Finished with Customs!

I was about to finish my ‘final’ custom project when I started thinking about my Marvel collections. This caused something to occur to me: I wanted a non-powered up Iceman, so I took a small break and made a new custom. (Actually really want a Legends figure with this look.)

I also decided to to get a Legends Kate Bishop. I really liked the dynamic she (briefly) had with Ironheart and Ms. Marvel in Marvel Zombies. I would prefer the trio in 3.75”, but really not inclined to start new projects. Anyway, managed to grab a Legends one for a decent price.

Finally in my little Marvel creative/spending spree, I found out 3.75” Spider-Gwen was a (ready made) thing, so I can finally complete my Into the Spider-Verse lineup.

So after all that, I did actually get on and finish my final custom project - Motaro!!! I completed my MKI/II lineup a little while ago but I had also wanted a few things from MK3 - cyber ninjas (done), Jax with metal arms (done), and finally Motaro. It feels like a suitably large last project - a centaur! I used a Bossfight horse (and human blank) for the base. It has a slightly different anatomy to the in-game appearance of Motaro, which makes it tricky, but think the horse part looks good - maybe a bigger (human) chest could improve it. For the time being at least, I am done!

I’ve now decided to get rid of some of the spare parts/tools I use for customs. I am done with new projects (famous last words) and, sort of, with Marvel.

Just after I started collecting Transformers, Star Wars Transformers came along with their little pilots. I started collecting miniatures of Star Wars and Marvel. But then, Marvel Universe happened (and Wolverine Origins Deadpool and Wolverine). Between official and customs I got a whole load of (1:18) Marvel, Star Wars, and Mortal Kombat. I started collecting 1:12 Turtles and Thundercats (since there were no other options), but then in 2018 I saw Marvel Legends Deadpool and Wolverine (those guys again). I needed them, and so I began collecting Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black (and later Mortal Kombat Klassic).

I’ve long since got rid of the miniatures, but I’ve always been trying to work out the balance between 1:18 and 1:12/1:10 scales. I have finally settled on getting most stuff in 1:18, but my favourite/important characters and teams in 1:12. It’s a tricky balance and one I’ve now spent quite a lot of time thinking about. I’ve now got all the characters I want for Marvel (though I’d like to switch the scale on a few).

At the same time, I’m also just about done with Star Wars Black, Streetfighter, and Real Ghosbusters (long since done with Turtles, Thundercats, and Power Rangers). Bit more to go on Klassic, did get a preorder in for Johnny Cage though.

To celebrate the occasion of getting my last customs done (and because I saw someone on YouTube do it) I thought I might have a go at listing my favourite projects that I’ve done.

I started doing customs in 2006, my first few efforts were terrible, but I learnt from them. Mostly I think I learnt not to bother with Transformers customs, though an honourable mention should go out to my broken G1 Metroplex for being my initial motivation. I learnt how to paint, how to sculpt, and how to make moulds and resin copies. I have since focussed on 3.75” figures, mostly Marvel, but also Batman, Mortal Kombat, and several other interests. These aren’t necessarily the ‘best’, I’m also giving marks for creativity and just trying things. In no particular order:

1. V-Rex: the character is a savage land dinosaur combined with the Venom Symbiote. This is what I spent quite a lot of the first lockdown during the pandemic doing. I think it looks pretty good but it also stands out as one of my most ambitious customs.

2. Groot (Mark I and II): I’ve done three versions of Groot but the third is a completely different figure. The base for the first one was a KO BAF MCU Groot. I found out how to preserve tree branches (well, twigs really) using glycerine and combined the two. A while later I decided I wanted a costumed Groot and so took the head, arms and feet from my initial figure and attached them to a Marvel Legends Star Lord figure. Pretty cool, and I learnt a few techniques doing it. I ended up taking it apart and reverting it to be Star Lord when I started collecting Legends but I remember it fondly.

