"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

CUSTOMIZER SPOTLIGHT #47: "Custom Star Wars Action Figure Displays" by thecardboardgalaxy

Recently on eBay we came across some very cool custom Star Wars action figure displays.  We picked up all three that were available and then today noticed thecardboardgalaxy added five more unique displays to the store as well.  We already received our first three in the mail and were so impressed with the products being offered, we purchased all five of his new displays as well.

If you want the eyes of your peers, a nice background is key to your overall presentation, even if it is just a clean solid background color. We highly recommend these displays to custom action figure artists that want to display their finished action figure art in all its glory.  If you spend hours working on a figure it deserves a good photoshoot with a nice background to complement it.  Good backgrounds are something we can't stress enough to artists just starting out.  

"Custom Star Wars Action Figure Displays" 

created by thecardboardgalaxy

The included tiered risers make it easy to support several figures in your display at the same time. 

thecardboardgalaxy


Available Action Figure Displays

 Visit thecardboardgalaxy eBay Store

"CUSTOMIZING THE CLONE WARS" - EPISODE 13

Peak-OB1 Custom Creations and Darth Daddy of Customs for the Kid discuss "Innocents of Ryloth" and "Liberty On Ryloth" and The Clone Wars custom action figures the episode inspired.

CLONE WARS
"CHAM SYNDULLA"
work in progress by Darth Daddy

CLONE WARS "CHAM SYNDULLA" created by DARTH DADDY

To be truthful, The Clone Wars version of Cham Syndulla wasn't on my radar until only recently.  I was more partial to creating the Rebels version of the character so I could place Cham on the shelf next to his daughter Hera.  My drive to fabricate him in his earliest incarnation was completely driven by wanting to create more content for the "Customizing The Clone Wars" videocast that I do every week with Star Wars customizer Peak-OB1. I was hoping to have this action figure done in time for the 13th episode of "Customizing The Clone Wars" where Peak-OB1 Custom Creations and just showcased a selection of Clone Wars custom action figures of the unrepresented characters that are in Season One's "Liberty on Ryloth".

To start the process, I used ProCreate and Aves Fixit to make some small adjustments to the Clone Wars Mace Windu figure that would change him into Cham Syndulla. A sculpting medium was applied to the figure on the head, torso, arms and legs to facilitate the transition. I recommend using ProCreate to create the lekku off the back of the head.  It maintains a rubbery flexibility when dry, which is very key to making the figure more playable and not just a display piece. 

I used the sleeves of an old Star Wars t-shirt to sew the soft goods that I hand sewed. Old t-shirts are great to cut up for fabric to sew your soft goods from.    There is a nice weight to the material that keeps the fabric close to the body.

To wrap this figure up, I only need to finish painting the head and do some touch ups here and there throughout the rest of the figure. I will also most likely make a few adjustments to the headsculpt as well.  I'm always my own worst critic.

CLONE WARS

"CHAM SYNDULLA"

created by Darth Daddy

"Blurrg" created by Suga Nutt Creations

BASE RECIPE

Body - Clone Wars Mace Windu

2 Left Forearms - Clone Wars Shahan Alama

Hands - Vintage Quinlan Vos
Soft goods were fabricated & sewn by hand

SKILL LEVEL:ADVANCED

IMPERIAL SHIPYARD's "I.M.P.S AT-AT HEAVY GUNNER CHALLENGE"

Check out the full details for Imperial Shipyards latest custom challenge. The submission date is fast approaching! Time to get to building!

RYKROF ENLOE RETURNS

Rykrof Enloe is back in an all new adventure in The Enloe Trials Photonovel Series and for those that haven’t followed the series in the past, this new chapter launches a new story arc. Now is a great time to get acquainted with Star Wars customizer Chewie's craft!

LATEST YAKFINITIES UPDATE

YAKFINITIES #61 HAS BEGUN

One thing Hasbro has grossly neglected time and time again over the years is playsets/dioramas/environments for their action figure lines.

So in that light, our latest Yakfinities Customizing Challenge theme is custom playsets/dioramas/environments! This Yakfinities runs through the end of September, so there’s plenty of time to create and submit an entry.

For all the details, click here!

YAKFINITIES #60

ROUNDUP REPORT

The most recent Yakfinities Customizing Challenge has come to a close, and Yakface.com has the Roundup Report with dozens of “custom creatures” in a forum gallery for your viewing pleasure.

Check out all the customs, and see who is walking away with some random prizes after the jump!

"CUSTOMIZING THE CLONE WARS" - EPISODE 12

Peak-OB1 Custom Creations and Darth Daddy of Customs for the Kid discuss "Storm Over Ryloth" and The Clone Wars custom action figures the episode inspired.

Super-Articulated "Episode VII - Han Solo" created by Darth Daddy

On this day of celebrating independence, Customs for the Kid felt Han Solo best embodied the rebel spirit that we all wish we could emulate.  Assisting in taking out two Death Stars and the Starkiller Base in Force Awakens, I can think of no other so accomplished.  Paying tribute to the character meant constructing and executing a plan.

Super-Articulated 

"Episode VII - Han Solo" 

created by Darth Daddy

Transitioning the 5 POA action figure into a super-articulated one is easier than you would think, and all it takes to pull it off are parts from three Han Solo figures that can currently be found in stores.  First, I popped the head and jacket off of the "Force Awakens" Han Solo to set them aside to use in my project, and then placed the rest of the figure back in the fodder bin to use some other day. Next, I drilled the waist peg for The Black Series Endor Han Solo in the open space at the back of the figure to separate the lower from the upper torso. I then drilled what was left of the peg out of the inside of the upper torso to maintain a clear channel while being careful not to damage or change the upper torso in any way.  I then used a Dremel to hard-sculpt the front of the Endor shirt to texture the top to match the lower torso that I boiled free from the The Black Series - Han Solo "Starkiller Base" action figure which I planned to use the legs from.  I also borrowed the blaster and holster from this Han. While the peg on top of the lower torso was still warm, I connected the Starkiller Base legs to the bottom of the Endor Han torso. I then prepped the joints in the elbows and shoulders of the newly formed figure to eliminate paint rub. After that, I painted the arms on the figure to look like the sleeves of the removable jacket of the "Force Awakens" Han Solo by mixing some black and brown acrylic paint to match it as close as I could.  I also painted the two separate colors of the top and bottom shirts from my action figure to create a shared color that would no longer contrast each other. At the end all that was left to do was open the neck peg hole a little on the head before attaching it snugly to the top. When the figure was completely dry and sealed, I slipped the removable jacket from the 5POA figure onto my new creation.  The custom figure doesn't take very long to do at all and can be finished in just an hour or two.

RECIPE

The Black Series Endor Han Solo - Upper Torso and arms

The Black Series - Han Solo "Starkiller Base" - Hips, Legs, Holster and Blaster

"Force Awakens" Han Solo - Head and Removable Jacket

SKILL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

"CUSTOMIZING THE CLONE WARS" - EPISODE 11

Peak-OB1 Custom Creations and Darth Daddy of "Customs for the Kid" discuss "Mystery of a Thousand Moons" and The Clone Wars custom action figures the episode inspired. Jaybo Hood, more Vindi, and repurposed battle droids are only the beginning...

Darth Jar Jar Theory - Explained In Depth: