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Collecting => Customs => Other Custom Figures (non Star Wars) => Topic started by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:18 PM

Title: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/14)
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:18 PM
OBROA-SKAI LIBRARY DATABASE

GALACTIC HISTORY FILE #: FFV1.05.1962

SUBJECT: LATVERION (RECENT HISTORY IN RELATION TO GALACTIC AFFAIRS)

PLANET: LATVERION
STATS:

Third planet in system of same name located near edge of known galaxy.

Entire system faces severe communications and navigation difficulties due to it's proximity to a spacial region known as the Colossus Nebula (source of an as of yet unknown form of cosmic radiation).

Latverion system has been generally left alone for most of it's history in part because of the hazards presented by the Colossus Nebula, but also due to it's extreme distance from the "civilized" galaxy.

Prime industries: advanced alloys and explosives


RECENT HISTORY:

TIME INDEX: 36 SOLAR YEARS AGO

Latverion captured by Separatist forces. Entire population enslaved and forced to manufacture Battledroids and munitions for the Separatist war effort. Planet sustains heavy damage during liberation when Republic capital ships saturation bomb the surface from orbit. Separatist forces are defeated but over one quarter of the civilian population is killed in the bombings.

Republic Naval Captain Tarkin [see entry: "GRAND MOFF TARKIN"] given commendation by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine for his heroic efforts to free the latverions from the iron grip of the Separatists.

The Republic promises to help the people of Latverion rebuild their world, but is waylaid due to the escalating conflict known as the "Clone Wars" [see entry: "CLONE WARS"].

Populace of Latverion left on their own to rebuild their shattered society...


TIME INDEX: 34 SOLAR YEARS AGO

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine declares himself Emperor [see entries: "EMPEROR PALPATINE"; "EMPEROR PALPATINE (CLONE)"] and the Galactic Empire [see entry: "GALACTIC EMPIRE"] is born.

Jedi purge begins [see entry: "JEDI PURGE"]

Latverion is more or less ignored by the galaxy at large due to it's extreme distance and navigational hazards.

Latverions continue to rebuild their world.


TIME INDEX: 23 SOLAR YEARS AGO

Latverion ore processing and munitions factories go back on-line. Life, while hard, returns to some semblance of normalcy.

Prime source of income for Latverion comes from manufacturing armor plate for the Empire's All Terrain Armored Transports [see entry: "AT-AT"].


TIME INDEX: 19 SOLAR YEARS AGO

The fledgeling Alliance To Restore The Republic [see entry: "REBEL ALLIANCE"] reaches out to Latverion for aid in their battle against the Galactic Empire. Latverion leader Sla-Va Vohn Dhume informs the Alliance representative that he wants nothing to do with their movement and does not need to incur the wrath of the Empire. The Alliance representative leaves Latverion but her visit is reported to Emperor Palpatine by an Imperial spy in Vohn Dhume's court. The Galactic Empire uses the Rebels' visit as an excuse to seize the planet's ore processing and munitions plants as "war essentials". During the Empire's raid to capture the planet's resources, Imperial forces decimate nearly half of the population. Vohn Dhume's son, and heir, Vik-Tor Vohn Dhume is gravely injured in a TIE Bomber raid on the royal palace. Latverion's population is again enslaved and forced to manufacture war materials for their cruel masters. Sla-Va Vohn Dhume is publicly executed as an enemy of the empire. Vik-Tor Von Dhume missing and believed dead.

In the ensuing years, Latverion is used as a test bed for new Imperial projects. it is rumored that the advanced armor for the Darktrooper [see entry: "DARKTROOPER PROJECT"] was developed on Latverion.


TIME INDEX: 9 SOLAR YEARS AGO

Emperor Palpatine dies on board the second Deathstar [see entry: "DEATHSTAR II"] during the battle of Endor [see entry: "BATTLE OF ENDOR"].

Imperial forces on Latverion stop transmitting reports to Coruscant. An investigatory force is sent to Latverion but is never heard from again. Embattled Interim Emperor Sate Pestage [see entry: "SATE PESTAGE"] declares Latverion insignificant and far too remote to ever pose a threat to the Imperial Remnant [see entry: "IMPERIAL REMNANT"]. This is the last reference to Latverion in any records for several years.


TIME INDEX: 5 SOLAR YEARS AGO

New Republic exploratory vessel "Fantastic" [see entries: "FANTASTIC"; "FOUR FROM THE FANTASTIC"] lost in region while investigating Colossus Nebula. All four crew members believed dead.


TIME INDEX: 2 SOLAR YEARS AGO

Reports from systems neighboring Latverion report raids by armored troopers with devestating weapons. Communications from these systems cease almost immediately after the attacks begin. New Republic forces responding report total destruction and no survivors in any of the affected systems. Pirate clans are believed to be the source of these raids. Attacks to neighboring systems continue but no pirate ships are ever found in the region.


TIME INDEX: 3 SOLAR WEEKS AGO

Commercial freighter "Greymalkin" destroyed in Latverion region by unknown attackers. Distress call garbled due to proximity to Colossus Nebula.

Only one segment was able to be deciphered:

"(STATIC).....We're taking heavy(STATIC)......He's unstoppable........(STATIC)......Doom is coming.....(STATIC)......Noooooo(TRANSMISSION ENDS)"



Bio:

Vik-Tor Vohn Dhume was the son of Latverion's ruler, Sla-Va Vohn Dhume. Vik-Tor Vohn Dhume, 16 at the time, was gravely wounded and disfigured during a TIE Bomber raid on the Latverion Royal Palace when the Empire siezed his homeworld. Near death, Vik-Tor was secreted out of the rubble of the Royal Palace by his bodyguard, Commander Kree-Stov. During the years in which the Empire enslaved his people, Vik-Tor was recouperating from his wounds and planning his revenge. Revenge not just on the Empire for their crimes against his world, but against the Rebel Alliance for bringing the wrath of the Empire down on his people.

Had Latverion not been ignored for most of it's history, Vik-Tor may even have been discovered and trained by the jedi Order as he has an incredibly strong connection to the Force. Even as a child, he could make others bow to his will and often had insight into the true motives of the visitors to his father's court. But untrained as he was, Vik-Tor was unable to deal with the anger and hatred that now brewed in his heart since his wounding and the subjugation of his people and fell into darkness. Wearing his family's ancestrial mask, Vik-Tor used his Force abilities and natural charisma to gather a throng of followers and began to plan for the future...

When word of the death of Emperor Palpatine spread to Latverion, Vik-Tor knew it was time to come out of hiding. He and his followers began a planet-wide revolt, turning their ore processing tools and advanced munitions against their cruel Imperial masters. Once his world was free, Vik-Tor, now calling himself "Doom" (for the doom he was about to bring to the rest of the galaxy), began formulating his next move.

Doom had his best engineers and metalurgists create a suit of armor for him out of an experimental "energy deflection/absorption" alloy that was being designed for the Empire's "Quantum Armor" project. This armor is nearly impervious to blaster fire, Doom even had his family ceremonial mask coated with the experimental alloy. The armor also contains communications, life support, and a built in repulsorlift unit.

Doom outfitted his second in command, General Kree-Stov and all of his troops (his loyal "Doomtroopers") with armor plate and shields made from this same alloy and his factories began construction of specially designed Battledroids (which he calls "Doombots"), starfighters, and capital ships for his coming campaign against those who had wronged his world.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0628.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0630.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0629.jpg)

Parts: 
ROTS Clone Commander (green variant) arms, waist, legs; ROTS Obi Wan Kenobi (craptacular Saber-Slashin' version) torso and lower robe "skirt"; Saga/OTC General Lando Calrissian holster (modded) and pistol, ROTS crispy fried Anakin robe (modded), ARAH Darklon head; ARAH Battle Armor Cobra Commander pistol (non-Accessory Pack, modded).
Title: Re: The Coming Of Doom
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:19 PM
On the fateful night when the Empire subjugated his world, then Commander Kree-Stov was fulfilling his duties as bodyguard to the young Prince Vik-Tor. When a wing of TIE Bombers began their attack on the Latverion Royal Palace, Vik-Tor was gravely wounded by one of the Proton Torpedo volleys. Commander Kree-Stov, seriously wounded himself (he lost his right arm below the elbow), dragged the unconcious and bleeding Prince Vik-Tor into the underground tunnels beneath the Royal Palace and into hiding.

Commander Kree-Stov spent the next few years tending to the horribly scarred Vik-Tor and assembling an underground resistance against their Imperial occupiers. A doctor in the resistance replaced Kree-Stov's lost arm with an appendage from one of the many older model, outdated, ore processing droids from the factories on the surface.

When Vik-Tor was finally healed enough to move on his own again, Kree-Stov began training the boy in military tactics and several forms of armed and unarmed combat, preparing him for the day when he would lead his people against their cruel masters.

After Vik-Tor, now calling himself "Doom", led the revolt that liberated his world, Kree-Stov was rewarded with the rank of General in the newly formed Latverion Imperium military forces.

Clad in his blast resistant armor, Kree-Stov holds the honored position or confidant and military advisor to Doom.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0631.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0633.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0632.jpg)

Parts:
"Army Of Darkness" Knight body, ROTS Royal Guard (blue) head, "Army Of Darkness" Splitting Ash right hand, ROTS Rebuild Darth Vader skirt (modded), POTF2 General Lando Calrissian pistol (modded)
Title: Re: The Coming Of Doom
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:19 PM
The backbone of the Latverion Imperium's military forces are the Doomtroopers. Assembled from members of every social class and walk of life, the Doomtroopers' goal is revenge against the galaxy at large for the hardships their world has had to endure.

Clad in blast-resistant armor and carrying devestating weapons, the Doomtroopers, led by General Kree-Stov, cut a swath of destruction across space in the name of Latverion and their ruler, Doom.

The standard Doomtrooper Infantry Soldier carries an over-under combination blaster rifle/micro-grenade launcher as their primary firearm. This already devestating offensive weapon also had an under-mounted vibro blade for close quarters combat.

Doomtrooper Infantrymen also carry a shield made from the same blast-resistant alloy that their armor is made of. The majority of Doomtroopers carry the newer, lighter round shields, but it is not uncommon to see the occasional Doomtrooper Infantryman carrying the older, heavier triangular shields.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0635.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0637.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0636.jpg)

Parts:
whole figure: "Army Of Darkness" Knight (modded)
round shield: "Army Of Darkness" Deadite Centurion (modded)
triangular shield: "Sleeping Beauty" Prince Charming (modded)
rifle: "Halo2" Brute mini-figure Bruteshot (modded)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0638.jpg)

I made 6 of these guys but only had 5 of the "Army Of Darkness" shields and really didn't feel like buying more of these rather shoddily made figures so I used another medievel shield that I had on hand and just BS'd a backstory excuse ;)

Now that I have completed this project, I can honestly say that I will never purchase another Palisades action figure unless they SERIOUSLY improve the quality of them. The figures themselves are made from a stiff vinyl with less give than either a Star Wars or G.I.Joe figure, which in and of itself is not bad, but the joints are another matter entirely! The joints are made from an incredibly brittle clear plastic that snaps fairly often when just moving the joint! The elbows and knees are most prone to breakage and several of the figures above actually have their elbows and knees Krazy Glued in the position they are in due to the joint breaking irrepairably :(
Title: Re: The Coming Of Doom
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:21 PM
Clad in their blast-resistant armor, the Doomtrooper Squad Leaders lead the men under their command to victory in the name of Latverion and Doom!