3. M’baku: doing this was actually an extension of some of the ideas I used from Groot - I made resin copies of bits of a figure (in this case the head, arms and feet from a planet of the apes figure) and attached them to another figure (Marvel Universe Grey Hulk). This is one of many figures that I came up with the idea and then took actual years getting round to it. Working out how to do the head was ridiculously hard but I think it just about works - the difficulty of turning a 2D picture into a 3D object.

4. Ghost Rider: this is quite a simple idea, I bought a 1:18 motorbike, took the wheels off and made resin copies of them, but adding some orange paint to the resin. Turned out really well! I then also redid Ghost Rider himself as I didn’t like the blue that the released figure had.

5. Goro: this figure is at the very top of the list for time taken to get from idea stage to completion. (Mostly complications relating to also getting a Kintaro out of it.) It was actually quite simple in the end but really happy with how it turned out. Generally though, this could just be ‘Mortal Kombat figures’.

6. Buzzsaw: I did lots of Transformers customs in my early days, this was one of the simpler ones but quite effective and one of the few I actually still have. (Weirdly I still have the head from one of my first customs - a Shockwave from Classics Megatron.)

7. Thunderbolt Ross: this was a really simple idea, and probably says more about GI Joe than me, but this was the epitome of finding a good base figure.

8. Grim Reaper: I’m generally happy with all my efforts to make villains from A:EMH but I feel this was one of the better ones. (A bit like Goro this is generally ‘A:EMH villains’ and this is the one I chose.)

9. Raptor: I like how this turned out (it was a ‘Blue’ originally), but really, I like dinosaurs and this was a more interesting addition to my ‘villains’ collection.

10. Iron Man Armoury: I’ve made two Iron Man armouries - one 3.75” scale and one Lego, I couldn’t choose so I’ve gone for both!

I feels like the end of 20 years of learning and getting better. I think my focus now is going to be on Lego (still customs of a sort really) and photography. I’ve got a few more ideas relating to the various (mostly Marvel) modular buildings for Lego, but I also like the idea of cataloging my collection in some way. Going through my figures, there are a few that could do with some tweaks. Perhaps rather than new things, that is what I should focus on.

To carry on with Dinobot month, I’ve got the G2 set. Fizzy pop goodness, and also some Slash(es). I really like the idea of an army of them.

So a monumental month for me but expecting the next one to be a quiet one. My next task is to spend a bit of time arranging my collection boxes. Crazy!

Dinobot Month Pt. 1

I’ve finished my final Transformers custom: Grimlock! That’s all my Transformers projects done, I’m glad my Dinobot shelf will have a custom on it. I feel like I’m on the home straight now, one project left…..

It is Dinobot month although sadly no G2 set yet. However, as as well as finishing the aforementioned custom, I did get the plush Swoop. The set is now complete. Cuddly goodness!

I got an upgrade for Sureshot. There were a few parts included but I just used the head. Much better. As much as I prefer the toy style head, I think the original head just had a bit too much blue for me.

I finally got hold of a Klassic Kitana. I think she actually looks really good. Johnny Cage is on his way, Smoke is a bit of a dead cert. Leaves Sonya, Kano, Jax, and Kung Lao as my must haves. I’d like the bosses but I’m not too bothered.

Leaks! Nothing too exciting (apart from maybe Guzzle), but a few things are quite promising - MW Starscream specifically hints at something far more exciting. I’m a bit surprised nothing on Omnibots. I’m potentially interested in Nautica, Drift, Fort Max, and Scoop, but generally get a bit more excited about new figures rather than updates. I mean they’re all updates really, but new in the sense they haven’t had a figure since actual G1!

Another round of Marvel Legends with nothing I’m interested in. Seems to be the way with everything at the moment. Maybe I need a new hobby……

So that’s it for the month, I’ve put in a cheeky Lego order which I won’t open until the first of December, and there might be some preorders popping up but otherwise it’s going to be a quiet month or so. I’ve made some moulds and casted some pieces. Gotta finish that final custom.

