Customizer Spotlight #14: Wraithnine

Wraithnine is a 40 year old customizer from the southeast coast of Essex, UK who has been customizing Star Wars figures and vehicles for about 3 1/2 years now. He mainly creates custom action figures of astromechs and clone troopers, but along with the astromech we purchased, we were able to obtain some awesome looking Mandalorians that he recently created too. Wraithnine not only spends his time customizing, he also reviews Star Wars products on Youtube under the name Rasputin37. Wraithnine is currently a moderator on www.imperialshipyards.net and has been a die hard Star Wars fan since '77 . When we saw these figures for sale on Imperial Shipyards, we knew we wanted to add them to our collection.

R7-A4

Wraithnine is well known for his custom astromechs and it isn't hard to see why.

We love Wraithnine's use of water slide decals to enhance his custom action figures. He did a great job using water slide decals on the head of this astromech.

R7-A4 was turned into a trading card by Kessel Run Imports.

FYNN ST'ANN

These Mandos are awesome. Great paint applications and again masterful use of the water slide decals.

DHUR' KAN

It's cool to see how Wraithnine used the Pre Vizsla action figure to create two totally unique action figures.

Mandalorian Bounty Hunter
Kel Sha'rak

See these action figures that we own in Episode 7 of the Kessel Run Review.

These next two droids were both created by Star Wars action figure customizer Wraithnine.  When Dad heard that Wraithnine was selling the R2-C2 that he created, Dad thought it would be cool if we gave him a home next to the Ziro the Hutt that he created.  Dad bought him right away as a birthday present for my ninth birthday back in October. 

What's even cooler was that Wraithnine sent me a R2-T8 astromech as a birthday gift from him.  Thanks so much Jay! That was very generous of you.  The droid is a shining example of why you are the astromech king! I love seeing Ziro and R2-C2 next to each other.  Your droids make my room seem magical.

 "Ziro's Droid R2-C2"

created by Wraithnine

"Ziro the Hutt" created by Darth Daddy

"R2-T8"

created by Wraithnine

D-SQUAD

created by Wraithnine 

So I have added D-Squad to my collection thanks to the "Astromech King". Yes, Star Wars customizer Wraithnine recently created the five-member droid squad formed by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars, that consisted of QT-KT, U9-C4, R2-D2, M5-BZ, and Corporal WAC-47. Led by Colonel Meebur Gascon, D-Squad was sent to steal an encryption module from a Providence-class carrier/destroyer. This fun group appeared on Star Wars: The Clone Wars in the following episodes: "Secret Weapons", "A Sunny Day in the Void", "Missing in Action" and "Point of No Return". These episodes were a lot of fun to watch. These figures are really special to me because I was interviewed on the Voice of the Republic podcast with Dad the same night voice actor Ben Drisdin (WAC-47) was interviewed and I got to talk with Ben that night.  WAC-47 was my favorite character from those episodes and it's really cool that I was able to add this whole set of droids to my collection.

M5-BZ 

& Colonel Meebur Gascon

created by Wraithnine

WAC-47

created by Wraithnine

U9-C4

created by Wraithnine

QT-KT

created by Wraithnine

R2-D2

created by Wraithnine

Star Wars customizer Wraithnine's 501st troopers: (from left to right) Dogma, Hardcase, Jesse, Tup,  and Kix.

You can see more custom action figures from Wraithnine here on Imperial Shipyards:

http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=768.0

Wraithnine has a channel on Youtube under the name of Rasputin37 that you can find here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/rasputin37

He posts as Wraithnine on Rebelscum.com here:

http://threads.rebelscum.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=4418696&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&fpart=1#4418696

Kessel Run Review - Episode 11

Dad's "RUNDOWN" Video Featured on the Front Page of Imperial Shipyards

Dad's "RUNDOWN" Video Featured on the Front Page of Imperial Shipyards

Slayer Design Studio

Dad just found a really cool website where he bought 12 custom made action figure heads. The website sells unique parts for making custom action figures and dioramas. Dad was so impressed with the sculpts and casts that he wanted to pass the website on to our readers knowing that a large percentage of you are customizers as well. No sense keeping our tricks of the trade a secret when they make customizing more fun.

Jose, Ben, DW, and Dave, are all long time fans of the hobby of customizing. They all do custom work and all share a passion for the hobby, the art and the toys. So what better way to share their ideas and their remakes of classic characters then having a store that offers their wares. The team strives to bring the most detailed sculpts and cast work to the community at the best price they can. Slayer Design Studio always strives to make customizing more fun. Their goal is to make the coolest sculpts, both in parts and in full figure model kits. Their team gets bigger all the time with customizers who share their goal, and love what they do.