The typical firearm carried by Doomtrooper Squad Leaders is an over-under combo heavy blaster rifle/proton grenade launcher with a telescopic sight.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0650.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0651.jpg)

Parts:
whole body: "Army Of Darkness" Knight (modded)
blaster rifle: "Spawn (movie)" Jessica Priest rifle (modded with "Corps!" M-4 handle)

A typical Doomtrooper Battle Squad:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0646.jpg)
I constructed 2 such squads for this project!
Title: Re: The Coming Of Doom
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:22 PM
Carrying stripped down heavy repeating blaster rifles, the Doomtrooper Heavy Gunners lay down a devestating field of fire as they conquer world after world!

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0652.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0653.jpg)

Parts:
whole figure: "Army Of Darkness" Knight (modded)
heavy repeating blaster rifle: "G.I.Joe" Incinerator flamethrower (modded)
Title: Re: The Coming Of Doom
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:23 PM
The most brutal of all Doomtroopers are those that carry the Plasma Guns. Plasma Gunners carry weapons that harken back to the fateful night when they turned their mining and ore processing tools against their cruel Imperial masters.

The Plasma Guns fire continuous streams of plasma that can burn through armor plate. Doomtrooper Plasma Gunners have been known to wade through a settlement cutting through everything and everyone in their path of destruction!

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0642.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0643.jpg)

Parts:
whole figure: "Army Of Darkness" Knight (modded)
plasma guns: weapons from a "G.I.Joe" Darklon's Evader (modded with trimmings from a "Revenge Of The Sith" Clone Pilot's staff accessory)
Title: Spectre's Off-Topic Custom Projects
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:25 PM
I started a project back in November 2004 to combine the characters and concepts of the old "G.I.Joe" line with those of the Star Wars  Universe.

In this continuity, Cobra is an underworld criminal organization whose power base rivals that of Black Sun.

Cobra (Cobra Commander):

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0185.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0187.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0186.jpg)

The man known only as "Cobra" rules his organization with an iron fist. Cobra began his rise to power during the early days of the Galactic Civil War but only saw a real opportunity to prosper in the chaotic years following the death of Emperor Palpatine. Cobra has his hands in all elements of the underworld and has amassed a personal army that is feared across the Outer Rim.


Mistress DeCobray (The Baroness):

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0189.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0190.jpg)

Impossibly rich and impossibly bored, V'nesa DeCobray fell in love with the criminal warlord known only as "Cobra". Mistress DeCobray enjoys the excitement and power that her position in the Brotherhood commands, but is beginning to think she is just a possession in Cobra's eyes. She has recently begun to notice the attention given to her by the Brotherhood's weapons supplier, a mysterious, metal-masked man known as "Destro"...


To-Max and Xa-Mot (Tomax and Xamot):

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0181.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0184.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0182.jpg)

While attempting to clone one of the Corporate Sector's most brilliant financial minds, Doctor Mindbender miscalculated and the developing embryo split in two resulting in To-Max and Xa-Mot. To-Max and Xa-Mot seem to share one mind, with one twin finishing the sentences of the other. While this can be unsettling to the rank and file, Cobra keeps both of them close by at all times to monitor his financial holdings. To-Max and Xa-Mot are able to communicate with each other telepathically even over great distances. Xa-Mot bears a scar on his left cheek from an assassins blade intended for Cobra.


Crimson Guardians (Grimson Guardsmen):

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0066.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0067.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0188.jpg)

Only the most trusted of the Brotherhood Of The Serpent's troopers ever attain the renk of "Crimson Guardian". All of the Crimson Guardians in service rose through the Viper ranks and had to risk their personal safety defending Cobra before they were even concidered for the honor of serving as Cobra's personal bodyguards. Crimson Guardians are the most feared of the Brotherhood's troopers.
Title: Re: The Brotherhood Of The Serpent
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:26 PM
There are many rumors surrounding the masked weapons supplier known only as "Destro":

Some claim that he is on an ancient lineage and can trace his ancestry back to Empress Teta herself.

Others claim that he is a member of a race of immortals as tales of a masked man selling weapons to both sides of a conflict stretch back to before the Great Sith War.

Some say he is the same man cloned time and again apon his death.

It is believed that he has personally killed over one thousand men with his vibrosword.

Still others claim that there are a succession of men who have donned the mask and mantle of Destro throughout the millennia.

Some claim that he is horribly scarred and wears the mask to hide his deformities from the galaxy at large.

Others claim that he is of an ancient race that is so hauntingly beautiful that to glance apon him is to instantly fall into so deep a love that you would take your own life out of dispair if he did not return your look.

There are even those that claim he is an anciend war droid that gained sentience and coats itself in synth-flesh to try to pass as a living organism.

The list goes on and on.

But disregarding all of the rumors, there is only one known fact about Destro: If you have the credits, he has the weapons. If you need anything from a standard sidearm to a high performance starfighter, you call Destro.

Destro runs one of the biggest weapons design/manufacturing/supply companies in the Galaxy, M.A.R.S. (Munitions Armament and Robotics Systems) and has supplied weapons to just about every army within that galaxy.

Accompanied at all times by members of his personal Army, the Durasteel Grenadiers, Destro travels from one war-torn system to another meeting the destructive demands of warlords and gangsters alike without letting any petty morals get in the way of making his fortune. Even without the presence of his Durasteel Grenadiers, I doubt anyone would want to start trouble with a man who carries mini proton torpedoes on his person.

Destro has ties to the the man known as "Cobra" and his "Brotherhood Of The Serpent". Destro's engineers and scientists have supplied the brotherhood with cutting edge technology since it's creation.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0666.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0670.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0668.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0669.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0667.jpg)

Parts:
head: "Avengers Animated Series" Vision on a VvV Wave 7 Duke neck
body: POTJ Jedi Armor Qui Gon Jinn (modded)
cape: POTF2 Emperor's Royal Guard (modded)
sword: ARAH Destro v2
blaster: custom
wrist missiles: BBI mortar shells

I struggled long and hard over how to paint this figure. I was planning on going with the more well known silver helmeted look, but it just seemed wrong to have him leading his Grenadies if he was not in tradional IG colors.

Coming soon....Troopers galore!
Title: Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:27 PM
Here's the flipside of my "Brotherhood Of The Serpent", "Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite"  (also known as GI:JOE ;) ).  GI:JOE is a top secret division of the New Republic Intelligence that answers directly to General Madine (at lest until his death in "Darksaber" when he's replaced by General A'bernathi).

Code Names are the same in both Universes

Stalker- Field Leader:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/100_0198.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/100_0200.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/100_0199.jpg)

A former gang member and professional Smashball player who was booted out of the league for excessive roughness, Stalker seems born for combat. Joined the Rebel Alliance after his family was killed during the subjugation of his homeworld by the Empire. Served in combat across the galaxy. Stalker was a squad leader in the raid that enabled General Madine to defect from the Galactic Empire. Hand picked by General Madine to lead GI:JOE for his natural ability to inspire loyalty in his troops as well as his valor in combat.


Snake Eyes- Commando:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/64600e53.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/100_0197.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/100_0196.jpg)

The Rebel soldier that would become known as Snake Eyes was severely wounded during General Madine's defection from the Galactic Empire. The Rebel soldier suffered a point blank blaster burn to the face and neck but refused medical treatment until Madine was safely aboard the Rebel extraction ship. His face was horribly burned and his vocal chords were destroyed. Due to his valiant sacrifice, his wounds were too extreme to be repaired by either the best medical droids in the Rebellion or even long-term immersion in Bacta Tanks.


Mercer- Infiltration/Imperial Operations Expert :

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/100_0597.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/100_0598.jpg)

A former Imperial Stormtrooper who was involved in one too many atrocities before his concience caught up with him. Killed his superior officer instead of killing the pregnant Rebel officer he was ordered to shoot in the head when the Empire had finished torturing her for information. Hunted by the Empire, he served as a mercenary and pirate before joining the New Republic Intelligence Corps. Not fully trusted or liked by his fellow teammates but gets the job done no matter what hardships he has to endure. Constantly plagued by nightmares of his past deeds. Will do everything possible to hurt the Empire.


Recondo- jungle/forest warfare:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/0d8211ec.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/1ec1efda.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/f20dbb2e.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Weapons/100_0207.jpg)

At 74, he is relatively young for a Wookie (barely an adult) but Recondo has seen more action than most of the members of GI:JOE. Joined the Rebel Alliance after escaping from Imperial slavery nearly thirty years ago. Took part in battles across the entire known galaxy before being selected by General Madine for service in GI:JOE. Sent solo on an ultra top secret mission to Endor that located and mapped the location of the Empire's shield generator and landing platform prior to the Rebel assault on the second Death Star. Hooked up with and led the second Rebel commando team on the assault against the Imperial landing platform.


Sub Zero- Arctic Warfare Specialist:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/9d611bfd.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/616401fe.jpg)

A fierce Shistavanen warrior, Sub Zero is completely at home in desolate frozen wastlands. Joined the Rebal Alliance and served in confrontations across the galaxy after learning of his littermate Lak Sivrak's death at the Battle Of Endor. Able to operate on his own for long periods of time due to the enhanced survival abilities of his species.


This is a continuing project and I am currently working on completing the full 18 man unit, about 6 of them are built and awaiting painting, and the rest are being designed. I'll post images when they're all done :)
Title: Re: Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:29 PM
Parts/Paint Recipies in case anyone wants to make their own :)

Stalker:
Parts:
Saga/OTC General Lando head, pistol, holster and hands, Clone Wars Saesee Tiin body, Saga Endor rebel Soldier helmet and rifle,  Chap Mei grenades, bayonette trimmed off of a PTE M-4.

Paint:
base coat is "dark olive drab" acrylic, "o.d. green" enamel drybrushed on for weathering, brown trim is "chocolate brown" acrylic with "military brown" enamel drybrushed on.


Snake Eyes:
Parts:
Clone Wars Deluxe Durge head with POTF2 Hoth Luke neck, Saga Endor Rebel Soldier torso and arms, Clone Wars Obi Wan waist and legs, big pack on back of bandolier was trimmed off of a Chap Mei M.P., web belt is made up of various Chap Mei and BBI pouches and a Saga/OTC General Lando holster and pistol, knife sheath on boot is cut from a Chap Mei Dino Power Ninja Fighter's harness, the knife is a Corps! knife that the handle has been shortened on, the blaster is part of a G.I.Joe rifle that came with a character named Bullhorn.

Paint:
base coat on entire figure is "void black" acrylic with "euro-1 gray" enamel drybrushed on for weathering, grey trim is "euro-1 gray" enamel with "gunship gray" enamel drybrushed on, gloves were not painted to break up all of the black and gray.


Mercer:
Parts:
Commtech/Saga/OTC Han Solo (Cantina Encounter/Flight To Alderaan), lower arms and chest plate from the Saga/Clone Wars Deluxe Clonetrooper, Ep.I softgoods Obi wan head with braid from Clone Ways Anakin for the poneytail, Saga Death Star Accessory Set Stormtrooper belt (modded to better fit POTF2 Stormtrooper blaster), unknown manufacturer knife.

Paint:
Not much, just some black weathering on the armor and "military brown" enamel for the hair.


Recondo:
Parts:
ROTS Sneak Preview Wookie Warrior, Chap Mei backpack, Operation:Aliens Pulse Rifle, Chap Mei curved machetes, Chap Mei grenades, bits of various manufacturer's straps and belts.

Paint:
5 shades of brown (can't recall all of the shades' names) drybrushed over a "void black" acrylic base coat, "gunship gray" acrylic drybrushed ot all joints to approximate a realistic looking pelt, "dark olive drab green" acrylic base coat for the rifle and backpack with "o.d.green" enamel drybrushed on for weathering, "void black" acrylic for trim.


Sub Zero:
Parts:
POTF2 Lak Sivrak head, , upper arms, hands, waist, upper legs, and feet, POTF2 Hoth Rebel Trooper torso w/ POTJ Cold Weather Adventure Obi Wan collar and pack, POTJ Cold Weather Adventure Obi Wan "skirt", POTF2 Snowtrooper shins, POTJ Cold Weather Adventure Obi Wan lower arms, Chap Mei snowshoes, Saga Teempto Pagalies goggles, modded G.I.Joe red Spot rifle.

