"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!

"Ssi-Ruu Bounty Hunter" created by Elias

A while back Dad took me to the DK Star Wars Attack of the Authors East Coast Tour at the Tribeca Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Manhattan.  It was cool because while I was there I got to meet Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars.   Star Wars artist Chris Trevas was there and while I was there I picked up an awesome book that he illustrated called Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Alien Species.  It was in this book that I discovered an alien species called the Ssi-Ruuk.

Ever since I saw the illustration below, I knew I wanted at least one of the these aliens in my collection.  One day I saw a dinosaur at a local toy store that I knew would be perfect for my custom.

I also took my first crack at sculpting. I sculpted the headset and the shoulder armor with Apoxie Sculpt and then used assorted fodder to create the harness.  I used some casted Jango Fett leg armor that I got from SithHappens.  I also used Green Stuff for the first time to create the forked tongues that come out of the Ssi-Ruu's nostrils.  

I made the one of a kind gun myself too. I pieced it together from about 6 different guns.

Ssi-Ruuk

The Ssi-ruuk (pronounced /'si ruk/)[3], Ssi-ruu in singular form, were a saurian species that invaded from the Unknown Regions of the galaxy and initiated the Battle of Bakura in 4 ABY, shortly after the Battle of Endor. This race relied on a technology called entechment that involved extracting the life-energies of sentient beings and using them as power sources for their mechanical technology. They had a sizable war fleet and ruled an empire called the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium in the Ssi-ruuk Star Cluster near the galaxy's rim.

Ssi-ruuvi society was deeply compartmentalized—being dominated by a rigid caste system based on skin color which signified one's socio-economic standing. As a species, most Ssi-ruuk were xenophobic towards members of other species due to their stringent religious beliefs and the compartmentalized state of their society. Due to the remote position of their home territory in the Ssi-ruuk Star Cluster and their religious fear of dying on an unconsecrated world, few Ssi-ruuk traveled outside their Star Cluster. Thus, they remained largely unknown to the rest of the galaxy, and contact with outsiders was limited even in the days of the New Republic and the Galactic Alliance.

"Ssi-Ruu Bounty Hunter"

created by Elias

Me with Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  Ashley was sooo cool!

Ashley Eckstein, Chris Trevas, and Chris Reiff

My Ssi-Ruu was featured on the front page of Imperial Shipyards.

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!

DioramaWorkshop Anniversary Contest

Our pal Frank Diorio has launched Phase II of his amazing DioramaWorkshop website and with that a new contest. Head on over for the complete details.

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