If this is your first time visiting the Slayer Design Studio website, you will need to know how things work.

Guideline on How the System Works:


-New Pre-Order's are given a number. The current PO-10 started on Monday March 21.

-The "Order Phase" will last 4 complete weeks.

-The "Production Phase" will start, this will take 3 complete weeks.

-The "Shipping Phase" then starts and can take up to 2 more weeks to finish. Orders are shipped in the order they were received.

-In the second week of production (Every 6 weeks) The next Pre-Order is listed and starts its "Order Phase".



Your items can take up to 9 weeks before they are in hand. Slayer Design Studio understands that it seems like a long time, but it's the only way they can run a fan based business with having other jobs and a family.

To visit Slayer Design Studio click the image below:

RUNDOWN ADDED TO "CUSTOMS I WISH I OWNED"

Rundown Customs....aka ric.sea.jedi....aka Sean....started on ebay buying and selling vintage Star Wars when he came across some custom Star Wars figures and became interested in what he saw. He watched many customizers for a long time and began his research. Finally, he picked up a paintbrush in 2007. Since then Sean has made over 300 custom action figures. More than 200 of which have been private commissions. Rundown says that he truly enjoys the hobby and enjoys requests as well duplicating characters not yet made in toy form.

RUNDOWN

To buy custom action figures created by Rundown visit his ebay page where you can also contact him about commission work.


To see more customs created by Rundown you can visit his forum thread over at Imperial Shipyards.

Custom Trading Cards by Kessel Run Imports

Kessel Run Imports has created trading card sets for the Imperial Shipyards, Luke Sprywalker and the Kessel Run Review with artwork on the cards backside done by boettcherART.



Now he is making this introductory offer to customizers who would like unique card sets of their work. Along with the right to sell additional copies of the sets, KRI is offering these custom designs for just $50. This includes, the design of 6 cards with back face image puzzle using photos of your work, and one hand assembled and cut copy of the card set. Additional sets are $7 each.



Also the following cards sets are available:


Kessel Run Review with Wookielover1138 - Set 1 - $7
http://www.ciurla.com/kesselrunreview/tradingcards.html

Luke Sprywalker - Set 1: Bounty Hunters - $7
http://www.ciurla.com/kesselrunreview/sprywalker.html




If you are interested in any of these offers please contact:
nate@ciurla.com

Or send a message to KesselRunImports on the Yards.







Dad and I were really honored to have our custom action figure "Rebekkah" featured on card #7.

Dad's "Ewok Elders" featured on the Front Page of Imperial Shipyards

Dad's "Ewok Elders" featured on the Front Page of Imperial Shipyards

EWOK ELDERS

These Ewok elders are three of the oldest Ewoks in the village, as well as their best remembered warriors. Because most Ewoks do not live to be so old, we thought it would be fun to tell you a short tale about each one so that in their passing their memory will live on.

Twirly was best known for his signature mustache. He was known to be an eccentric, but was one fierce warrior. Before fading into retirement, he was in charge of the Ewoks military forces. At the Battle of Endor it was said that even in his old age Twirly had taken the lives of 63 stormtroopers singlehandedly.

Ghost was the only albino Ewok to ever be born in his village. When he was conceived, the village was sure that he would quickly perish due to his coloring and his inability to hide from the predators of the forest. To protect him, his parents kept him isolated and hidden in their hut in hopes it would keep him safe. He would watch the other children play and wished that one day he could too. During the day, he would entertain himself by watching the bird like creatures of the forest soar through the air and wished that he too could just fly away. Then one day, that is just what he did. He used a bunch of household items to construct the first ever Ewok hang glider. The other Ewoks were amazed, because they had never conceived that they could take to the air. Ghost built his hang glider in the image of a large bird like creature that was known to fly through the forest and feed upon the members of the Ewok village. From that day forward, Ghost would spend his time flying high up above and when he would see one of these large beings lunging toward a member of his community he would dive down with a spear in hand and remove all danger to his companions. He later constructed a mask with the fowl's face to better blend in with them as he soared up above. He later trained other Ewoks to fly in hang gliders to keep watch over the village when he could not and later led them into war at the Battle of Endor. Sadly Ghost did not survive the event, but his contributions to the village were never forgotten.