Paint:
base coat is "camoflague gray" enamel with "titanium white" drybrushed on, trim is "medium gray" enamel with "camoflague gray" enamel dry brushed on, belt is 3 tone brown to simulate leather, "silver" metallic enamel used for snowshoes and trim.
Title: "Halo/Halo2"-inspired Star Wars Customs
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:30 PM
Here is the hero of the "Halo" series of video games, the Master Chief.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/42ed6dfa.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/aded904c.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0543.jpg)

Parts: heavily modded Saga Clone Pilot body, OTC Cloud Car Pilot head, Episode I STAP Battle Droid backpack, custom weapons, Chap Mei grenades, helmet from J+R Productions.


My Spartan Sniper based on my player profile in the "Halo" series of video games.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0544.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0545.jpg)

Parts: heavily modded POTJ Sneak Preview Clonetrooper, Episode I STAP Battle Droid backpack, OTC Cloud Car Pilot head, custom weapons, J+R helmet.


Here are the characters from the popular internet shorts "Halo: Red Vs. Blue".

Red Spartan:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/391bb760.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/201fe796.jpg)

Parts: heavily modded POTJ Sneak Preview Clone Trooper torso and arms, OTC Cloud Car Pilot head, heavily modded Saga Clone Pilot legs, Episode I STAP Battle Droid backpack, J+R helmet.

Blue Spartan:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/8114e0d0.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/4c7ccfd6.jpg)

Parts: heavily modded Saga Clone Pilot torso/arms/waist, heavily modded POTJ Sneak Preview Clone Trooper legs, OTC Cloud Car Pilot, Episode I Battle Droid backpack, custom weapons, J+R helmet.

I use these guys as the crew for my Warthog MK III

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/a2ead3e2.jpg)


Red Vs. Blue:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0540.jpg)


Here is a gallery of custom Star Wars-scale weapons from the Halo series of video games.

First up is my personal weapon of choice, the S2 AM Sniper Rifle:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Weapons/53de6c7f.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Weapons/c73f22a0.jpg)

Parts: Assembled from bits and pieces of almost a dozen different G.I.Joe and Star Wars weapons.

Next up is the M19 SSM Rocket Launcher:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Weapons/7cb7109e.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Weapons/f26a11d6.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Weapons/3a14d30f.jpg)

Parts: Middle part of a Wave 7 Bazooka's bazooka, a spear from the "X-Men villian "Ahab", trimmings from several different G.I.Joe weapons.

Finally we have a medly of small arms. The ones on the left are M6C Pistols, and the larger ones on the right are M7/Caseless Sub Machine Guns:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Weapons/1d565290.jpg)

Parts:
Pistols: heavily modded Chap Mei Wild Force pistols and trimmings from a Saga Djas Puhr pistol.

SMGs: heavily modded Episode I Naboo Soldier rifles and pieces from "The Corps" sniper rifles.


This is a custom Halo-inspired vehicle completely kitbashed from parts of different lines.
The hull is an old G.I. Joe Extreme jeep, the windshield is also G.I. Joe Extreme, the wheels are Xyber-9, the front bumper and interior are Chap Mei, the rest is totally scratchbuilt.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Vehicles/100_0071.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Vehicles/100_0072.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Vehicles/100_0074.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Vehicles/100_0073.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Vehicles/100_0075.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Vehicles/100_0076.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Vehicles/100_0077.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Vehicles/100_0079.jpg)

Title: Starman (Comic) Life-Sized Props
Post by: Spectre on November 12, 2005, 11:42 PM
I am a HUGE fan of DC Comics' "Starman" character and decided to go as him for Halloween a few years back. I made his signature Gravity Rod and leather jacket for my costume but fell in love with them and decided to keep them permanently on display!

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Props/100_0184.jpg)

The Gravity Rod is made from several Rubies Ep.I Darth Maul lightsabers, a Luke Skywalker ROTJ lightsaber remote that stopped working, a plastic wine glass, the fuselage of a Cobra Pogo, the blade from a cheap-[censored] Grim Reaper schythe, and the head of an actual 3.75" rocket for the finial at the bottom.

The jacket is an actual leather jacket that i hand painted the symbol on. I searched high and low before finding a jacket that was amost exactly like the one from the comics. It was especially tough as the artist altered the look of the jacket itself (the symbol remained unaltered though- thankfully ;) ) several times from issue to issue until finally settling on a permanent design. The front of the jacket has the "official" OCPD badge that DC released on the front left lapel.

Also visible in the pic (by the hanger) is a pair of custom painted welder's goggles (sadly, not the same design as the one in the comics as they are of an antique design and not easily found today :( ).

Somewhere I have pics of me in the full Starman get-up, when/if I find it on the hard drive.
Title: Re: The Brotherhood Of The Serpent
Post by: CHEWIE on November 13, 2005, 04:48 AM
I remember seeing these at FFURG.  They're so nice it's a shame Hasbro doesn't incorporate this kind of quality in their GI JOE line.  If they did, I'd have to start collecting GI JOE again.

 :P
Title: Re: Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite
Post by: CHEWIE on November 13, 2005, 04:51 AM
I don't think I can keep up with all of these customs!  So nice to see so much great work added here.

What a great cross between Star Wars and GI JOE.  It's almost surprising that Hasbro hasn't done something like this, but with their recent crossover with Transformers, this could happen.  If so, I only hope they make something similar in quality to your work.

 :P
Title: Re: "Halo/Halo2"-inspired Star Wars Customs
Post by: CHEWIE on November 13, 2005, 04:53 AM
I understand using the Sneak Preview Clone body for these.  But if you have access to them, maybe using newer sculpts of Clones would be even better.  That's not a knock on these figures though, just an idea for some already beautiful customs.  Excellent paint schemes and perfect weathering.

 :P
Title: Re: Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite
Post by: hemble on November 13, 2005, 07:07 AM
Mate you sure do some great looking figures I really like the Mercer- Infiltration/Imperial Operations Expert and Recondo- jungle/forest warfare:keep up the great work.

Ron
Title: Re: "Halo/Halo2"-inspired Star Wars Customs
Post by: rishakra on November 13, 2005, 08:26 AM
Forgive my ignorance but what is "J+R Productions"?  I'm really diggin those figures and I've always wanted a Master Chief to scale with my SW guys!  Awesome job!
Title: Re: "Halo/Halo2"-inspired Star Wars Customs
Post by: Nirvana on November 13, 2005, 09:24 AM
You gave Chief a face!! :o


         Those are sweet. Although, like CHEWIE said, maybe use a RotS clone or a newer clone. I love Halo, and I've actually used the Halo line to make a few of mine. The back packs for Chief look awesome, and I like the paint scratches on his armor. I have to ask, how did you make all of those guns? They're awesome. Great work.
Title: Re: "Halo/Halo2"-inspired Star Wars Customs
Post by: Spectre on November 13, 2005, 12:27 PM
Thanks for the kind words everyone, I'm glad you're all enjoying my work :D

I used the Sneak Preview and AOTC Clones for these guys as they were all that was available at the time. I made these awhile back, long before ROTS. I'm making a Yellow Spartan as a Christmas gift for my Halo partner (it's his profile color) and will be using the newer Bacara body as the joints will be frozen so it's a statue (He wants it for his desk at work and that way it'll suffer less scratches etc. if the joints don't move :) ) and I'm out of AOTC-era Clones anyway ;)

J+R is a now out-of-business company that used to make Joe/SW-scale repro weapons. They got a cease and desist order from Hasbro as Hasbro felt they were infringing on copyrigted material (which they were, but that's just splitting hairs ;) ). Their products were top notch and sold very well, which is why Hasbro shut them down. Luckily I was able to get a handful of their Halo helmets from someone who bought a ton of them just before they went out of business (I still have 3 left for future Spartans :) ).

The weapons are all hand made out of parts of Joe, SW, and "The Corps!" weapons. The Sniper Rifle tok 4 hours to cut and assamble and another hour to paint!
Title: Re: "Halo/Halo2"-inspired Star Wars Customs
Post by: Phrubruh on November 13, 2005, 01:40 PM
Wow! A realistic line of Halo figures. I always though the characters in the game were far too bulky to be believeable. These are much more realistic for that game. I don't know if the new clone bodies would add much to these exceptional figures. #41 clone might give you more flexability though. Great set of toys there Spectre.
Title: Re: The Brotherhood Of The Serpent
Post by: Phrubruh on November 13, 2005, 01:42 PM
Cool new Destro! I like how his mask isn't all the way around his head. It's more believeable then some guy when gold skin. I wish the joes had this high level of quality. They would make great fodder if they were.
Title: Re: "Halo/Halo2"-inspired Star Wars Customs
Post by: Nirvana on November 13, 2005, 03:01 PM
Whoa! Five Hours?! I've done customs that've taken a long time but I have to say, I haven't spent 5 hours on a gun. Wow.
Title: Re: The Coming Of Doom
Post by: Nirvana on November 14, 2005, 05:33 PM
Wow, really cool. Does one of the Doomtroopers have a Halo Brute Shot? It looks cool on a SW fig.
Title: Re: "Halo/Halo2"-inspired Star Wars Customs
Post by: Joe on November 15, 2005, 08:58 PM
Hmmm a few left you say......Could I buy one?I can tolerate making casts.I should'a tackled J&R when they were still open.    >:(
Title: Re: "Halo/Halo2"-inspired Star Wars Customs
Post by: Glassman6 on November 15, 2005, 09:43 PM
wow all of these are nicly done. If the halo line was this scale i would ave bought some.
great work.
Title: Re: Spectre's Off-Topic Custom Projects
Post by: Spectre on February 6, 2006, 09:00 PM
Most of what is "known" of the enigmatic race of hunters known only to a select few as the Yutja is little more than legend and rumor. It is believed that they are extragalactic in origin, having travelled across the starless void of interstellar space looking for new hunting grounds. There are tales that they are revered as gods on backwater worlds that they have taken pity apon and helped to develop into some form of civilization (some legends tell of a small, primitive blue world in a galaxy far, far away called "Urth"). Artifacts and sculptures depicting the form of the masked hunters can be found on countless primitive worlds scattered across the outer and mid rims. Legend tells us that they are drawn by heat and conflict. Other legends claim they have the power of invisibility (although educated people believe it to be a form of micronized, wearable cloaking technology, not any form of mystic power) and can track their prey unerringly even in the pitch black dark.

What little that can be confirmed about their existance is that by the time you actually "see" one, you're already dead. The name Yutja is almost unknown in the civilized galaxy, but across the outer and mid rims, in hushed tones, the one word they are referred to causes even the toughest mercenaries and thugs to lock their doors on hot, humid nights and make sure their blasters are fully charged- "Predators".

All parts are from the McFarlane Toys "Aliens Vs. Predator" 1/18 scale mini-diorama sets.

Clan Elder:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/a85890d1.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0142.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/0e03213f.jpg)

Parts:
Entire figure- "Birth Of The Hybrid" boxset Elder Predator.
Lightsaber trophy- random Saga lightsaber
The metal pins (that attatched the figure to the diorama base) were removed and the legs reworked to allow the figure to stand on it's own. The only painting involved was cleaning up the sloppy paint masks from the factory.

Leader Of The Hunt:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0119.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0120.jpg)

Parts:
Head/upper torso/arms/lower legs/belly and back armor- Predator from "Alien Attacks Predator)
Lower torso/waist/upper legs- "dead" Predator from "Birth Of The Hybrid)
Trophies- skulls from "Predator" backdrop
This was the most challenging figure of the bunch to make. Lots of cutting, sanding, and painting, but it still retains it's full range of articulation!

