"CUSTOMS FOR THE KID" 2023 - YEAR IN REVIEW

This year was full of challenging projects. Bold efforts that provided fruitful results. For me, it was a year full of commissions. I really feel like I grew as an artist this year in many aspects. As a sculptor, a painter, tailor, and 3D designer. Every commission pushed me outside my comfort zone and forced me to dig deeper to bring all the characters to life. The results surpassed our expectations every time.

Dad took some time out of his schedule to help me out by peppering in some posts on the blog throughout the year. He painted the offerings of our friends as well as third-party sellers showcasing some fun customizing opportunities that are available to the community to help build out our collections quickly and easily. Because Dad had only contributed in making one figure since both of his eyes were operated on in 2020, seeing him tackle several projects this year was heartwarming. It was getting lonely doing the blog by myself so the companionship was welcomed.

We were super excited when a few months ago we had the incredible privilege of being featured in the Artist Spotlight over at YodasNews.com. The website has been popular in fan circles since its inception in 2004. Having Mark Picirilli the founder of the website take the time to share our art with his readers was a real honor.

Another exciting development for us was getting the opportunity to meet actor Amy Allen from the Prequel films. Even though I was the one celebrating another year of life lived, I was the one who came to the event bearing gifts. 

I traveled to RedFive Toys & Collectibles in East Longmeadow, MA. It wasn't our first trip to the store. The Vintage Collection has a heavy presence in this toy store so it's always worth the trip to Massachusetts. As usual, upon our arrival, the pegs were completely stacked with the latest TVC waves. Even more than our last trip to RedFive. The store even had Din Djarin's N-1 Starfighter and Jabba's Palace from "The Book of Boba Fett" complete with the oversized TVC Bib Fortuna available for purchase. 

We made the trip for a special event that was being held at the toy store which had Amy Allen the actress who starred as Star Wars Jedi character Aayla Secura in the Prequel Trilogy. Amy was at RedFive and she made herself available to sign autographs and take photos with fans. The event was absolutely packed, complete with a Kylo Ren and Battle-Damaged Darth Vader cosplayers, and the store even raffled off Boba Fett's TVC Slave I from "The Book of Boba Fett". 

While at the signing, I had the chance to present the Star Wars actress with a Star Wars custom action figure I made of her character. To make the figure, all that was needed was some additional sculpting on TVC Aayla Secura action figure and a fresh coat of paint.

The day was so much fun. We even had the chance to meet up with Chris Swanski of BanthaSkull.com and John Miko of the SW The Vintage Collection group on Facebook who were also attending the event. Dad came along for the trip and got so busy talking with our fellow collectors that he never took the time to meet with Amy Allen.

We definitely recommend making a visit to RedFive Toys & Collectibles. Even when fun events aren't taking place, RedFive Toys & Collectibles is definitely our favorite toy store in the Northeast!

AAYLA SECURA

custom action figure

created by Elias of "Customs for the Kid"

The Aayla Secura action figure that I made for Amy Allen ended up getting a "Custom of the Week" feature over at JediInsider.com. She was just one of several "Custom of the Week" features that we received in 2023. We express our deepest gratitude to Jedi Insider for the continued kindness they have shown us.

We thank you all for your patronage and hope you will keep coming as long as we keep making new Star Wars customs. Enjoy the video below of all the figures we made this year. Visit our Action Figure Index for the build information for each character. Happy New Year everyone! Let's all make it a good one!

END OF YEAR VIDEO

"THE CLONE WARS" GARDULLA BESADII THE ELDER created by Customs for the Kid

We didn't want to finish the year off without completing The Hutt Council from "The Clone Wars". Gardulla was the final character we had left and to make her we printed out the recent design from Uzay Customs, but only used the arms and the tail portion of the print. Instead we sculpted our own head and then resculpted the front of the torso to put our own spin on the character. Once our resculpt was complete we painted our sculpt.

A female Hutt born on Nal Hutta, Gardulla became a prominent member of the Besadii division of the Hutt Clan and was one of the most powerful Hutt crime lords on Tatooine.[1] Years prior to the Invasion of Naboo, Gardulla bought Shmi Skywalker and her son Anakin as her slaves, however, she later lost them in a bet with the Toydarian junk dealer Watto. Years later alongside Jabba, she watched as her former slave, Anakin Skywalker won the Boonta Eve Classic podrace from Jabba's box seats.

Following Ziro the Hutt's breakout during the Clone Wars, Gardulla and the Hutt Council met at her palace on Nal Hutta and demanded that Ziro give up the Council's records. When Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Quinlan Vos arrived, Gardulla asked them how the war was going and denied that the Hutts had anything to do with Ziro's escape or Cad Bane. When Vos accused her and the council of freeing Ziro, Gardulla said that he was lucky that the reasonable Kenobi was with him, or he would not be allowed to leave alive. Following that encounter, Gardulla and the Council discovered that Ziro had escaped. They then hired Bane to track Ziro down.