Distinct Heads

I sometimes re-read old posts of mine. Looking back I just wanted to get some of my thoughts out there, but I was trying too hard to be balanced. At a time, it was almost like I was just commenting on the news, and other times (before I used my phone!), I clearly couldn’t be bothered to take photos and upload them to my laptop. I find it interesting though as I can see the evaluation of my collecting mindset. 2010 me would be very happy with my collection as it is now. 2013 me would be grumpy that we still don’t have Throttlebots, and 2016 me would be grumpy we don’t have Thunderclash.

Looking back though I have finally achieved pretty much all my goals - all G1 animal based Transformers, complete ‘84-‘87 Classics, complete sets of Turtles, Thundercats, Ghostbusters, and Power Rangers. I worked out (and got) what I wanted from Marvel, Batman and Star Wars (turns out it wasn’t Star Wars Transformers). I used to predict the end of my collecting, several times it felt like I was almost there. I’ve cut out my eBay habit (apart from selling) and have greatly slowed my level of upgrading/replacing. I’ve almost completed all the custom projects I wanted to do, I made a major collecting change (no more G1) and have sold off a big chunk of figures, previously where there was WST, G1, MP, and Generations there is just Generations. I’m where I want to be. This blog is my collecting diary to record all my thoughts and hopes. And just in case it’s not clear, I’m still hoping for a Thunderclash.

That said, I need to appreciate what I have and three that I’m really grateful for are Titans Return Trypticon, Earthrise Scorponok and Haslab Deszaras. There was a time when they all seemed really unlikely, but Scorponok seemed like a very long wait once Fort Max was on the scene.

No Thunderclash, but Sureshot, Quickstrike and Blast Off turned up. It’s been funny with AOTP - I’ve bought most of the deluxes, a couple of voyagers, all of the Commanders and Titan. None of the leaders. Sureshot looks great apart from the head. I’m not a fan of the blue visor, but also just not a fan of the headsculpt. I’ll have to consider options. Quickstrike looks great although the original is still pretty great (is it a bit too big?). Blast Off also looks good and goes really well with Brawl and Vortex.

I wasn’t planning on getting the new Monstructor but then it went up for preorder and….. yep, I preordered it. I do like that headsculpt.

Have moved on to my final customs, started the penultimate one and thought actually, I need to get this done and working on them in tandem is more time efficient as if I’m waiting for something on one I can be working on the other. One is a Transformer and the other a Mortal Kombat character. Amazingly the ideas are only a few years old! As I started thinking about them I realised I needed a couple of bits (in one case a whole new figure). My plan after this is to call it a day on making rubber moulds and casting things in resin. All that stuff takes up a lot of real estate.

Decided to set up a Lost Light shelf. Wow, a lot of the Titans Return figures aren’t as good as I remember. Nightbeat wasn’t looking so good, looking a bit yellowed. A lot of the main figures - Rodimus, Megatron and Cyclonus I’ve never actually had on display before. I then had a thought, I’ve got almost everything I really want on display actually on display. Apart from the characters that turn up in Call of the Primatives. But if I put my Lego somewhere else I’d have room……

Anyway, I ordered another Cosmic Legions figure, I has two very distinct heads. I’m leaning towards the predator head as the better option. Looking forward to the upgrade set later in the year.

Stalking the Skies

Did a bit of a head swap on Medusa. Prefer the bodysuit look over the leotard, but the new headsculpt/hair sculpt is much much better.

Also did a bit of Transformers upgrading, popped a new noggin on Kup (again), no question it looks much better, and now he looks a little more alive. Also put some stickers on Sunstreaker. I think I’m finally happy with this figure now (having changed the head as well).

Winston arrived. I always thought he looked the coolest as a kid since he had the mint coloured jumpsuit. Thankfully no incorrect parts this time. The figures seem to be coming quickly now after a big old wait for Peter. The team is almost complete.

In a slightly unexpected arrival, the corrected Haslab RID Optimus Prime/Fire Convoy (cab only) arrived without notice. I finally transformed it into super mode. Okay, it’s pretty amazing. To my mind it’s beast wars (according to Takara and the Japanese Beast Wars mook). Works for me. A fine addition to my leaders collection, it also came with an Ultra Magnus. I like the Optimus super mode more than the Omega mode so that’s how it will stay. I think his gun looks like a hairdryer mind.