Seasoned Hunter:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0127.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0129.jpg)

Parts-
Body- "Birth Of The Hybrid" Elder Predator
Head- "Birth Of The Hybrid" "dead" Predator
Trophy- skull from "Predator" backdrop
Knife in sheath- "Birth Of The Hybrid" "dead" Predator
A not-so-simple headswap (very difficult to remove the hard plastic neckposts buried DEEP inside the chests :( ) with the same cleaning up the paint masks paint job as the first figure. Besides removing the metal posts from the feet, I also removed a small cross section of each leg to shorten him a fraction of an inch to further differentiate him from the Clan Elder.

Novice Hunter I:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0131.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0132.jpg)

Parts-
Entire figure- Predator
Trophy- skull from "Predator" backdrop
Very little modifications aside from removing the metal posts from the feet and repositioning the legs to stand on it's own. Did the usual clean-up job on the paint apps.

Novice Hunter II:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0122.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0125.jpg)

Parts-
Entire figure- "Birth Of The Hybrid" "dead" Predator
Left arm blade- blade taken from under right arm of Predator from "Alien Attacks Predator"
Belly/back armor- skirt from "Alien Attacks Predator" Predator
There was actually alot of modifications on this figure even though it does not appear to be any different than the production "dead" Predator at first glance. I removed the Hybrid Chestburster, sanded down all of the abdominal damage (front and back) and made replacement belly/back armor out of the armored skirt from the "Alien Attacks Predator" Predator (the entire middle portion of this figure had to be trashed as it was stuck in an "impalement" pose with an Alien tail running through it :( ). I also had to completely rework the feet to allow the figure to stand (they were molded splayed out to the sides as he was lying in state). Lots of repainting to make everything match up.

Novice Hunter III:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0117.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0118.jpg)

Parts:
Entire figure (except right hand)- Celtic Predator from "Celtic Predator Throws Alien"
Right hand- "Birth Of The Hybrid" "dead" Predator
The main modification here was that I boiled and popped the Alien being thrown. I had to replace the entire right hand as it was molded in a very fat, blocky manner to allow an anchor for the Alien's weight. I also removed the metal pegs from the feet, reworked the legs to allow it to stand on it's own, and constructed a custom spear to replace the Alien in it's hands (there was little else the pose would actually be good for ;). There was quite a bit of painting involved as I had to paintthe majority of the inner arms (the factory left them unpainted as they were mostly covered by the Alien :( ) as well as the spear (matched the factory look for the armor exactly so it matches the established look of Predator technology and gear!).

The Hunt Begins...
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0139.jpg)


An additional paint app on each masked figure was the addition of glossy black lenses on their masks.

The Factory paintjobs were sloppy all around on all of these figures so mst of tha actual customization time went into cleaning everything up so they looked presentable :(
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Famine on February 6, 2006, 10:48 PM
First, I say to you:

Great ******* job. The way you painted those is flawless, and great job with the weaponry.

Next I ask you, have you ever seen Batman: Dead End? If so, have you considered trying to make some of the Predators from that film? The Samurai looking one would be exciting to make, I think.

Kevin
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: CHEWIE on February 7, 2006, 10:27 AM
Wow, look at all those ugly creeps!  Great work on these Spectre as always... maybe if you feel crazy later, you can modify a few to be Vong Warriors from the NJO.

 :P
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: jedipurge on February 7, 2006, 12:07 PM
spectre these are great, they fit into the star wars line perfectly.  i like your back story especially "urth".  I have a couple of these guys as well and kind of thought of making them part of my SW universe as well.  they're species were basically wiped out except for a few by the jedi because of there savagery.  the original mandalorians were trained by them.  I don't remember where exactly i saw them but there are SA versions of them coming out SW sized.  I think it was on action-hq.com.  if i find it i'll forward the link.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Spectre on February 8, 2006, 08:09 PM
Thanks guys!

Famine- I have seen Dead End! That is one great fan film :)  I may eventually do some more Predators, but not right now, I'm a bit Predded out at the moment (I'm actually in the middle of getting back into my "Brotherhood Of The Serpent" stuff and hope to finish the sub-line by Summer!). If I can figure out something really unique to do with them, I may pick up a few more while they're on clearance.

Chewie- I'm most likely never going to do a Vong, only because at the time my diorama Universe is set, they have not arrived yet. That and I really didn't find them all that cool/interesting a group of characters :(

Jedipurge- I know the figures you're referring to, they are made by a company in Japan called Hot Toys. I've never held one in my hands, but I understand that they are very rubbery and fall apart very easily since they are basically snap-together models. They are really expensive ($12-$20 each) and extremely hard to find here in the states. There were also MicroMan Predators (and Aliens) but they are extremely brittle, expensive (about $24 each!), and generally look like crap :(

Sadly, aside from the 3 of you and maybe 2 others on other sites, these guys are getting next to nothing in feedback (good or constructive) on any of the customizing sites, maybe I should just quit trying to be unique and imaginative and just start cranking out Clones like everyone else :(
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Famine on February 8, 2006, 09:07 PM
Sadly, aside from the 3 of you and maybe 2 others on other sites, these guys are getting next to nothing in feedback (good or constructive) on any of the customizing sites, maybe I should just quit trying to be unique and imaginative and just start cranking out Clones like everyone else :(

**** no, Spectre.

Keep doing what you like to do.

And give 'em hell. ;D

Kevin
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Ruprecht on February 8, 2006, 10:44 PM
Sorry Spec, on behalf of those of us who "crank out clones" at the rate of 1 or 2 a month, and have little time or money to spend on much else hobby-wise, I sincerely apologize for the following:

A - Not being knowledgeable enough in other lines of toys to offer a decent opinion.  I know nothing about Predator action figures and therefore have no basis to offer constructive criticism, since you could've taken it right out of the package, posted a pic and said "Voila!" without us ignorant, unimaginative clone-crankers knowing any better.  Sure I could do a little googling and find out what you did to make the character better and more unique, but I have frozen burritos to cook, which require a careful, tending hand.

B - Many clone-crankers are fairly new to the hobby, and choose to hone our skills butchering easily fixable, faceless clones.  I myself have about 1 of every ROTS and AOTC Jedi and other non-clone figure, and about 50 clones total ranging the line.  So before I attempt to better (and most likely butcher) what I believe are very fine Jedi and other character sculpts, which I have in lower quantity due to budgetary restraints, I'll keep "cranking out" clones.

C - I like clones more than Tarkins, Veers's, and most Jedi.  So sue me.

D - This is all my own opinion, but the vast majority of cross-line part swaps end up looking out of proportion, with heads that don't fit the body, and limbs that just "don't look right," for lack of a better description.  Biceps that are twice as long as the forearm, that extend to the waistline look strange to me (general example, not citing or impugning your work in particular).

E - All opinion here as well:  If someone ports a head, limb, or accessory over to the SW-themed "universe," with a feable or nonexistent attempt to make it "Star Warsy," I don't think that much creativity or imagination was required.  While the work involved in doing so may have taken much time to do, the "creativity factor" is greatly diminished, since you just lopped off something and glued it onto something else.  You and many others here feel the same way about clone customs:  Little creativity and imagination = a lesser quality custom.  That's your opinion and I can respect that, but don't bitch and moan if someone who might hold a low opinion of your work refuses to give a false and disingenuous appraisal just so you can have a warm fuzzy.

F - That's about it.  You get just over an average of 1 reply per 12 views, which is nothing to complain about, and slightly better than my unimaginative clone-laden clone-cranker thread gets.  If you'd like to receive a million one-word replies to the tune of "Cool!" then this is the wrong place to be.  If you want more feedback on obscure, non-SW figures on a SW-themed board, you're barking up the wrong tree.  Since I pattern my entire life after the lessons learned from the movie Bambi, I think the following applies:  "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all."

Sincerely and with much loving and adoration,

B

Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Phrubruh on February 8, 2006, 11:30 PM
These are fantastic Preditors Spectre! :o I like the backstory and how you painted these. Very professional looking. I like the net stockings they wear and the dreadlock hair. Very movie accurate and well weathered. How much actuation do they have?

As for clones only getting feedback, I feel you pain. That is one of the reasons I left RS. We here at JD are alot more open to new stuff. Sorry for the lateness of my replay. I've been really busy at work recently to catch all of the threads. Keep them coming man!
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Spectre on February 8, 2006, 11:52 PM
These are fantastic Preditors Spectre! :o I like the backstory and how you painted these. Very professional looking. I like the net stockings they wear and the dreadlock hair. Very movie accurate and well weathered. How much actuation do they have?

Thanks Phruby. I have been trying to find a way to incorporate Predators into my SW Universe for awhile now without much success until recently. The paint jobs are mostly fixes to the factory apps as they were rife with oversprays and generally bad paint masks, very little of the original paint is still visible (mostly just the dreads as they were some of the only neatly painted parts on the factory toys :( ). The articulation is actually pretty decent, the only joints they really lack is in the hips as the original figures didn't have any hip articulation to begin with. There are actually alot of ball joints on these guys (heads and mid torsos mostly) with swivel/cut joints just about everywhere else.



As for clones only getting feedback, I feel you pain. That is one of the reasons I left RS. We here at JD are alot more open to new stuff. Sorry for the lateness of my replay. I've been really busy at work recently to catch all of the threads. Keep them coming man!

Don't worry about the lateness of your reply, I've been pretty busy myself lately and need to catch up on the last 2 or 3 days' worth of posts by everyone.

"Clone-mania" is really a huge pet peeve of mine and has been for some time. It just annoys me when people who actually put alot of work into a custom, hand crafting alot of parts and doing professional paintjobs or even casting entire parts, get little or no feedback (good/bad/or otherwise) but someone smears some black paint on a Clone, calls it "battle damaged" and gets 2 pages worth of a text strokejob (most of it is just meaningless dreck like "That Roxxors!" but it's annoying none the less :( ).  At least here, most people tend to be a bit more mature and actually suggest ways to improve customs or offer suggestions for future additions, not just one line responses :)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Phrubruh on February 9, 2006, 12:08 AM
Amen brother! 8)

That's why the current group project is a 'no clones allowed' project.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Darth Delicious on February 9, 2006, 12:09 AM
Hi Spectre:

Re: Predators

Those rock!


-DD

(I'd offer more, but I'm up to my elbows in clone hackery.)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Spectre on February 9, 2006, 12:28 AM
Sorry Spec, on behalf of those of us who "crank out clones" at the rate of 1 or 2 a month, and have little time or money to spend on much else hobby-wise, I sincerely apologize for the following:

A - Not being knowledgeable enough in other lines of toys to offer a decent opinion.  I know nothing about Predator action figures and therefore have no basis to offer constructive criticism, since you could've taken it right out of the package, posted a pic and said "Voila!" without us ignorant, unimaginative clone-crankers knowing any better.  Sure I could do a little googling and find out what you did to make the character better and more unique, but I have frozen burritos to cook, which require a careful, tending hand.

B - Many clone-crankers are fairly new to the hobby, and choose to hone our skills butchering easily fixable, faceless clones.  I myself have about 1 of every ROTS and AOTC Jedi and other non-clone figure, and about 50 clones total ranging the line.  So before I attempt to better (and most likely butcher) what I believe are very fine Jedi and other character sculpts, which I have in lower quantity due to budgetary restraints, I'll keep "cranking out" clones.

C - I like clones more than Tarkins, Veers's, and most Jedi.  So sue me.

D - This is all my own opinion, but the vast majority of cross-line part swaps end up looking out of proportion, with heads that don't fit the body, and limbs that just "don't look right," for lack of a better description.  Biceps that are twice as long as the forearm, that extend to the waistline look strange to me (general example, not citing or impugning your work in particular).

