My local TRUs are overflowing with Hoth Wave figures, but the Targets have (usually) a single Geonosian on the pegs and the Walmarts are still full of ROTS Mas Ameddas

KBs are hit or miss, half empty, half full of Hoth and Carkoon.

Updated by adding a bunch of new items to my Haves List and updated my Wants List.

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!

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.:






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:




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:



I made 3 MAMBAs for this project, 1 Vehicle Pilot Variant and 2 Standard:

Today I found a package waiting waiting for me on the little table just inside the apartment complex's door, just like I do about four or five times a week (I do alot of trading across 5 different boards). This package intrigued me as there was no return address. I took it upstairs and opened it up to find a thank you note and a plastic action figure case nestled inside some tissue paper. Apon removing the tissue paper I found this:



Your friend and mine, Marauderjohn had seen fit to bestow the only existing prototype of the upcoming "Sci-Fi Blaster" to me as a thank you for my support of his company and input into the second wave of Marauder, Inc. weapons! I cannot begin to tell you how happy this makes me as I have been looking forward to this weapon for months now

The first thing that struck me apon removing the prototype from the baggie is just how small it is (1 3/8" as per the enclosed product description strip). Looking at the original prototype pics from last fall made it hard to judge the size of the weapon. It's overall design looked as if it could be anything from a full-sized rifle, an uzi-sized carbine, to a large pistol. I had been speculating about the final scale for months now and I have to tell you that I am very impressed and happy with the size. It perfectly fits the role of a light assault carbine similar to the Stormtrooper or Clonetrooper class weapons without looking too unweildy or too puny.

After taking in the size/scale, I really took a hard long look at the details in the sculpt. There are alot of very nicely delineated details like a ribbed butt on the stock, recessed areas all over the gun, a fire-selection switch on the left side above the handle, and what looks to be a cocking bolt for anyone who wants to use it as a next-generation machinegun instead of a laser/energy weapon. BTW- the weapon tends to look a little more natural in the hands when held by figures with an extended trigger finger due to the shape of the top of the handle.

Most amazing to me, and most likely a HUGE selling point for the buying public, is the weapons versatility. With design elements reminiscent of the Covenant weapons from the "Halo" series of video games, several popular science-fiction television and movie properties, the real world light assault weapons like the P-90, and the ambiguity in design to function as either a sci-fi or modern military weapon, this great little gun will find a use (in multiples!) in just about everyone's armory!

I can just imagine how incredible this gun (as well as all of the other great Wave 2 Marauder, Inc. weapons) will look in their production black

I cannot wait until I can order several dozen of this versatile weapon!

And now for what you've all been waiting for, pics of various figures all enjoying the goodness that is Marauder, Inc.'s "Sci-Fi Blaster"!:

My McQuarrie Concept Stormtrooper is digging the sheer rebel-killing power of this great little gun





The Sci-Fi Blaster looks right at home in the hands of a Covenant Elite mini-figure!



The Master Chief Takes a turn...





Even mystical ninja-fied commandos love 'em!





Back in the baggie for safe-keeping.

Sleep well little Sci-Fi Blaster, all of your brothers and sisters will be here soon...
 

I give the Marauder, Inc. Sci-Fi Blaster the "Spectre Seal Of Approval"!


Thanks again, John! I REALLY apreciate it!

Chewie,

Another fine update

My only real suggestion would be to change the torso on the Trandoshan as the Cantina Set Momaw Nadon torso looks a bit too short for the Bossk arms and legs.

I have to say that my favorite thing you've put up in the past few days is the Surveliance Port! You said you got a few of them recently, I'd suggest combining 2 (or more) to create a nice little (maybe more or less v-shaped) mini fortress, that'd probably look really cool

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).