“SMUGGLER’S GAMBIT”
CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE CONTEST
Hello
all Star Wars custom action figure artists both young and old. For the
last two and a half years this blog has been promoting Star Wars custom
action figure art, whether archived in video slide shows that featured
custom action figure artists found on our "
Customs I Wish I Owned" page, in
classic photo novels, or in the educational
tutorials
that pass valuable knowledge onto beginners and masters alike; and
sometimes, we just find something cool that we want to share like the
artists featured in
our own personal collection.
Customs for the Kid
tries to do whatever we can to get the Star Wars customizing community
all the exposure possible. Well, here is a rare opportunity to give
you all just that. Here is your opportunity as an artist to get some
serious exposure in the Star Wars community for your custom action
figure art and for custom action figure artists as a whole. It can be a
fun family activity for first time customizers. For all you seasoned
veterans, it's your opportunity to get your craft thrust out of the Star
Wars fansite forums and out into the spotlight! There is nothing
cooler than getting some recognition for all your hard work when
exercising your craft. Here's an opportunity to participate in a super
fun Star Wars customizing contest. First time customizers are greatly
encouraged to jump in on the fun. We want as many entries as possible.
This is an ALL AGES event.
This
is a great opportunity for one of you to be featured on a podcast known
for their close ties to Lucasfilm and other big players in the Star
Wars community.
RebelForce Radio in their first week of podcasting had the honor of being iTunes #1 Entertainment podcast. Hosted by podcasting veterans
Jason Swank and
Jimmy Mac (formerly of the The
ForceCast),
RebelForce Radio provides information and entertainment to
the ever-growing world-wide audience of
Star Wars fans. The
podcast is broadcast LIVE Tuesday nights at 9:30 pm ET and released
widely on Fridays for on-demand streaming and download.
RebelForce Radio
can also be heard Sunday afternoons at 2:00 pm CT on Chicago’s 1530
WCKG AM.
RebelForce Radio is an extension of the hosts passion and enthusiasm for the
Star Wars
franchise. As life-long fans,
Swank and
Mac have traveled all over the
globe, from Tokyo, Japan to Skywalker Ranch itself, to provide the most
comprehensive internet coverage of major
Star Wars related events! Listeners have enjoyed the podcasters in action during live shows from the floors at
Star Wars Celebrations IV-VI and
Star Wars Fan Days.
Swank and
Mac also wrote and produced “The George Lucas Hip-Hop,” winner of the 2008
Star Wars Fan Film Awards for Best Animation and Fan’s Choice. At
Star Wars Celebration V in August 2010, Lucasfilm’s
Dave Filoni (Supervising Director,
Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
recognized
Jason and
Jimmy as the inaugural inductees to his “104th
Wolf Pack” organization for their “outstanding fandom and support of
Star Wars.” The two were also inducted as “Honorary Friends” of The 501st Legion, a worldwide
Star Wars
costuming organization known for their charitable work and frequent
presence at official Lucasfilm events.
Swank and
Mac enjoyed similar
honors by The Rebel Legion, another well-known
Star Wars costuming group, and been profiled in
Star Wars Insider magazine,
LA Weekly, and Chicago’s
Daily Herald, among other publications and websites. You know it's good programming if the Supervising Director of Clone Wars
Dave Filoni is a listener of their show.
Customizers need to get in on this contest and build on the momentum of the
Celebration 6: Star Wars Custom Action Figure Panel.
Show people in the Star Wars community just how much fun customizing
can be. Let people in on all the amazing results. Let's show Star Wars
fans what the customizing community is capable of.
ALL ENTRIES received will be displayed in a video at
RebelForceRadio.com and on the
Customs for the Kid blog.
The winner will also be featured on a special interview segment on
RebelForceRadio and the
winner and their action figure will be featured in a post on the
Customs for the Kid blog as well.
The judges for the contest will be "
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), artist
Paul Bateman from The Art of Ralph McQuarrie, and
Darth Daddy of
Customs for the Kid.
Listen to
the podcast with the
contest announcement for more information.
RULES
-All custom action figure entries must be of characters that appear in the Star Wars radio drama
"Smuggler's Gambit". Custom action figures can be in 3 ¾” scale or other.
-Participants
are encouraged to submit as many entries as they wish. Please include
1 - 4 photos per custom action figure submitted (Front,
Back, Left, and Right).
-Include your email, name, and mailing
address, with your entry.
- Photoshop manipulations
such as glowing lightsabers and blaster fire will not be accepted. We
want the focus to be on the customs and not on their digital
enhancement.
-All photo entries must be sent to the following email address:
show@rebelforceradio.com.
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. SHOW US YOUR STAR WARS
ART!
Make
sure your picture(s) are attached in your email and all the contest's
rules have been complied with before you send your email.
PRIZES
A prize package will be awarded to the
winner
at the conclusion of the contest. Prize Package will include one
autographed 501st trading card of James Arnold Taylor, one autographed
8x10 of Clone Wars actress Anna Graves, one autographed 8x10 of Clone
Wars actress Jaime King, and autographed
DVD of The Force Within Us, and a selection of Sony Playstation games.
ALL ENTRIES will be displayed in a video at
RebelForceRadio.com and on the
Customs for the Kid blog.