E - All opinion here as well:  If someone ports a head, limb, or accessory over to the SW-themed "universe," with a feable or nonexistent attempt to make it "Star Warsy," I don't think that much creativity or imagination was required.  While the work involved in doing so may have taken much time to do, the "creativity factor" is greatly diminished, since you just lopped off something and glued it onto something else.  You and many others here feel the same way about clone customs:  Little creativity and imagination = a lesser quality custom.  That's your opinion and I can respect that, but don't bitch and moan if someone who might hold a low opinion of your work refuses to give a false and disingenuous appraisal just so you can have a warm fuzzy.

F - That's about it.  You get just over an average of 1 reply per 12 views, which is nothing to complain about, and slightly better than my unimaginative clone-laden clone-cranker thread gets.  If you'd like to receive a million one-word replies to the tune of "Cool!" then this is the wrong place to be.  If you want more feedback on obscure, non-SW figures on a SW-themed board, you're barking up the wrong tree.  Since I pattern my entire life after the lessons learned from the movie Bambi, I think the following applies:  "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all."

Sincerely and with much loving and adoration,

B



At first, I wasn't going to respond to this as it's general tone was rather rude (whether that was truly implied or not) , but I think a clarification is in order:

The statement I made about "just cranking out Clones" is more of a statement of frustration than an attack against those who do crank out Clones. Take a good look at all of the Star Wars customs boards out there- what do you see, over and over again? The same 2 dozen or so Clone designs being done by everyone and their brother. They get tons of feedback (mostly just one line "cool!" garbage, but sometimes actually thoughtfull and constructive criticism) while more technically complex and original (as in not Clones) get next to nothing. "Clone-mania" has been going on for almost a year now and has gotten rather old.

There was a similar event 10 years ago when everyone was doing Mandalorians. The major difference, though, was that the majority of customizers doing Mandolorians actually put some effort into making their designs UNIQUE (as in they were not all doing the same designs) which lead to some amazing customs.

Also, anyone who has followed my customizing work over the years knows that I am not out to get a"warm fuzzy" or an ego stroking. I share my work with the customizing community out of an actual love of the craft and nothing more. It's just annoying to see the same tired Clone designs repeatedly getting feedback everytime a new one is posted while the work of seasoned, non-Clone customizers (and I am not just referring to myself here) is more or less ignored because their creations are not decked out in white armor with various hued stripes :(

As for your line about cross-line parts swaps/porting other concepts into Star Wars looking out of proportion/not being creative, that's not the case if you actually use a little knowledge of anatomy, scale, and imagination. Just about anyone can lop off a part of one toy and add it to another, but there is a bit more involved to it than that to make a good "crossover" custom. Take a look at the customs in this thread, with the exception of the Doomtroopers and Predators, there are almost no re-used parts from other lines, just parts modified to look like their other line counterparts. The major part of creating a "crossover" custom is how you work it into your Universe, some creative writing and a good knowledge of the Star Wars Universe goes a long way, read the bios of the customs as well as looking at the pictures and you see how backstory and custom mesh together to creat a cohesive vision.

I know alot of Clone customizers are new to the hobby, and it's good that our ranks are swelling, but too much of the same is not good for the longevity and overall health of the hobby :( As soon as "Clone-mania" is over, alot of these new customizers will most likely leave the hobby instead of moving onto other customizing subjects, same thing happened after the Mandalore craze wore off...

You may not have a familiarity with these Predator figures as you don't collect them, but there is a little blurb under each entry that gives a little bit of an idea of what parts they are made from and what mods were done to them. Never, would I ever try to pass off a production toy as a custom. This may be a Star Wars-themed board, but you'll see that there are other customs here as well.

Enjoy your burritos ;)



Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: darth_ripley on February 9, 2006, 12:37 AM
they look cool to me, i am just unfamiliar with the line so its hard for me to see what improvements you have made and thus how to properly comment.

as far as clone-cranking goes, don't get your knickers in a twist over it....its not worth it imho, move on and take a deep breath.  8)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: hemble on February 9, 2006, 01:30 AM
Man O Man the Predators look bloody awesome the paint apps and the detailing work is very impressive indeed well odne.

Ron
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Ruprecht on February 9, 2006, 01:33 AM
Hehe, she said knickers.

After re-reading my post it did come off as rude, though I didn't mean it to be that dickheadish.  I apologize. 

Clones are overdone, but I'd like to think that we don't get a lot of similar response to run-of-the-mill clones around here.  At least not as bad as some other sites.  This too, shall pass.  :D
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Darth Delicious on February 9, 2006, 01:37 AM
Personally, I'm sick of people being judgemental of what things other people choose to customize. It goes back to that "holier than thou" mentality I can't stand.

By the way, Bjardkerr, you need to realize I am a much more pure customizer than you, since I do more than clones. Now bow at my feet, you filthy @$%!& heathen, as I must bow to Phruby, who only once sinned and made a clone as far as I'm aware. And even Phruby must fall at the feet of our holy lord, he who is without Clone sin, the savior of our hobby, born from one who had never even known the PURCHASE of a clone, the alpha, the omega, Spectre. And we ate bread, and their was much rejoicing.

Now I mean that tongue in cheek, as I think bjardkerr meant his comments, but do you begin to see how ridiculous this is? I don't care if every other thread on the damn boards is people doing clones...we should all be content to do our own thing and leave others to do theirs. And if you're miffed because they get more attention in their threads...get over it. Jealousy is unbecoming.

Besides, if the clone threads get more attention, obviously there's more people that enjoy clones than trandoshans, predators, Aqualish shot-putters, or whatver the hell you or I are doing. So let them, and be content that YOU, and a few people whose opinions matter to you, like what you bring to the hobby.

I like your Predators. I like whenever bjardkerr posts new clones. It's all customizing. Let's leave the snobby elitism out of the hobby and all be friends again, okay?

Sweet break-dancing Buddha, I need a tylenol.

-DD
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Phrubruh on February 9, 2006, 10:05 AM
(http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/travesmilies/smilie_laugh1.gif)You crack me up DD!

Aqualish shot-putters - now that is a great idea! I've got to make one!
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Joe on February 9, 2006, 07:46 PM
You have a knack for this...I especially love your BrotherHood Of the Sperhant..
also you halo/clones are great...

keep up the good work,
Joe
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Glassman6 on February 9, 2006, 10:43 PM
Ya gotta admit, Darth D is a funny dude.

Clone lover or not, noob or vet, a good custom is a good custom, and i see alot of great customs got hardly any comments and some quick brush strokes get  all the praise in the world.

It drives hard working customzers away, i get that, but you cant stop people from liking what they like.

Post because you want to post, and dot stop making these great customs.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Clone Hunter on February 9, 2006, 11:32 PM
I just want to chime in, that I like the predators, for the sake of posting it.

Most times, though if I do not understand the custom or have something negative to say, I'll think twice and just not post anything.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Phrubruh on February 10, 2006, 04:13 PM
If you don't understand a custom, why not ask about it instead of being silent?

(http://www.ffurg.com/custom_recipe/banner_fanfic.jpg)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Nirvana on February 10, 2006, 05:15 PM
Those are a really nice set of Predators there. I'm not familiar with the line but those are really cool. I loved the movies.

As for the clone thing, I do clones all the time and I get no feedback at RS...maybe because I make up my own designs and I don't beath the perverbial dead horse by doing all the movie commanders and the 501st...and none of my clones have helmets either. I just enjoy doing the hobby.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: CHEWIE on February 10, 2006, 05:25 PM
I agree that I kind of get burnt out on all the clones people were making, especially with all the horrible repaints that people threw on ebay trying to make an easy buck... it was a bandwagon thing that has started to die down some.  I like seeing variety in customs as much as the next person... I don't have a problem with some people only making clones, but I do admit it has frustrated me to see a clone repaint get tons of praise and feedback, yet totally original ideas and designs on other characters sometimes gets left out.  Oh well, here we have a pretty good balance I think.

 :P
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Darth_Ennis on February 10, 2006, 05:47 PM
I agree that I kind of get burnt out on all the clones people were making, especially with all the horrible repaints that people threw on ebay trying to make an easy buck.

Amen to that.

I have always said that clones have their place. Hell, even I started out as a cloner. AS long as theyre done well, its great. But..... a lot of the times they really arent. BUt I still say that as long as people are customising SOMETHING everythings all good.

I hae a bunch of clones myself that I still do I just dont post them.

BUt enough about me. ;D

I love the predators. I have half thought about picking a few up myself. The AVP ones are just about the right scale for SW. They look a little big but then Preds should be.

I love the crossover stuff that you do, I am anxious to see that Underwater world stuff that you posted about earlier.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Clone Hunter on February 10, 2006, 07:40 PM
If you don't understand a custom, why not ask about it instead of being silent?

(http://www.ffurg.com/custom_recipe/banner_fanfic.jpg)

Most of the time it is a WTF possessed you to bother type of thing. Usually a fan character.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Fritzkrieg on February 10, 2006, 11:42 PM
Great Workon those Predator Mods.

I've been eyeing these sets for a while now, I just did'nt know how to go about modifying them for use for anything more than just statues.

I'd love to see a diorama of these Guys tering into some Stormtrooper Ranks.

I love the Crossover Stuff, Keep it Up!
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Spectre on February 12, 2006, 05:23 PM
Updated the Yutja entry with some new pics of the Clan Elder and his lightsaber trophy :D
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Gregorbian on February 12, 2006, 05:44 PM
Nice work as usual Spectre.  I've been meaning to pick up some of those Predator figures for some customizing purchases (especially since they're so cheap at KB these days), but I haven't gotten around to it yet.  The way you repositioned the figures and repainted them really make them look terrific.  I did not realize they had so many POAs, it's too bad they don't have hip articulation. I think I might stick with my Microman Predator figures for now, but your Predator squad looks excellent.  I second the request for a pick of those Predators annihilating some Clones  ;)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Commander_Miseria on February 13, 2006, 10:44 PM
I think some people just get the quick repaints mixed up with the people that actually put work into them. Even if it's not an original paint scheme it doesn't mean that it didn't take work to produce. Especially when you're looking to make a squad or something and need to reproduce the paint scheme several times. I put a lot of work into my commander gree and at some sites i got a lot of feedback people that liked, people that had suggestions, other stuff like that and i really appreciate it. Then at others i got the usual "cool" or i had 500 something views and 2 comments and thats okay too, but sometimes it discourages me from posting work. I think everyone just needs understand that clones are customs too if they're done by someone who is truly devoted and in it for the hobby and not for reproducing whatever makes money on ebay.


With that said...the predator with the claws thats leaning back a bit looks awesome. The position makes it look like he's giving a big roar right before he goes Ape Sh*t  :P
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Jesse James on February 13, 2006, 11:53 PM
I'll add the site's POV in here that we don't allow or want true elitism...  Spectre's burnt out on Clones and I don't know he necessarilly meant anyone in particular (at least around these parts) with his point.  I'm a little burnt out on Clones myself and what more can I say about a nice paintjob on a CLone than "Hey, that's a nice paintjob".  :)  No offense to DD but when he does Clones I'm to that point with him because I can't find much criticism (never could), so I just tell him it was a good job and move onto something I'm more interested in that he made.

I dunno exactly how long everyone at our forum has been around this game really, but to not toot my horn tooooooo much I can safely say I have been in this since before the modern line existed and I was one of the earlier members of the old FFURG email list server days.  Back then the same kinda thing happened with astromechs, especially when they were in any abundance, and you got kind of burned out critiquing repainted astromechs unless it was a paintjob that really stood out in a crowd (a nicely done Red/White/Black R5 for instance). 

