Tips for people new to customs?

[redemptionrocks]

I showed my bro this section and he'd like me to get into making new figures (I have ideas for figures i just dont know how to make them) Any tips/materials needed for me or any new customizers?

[dvandom]

This file has some of my tips, it's mainly aimed at kitbashing Transformers, but I use most of the same techniques on Attacktix.

---Dave

[xanatos]

The problem I have is getting them off of their bases. I cut my thumb pretty bad the last time I tried it.........

[dvandom]

Yeah, I usually just leave 'em on the base and paint black gloss over anything I can't clean off the base later. Sometimes you can pop the figures off...series 4 Star Wars uses something akin to rubber cement instead of "real" glue, making them easier to disarm and de-base. Make what slave-Leia jokes along that vein you will.

---Dave

[xanatos]

Well my problem is getting a S2 Luke off of his base, and put a Monkey Fist (Kim Possible PLEASE DO NOT LAUGH, I FOUND IT LAYING AROUND....) on to it. The first step is the hardest, because there are like little progs on the bottom of Lukes feet, that I would almost have to cut off.... But then again that would make every thing all sloppy. So if anyone can help with those prongs then it would greatly appreciated.


PS: Thnaks for the advice Dvandom.

[dvandom]

Get a sturdy blade, or one of those putty spreader things. Sharp enough to slide under the foot, but strong enough to use as a prybar. Rather than cutting through the pegs, go under the foot a bit and twist, to try to pop the foot off the peg. If it works, you can use the pegs (which are standard 1/8" size) to attach any other figure (I had a Ben10 figure on a spare base for a while). If it fails, you can still cut the rest of the way through if you must.

When popping an Omnicon off its base so I could do serious foot remolding for Channel, I ended up getting one off clean and breaking the peg on the other, so I still had a sturdy connection point for regluing the figure when I was done.

---Dave

[YodaBreaker]

superflytnt's paint tutorial definitely deserves a mention here.

[superflytnt]

Thanks for the nod. Also, use an x-acto to slide under the feet of the base. DO NOT PRY. Simply slide it around (rotate it) under the feet because there is a PEG (like the old GI Joes had, on the feet) that holds the guy down. After the glue seam is broken, give a tug and he comes right off.

REMEMBER YOUR TRAINING - Always, always, always put the egde of the base against a sturdy surface, hold said figure by the head, and push DOWN TOWARD THE TABLE/SURFACE with your hands out of the way. I've never cut myself removing a base, and if I can do it, anyone can. I'm an idiot...!

[Radar]

I've had some difficulty in painting figures shoulder joints when they do not have round shoulders (Transformers). I have found it best to grind down the shoulder area where the arm and torso connects, so that the paint is not rubbed off by the shoulder.