Longbeard was well known throughout the village because he wore two long sharp nails atop his head as a trophy to remember the day he saved the village from an all out slaughter at the hands of one enormous hungry beast. Although it happened in his younger years, Longbeard was admired for his bravery for he was able to cut off two digits from the creature with a fellow Ewok's axe and sent the creature running away, never to return.

EWOK ELDERS

Watch in 720pHD



EWOK ELDERS created by DARTH DADDY

DK Star Wars Attack of the Authors East Coast Tour

So a few weeks ago, Dad read on TheForce.net that there was a DK Star Wars Attack of the Authors East Coast Tour coming to the Tribeca Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Manhattan today May 7, 2011. Dad read that there was going to be appearances there by talented Star Wars illustrators Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas, as well as, Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Also in attendance were costumed members of the 501st Legion, Darth Vader, Padme Amidala, and members of the R2 Builders Club, who brought a full-sized R2-D2 droid replica! Can't tell you how much fun we had today. I was stuck to Ashley Eckstein like glue and followed her everywhere she went. She was so nice. It was so cool. If you have the opportunity to go to future events on the tour I highly recommend going.

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

Me with a full-sized R2-D2 droid replica.

Ashley Eckstein, Chris Trevas, and Chris Reiff

Darth Vader & Ashley Eckstein

Chris Trevas, Ashley Eckstein, and Chris Reiff

Darth Vader, Sandtrooper, Incinerator Trooper, and Ashley Eckstein

501st Clone Trooper, Darth Vader, Sandtrooper, and Incinerator Trooper

Padme Amidala, me, an Incinerator Trooper and Darth Vader

Click out the logo above to check out Ashley's online store!

Dad's "Jedi Starfighter" featured on the Front Page of Imperial Shipyards

This vehicle is not new, but rather is from one of the first posts here on the blog. Dad created the Jedi Starfighter for the first custom action figure that he ever made. It was created from a defective Ahsoka Tano action figure that he turned into Arianna, a completely different Togruta Jedi Padawan. He never really showcased any of his custom vehicles on the Star Wars forums until yesterday, so that is why the vehicle is only getting any recognition on the Imperial Shipyards now. To see the original post, click here.

Dad's "Jedi Starfighter" featured on the Front Page of Imperial Shipyards

Dad's "BOTWT" Video featured on the Front Page of Imperial Shipyards

Dad's "BOTWT" Video featured on the Front Page of Imperial Shipyards.

Custom Action Figure News - A podcast by Lucasclones and Tamer : EPISODE #7

Another great episode of the podcast Custom Action Figure News with hosts Lucasclones and Tamer from Imperial Shipyards!! Their special guest this week is none other than customizer Hangarbay94 who just released the trailer for his latest project entitled Star Wars: Apocalypse.

Custom Action Figure News- A podcast by Lucasclones and Tamer: Episode 7
(click the link above to listen to the podcast!)






"Star Wars: Apocalypse" Trailer



Created by Hangarbay94 & Phatty

BOTWT ADDED TO "CUSTOMS I WISH I OWNED"

Our latest customizer hails from Grand Island, NY. BOTWT says he is still trying to figure out this collecting and converting thing, but he says he does okay for a neurologically damaged oaf. He credits his great wife of 8 years who allows him to spend loads of cash on his hobbies and to act like an over sized child of 40 years…but he's sure that fills her need to mother something. BOTWT was only 7 years old when Star Wars came out and became an instant fan, he had been out of the collecting game for quite some time and has only recently started back up with a few of the Clone Wars figures. He said he thinks he likes them because the "cartoony-ness" of the figures reminds him of the original figures he collected when he was a kid. He recently started a blog of his custom action figures and he hopes his blog encourages you in your collecting and customizing of Star Wars figures.

BOTWT




To see more custom action figures by BOTWT, check out his blog:
http://botwtswfigures.wordpress.com/


Head over to his ebay page where he has some great customs for sale right now:
http://myworld.ebay.com/wskr14/?_trksid=p4340.l2559

HAPPY STAR WARS DAY!!

Happy Star Wars Day from Customs for the Kid!!

DAD's TWO QUICK CUSTOM ACTION FIGURES MADE FROM SPARE PARTS featured on the Front Page of Imperial Shipyards

DAD's "TWO QUICK CUSTOM ACTION FIGURES MADE FROM SPARE PARTS" featured on the Front Page of Imperial Shipyards.