That's not to say anything should be taken away from good repaints though, and our site is based around tolerance here at JediDefender.com.  So if you really are burnt out on repaints it's probably just best not to cite them as a nuisance really and just ignore them when they come up...  Even if their threads get lots of replies while the 100% new sculpt and great paintjob doesn't. :)  That's just the whacky bit about this hobby, and I think some of it has to do with Clones being so readily available and so universally "understood" by more people in the hobby...  Clone repaints can be really complex or really simple, but if you don't like them at all then I'd just ignore them is what I'm trying to say, so no individual's work is demeaned in any way or there's no misunderstandings or anything.

I love Spectre's Predator figures and I've been doing similar stuff myself but really it's not customizing, I just have gotten the Hot Toyz Preds and putting them in my dioramas.  Now you wanna talk about Lazy, I'm it obviously! :)

Spectre's put a ton of work into repainting and rearranting the McFarlane (That's Mac right?) line you can get at TRU though.  I've been watching the sets to get some on clearance for parts myself, but not to use the figures for bases so much due to poseability.  I always thought they were limited but maybe I'm wrong there?  I'm not sure.

Anyway, what am I trying to say?

Oh yeah...  Basically, the repaint is an integral part to customizing...  It's probably the first thing most of us ever did, and astromechs burnt many of us out in 1996 or so just as much as Clones did in 2005 (myself included, seriously, but I still sometimes work on Clones myself just for ***** and giggles...  Still work on astromechs too, I'm goofy that way.  I like to spread the customizing love).  Chalk it up to availability of fodder, and lots of new people plus vets making their presence known with the flashiest of flashy repaints.

At the same time, don't be afraid to jump in and ask questions or talk up someone's work like SPectre's Predators here...  They're really nice and could even lend good fodder for something less Predator you're thinking of doing.  At the same time though, if you really don't want to, that's ok too...  Same with being burnt out on Clones is probably best to just ignore Clone updates then if it's just too boring for any of us.  Happens to me too so I know where everyone's coming from on it.

Hopefully,a s the line's diversity starts to spread out again, we'll see more diverse customs to go with it...  I think Clones, like astromechs, are going to be imbedded in the line whether we're for it or not though.  THey're like ticks and will be creeping into updates around the net I'm sure.  ;)  But that's good because new people have to start somewhere, and a Clone with a unique set of markings is a great place to start...  Just as my old vintage AT-ST Driver headswap with an Imp Officer head was my Star Wars start to customizing.  Those perhaps "easier" pieces of work will always have a focus in the hobby because it's where the new people have to start to get the hang of it...

And vets of course make that end of the hobby look like a slice of cake by producing paintjobs that match the films in the most exacting detail.  It's all about levels of experience and skill I guess.

Enjoy, and now I gotta go find these Predator sets on clearance, especially the ones with the skull/spine bits in them Spectre, those are great and none of the Hot Toyz figures came with trophies besides their necklace. :(
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Darth Delicious on February 14, 2006, 04:42 AM
Thanks, JJ, I think you really hit the nail on the head there.

I also appreciate that there's not too much to be said about clones anymore. When I post clones along with my other stuff, it's basically either because I designed a new, original paint scheme, or because I'm posting something else and basically go "Oh yeah, I did some clones too. See?"    :P

Spectre's Preds are really cool and I plan on doing some myself, although I have to say, the Microman stuff is a lot more fun to "play" with.

-DD
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Phrubruh on February 14, 2006, 10:28 AM
OMG!  :o Has it really been ten years since I started making figures? I feel so old.  :-\ Those astromechs where the reason I got into this. I miss our email listserve.  :'(
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Spectre on February 14, 2006, 09:58 PM
Jesse James hit the nail on the head- I'm just so burnt out on Clones that it gets frustrating seeing them all of the time, it gets to the point that I don't even want to visit the various customizing boards because I already know what I'm going to see when I get there. I never meant any offense to anyone here and you'll see that no one in articular was pointed out in my post, just a general sense of disappointment.  I just want to see something different and original every now and again. Seeing the same exact thing over and over again gets old after the first 50 times or so. If it wasn't for guys like Chewie (just to name an individual who's work that I really admire) still doing cstms from all walks of life in the Star Wars Universe, I would have stopped visiting long ago.

It's funny that you mention the Astromech explosion of 95/96 as I never really found them that annoying as most of the custom Astromechs at least looked different from each other. Sure, just about everyone tried their hand at the yellow R5 from Mos Eisley and the black Imperial Droids, but I also saw alot of diversity in the ranks as people went hog wild developing unique markings for their fan-fic droids. And then a year later, they all moved onto Mandalorians ;)

Hopefully, the Clones will eventually die down to a level that will be more tolerable and we'll see some of the newer customizers who cut their teeth on Clones move onto more diverse projects, which will be good for the longevity and health of the hobby :D

This weekend (most likely Saturday night/Sunday morning) look for an update to my "Brotherhood Of The Serpent" line (6 figures in a single update!) and (hopefully) weekly updates from now on as I am finally getting my Hobby Room set up in the new apartment :D
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/6)
Post by: Clone Hunter on February 14, 2006, 11:16 PM
They are on clearance at KB.

Enjoy, and now I gotta go find these Predator sets on clearance, especially the ones with the skull/spine bits in them Spectre, those are great and none of the Hot Toyz figures came with trophies besides their necklace. :(
Title: The Brotherhood Of The Serpent: Copperheads
Post by: Spectre on February 19, 2006, 03:51 PM
Field Report from Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite Field Commander, codenamed Stalker:

"When the Brotherhood Of The Serpent first reared their ugly heads, they were using Clone Wars-era battledroids as cannon fodder alongside their human Vipers. They presumably aquired them by finding one of the "lost" weapons caches the Seperatists seeded all across the outer and mid rims. The Brotherhood barely bothered to change their programming at all, just painted them blue, slapped one of their stupid snakehead symbol flimstiks on their chests and pointed them in our direction. Their thirty-plus year old processors were not sufficiently fast enough to adapt to the ever changing conditions on a modern battlefield. Nor was their armor up to the standards of modern Blastech firearms. Their only advantage was sheer numbers- the fact that even with their lousy targeting systems, with so many of them firing on you at once, one was bound to hit you.

In recent years, the older battledroids have pretty much disappeared from the Brotherhood's infantry, but you will still occasionally see them on routine patrols of low priority Brotherhood bases. In their place, we have begun seeing a new model of battledroid being utilized. These new models are larger, faster, better armored and better armed. Worse yet, they are smarter, capable of changing their tactics much more quickly to adapt to the changing tide of battle.

We have reason to believe that M.A.R.S. (Munitions Armor Robotics Systems) is manufacturing them for the Brotherhood, but we can not leagally prove anything. None of the deactivated or destroyed specimens we have captured have any form of manufacturing stamp nor serial numbers that we can trace to any possible manufacturer. And of course, Destro won't admit to anything.

While on an undercover mission inside the Brotherhood when these new models first appeared, Chuckles brought back the first technical readouts for our Intel team to study. These new droids are impresivly armored and very well armed. They carry a stripped-down heavy repeating blaster rifle with an underslung proton grenade launcher in place of a right arm. The power feed for the blaster comes strait from the droids on-board fusion reactor so as long as the droid has power, it can keep firing on it's targets. The proton grenade launcher has an internal twelve round magazine. There's even a heavy weapons variant that carries a full-sized proton torpedo in a shoulder-mounted launcher, which thankfully, does not show up on the battlefield in any kind of great numbers. Chuckles also brought back word that the human troops in the Brotherhood refer to them as "Copperheads" due to the high number of wires and circuits packed into their cranial cavities.

As dangerous as these Sithspawned droids are, we have received reports of an even deadlier model just now showing up leading squads of Copperheads in a Brotherhood raid on a colony in the outer rim. It seems that these droids are capable of predicting their enemies' tactics and adapting their strategy on the fly. It just never gets any easier...

Typical Copperhead:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/8e625d1b.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0172.jpg)

Parts:
Body- VvV Wave 7 Overkill
Head- B.A.T. MK 4 modded w/ Wave 7 Overkill neck peg
Powerpack- Hi-Tech backpack

Heavy Weapons Variant:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0191.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0193.jpg)

Parts:
Body- DTC B.A.T. Attack Overkill
Head- B.A.T. MK 4 head modded w/ Overkill neck peg
powerpack- Hi-Tech backpack
Proton Torpedo Launcher- DTC B.A.T. Attack Overkill missile arm (heavily modded)

As you may have noticed, these droids are not nearly as heavily weathered as my usual customs. I did this purposely, not to be lazy, but to fit into my view of how Cobra likes to keep his property. I see Cobra as being incredibly arrogant and would want his troopers, droids, vehicles, etc. to appear in the best condition possible as a show of power to those he would try to subjugate.

These guys are a labor of love that I started over 6 months ago and just now had all of the necessary parts to complete :)

I made 6 of these guys:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/cdf7c025.jpg)

There's a little detail that I'm very proud of, that unfortunately does not photograph very well due to the small size- these droids have an Aurebesch (the Star Wars written language) numerical designation on the upper right side of their powerpacks. I was only able to get one clear pic:

Here's droid #015
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0184.jpg)
(As a little in-joke, the droids are numbered 004, 008, 015, 016, 023, and 042 :) )

For anyone interested, here's a look at the Aurebesch number key:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Action%20Figures/100_0195.jpg)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/19)
Post by: Phrubruh on February 19, 2006, 03:57 PM
Great use of overkill for these droids. I'm planning on using Overkill to make Klickson from Droid World someday. These droids fit nicely in the star wars continume. I agree that CC would keep his droids in tip top shape. It just shows that someone in the star wars universe washes their equipment once in a while.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/19)
Post by: TR1ER on February 19, 2006, 04:51 PM
Nice job Spec I love to see Joe tie in's with Star wars! ;D
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/19)
Post by: CHEWIE on February 19, 2006, 05:03 PM
Wow... that is ONE HELL of a droid squad.  Really great job on those Spectre, you've been busy!  I kind of wish they had made the thigh/calf region on that figure a little less round, but still it doesn't take away from your customs.  Excellent work and inspiring.

 :P
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/19)
Post by: Gregorbian on February 19, 2006, 05:18 PM
Nice work Spectre!

I like the backstory/journal entry that you made, it reminds me of some Warhammer 40k stories.  They look pretty badass, I'm sure they could tear through clones and droids alike.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/19)
Post by: BrentS on February 19, 2006, 06:03 PM
I love the droids.  Keep it up.  I like that fact that you don't just make one custom, you make an army all at once ;)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/19)
Post by: narceron on February 20, 2006, 03:22 AM
Hmm, great work as always, spec.  CLean, precise work, but I got a question.

Is your work meant to be a toyline, a photonovel?  A shelf display?

I only ask because I am curious, they seem to have a heck of a back story for just customs.

Then, again, you do seem to have an endless supply of creativity.

Narce

P.S> Black dragons!
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/19)
Post by: Spectre on February 20, 2006, 03:42 AM
Hmm, great work as always, spec.  CLean, precise work, but I got a question.

Is your work meant to be a toyline, a photonovel?  A shelf display?

I only ask because I am curious, they seem to have a heck of a back story for just customs.

Then, again, you do seem to have an endless supply of creativity.

Narce

P.S> Black dragons!

Thanks Narceron (and everyone else who has taken the time to reply :) ).

They're not really meant to be anything but an exercise in transferring characters/concepts from one media to another and having them make sense to be there.

I always provide a decent backstory for all of my customs as I think that a truly well thought out custom should have more behind it than just fancy paint apps or great parts choices (it's the unpublished author in me ;) ), they should have a "reason" to exist in the first place unless they're simple repaints (droids, Clones, etc.) or a custom of an already "established" character (someone from the films/comics/novels/etc. that people are already familiar with).