I’ve started to catch up on MCU TV stuff - watched Ironheart (enjoyed the science/magic dynamic) and Marvel Zombies (dark). All good fun. Am going to rewatch Black Panther 2 then watch the Eyes of Wakanda mini series. (Then Wonderman.)

Got a Star Wars VC figure for the first time in a few years - Shaak Ti - it’s been less than a year since I got the BS version.

News month! Or not. Preorders for Powerglide and Swerve. Good to get them lined up. Watched a Marvel Legends panel and….. nothing I’m interested in (or I already have those characters), which set the scene for Toy fair: McFarlane are doing a Johnny Cage (to be fair new moulds were also hinted at). Absolutely nothing else of interest. There was a briefly a chance of a Lego Marvel modular but it looks like it’s going to be a Helicarrier. Bruticus looks decent but in truth I’m hoping for a toy deco (Swindle is very yellow), and he’s going to need a third party gun. There was a Sunstorm name drop in the recap which was encouraging. I listened to a podcast about the Transformers news, and again just nothing for me. I better get used to this.

Still going with a bit of customising, though slow progress. Managed to slow myself further by realising I needed to buy some new paints. Anyway, got there eventually - Skystalker! To quote myself from March 2009 (after putting in an order for Universe Countdown): “It would be good have a Skystalker for him to face off against”. Finally managed it.

Finally, a couple of new (old) figures to finish the month, Brawl! It looks pretty great (and so it should for a deluxe masquerading as a voyager), but I do apparently need to sand a bit down. Looks good though. And also in a dirty shade of green, Abomination! I had a part swapped version of this figure before but the head and body match properly this time.

Inhuman New Year

2026 is going to be a good year for completing things. Inhumans, A:EMH (finale) Avengers, Ghostbusters, plush Dinobots, and hopefully Lego minfigs. Maybe a few other bits as well. I watched the latest leak video for Marvel Legends and there’s nothing new I want - still want Doc Samson and that’s it. Marvel Legends is now like Star Wars black series - just waiting for a couple more figures but otherwise I’m not really collecting it anymore.

The first step towards that is finally getting Gorgon to finish off the Inhumans (and Medusa, although I already had the Walgreens version). He is huge! Taller than the Hulk. I’d rather he was a bit smaller but he looks great. The Inhumans are complete!!!

My resolution for the year I think is more of the same - I did really well tracking my spending last year so will do the same again. Hopefully a few less unplanned bits though.

Starting the year off with….. an unplanned thing. Sky Byte! I’d heard good things about this one and it was at a price which is hard to say no to. But, I prefer the greater symmetry of the T30 version and then it dawned on me - T30 is closer to the Cyberverse version of the character, and so that’s the one I will keep. Should have listened to that little voice.

I started working on a new custom - started by using rubbing alcohol to remove some paint. Very tedious. This is actually the second iteration of my idea for this custom but found myself thinking about the first again, and so re-bought the original figure I got for it. Which then also needs paint removing and the old UV treatment. Custom has doubled in work required.

My first proper Transformer of the year is Windcharger. The blue/green is a bit cartoon-ish for me but it’s a nice figure, and the transformation is quite surprising - it all comes from the legs. Am sort of hoping they do a toy deco release in the carded retro line.

The best present I got for Christmas was the Lego Game Boy. I’ve not built anything quite like it before but a really impressive build. Looks the business!

Thinking about my future transformers wish list - I think I may just have passed a tipping point where (assuming Throttlebots and Grandus do actually happen), I’m more excited about the prospect of certain characters being redone in Generations rather than G1 characters that haven’t had an update yet. Thunderclash aside, the prospect of an updated God Ginrai, Metroplex, Broadside, Dai Atlas, Defensor and Predaking is where the excitement is.

Talking about excitement - Missing Link Grimlock! Looks great, immediately put in a preorder. Also preordered Abomination, hopefully it’s not too long until we hear about Doc Samson.

So not quite the cheap January I might have expected but a good start to the year.