"THE CLONE WARS"

GARDULLA BESADII THE ELDER

created by "Customs for the Kid"

Gardulla, Gorga, Oruba, Arok & Marlo of The Hutt Council. 

"THE CLONE WARS"

GORGA THE HUTT

designed by Uzay Customs

printed and painted by 3dstufflk

"THE CLONE WARS"

ORUBA THE HUTT

painted by "Customs for the Kid"

3-D Design by Uzay Customs

"THE CLONE WARS"

MARLO THE HUTT

painted by Darth Daddy

(3-D Design by Uzay Customs)

"THE CLONE WARS"

AROK THE HUTT

painted by "Customs for the Kid"

(3-D Design by Uzay Customs)

"THE CLONE WARS" AROK THE HUTT sculpt designed by Uzay Customs & painted by "Customs for the Kid"

During the Clone Wars, Arok was a member of the Besadii, a Hutt kajidic. Arok was smoking when he answered Jabba's summoning of the Grand Hutt Council becoming the third member of the council to have his hologram appear in Jabba's throne room. Speaking in Ancient Huttese, Arok addressed of need to release Ziro from Republic custody with Jabba and the other council members. When he was not speaking, Arok continued to smoke during the meeting. He asked Jabba if Ziro would be brought to the council after he was freed to which Jabba confirmed. Arok agreed with Jabba and the other council members to have bounty hunter Cad Bane break Ziro out of Republic custody and deliver him to the council.

Arok was present when Ziro was brought before the Hutt Council on the planet Nal Hutta after being freed by Bane. When Ziro stated he possessed a holodiary detailing all of the council's deeds, Arok groaned and became agitated. Speaking in Huttese, he threatened Ziro that they could kill him. After Ziro had been taken away to the detention block, Marlo and the rest of the council were entrained by a performance by Pa'lowick singer Sy Snootles. Arok chuckled as Snootles danced her way past him and along the other council members.

After Snootles' performance, Arok was enjoying the entertainment of the Twi'lek dancers when Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Quinlan Vos entered the council chamber. Arok did not speak when Kenobi informed the council of Ziro's escape.

A short time later, Arok accompanied Gardulla, Gorga and Cad Bane to the detention block where they found Ziro's cell empty. Arok suggested the Jedi were the ones who broke Ziro out to which Gardulla agreed with but Bane disagreed. When Bane stated he was done working for the Hutts, Arok became alarmed and agreed with his fellow Hutts to have Bane track down Ziro.

Arok's voice and appearance was based on well known American gangster actor Edward G. Robinson.

This 3-D print design was sculpted by Uzay Customs, a Star Wars customizer in Turkey who released this 3D print file on his Patreon account. We didn't have a 3D printer large enough to make him at home so we purchased a print on eBay from 3Dstufflk based in Sri Lanka. Once the figure arrived in the mail, Dad painted the whole figure and then I painted the eyes and some highlights throughout to complete him.

"THE CLONE WARS"

AROK THE HUTT

sculpt designed by Uzay Customs

& painted by"Customs for the Kid"

"THE CLONE WARS"

GORGA THE HUTT

designed by Uzay Customs

printed and painted by 3dstufflk

"THE CLONE WARS"

ORUBA THE HUTT

painted by "Customs for the Kid"

3-D Design by Uzay Customs

"THE CLONE WARS"

MARLO THE HUTT

painted by Darth Daddy

(3-D Design by Uzay Customs)

"KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC" ROBAKU BALBOSHA created by Elias

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a complex role-playing game. The game is character-driven, with a focus on letting gamers create and play their character the way that they want. How you play your character affects other characters around you and the game itself. With that in mind, it's crucial before embarking on your adventure that you understand the consequences of your actions in the game. Everything from character creation to your actions in the game affect your path to the final outcome. 

The very first thing you'll have to do in KOTOR is create your character. There are several steps to creating a character, and all of them need to be considered carefully.

This particular figure was modeled after the character designed by our client. He played as this character and loved the character so much he asked to have it made into an action figure.

To make the figure required a mix of hand sculpting with ProCreate and designing other elements of the figure with Blender. Due to the precise details on the helmet of Robaku, he needed to be designed on the laptop and printed on our 3-D printer. The soft goods were made by hand. The rest of the figure was hand sculpted from head to toe.

Due to unforeseen circumstances this figure is available for purchase. Please email customsforthekid@gmail.com for more information.

"KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC"

ROBAKU BALBOSHA

created by Elias

Original artwork sent to us to design the figure from.