All of the crossover characters in this thread (The Brotherhood, GI:JOE, Predators, Halo, Doom, etc.) are characters that I have a fondness for in their original incarnations and wanted to have Star Wars Universe equivalents for. Also the fact that doing the same types of customs over and over again can get stale after awhile so it's nice to throw a little variety in ther to keep it interesting :)

There are alot more crossover characters up my sleeve, some of which will really surprise you, keep watching this thread in the future. My current crossover plans include finishing off the Brotherhood and GI:JOE lines by the end of the summer (with a few other non Joe-related characters sprinkled is as well) and then beginnig a fairly ambitious top-secret project alongside my already announced "Deep Sea Danger!" line (which is somewhat of a continuation of GI:JOE as it features my version of Deep Six on a solo mission on an aquatic planet and the threats he faces there).
Title: The Brotherhood Of The Serpent: MAMBAs
Post by: Spectre on February 26, 2006, 04:03 PM
Personal Log recording from Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite surveillance specialist, codenamed Sneak Peek:

"This is Sneak Peek reporting from the colony world of Trucial Abyssmia, the Brotherhood Of The Serpent has launched a surprise attack against the colonists here. This is not just another of their usual get in quick and take everything sorties though, it's a wipeout raid. They're going door to door killing every man, woman and child in the colony. It gets worse though, and more unusual. There's not a single human Viper to be seen, the raiding party is entirely comprised of droids!

While Copperheads are a common sight in the Brotherhood's battlelines, they are always utilized alongside human troops or at the very least they are under the command of a Viper Officer. Not so this time, they are under the command of a new class of battledroid, a Command Droid if you will. These command droids seem to be capable of changing their battle tactics on the fly, almost fast enough to actually predict the next defensive move of their targets.

Even more unusual, these new droids have been observed operating the Brotherhood's H.I.S.S. (Hover Interceptor Speeder Sentry) and Repulsor Pods with lightning quick response times, almost better than any of the Brotherhood's human pilots. I'll bet you credits to mynocks that the F.A.N.G.s (Fully Armed Negator Gunships) flying overhead and blasting away at targets on the ground are piloted by these droids as well.

I've lost two of my spybots and am currently in hiding, being hunted by a squad of Copperheads led by one of these new droids. I've just got to get back to the LZ so Zap can pick me up and get the holos I've recorded back to New Republic Intelligence asap so they can look for a weakness in these new killing machines the Brotherhood has unleashed on the galaxy..."


Technical Report supplied to Cobra by Destro regarding the results of the first field test of their new M.A.M.B.A. Command Droids:

"The first field test was a resounding success. The M.A.M.B.A.'s (Mobile Advanced Multifunction Battlefield Automatons) secondary battle processor (located in the droid's chest cavity) was able to monitor the battlefield conditions, formulate adaptive strategies and relay updated real-time commands to their Copperhead infantry with near 100% accuracy!

While lighter armed and armored than the Copperheads, they are still more than sufficient to send against any adversary. Their dual, arm mounted light repeating blasters are excellent anti-personnel weapons and are also highly effective against light armor. For heavier fortified targets or armor, their dual, under-arm mounted proton grenade launchers have proven to be quite devestating and their internal 3 round magazine provides adequate ammunition for standard engagements.

The unarmed, vehicle pilot variant was an even better success! Programmed to operate each vehicle in your organization's arsenal to ther peak performance specs, they can out-drive, out-fly, and out-shoot all but the most proficient human pilots.

So, how many units can I put you down for?"

Standard M.A.M.B.A.:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0225.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0227.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0226.jpg)

Parts:
Head- VvV B.A.T. MK IV (modded w/ MK V neck post)
Body- DTC B.A.T. Attack B.A.T. MK V w/gun arms (heavily modded)


Vehicle Pilot Variant:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0223.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0224.jpg)

Parts:
Head- VvV B.A.T. MK IV (modded w/ MK V neck post)
Body- DTC B.A.T. Attack B.A.T. MK V w/manipulator hands (heavily modded)


MAMBA leading Copperhead squad:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0228.jpg)


I made 3 MAMBAs for this project, 1 Vehicle Pilot Variant and 2 Standard:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/The%20Brotherhood%20Of%20The%20Serpent/100_0229.jpg)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/26)
Post by: Spectre on February 28, 2006, 09:00 PM
Just wanted to update this thread and let everyone know that my Warthog MKIII took "Best Custom Vehicle" (tied with a cool tank by Steel Bonnet!) in the 2005 JoeCustoms Awards! :D

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Vehicles/100_0071.jpg)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/26)
Post by: jedipurge on March 6, 2006, 05:01 PM
Congrats Spectre, looks really great.  It would be intresting if you could give it some sort of crack in the glass or bullet/blaster hole in it.  great weathering none the less.

pm sent your way.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 2/26)
Post by: Gregorbian on March 6, 2006, 06:22 PM
Congrats on the Best Custom Vehicle Award Spectre!  I always liked that Warthog that you made.

I also really like these M.A.M.B.A.s that you have been making.  The only thing that I would do differently would be to replace their heads with regular battle droid heads, maybe with some slight modifications (like how the Super Battle Droids have regular battle droid type heads build into their torsos).  Still, since you're going for the G.I. Joe-Star Wars crossover, the Cobra B.A.T.s heads work fine.  Very cool backstory on these guys too.
Title: Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite - Doc
Post by: Spectre on April 8, 2006, 02:41 AM
Nahn'si Stek'r had a promising medical career ahead of her at the beginning of the Galactic Civil War. Stationed at the main medical center on the mid-rim world of Kammlott, she treated anyone who needed aid, without hesitation. Although a law-abiding galactic citizen, she sympathized with the Rebellion To Restore The Republic, and provided clandestine medical aid to wounded rebels.

Her promising medical career was cut short, however, the morning when Imperial Field Marshal Velko and his stormtroopers entered her medical facility looking for information on a suspected local rebel cell. Accused of treason against Emperor Palpatine's New Order, Velko threatened Stek'r with imprisionment unless she revealed the location of the rebels or the names of their leaders. When Stek'r denied any knowledge of the rebels' location or identities, Velko's troops tortured and killed all of the patients in her care and her entire medical staff. Stek'r was left alive to pass on the message to her "rebel friends" that Velko would be coming for them next.

Velko ordered Stek'r's medical license be revoked. Devestated, and defeated, Stek'r was left with nowhere to turn but the very rebel agents who's identities she had protected from Velko. She dropped out of public view and joined the local rebel cell as their resident medic. Early in her tenure with the rebels, her cell's base was attacked by Velko's forces. Velko had recieved the location of the hidden rebel base from an underworld informant and was out to make a name for himself by eradicating the rebels with his own private squad. During the raid, Velko was injured by a stray blaster bolt to the wrist, and cowardly hid while his troopers were cut down by the rebels who's numbers he had greatly underestimated. Velko stumbled into the rebels' makeshift medbay looking for a bacta patch for his wrist when he ran into Stek'r as she was evacuating the patients in her care. She felled Velko with a stun blast and laid him out on the floor. The last thing Velko saw was the look of cold fury on Stek'r's face as she stood over him with a hypospray in her hand. When a larger Imperial force arrived to investigate the disappearance of Velko's squad, a grisly discovery was made in the medbay. Upon finding Velko's body, eyes wide, face twisted into a silent scream, the ranking officer commented on how unusual it was for someone to have died in such obvious agony from a blaster burn that barly grazed his wrist...

Stek'r currently serves as the field medical officer for Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite, hand picked by General Madine for the compassion she shows for her fellow sentients as well as her vast medical skills. Her hatred for the Empire also had a hand in her selection...

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/ceac5360.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/59bfac0d.jpg)

Parts:
body: Chap Mei "Rescue Squad" female paramedic (highly modded)
lower head, forearms: Chap Mei "Wild Quest2" Vet Cassie (African American variant)
upper head/helmet: "Xyber-9" Skybike Jack w/ various greebles
pouches: various Chap Mei, BBI, and Joe
gun: repro Vintage Han Solo blaster
Medkit: Tiger Force Lifeline w/POTF2 Mynock Hunt Cinema Scene mask

I tried to match not only the colors of Doc v1 (check out her glasses :) ), but the general "feel" of the figure when I set about designing this entry in my reimagining of the G.I.Joe mythos. I also tried to make her as much of a functioning, practical, field medic as I could, hence all of the pouches. I always felt that Doc v1 should have at least had a medical bag to complement the tiny little pouch on the bottom of his stretcher.


(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/3f7052d2.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/35039128.jpg)

As you can see, alot of time went into modding/painting every square centimeter of this figure and her accessories! Note that her medkit says "RESCUE" in Aurebesch along the bottom of the front cover as an homage to the original Lifeline figure :)


(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/b6506cdf.jpg)

The top of her helmet says "MEDIC" in Aurebesch (read in decending order from the top of the crest down to her goggles).

Ready to save some lives:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/df28661b.jpg)


A little bit of background reasoning on the use of a known earth symbol on this figure-

It has been brought up before whenever anyone makes a Star Wars medical-themed figure that the common earth symbol of the red cross would not be appropriate in the Star Wars Universe since not every species has red blood (the red cross is a universal symbol here on earth for blood- every culture/nationality recognizes this fact). However, in some established media (mostly comics) the red cross symbol has been featured on medical characters (some Clone medics seen in the Clone Wars issues of "Star Wars: Republic" come to mind right away) symply for the audience to recognize the function of said characters without having to be explicitly told. Following this example, I have taken the artistic license of also utilizing the red cross symbol on this custom.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/08)
Post by: hyouriittai on April 8, 2006, 03:49 AM
That's a sweet sweet medic design. I love the Aurabesh writing on the different articles of clothing and accessories. I haven't ever stumbled on your thread before, so I think I'm going ot take a look-see at the rest of it! Thanks for sharing man.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/08)
Post by: CHEWIE on April 8, 2006, 03:56 AM
Wow, I never thought that medic Chap Mei figure could really be used as a Star Wars custom, but you proved me wrong. Awesome backstory and painting/assembly of parts on this Spectre! 

My only suggestion is the Red Cross - I think that's almost too much of an "Earthly" symbol... maybe a small difference there might look more Star Warsish to me.  The Aurebesch writing on her is awesome.

  :)

Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/08)
Post by: Jedi_Master_Ben on April 8, 2006, 10:27 AM
Hi there Spectre,

I really enjoyed examining your custom medic. Really top notch. Great attention to detail on all the accessories and paint scheme. I do have to agree with Chewie on the Earthly look to the character. Right now, she looks like she is between two diffrent toy lines; GI Joe and Star Wars. I would recommend the design that is already on the med kit, the circle with verticle lines, should replace any red cross patches and the blue cross patch on her chest. Also, I am not sure you ment to do this or not, the colors you picked, tan and green, looks a lot like Doc from the '80s Joe line. I would research some of the costume designs used in AOTC or ROTS movie extras and compare the color pallet to your figure. Change these things and the figure would then look more Star Wars then GI Joe. Just my opinon. Again, really great work there,  I would love to see more of your work in future.

Jedi_Master_Ben
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/08)
Post by: Spectre on April 8, 2006, 10:51 AM
Hi there Spectre,

I really enjoyed examining your custom medic. Really top notch. Great attention to detail on all the accessories and paint scheme. I do have to agree with Chewie on the Earthly look to the character. Right now, she looks like she is between two diffrent toy lines; GI Joe and Star Wars. I would recommend the design that is already on the med kit, the circle with verticle lines, should replace any red cross patches and the blue cross patch on her chest. Also, I am not sure you ment to do this or not, the colors you picked, tan and green, looks a lot like Doc from the '80s Joe line. I would research some of the costume designs used in AOTC or ROTS movie extras and compare the color pallet to your figure. Change these things and the figure would then look more Star Wars then GI Joe. Just my opinon. Again, really great work there,  I would love to see more of your work in future.

