CLONE WARS WEEQUAY PIRATE with MASSIFF created by ELIAS

So recently my Dad made a baggie full of kitbashed Clone Wars Weequay Pirate action figures from his own headcasts, Shahan Alama  action figures, and Hondo Ohnaka action figure bodies.  The bag also has an assortment of pirate knives, goggles, blasters, and braids.  You just grab a body and accessorize it however you want.  Every kids dream really. This particular pirate sported the lower arms and braids of a Hondo Ohnaka, while the rest of the body was from the Shahan Alama except the head that was created by my Dad from a cast of his own sculpt.  I added a paint job to the action figure to make him my own unique creation.

My favorite part of this project was the Massiff.  I found him in the fodder, but he didn't have a harness.  I took a run to the nearest arts and craft store and picked up the lather strapping, chain, and silver links and fabricated my own harness.  I love the way that it came out!  Another cool addition to my Hondo Ohnaka gang!

I love making pirates!

CLONE WARS WEEQUAY PIRATE

with MASSIFF

created by Elias

SKILL LEVEL: ADVANCED

 

 My Pirate and Massiff were featured on the front page of Imperial Shipyards.

DARTH DADDY's CUSTOMIZING CORNER: HYPERDRIVE

Darth Daddy's Customizing Corner featured Star Wars artist Hyperdrive in the latest Customizing Corner over at The Star Wars Underworld.

CLICK HERE TO READ

When it comes to customizing, Hyperdrive's signature "weathered and worn" soft goods are unique. He has been honing his craft for many years without a studio; just his wife's sewing room and his kitchen island. He told me it takes about a week to create each figure and the work entails great care and attention to detail. Each piece is sanded down to remove any features that may reveal a bump or bulge from under the custom clothes. The clothes are then custom crafted to the size and shape of each figure for the best possible fit. Hyperdrive strives for maximum articulation underneath the soft goods cloth giving his figures a realistic look. Some of his favorite characters include: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui Gon Jinn, Vader, Yoda, General Veers, Watto, Maul, Greedo, Jawas and Gamorreans.

Hyperdrive's soft goods work is just amazing! Once we saw his figures we knew we had to include his work amongst the other artists I have featured in Darth Daddy's Customizing Corner. Hyperdrive is the guy that should be hired by Hasbro to handle all the soft good clothing design on future figures going forward! 

Hyperdrive is also one of the few Star Wars custom action figure artists that I have had the privilege of collaborating with on a project. When I was creating my Clone Wars General Pong Krell action figure, I came to a point where I  started to think about how I was going to do his clothing.  I really wanted to do soft goods, but I didn't feel like I had the skills to pull it off.

Immediately the amazing custom soft good creations of Star Wars customizer Hyperdrive popped into my head and I thought to himself, "I wish I could do soft good's like Hyperdrive."

My immediate second thought was, "I wonder if I could get Hyperdrive to do the soft goods?"

Followed by, "How should I go about asking him?"

The General Pong Krell action figure collaboration was willed by The Force.  No lie.  True Story.

In "less than a minute after I had that thought of asking Hyperdrive to make the soft goods from my Krell", I got an email from him asking me if he could update the video of his work on our "Customs I Wish I Owned" page. I immediately obliged and while I had Hyperdrive's ear, I asked if he would collaborate with me on Krell. The rest is history.

When I was finished with all the sculpt and paintwork, Krell was shipped off to Hyperdrive who not only created the beautiful looking soft goods tunic that Krell is now sporting, but Hyperdrive also made one awesome diorama stand for Krell when he's on display.

Hyperdrive created Krell's soft goods tunic, tabbards, and wraps with fabric that was hand dyed and then weathered. He also created the leather removable belt held on with a metal clasp located at the back and then inlaid magnets that were set inside for saber hilt connections.  He then fabricated a custom swamp display base with water effects.  And after all that was done, he fixed his busted sewing machine. 

"JEDI GENERAL PONG KRELL"
created by Darth Daddy

(KRELL's TUNIC and DIORAMA STAND created by HYPERDRIVE)

"Hello all. I just had the privilege of contributing to one of the coolest, most beautifully sculpted figures that I have ever worked upon. Darth Daddy's sculpt work on his General Pong Krell figure is top shelf, TOP SHELF! Having seen it in person, I can attest to his craftsmanship and skill. While the entire piece is nicely sculpted, I was blown away by the head sculpt and his feet. Also his paintwork was awesome. Pong Krell is en route back to Darth Daddy as we speak. Looking forward to sharing the finished product with you all.  It was awesome to lend a hand with this figure. It's way more rewarding to collaborate with others, I highly recommend it. When the figure arrived at my door, I wanted to live up to DD's craftsmanship. We emailed constantly once it was on my bench, and after several alterations, arrived at this finished product."  - Hyperdrive

To see more Star Wars custom action figures created by Hyperdrive, click the link below:

http://www.yakfaceforums.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=6760

Yakfinities #51 Continues

The latest Yakfinities Customizing Challenge continues – and the entries have really been mounting up the past couple weeks as customizers create their visions of Space Pirates in the Star Wars galaxy.  Check out all the latest submissions, or try your hand at making your own custom figure after the jump!

