to be proud of.  Here's to making sure 2014 brings some memorable moments as well.  Hope you all enjoy our video of what was made here at home in 2013.

CUSTOMS FOR THE KID: 2013 RECAP

Star Wars Custom Action Figures created by Elias & Darth Daddy 

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

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!

RebelForce Radio and Customs for the Kid present..."Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest Entries

So earlier this week the "Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest that we sponsored with RebelForce Radio wrapped up, and in honor of May the 4th, we put together a video of all the cool entries that we received.  Hope you enjoy all the cool custom Star Wars action figures that were produced and you all enjoy the festivities throughout the day in honor of our favorite movie franchise.   

In honor of the May The Fourth weekend, actor Sam Witwer (Clone Wars/Being Human) joins Jimmy & Jason of RebelForce Radio to watch Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. We return to the roots of the franchise for a fun, informative discussion about what makes this film a classic. Join RFR as we watch the Blu Ray edition of the film that started it all. Celebrate Star Wars Day with RFR & fan fave Sam Witwer for an in depth commentary of A New Hope!  May the 4th be with you!  

CLICK IMAGE TO LISTEN!

"Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest Entries

  "Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest

WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

RebelForce Radio: 04.28.2013 C2E2 Entertainment Expo..."Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest... ENDS TOMORROW.

NEW SHOW! RebelForce Radio returns to Chicago’s McCormick Place for the annual C2E2 Entertainment Expo. CLICK TO LISTEN! 

Don't forget, the "Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest ends tomorrow.  Notice that nowhere in the rules does the contest say that it has to be a "brand new" custom.  If you made a custom years ago that you feel can fit within the "Smuggler's Gambit" story  like a cantina patron or Abrosos VI villager just enter it.  It only takes a few seconds to email a few pictures.  Especially if you have already photographed it.  This is the Star Wars customizing community's chance to expose ourselves to a larger audience.  Our chance to have our art seen by Star Wars fans that may not even know Star Wars custom action figures exist.   Click the link below for details...SHOW US YOUR STAR WARS ART!

"SMUGGLER'S GAMBIT" CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE CONTEST

RebelForce Radio: April 19, 2013

Here is the direct download link for this week's edition of RebelForce Radio! 

This week, RebelForce Radio discusses the leak of a possible premise for a potential animated series called "Star Wars: Reclamation". Real or hoax? Hear what we think! Filmmaker Cris Macht joins us to talk about his film "The Force Within Us", Harrison Ford appears on Letterman and grumbles a little bit about appearing in the Sequel Trilogy, while we go back in time to discuss what could have been "Return of the Jedi" without Han Solo. It's an Investigative Report you won't want to miss featuring an EXCLUSIVE excerpt from the upcoming book "The Making of Return of the Jedi". Plus, Dark Horse gets "rough" with Star Wars, Tracy Morgan & Patton Oswalt make predictions about the Sequel Trilogy, J.J. Abrams talks to Playboy, and much more! 

"SMUGGLER'S GAMBIT" CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE CONTEST

Dave Filoni on RebelForce Radio...LISTEN NOW

Dave Filoni, Supervising Director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, returns to RebelForce Radio for an exclusive interview - His first since the announcement of the end of The Clone Wars. Dave talks about the end of Season 5, provides insight about the yet-to-be-released "Bonus Content", and what's in store for himself and the future of Star Wars animation. RebelForce Radio also chats with IGN.com's Mitch Dyer about LucasArts closing its doors for good, Seth Green talks about what's up with Star Wars: Detours, and Harrison Ford changes his mind about Han Solo.

"SMUGGLER'S GAMBIT" CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE CONTEST



 

RODIAN GIRL by ELIAS

So here at home, we're still busy with the "Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest that we are promoting with RebelForce Radio.  We have already received some really cool entires and we're hoping with the extended deadline of May 1st, 2013, that even more awesomeness is still on its way.  For any of you who listened to the radio drama you know that Han Solo and Chewbacca visited a village and bar while on Abrossos VI.  That means participants can enter the contest with a cantina alien custom action figure, or just an ordinary citizen that Han Solo and Chewbacca passed on their way to the local bar.  A miner that lives in the settlements on the planet. 

Notice that nowhere in the rules does the contest say that it has to be a "brand new" custom.  If you made a custom years ago that you feel can fit within the "Smuggler's Gambit"story just enter it.  It only takes a few seconds to email a few pictures.  Especially if you have already photographed it. 

I love this Rodian girl that I created because she can be comfortable fitting into a lot of Star Wars dioramas.  She fits in a Tatooine street scene, as a dancer for Jabba or some other Hutt.   She looks great in a cantina scene too.  Heck if you threw a Jedi robe on her and put a lightsaber in her hand she can be a Jedi.  Do you have any customs like these that you'd like to submit to the contest?  Let's see what you've made.  Send us an entry!

"RODIAN GIRL"

created by Elias

My Rodian girl was featured on the front page of Imperial Shipyards.

"SMUGGLER'S GAMBIT" CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE CONTEST