Jedi_Master_Ben

I really appreciate the feedback from both you and Chewie (2 customizers whose work I greatly admire ;) ), but it seems like everyone (here and at the other sites I posted her at) is just looking at the pics and not reading the text that accompany them :(

The original Doc figure was indeed the inspiration for this figure, hence the color choices (The whole point of "Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite", which is my acronym for "GI:JOE" by the way, is to merge the G.I.Joe mythos into the established Star Wars Universe ;) ) and red crosses have appeared in numerous Star Wars comics and other media simply for the viewers to identify medical characters/medkits, even though the red cross is a distinctly earthly symbol (as is the segmented circle on the medkit- it's the symbol for the Army's search and rescue units).


To quote myself:

(text found under parts list)
"I tried to match not only the colors of Doc v1 (check out her glasses  ), but the general "feel" of the figure when I set about designing this entry in my reimagining of the G.I.Joe mythos. I also tried to make her as much of a functioning, practical, field medic as I could, hence all of the pouches. I always felt that Doc v1 should have at least had a medical bag to complement the tiny little pouch on the bottom of his stretcher."

(text found at bottom of thread entry)
"A little bit of background reasoning on the use of a known earth symbol on this figure-

It has been brought up before whenever anyone makes a Star Wars medical-themed figure that the common earth symbol of the red cross would not be appropriate in the Star Wars Universe since not every species has red blood (the red cross is a universal symbol here on earth for blood- every culture/nationality recognizes this fact). However, in some established media (mostly comics) the red cross symbol has been featured on medical characters (some Clone medics seen in the Clone Wars issues of "Star Wars: Republic" come to mind right away) symply for the audience to recognize the function of said characters without having to be explicitly told. Following this example, I have taken the artistic license of also utilizing the red cross symbol on this custom."


Thanks again for the feedback though :D

I'm going to try and resume my weekly updates from this point out as I have spent the last 3 weeks laying the groundwork for a MASSIVE custom project (over a dozen figures and a HUGE playset/dio) that I plan to unveil all at once when it's finished (most likely the end of May/early June). I'm still going to knock out regular Star Wars and crossover customs in the meantime while working on the big project :)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/08)
Post by: Phrubruh on April 8, 2006, 12:21 PM
You mean you actually want us to READ? :o

Reading are hard. :P
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/08)
Post by: PenDragon on April 8, 2006, 12:23 PM
Uh, just to be an a$$ (it's the teacher in me):

Quote
... the red cross is a universal symbol here on earth for blood- every culture/nationality recognizes this fact ...

Well, that's not actually true :-\ ... See, the red cross is a Christian symbol (it's the Swiss flag with colors reversed - the founder of the Red Cross was Christian & Swiss - and that flag's design is quite Christian) made for an organization that was founded on the humanitarian principles of Christianity.

The international organsation is now called the 'International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' to reflect the fact that humanitarianism does not belong exclusively to the 1/3rd of the world that happens to be Christian.

So, while red might be universally recognized as a color of blood, the Red Cross is not. It's just that it's the only symbol we tend to see in this predominantly (though by no mean exclusively) Christian, part of the  world.


BTW, I really like your medic!!! She looks just fine in the SW universe to me! The painting is awesome and I love the fact that you chose the colors (and design to a certain extent) to pay homage to Doc  ;D

It's pretty damn impressive that you made one of those cheap figs look so good! Oh, and that acromyn is just great!


And MP, don't forget that "Reading is FUN - damental!"     ....    I have GOT to stop working in a school...
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/08)
Post by: Spectre on April 8, 2006, 12:39 PM
Thanks for the heads-up regarding the red cross info! You learn something new every day :)

I'm glad you like the custom as well :D
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/08)
Post by: Ruprecht on April 8, 2006, 03:23 PM
That's one mean-looking medic.  I really like the equipment and the writing, very cool.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/08)
Post by: Darth_Ennis on April 8, 2006, 04:32 PM
Excellent medic Spectre. I like the Aurebesh writing. Is there a translated alphabet of it somewhere. I'd love to use it myself. The details on the case are amazing. I used the red Lifeline case for a clone medic I did a while back, but I didnt go as far as detailing it. I have to say it made it look a hell of a lot better. Excellent job.

BTW just in case I didnt respond to any of your droids they look awesome as well. The M.A.M.B.A.s especially.
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/08)
Post by: CHEWIE on April 8, 2006, 05:11 PM
Spectre, I did read what you wrote, but it was at 4am last night so my mind might not have been at 100%.  I did comment on the great backstory too.  My only thing about cross wasn't to do with the red color, but rather I think the cross is an Earthly symbol (like the Christianity reference).  I am a devout Christian, and wasn't meaning to sound anti-religion at all, just that it seems Earthly to me.  Almost like if you saw a Landspeeder with a Ford symbol on it, that's all.  It's still a great custom and nothing wrong with you putting the cross on it, it's just my opinion that an Aurebesh symbol I think would look more Star Warsish.  Either way, I still really like the custom.

 :)
Title: GI:JOE- Chuckles
Post by: Spectre on April 14, 2006, 09:21 PM
The undercover operative known by the codename "Chuckles" has always been pretending to be someone else in one form or another over the course of his life. As a child, Chuckles began acting on a well-known childrens' holovid which launched him into a stellar career as an actor that thrived until the beginning of the Galactic Civil War. While playing the part of a young, ambitious Senator Palpatine, in a live performance of a dramatization of his rise to power, Chuckles decided to do an impromptu song and dance number called "Senator Palpy Loves The Teens" in which he mock-seduced the attractive actresses playing Palpatine's young aids. Chuckles' wife, Melinda, who was the writer and executive producer of the program, was not at all amused by her husband's public acting out as she feared if would bring too much attention to their acting troupe's secondary performances smuggling messages to Rebel cells while on tour. The official outrage expressed by the Emperor's public relations officer was no match for the wild, hysterical response from the population at large, earning Chuckles and his acting company the ire of the Empire but the love of a public growing weary of Palpatine's New Order.

Later, during a rehersal for a stage play about the "heroic" Imperial Military and their valiant struggle against the "insidious Rebel terrorists", Chuckles' acting troupe recieved a surprise in the form of a raid by actual Imperial military forces. Melinda was taken away for "questioning", and was never seen again. Angered and despondant over the loss of the woman he loved, Chuckles disappeared from his very public life and joined the Rebel Alliance.

Chuckles has always been a natural chameleon, able to switch effortlessly from one role to the next, a skill that he puts to good use as an agent for the New Republic Intelligence Core. Chuckles can adapt to any accent, speech pattern, or dialect perfectly enabling him to appear to be a native of almost any planet in the galaxy. Though a man of short stature, Chuckles can act "larger than life" making most individuals mistakenly remember him as a larger, more imposing man. Adept at many forms of stage and holodrama make-ups, as well as utilizing masks made from medical synthflesh, Chuckles can flawlessly alter his appearance to suit any role required of him.

Chuckles carries all of the masks/makeup/uniforms/false documents/etc. for his missions in a multiple code-locked suitcase lined with micro-thermal detonators. If anyone other than Chuckles attempts to open the case, the resulting explosion will not only disentegrate the contents of the case, but the case itself, the person attempting to open it, and most of the room said attempting opener was occupying at the time.

Despite his hardships since the beginning of the war, Chuckles still keeps his quirky sense of humor and knack for spontaneity:

When asked to perform in a live, command performance for the New Republic High Command of a dramatization of the events surrounding the rescue of then-Princess (now Supreme Chancellor) Leia Organa (now Organa-Solo) from the first Deathstar, Chuckles again proved to be completely unpredictable. While in the role of then wide-eyed farmboy (now well-respected Jedi Master) Luke Skywalker, apon first seeing the holo of the attractive young actress playing Leia being projected by the prop astromech droid, began belting out a power balad of his own design called "Hot For Sister!" (the chorus of which begins: "So what if we have the same parents, I'm from a farm afterall"), which resulted in a very red-faced Supreme Chancellor Organa-Solo, a calm-yet secretly embearrased stare from Master Skywalker, and some very uncomfortable looks from the rest of the assembled New Republic leaders (expept, that is, for Organa-Solo's husband, who could not stop laughing until there were tears streaming down his face :) ).

Afterwards, when asked why he did it, Chuckles reply was:

"Why, just for laughs of course."

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/828e6578.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/2bb9c995.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/63e09a31.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/85ae739a.jpg)

Parts:
head- Clone Wars Jedi Army Human Jedi (modded)
torso,arms- Commtech Han Solo
lower body- POTJ Lando Calrissian
hands- POTJ Obiwan Kenobi Cold Weather Adventure
shoulder holster,pistol- Saga/OTC General Lando Calrissian
blaster carbine- custom
suitcase- Salvo v1

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Galactic%20Intelligence%20Joint%20Operations%20Elite/e1c662a4.jpg)

As you can see, this is as close to a literal interpretation fo the original "G.I.Joe" Chuckles v1 action figure as is possible with Star Wars parts. The only major differences are the lack of a knife on his right hip (I didn't feel he needed it), the lack of a tropical print on his shirt (there is no known reference of this type of pattern anywhere in Star Wars lore so I left it off the finished figure), and the length of the sleeves (for aesthetic reasons,longer sleeves just look better for this type of character).

I felt that Chuckles was always underarmed carrying just the pistol, so I decided to amp up his firepower a bit. I fugured that a blaster carbine-sized weapon would give Chuckles the extra firepower he needs while not being rediculously overarmed. The carbine is a custom made from some G.I.Joe rifle (Blackout?) I got in a trade last year and a piece trimmed from a POTF2 Stormtrooper rifle.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/dkosa/Custom%20Star%20Wars%20Weapons/100_0495.jpg)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/14)
Post by: CHEWIE on April 15, 2006, 12:25 AM
I love these crossovers between Star Wars and GI JOE... so well done.  I wonder why they don't make GI JOE figures in the Star Wars style... they'd go over better I think and give us TONS of customizing fodder.

On this custom, wonderful backstory to him and the custom came out great.  Good use of parts and the head was a good choice.  Almost a bit rough paint (maybe too thick) on his face, but that could be just me.  I know I can never paint skin though, and this looks way better than I do.

Great job on the weathering too, not too much at all but enough to bring out details in the sculpt, like the slight wrinkles in the shirt.

If they made a new Chuckles in the style, I'd get several.

 :)
Title: Re: Spectre's Star Wars Crossover Customs (Updated 4/14)
Post by: Spectre on April 15, 2006, 01:26 AM
I love these crossovers between Star Wars and GI JOE... so well done.  I wonder why they don't make GI JOE figures in the Star Wars style... they'd go over better I think and give us TONS of customizing fodder.

Thanks :)
I wouldn't be surprised if Hasbro did a similiar product line in the future, afterall, there are Star Wars Transformers on the pegs now....


On this custom, wonderful backstory to him and the custom came out great.  Good use of parts and the head was a good choice.  Almost a bit rough paint (maybe too thick) on his face, but that could be just me.  I know I can never paint skin though, and this looks way better than I do.

Yeah, the flash seems to have brought out every flaw in the paint on the head :(
Made him look kinda lumpy :(
It looks far better in person though :D
I'm glad you enjoyed the backstory, I try to have a "reason" for every custom to exist, it helps to make them more "realistic" that way. The very first time I saw that head, the first thing I thought of was that I had to use it for a custom Chuckles someday....

I think he kinda looks like David Soule (sp?), the actor that played Det. Ken Hutchinson on the original "Starsky & Hutch" series I used to watch back in the seventies (yeah, I'm old, so sue me ;) ).


Great job on the weathering too, not too much at all but enough to bring out details in the sculpt, like the slight wrinkles in the shirt.

If they made a new Chuckles in the style, I'd get several.

 :)

You're no slouch in the weathering department yourself :)

Keep bugging Hasbro for more fodder...