The winner will also be featured on a special interview segment on
RebelForceRadio and the
winner will be featured in a post on the
Customs for the Kid blog as well.
The judges for the contest will be "
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), artist
Paul Bateman from The Art of Ralph McQuarrie, and
Darth Daddy of
Customs for the Kid.
DEADLINE
MAY 1, 2013 at 11:59pm
Below
are the character descriptions from Kyle Newman that you all can use as
a guide to create your "Smuggler's Gambit" custom action figure:
RYDER THORNE
A
spirited late teen human, with a punkish flair, who spent most of her
life raising herself...until Ro Kurota took her under his wing. Despite
her new line of work, she has heart of gold and a moral compass that
will always steer her to safely. She's also a skilled pilot, who shortly
after the events of the radio drama, enlists with the rebels. Played by
Ashley Eckstein.
RO KUROTA
A
brash, young human hustler trying make a name for himself as a neophyte
smuggler (recently turned bounty hunter thanks to Han Solo showing up).
He dresses with an edge, usually in black, to overcompensate for his
lack of experience. On RHEN VAR he sports an extra layer to deal with
the inhospitable climate. Played by
Sam Witwer.
SWEEPER
A
Sanyassan
spacer out for revenge on Han Solo. He's been around the galaxy a few
times and sports the scars to prove it -- especially that nasty one on
his face. He's not afraid to dress for business -- shady business --
often displaying his many weapons on his wardrobe. Played by
Dee Bradley Baker.
XIZOR
Xizor
is eager to score Solo and the Wookiee from Kurota to further leverage
himself within the Empire. He arrives on the remote, icy planet RHEN VAR
in sleeker, less formal, attire to close the deal... prepared to get
his Faleen hands dirty if necessary. Played by
Dee Bradley Baker.
HAN SOLO
Despite
being a reluctant leader, Han dresses a bit more traditional during his
opening Rebel Mission on the jungle planet of ABROSSOS VI... but slips
back into more casual wear once he parts ways with the fleet. His outfit
is a mix of classic ANH Han with a few new Rebel accents. Played by
David Collins.
PRINCESS LEIA
Dresses in vintage Alderaan-garb, in honor of her recently destroyed homeworld. Played by
Clare Grant.
There are several other characters in the story not listed, such as
the Abrossos cantina patrons, Abrossos villagers, Abrossos miners, Rebel Commander, Luke Skywalker, Boba Fett, Chewbacca, and even Sweeper's
thugs who are all open to interpretation for the contest as well....
Dad threw these two custom action figures together to show potential
"Smuggler's Gambit" contest participants how they can make a quick and easy
"Smuggler's Gambit"
custom action figure in just minutes for the contest that we are promoting with
RebelForce Radio. This is a great technique on how
to create a Hasbro looking figure without even having to break out a
paint brush. These types of customs are great starting points for those
of you who are are just beginner customizers and don't feel very
confident with your painting skills yet.
"ABROSSOS VI
REBEL RECONAISSANCE TROOPERS"
"ABROSSOS VI
CALAMARI REBEL RECONAISSANCE TROOPER"
by Darth Daddy
Using the lower legs and lower torso of the Vintage Endor Rebel Soldier
with the top half of a Vintage Admiral Ackbar, you can make a unique Abrossos VI
Calamari Reconaissance Trooper that would work just as well
in an Endor diorama as he would completing his scouting mission with Han
Solo.
The following Vintage Star Wars action figures were used:
-Vintage Endor Rebel soldier
-Vintage Admiral Ackbar
DIRECTIONS
Action figure assembly requires adult supervision and the following tools for a kitbash project:
-Heat gun or hairdryer
Both the Ackbar and Endor Rebel action figures only had to be heated up at the waist enough to pop them apart. Make sure the action figures are
not hot enough to burn you before handling and disassembling. Once
sepaerated at the waist, we only needed to pop the parts back together
in their desired positions before the plastic joints cooled down
again.
(ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED: If no heat gun or hairdryer is available, both figures can be put into
boiling water for approximately 5 minutes....NO MORE. Make sure the
water level is higher than the figure and that no plastic is above the
water line. Do not add the figure to the water until the water is
boiling. After the 5 minutes has expired, turn off the burner, and
remove the action figures from the water with tongs. Make sure the action figures are
not hot enough to burn you before handling and disassembling.)
"ABROSSOS VI
SNIVVIAN REBEL RECONAISSANCE TROOPER"
created by Darth Daddy
The following Vintage Star Wars action figures were used:
-Vintage Orrimaarko (Prune Face)
-Vintage Snaggletooth Target 3-pack
DIRECTIONS
How's this one for easy. Head swap!
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.
Show people in the Star Wars community just how large the
Star Wars customizing community is. Let people in on
all the amazing results we can produce. Let's show Star Wars fans what
the customizing community is capable of. Let's knock everybody's socks
off!
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. Today she is an Abrossos VI cantina patron. 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 YOUR ENTRY!
"RODIAN GIRL"
created by Elias
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
STAR WARS INSIDER: ISSUE 139 featuring "SMUGGLER's GAMBIT"
"SMUGGLER"S GAMBIT" FULL AUDIO