AGE APPROPRIATE WARNING

*ADULT SUPERVISION & PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT ARE REQUIRED WHEN UTILIZING THE TOOLS, PRODUCTS & TECHNIQUES DESCRIBED HERE ON OUR BLOG TO CREATE STAR WARS CUSTOMS.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

CUSTOMIZER SPOTLIGHT #28: Hangarbay94

The first time we saw Hangarbay94's "Nar Shaddaa Interceptor Patrol Vehicle" we were just blown away.  The silhouette, the color, and the sheer amount of detail that was spread throughout it's entirety put this custom above anything we ever saw before.  The first words out of my mouth when I held it in my hands, "Dad, Hangarbay94's a much better customizer than you." I never saw anything like it.  The imagery was Star Wars meets Blade Runner.  The vehicle was just gorgeous.  I carried it around for two days straight.  I couldn't put it down.  I just loved looking at it.  The slide decal work and the weathering made this custom vehicle look camera ready, set to be used alongside other models and filmed to be in the next Star Wars movie.

This vehicle is jam packed with play features too.  The features include a hook and crane that lowers out of the bottom of the vehicle fit for carrying a bundled load or for towing, the cockpit contains a rolling cage in the back seat of the cockpit to detain prisoners or be moved out of the way for regular passengers, opening doors, and all greatly accented by it's flashing lights and sirens.  The detailed paintwork on the super cool droid that came with it was the cherry on top.

Julian aka Hangarbay94 is an avid Star Wars fan who has made a name for himself by customising vehicles and creating photo novels. His work is featured on Yakface and at Imperial Shipyards where he is also one of the forum moderators. His ongoing project is a graphic novelization of the classic PC game "X-Wing Alliance" which features a mixture of custom figures, dioramas, vehicles as well as creative artwork Hangarbay94 produced using Adobe Photoshop. Julian is self taught and admits to being heavily influenced by Chewie and other contemporary photo novelists.

Amongst his more notable custom projects Julian specialises in making flat, pack-and-easy-to-store dioramas, including large scale fold aways including an LED-lit "Endor Landing Platform" a huge flat-pack "Death Star Hangar" and a "Calamari Cruiser Hangar Bay".

Julian also produced a movie novel called Darkchild that we absolutely love here at home.  Jules now admits to biting a little more than he could chew, and sadly the project remains unfinished at chapter 3.  Don't let it prevent you from getting invested.  It still has a big payoff in the experience of it alone.  Hangarbay94 is a real talent in the Star Wars community with his hands in so many different aspects of Star Wars artistry.

Every time I see Hangarbay94's work, Dad and I just sit there and wonder how he finds time to do it all and to the levels that he accomplishes. He's just phenomenal and raises the bar for the whole customizing community. Now it hangs suspended from my ceiling at the foot of my bed where I get to fall asleep looking at it and wake up with it being the first thing I see.  It is definitely one of the favorite pieces that I have in my Star Wars custom action figure collection.





"Nar Shaddaa Interceptor Patrol Vehicle"
created by Hangarbay94





 "It is my favourite custom." - Hangarbay94



















Hangarbay94's 
"Nar Shaddaa Interceptor Patrol Vehicle"
       


     





Listen to the artist himself talk about this project in the second half of this video below in his "Fodder Alert"segment:














You'll find Julian's X-Wing Alliance graphic novel and movie at:
  



Also check out his Darkchild series on his Youtube Channel at:


You should also check out Hangarbay94's:


and

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

RebelForce Radio: Ashley Eckstein Special






Clone Wars actress Ashley Eckstein joins RebelForce Radio for her first post-Season Five live interview! Ashley discusses all-things-Ashoka and takes listener questions as we look back at her character's incredible story. Join us for an in-depth conversation about the past, present and future of Ahsoka Tano with the actress who brought her to life, Ashley Eckstein, in this special episode of RebelForce Radio.




RebelForce Radio and Customs for the Kid present...
"SMUGGLER'S GAMBIT" 
CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE CONTEST





Monday, March 4, 2013

ABROSSOS VI REBEL RECONAISSANCE TROOPERS

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"
created by Darth Daddy







"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!





GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!




STAR WARS INSIDER: ISSUE 139 featuring "SMUGGLER's GAMBIT"


"SMUGGLER"S GAMBIT" FULL AUDIO


RebelForce Radio and Customs for the Kid present...
"SMUGGLER'S GAMBIT" CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE CONTEST




Sunday, March 3, 2013

The Making of a Custom Action Figure

Did you ever wonder what goes into creating a custom action figure?  Dad came across this cool video on Youtube that demonstrates how it's all done.  While the video's not a Star Wars custom action figure the technique remains the same.  We thought the video would be a big help to beginners who are participanting in the "Smuggler's Gambit" Custom Action Figure Contest we are promoting with RebelForce Radio.  Hope the video helps.





Greg Sarabia (spawnsauce)




Check out more of his work at his Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/greg.sarabia.9





RebelForce Radio and Customs for the Kid present...
"SMUGGLER'S GAMBIT" CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE CONTEST