"Promotional Photo" Luke Skywalker custom action figure by Darth Daddy

The first "Promotional Photo Luke Skywalker" figure that I saw was created by Jayson Krebsbach from Yakface.com.  Jayson is a Reporter/Reviewer/Photographer/Toyguide Manager at the website.  He created the "Promotional Photo" version of Luke for the Yakfiniites #50 custom contest.  I really liked the look of the figure, and I knew then I wanted to create one of my own.  The second version of this figure that I saw was created by Star Wars customizer I-AM-BOBA-FETT who created his version for Imperial Shipyard's 2014 No Paint Kit Bash Contest.  There are some minor differences between their versions, and there were things that I wanted to borrow from each of them.  When I came home last weekend, I found that Dad beat me to it and made him the exact way that I was planning on doing it.  I love this figure and I think it is my new favorite version of Luke Skywalker.  Like the Gamorrean Gladiator custom that made the rounds back in 2011, I could easily see this figure becoming the customizing fad of 2013-14.

To make him, Dad used a heat gun to pop off the shoulder joints, remove the jacket and arms from The Black Series Ceremonial Luke. He then popped the Juno Eclipse arms in place and put the Luke's hands where Juno's were.  Dad also removed some of the neck and lowered the ball joint so Luke's head didn't sit so high off his shoulders.  Dad sanded the neck post and ball before using krazy glue to reattach them.  Once it dried, he popped the head back on and the figure was done.

"Promotional Photo" Luke Skywalker

created by Darth Daddy

Head, torso, hips, legs, lightsaber, hands and gun - TBS05 Luke Skywalker

 Arms - Juno Eclipse


SKILL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

 _________________

A big thanks to Logan Cross of the Wolfpack Podcast !  He is one of the designers over at SW Custom Cardbacks and he sent me a card that he designed for my action figure. His cardbacks are amazing!  We definitely recommend going to this artist if you are ever interested in giving one of your custom Star Wars action figures the royal treatment.  We loved the thickness of the card.  It's a bit thicker than the one used by Kenner or Hasbro which really helps to prevent it from ever being damaged.  We fully endorse the product this artist is putting out!

Front view.

Back view.

"Promotional Photo" Luke Skywalker

created by Jayson Krebsbach

 The Black Series #05 Luke Skywalker
The Legacy Collection Build A Droid  #02 Luke Skywalker arms

 "Promotional Photo" Luke Skywalker

created by I-AM-BOBA-FETT

Head - Luke Skywalker in Imperial disguise from comic pack
Torso, hips, legs, lightsaber, hands - Yavin ceremony Luke
Arms - Juno Eclipse

DARTH DADDY's CUSTOMIZING CORNER: MR. BLACK' s CUSTOMS aka INCOM

Darth Daddy's Customizing Corner featured Star Wars artist Mr. Black's Customs aka Incom in the latest Customizing Corner over at The Star Wars Underworld.

  CLICK HERE TO READ

 

When Mr. Black's Customs aka Incom isn't working in business services, this customizer hailing from Hengelo, Netherlands is busy making some of the sweetest customs you'll ever come across.

His "Weequay Swoop Bike Racer" is one of my all-time favorite Star Wars customs. When we saw that he was offering it for sale on Action Figure Customs Marketplace, I bought it right away for my son's birthday. The bike and figure are just pure eye candy, from the detailed paint work to the super cool Aurebesh water slide decals. We just love it here at home and it is definitely one the signature pieces is in our Star Wars custom action figure collection. We had always wanted a Star Wars custom action figure from this artist, but we never thought in a million years that our favorite piece of his would one day end up in the collection.

Incom borrowed his moniker from the Incom Corporation who were renowned for their production of the T-65 X-wing starfighter, a key tool and symbol of the Alliance to Restore the Republic during the Galactic Civil War.  When Incom began to create action figures that weren't just Star Wars related, he dropped the name with the Star Wars roots and started going by Mr. Black's Customs.  

Last year I was asked by Mr. Black's Customs to create him a Chukha Trok and a Kaink from the Star Wars Ewok Caravan of Courage TV special from my childhood.   I was always a huge fan of Mr. Black's work and was honored by the offer and terrified at the same time.  I always considered his work as one of my key influences as I developed as a customizer myself.  I was so intimidated that it took me about a year to finish them.  I felt awful that I had procrastinated so long.  I felt a lot better when the Ewoks I sent him tied for the Grand Prize in the Yakfinities #50 custom action figure contest over at Yakface.com.  I was really happy when the Ewoks I made ended up being a worthy gift for a more than worthy customizer!

Click any links below for more customs from Mr. Black's Customs aka Incom:

https://www.facebook.com/mrblackscustoms

http://s740.photobucket.com/home/incomscustoms/allalbums 

http://incom-t65.blogspot.com/