Hey guys!

First, thanks for all the feedback. I've done some touching up on both Trandos, and I think they look a little better. I'll ger pics up soon.

I think I like adding different scale patterns to these guys, and will keep it up. I didn't go back to a Gila pattern on the brown Trando...I will do that on a future custom and will plot out a better costume coloration to offset the skin. In retrospect, it looked out of place with his olive drab jumpsuit. Not that I see these guys as being big on coordinating. 

Chewie: You're right in your thinking that I wanted these to look like real SOB's. I wanted to give these guys a real air of meance as soon as you saw them. The one on the left even has that big knife for skinning Wookiees, and if I ever find the Wookie scalps I cut off a VOTC Fett, they'll be added to his armor.

The black Trando actually has a dark purple tongue not unlike the lizards I pattered him after. I think I'm going to keep it, as it looks good in person against the both his dark scales, and against the lighter scales of his lower jaw.

hemble: Thanks, coming from someone who has some of the most amazing paint apps I've ever seen, your praise means a lot!

smarty: The left Trando is an OTC Bossk transplanted into a Jurassic Park Chaos Effect Roland Tembo torso.  The one on the right is a Swoop biker Doctor Padawan gave me, OTC Bossk arms and feet, a Bossk bust-ups head, and epoxy. The knife and shoulder armor came from a Final Fantasy Gray Edwards figure.

-DD

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

Interesting. Of course, I think even a padawan with the force on his side could best a highly trained but not force sensitive clone in lightsaber combat, but that's just me.

I like the Vader's Fist badge...nicely done.

-DD

First of all, I'm glad you chose to break this into two distinct chapters...I liked the cliffhanger from #19 and #20 was a great wrap-up. If it had been one long chapter it would have been too much, and seemed like the story was being rushed. I like that there was a break to let us digest the events of #19 before reading #20.

A few random thoughts in no particular order:

Judiss: I have no problem with the name, I just think the line "Judiss the traitor" was a little unnecessary. It kind of belabored the point. However, I liked his character in #19...I liked how Rykrof was able to win over one of his captors, not unlike a missionary I listened to recently that spend a year in a Muslim prison. Judiss was an interesting character; yet as soon as he helped Rykrof, I knew he was going to die. That's unfortunate, not just because of the predictability, but because I think you missed an excellent chance to have him as a recurring character and present another viewpoint to the happenings in the galaxy. I also think Rykrof turning the gun on him was somewhat out of character, even considering his job to capture Mubaas...(or was his real motive to get revenge? Could have been interesting to see.) But considering all Rykrof has recently suffered, I suppose his actions were understandable. I guess Judiss learned no good deed goes unpunished. At the very least, Rykrof should have to deal emotionally with the fact that he basically got his rescuer killed.

A lot of violence in this chapter, but well done and it fit the story. I like the longer blaster fire...the shot of the Nikto guard getting blasted was especially well done.

Kala, while nobly searching for his friend, seemed pretty ineffectual this chapter. While I usually feel you handle Dooku extremely well, but this chapter I didn't really feel any gravity to his words. I didn't ever think there was a chance Kala would even consider his offer; perhaps you should have teased Kala's growing despair a little more in previous chapters to give this confrontation more weight. It will be interesting to see if this plays in to future stories.

Dooku's "Of course you should." was well placed and I like that it mirrored Palpatine talking to Anakin in Ep. III.

Tortured Rykrof looks great. A great custom.

I'd like to see more of Troffar. After his big intro he seems to have faded into the background...I'd like to see more of him. I get the impression he doesn't think much of Fuuda's leadership. Could he have plans of his own?

All in all, I think this was a great chapter and I like how the story has gotten progressively darker as the war drags on. Keep it up!

-DD

Hey Fritz...

Actually, I based this version of A'Sharad off of the issues when he was mentoring Anakin, and had the regular Tusken breath filter. If I do the Padawan version of him at some point, I'll probably have to sculpt the 'breather as you're right, there's nothing out there that fits. (Although a Mynock Chewie mouth piece might be a good start.)

As for the field commander, he does indeed have fully articulated shoulders.

-DD

Hey guys!

I've finished several customs this week; most are commissions, the kind of stuff you've seen from me before...but there are a few new ones this week as well. Here's part I of my weekend update.

First up, a new, weathered Kashyyyk infantry clone, a Republic (or Imperial) Field Commander, and just for fun, another shot of Hasbro's Scorch, since the first two pics were from odd angles.



Next, two Clone Wars style ARC troopers and a simple kit bashed Jedi. I really think we overlook human Jedi in favor of aliens sometimes, so here we go...Serenity's Adam Baldwin as a Jedi Knight. 



And finally, a character I've been dying to do since his first appearance and finally got around to it, A'Sharad Hett.



I've liked A'Sharad for a long time, but had never found the parts to really do him justice. Once I found the right torso, though, it all fell into place.

The recipe on this guy was pretty simple:

Head: POTJ Tusken Sniper
Torso: Saga 2006 Sora Bulq
Arms: Sora Bulq, forearms from Evolutions Palpatine
Legs: Evolutions Palpatine
Braid: POTJ Deluxe Slave Leia

It's hard to see in this pic (I'll take new ones for my next update) but his braid is draped over his shoulder. I made sure to ball-joint his head, not only for poseability, but because I also plan on making an "unmasked" head that will swap out with this one. I also need to make his specific sabers.

More this weekend! Stay tuned!

-DD

Holy crap that was well done!

I'll try to post an in-depth critique this weekend, but suffice it to say, with my first read through I have ZERO critical comments or suggestions. You NAILED this one, Chewie!

A lot of great parallels to current events too. Extremely well done.

-DD