MASTER ZAO

Zao was a blind, elderly male Veknoid Jedi Master and an accomplished chef. He did not accept missions from the Jedi Council, but followed the will of the Force as he traveled about the galaxy.

One of mine and Dad's favorite Dark Horse comics is Darkness written by John Ostrander. I love stories about Aayla Secura and Dad is a Quinlan Vos and Master Tholme fan. After reading this comic series, we were both fans of Master Zao. So much so that Dad had to make him into an action figure. Dad has been working on this action figure for a long time.

Click image above to go to Dark Horse's site for the book's page.

If it weren't for the help of Lucasclones, Dad may never have finished this figure. Lucasclones provided Dad with the pouches Master Zao wears around his waist. Lucasclones had needed Trandoshan body parts after the Clone Wars: Season 3 finale, Wookiee Hunt inspired him to create a few Trandoshans and Dad had a few parts he could spare. When Chad asked Dad if he wanted anything for the pieces, Dad asked if he had any waist pouches and sent Chad some images of Master Zao. Dad was thinking he was going to have to sculpt them by hand, but Lucasclones came through in a big way. Thanks Chad!!

Those who ate Zao's cooking often found that its taste, whether good or bad, reflected the degree to which their current mental state was in harmony with the Force.

In spite of his blindness, he remained a formidable and lethal adversary, wielding his unique lightsaber cane with frightening accuracy.

Before the Clone Wars, Zao served as chef to Gorto Zaga on Kiffex, during which time he explained his method of travel to Quinlan Vos. When Zao's cooking didn't avail to Gorto Zaga he helped Quinlan Vos and Tholme fight off Zaga's guards before the Anzati lead by Aayla Secura stormed the Black Hole Cantina.

He later cooked food on the streets of Saleucami, where he encountered his old friend Tholme, who was on the planet to investigate the actions of the Dark Jedi Sora Bulq. Zao believed the Jedi should serve the Force and the principles of the Galactic Republic, but explained to Tholme that the Republic itself no longer upheld those ideals.

Zao was opposed to the Jedi serving as officers in the Clone Wars. However, he did help Tholme locate Sora Bulq's underground Morgukai cloning facilities.

As the war continued, rumors abounded of his death. Since he was not involved with the war, he was not killed in the execution of Order 66. Dressed in rags amongst huge crowds, he was overlooked as a beggar by clone troopers searching for Jedi to execute.

INTERESTING FACT:

Zao was originally going to die in Darkness, but according to artist Jan Duursema, "Zao would have been toast in Darkness, but we were asked not to kill him."^[2]

MASTER ZAO
created by Darth Daddy

SKILL LEVEL: ADVANCED

WIP PICTURES 


Dad kept the ball hinge ankle joint of Yoda and glued it to the feet of the Teemto Pagalies to keep the articulation.

Dad gave this figure full articulation except at the hips. Master Zao's hips are only hinge joints.

Dad used the head, and feet of a Teemto Pagalies action figure, arms of a CW Quinlan Vos, and everything else was a Vintage Yoda action figure that was dremeled and sculpted to create the figure. The lightsaber blade is removable.


 The shoulder joints are still Yoda's, but they are glued and sculpted to fit the modified CW Quinlan Vos arms.










I used a frying pan from a Indiana Jones Marion Ravenwood action figure to give Master Zao a tool for cooking.

FROM OUR FRIENDS

Customizer Spotlight 10/6/2011 at Echo Base News

Dad's Master Zao was featured on the front page of Imperial Shipyards.

How to "Make Any Action Figure in Carbonite" Tutorial: PART TWO

How to "Make Any Action Figure in Carbonite" Tutorial:
PART TWO

Feel free to ask any "how to" questions in our comments section.

"NEW"
IMPERIAL SHIPYARDS CONTEST:
Create a Wookielover1138 Contest


Darthy Daddy's"Wookielover1138 in Carbonite"

How to "Make Any Action Figure in Carbonite" Tutorial:

PART ONE

If you read our blog, we are sure you all know of Wookielover1138 and her very cool show the Kessel Run Review. We can't even begin to say how great she has been for the customizing community and the Star Wars collecting hobby in general. All entrants will have from now till the end of June to create their version of their very own Jenn action figure. We can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Click here for the full contest details.

The Rodian Band - The Family Easter Project

This was a really fun project that Dad and I worked on together. I had a bunch of Rodian heads in our fodder box and had the idea to make a Rodian band and added a human female dancer to round out the mix. I did the kitbashing and Dad used some Apoxie Sculpt, a few fodder pieces and paint to differentiate them and make them stand out as individuals.


BACKSTORY
The Rodian Band were well known street musicians that could be found in Mos Eisley on Tatooine. A colorful bunch that could be found in the cantina after a long day spending their hard earned credits.

THE RODIAN BAND

created by Elias and Darth Daddy

Captain Ryll, the band leader, could have been a huge star if it wasn't for spending all his profits on glitterstim. By the time he was performing on the streets of Tatooine, his ship had sailed and fame was no longer within his reach. He really loved his hat made of Wookiee fur that was quickly becoming the new up and coming fashion trend.

Blind Bob was a blind kloo horn player and longtime friend of Captain Ryll.

Dad modified the holster on the Greedo action figure so it could hold the drumsticks.

The human dancer Famligletti was a slave since childhood. She was won in a bet by Captain Ryll. His last dancer disappeared under mysterious circumstances and she filled the position at just the right time. Some people say Captain Ryll rigged the bet.

We painted everyone in Easter pastels.



Pinkeeata was Captain Ryll's girlfriend and co-founder of the band. They constantly fight, but Ryll knows that there are few people that can play the ommni box as well as she does, so he just always does what he can to keep her happy for the sake of the band.

Although Captain Ryll loves to bang the drum he prefers to stick to his bandfill on most of the group's songs.




To order Apoxie Sculpt, visit here:
http://www.avesstudio.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
(They ship to every country via USPS)

Dad Creates a Wookiee Padawan

Dad kept seeing Wookiee Jedi in many of the Star Wars customizing forums and really wanted to make one, but wanted to make a unique addition to the forums when he sat down to make one. Now that Dad is starting to sculpt his own pieces, he felt now was the best time to tackle to Wookiee Jedi. Dad broke out the Aves Apoxie Sculpt and sculpted a one of a kind head for his Wookiee Padawan. It took several hours to make, but Dad was really happy with the results.

WOOKIEE PADAWAN
created by Darth Daddy

This Jedi Padawan uses not one but two lightsabers in battle.

The Wookiee Padawan was created with the head, lower arms and legs of a Legacy Collection Chewbacca, and the torso and upper arms and legs of a Legacy Collection Obi Wan Kenobi.

Back view

Dad's Wookiee Padawan is still young and is shorter than his Master who is full grown.

The Wookiee Padawan was created by Darth Daddy. The Wookiee Jedi Master was created by JACKOFTRADZE.





Too see JACKOFTRADZE's Wookiee Jedi Master post go the the link below:
http://customsforthekid.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post.html 


To order Apoxie Sculpt, visit here:
http://www.avesstudio.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
(They ship to every country via USPS)

Dad's Wookiee Padawan was featured on the front page of Imperial Shipyards.