If only they made Whisk in 3 3/4" scale....

Over the past few months, I've noticed a disturbing trend...strange reddish stains began appearing on my figures.  It was especially noticeable on white figures.  A precious VOTC stormtrooper now sports a big red gash on his helmet...and my stormtrooper belt accessory is now virtually a stylish pink color.

I eventually discovered the culprit - or so I thought...I figured that since the belt got stained while trying to put it on my maroon painted custom figure for the interactive photonovel that the maroon paint was somehow coming off, onto my fingers, then onto the toys.

But so many more toys seemed affected than just ones I handled after handling that maroon figure.

Over the week-end, I learned the REAL source of the stains.  I keep my figures stored in stackable plastic "christmas ornament" boxes.  One of these boxes has a green lid...the other, a red lid.

It was the red plastic LID that is staining the figures!  After touching the lid, then a figure - presto!  A pink, "blushing" figure.  I almost totally soiled poor Mon Mothma's dress while making this discovery.

So here's my problem:  the crap won't come off!  I tried soap and water, nail polish remover and alcohol!

Help!  I need some heavy duty stuff here to clean off these infected figures!  Any suggestions??

Unfortunately, I have only time for another small update, so, no...it'll be a big anticlimax! 

Sorry to post a "tease" thread with no custom in it, but I need a little help.

Anyone remember the scene in ROTS when Organa returns to the Tantive?  He walks down the hall with Antilles and says something about making sure more Jedi don't "walk into this catastrophe."

With him are Antilles and a young woman in a kind of white dress who is never seen again.

Does anyone know if this character has a name?  Are there pictures of her on line?  I'd love to take a crack at customizing her.

A great new batch of customs, Chewie!!

Well done!

I really like the Ki Adi Mundi and think the hat looks great.  I remember seeing the comic book you referred to.  He did kinda have a hat that looked like that.  It looks very natural on him, not at all out of place.

The Chewie Jedi custom is great, too.  And it looks a lot like your picture!  Nice job.

I think the hands ARE a tad too big on the Aqualish, but the rest of the figure looks just fine.  That Palpatine body is a great fit for a Separatist leader.  Another imaginative use of parts.

Which brings us to Organa.  This is such a seamless integration of parts, it really looks like it could have been made by Hasbro.  Again, you have a terrific eye for this kind of thing - putting together new figures from existing parts with flair and ingenuity.

Always great to see your amazing designs! 

Sorry I haven't had time for more detailed comments and analysis yet, but I've read both the recent chapters and I'm still enjoying the hell out of this wonderful series!!!

Hey, Chewie!

Another great photonovel.

I will return to doing my "play by play" analysis, which I think I skipped last time (oops!)

Anyway, love it, as always.  Now here we go:

Okay, miniscule nitpick here, but would it be possible for you to "scroll back" the text a la the Star Wars films?  I just think it might look cooler.

Really like the space battle scenes.  They always look great!

In the 3rd panel, your text says the Jedi ranks are growing thin, but we see Mace Windu, who obviously doesn't die.  Why not show a random jedi being killed?

Another great composite shot.  Dathomir looks very cool!

The Naboo shot looks great, too.  I will talk more about Rykrof and his family later...Excellent use of the custom speeder.  It's interesting to see how Naboo has been fortified during the war.

Really nice shot of the three shuttles and the moutain.  I'm really repeating myself here, but it's true.  The look is fantastic.

GREAT close up of Ryrkrof.  I can't get anywhere near this kind of close detail with my lousy digital camera.  Wow.  Very cool.

Nice hologram of Padme.  Very blue!  But you should modify the transparency (if you can).  And I'm not a fan of the Evolutions Anakin.  It has great articulation, obviously, but looks pretty lousy.  The head stinks and I don't like the soft goods.  "Secret Ceremony" is probably the best looking AOTC Anakin.  Though that's not saying much.  Since Padme mentions Ryrkof to Anakin, though, maybe we should have seen her running into them on Naboo.  And why would she mention that?  Maybe you should have written some dialogue.  It seems like Padme is being a "tattler" for no real reason.

I really like how you're making digital enviroments in some cases.  They look pretty good! 

The 2nd shot of the office, though, is a bit awkward.  The window is the exact same shape as the previous shot, so it doesn't look like they've moved to a different part of the room, but now the furniture is gone.  Nice gloomy clouds over Coruscant, though!

I don't know why you made Palpatine all gray like that.  It looks...interesting.  But Palpatine obviously didn't look like that in the films.  I'm just curious as to what your motivation for that was.

Okay, here's one thing I don't understand.  I very much liked, in earlier chapters, how you said that the universe wasn't going to revolve around Rykrof.  He's just one guy and he's not the most important man in the galaxy, just another guy doing his job.  Now, however, he seems very important - he has attracted the attention of Palpatine and Anakin, just for slipping away for a short time.  Would Papatine and Anakin really worry so much about one soldier?

Interesting use of "Star Trek" imagery for the office here.  However, I think there are lots of pictures of Palpatine's office on line you could have used.  Still, your compositing skills are first rate!

Another nice shot of the shuttles.  If only there were ample pictures of the ROTS shuttle Palp used in that movie.  Oh, well.  Still looks cool.

A couple more good shots.  Especially the explosion of the shuttle.  VERY nice.  Escape pod put to great use, too.

Hey, I really like the digital bride!  Nice work.  Where'd you get that control panel in the back?  Also great to see Grievous and the cool new Asajj figure.

EXCELLENT combination of the Trade Federation picture and your own digital creation as Asajj leaves the bride. 

Tylin Gere, what a kiss ass!  How did he weasel himself into a cushy officer's commission while Rykrof is out there on the front lines? 

Why are these pics so washed out and gray looking?  Just curious.  Also, why does Tylin have black pants? 

I love Palpatine trying to pry Tylin apart from his friend!  I can't wait to see how this plays out!  My money's on Tylin screwing over Enloe!  again, though, it seems like Rykrof's just a little too important.  I wish there was just a little more justification for all the attention he's getting from the very top.

Also, love the use of Owen's sets!  I'm very envious!

I love how Palp is turning Tylin on Rykrof.  Very ROTS.  Nicely done.  And "not sparing the resources for a rescue!"  Great!  Ice cold, man. 

Don't really love the look of the custom Jedi.  Why is his hood black, but his tunic tan?  I was never crazy about that...

And again, this conversation between two top Jedi assigns Rykrof an importance that I don't think he's quite earned yet.  Obviously, Ki adi Mundi is a friend, they fought together.  But it seems like there is way too much time spent talking about Rykrof while the war is on.  Just a little more justification is needed.

Excellent series of shots on the surface as Rykrof regroups.  Love the rocks, of course, and the additions of the plants digitally looks great.  A very fine scene all around, writing, direction, etc.

Rancor!!  Awesome!  Great shot!  Hopefully, we'll see more of this guy.

great episode and a fantastic cliffhanger.  Can't wait to see the next friggin' chapter!!  Lots of threats brewing out there!  Ventress, rancor, Palpatine.  All in all, a very exciting addition.

Now, here was my thought about Rykrof and his family.  This isn't a criticism at all.  It's just a thought I had.  I was thinking that it might be very poignant if Rykrof NEVER got a chance to go home and see his son.  You mentioned that you would eventually take the story into the GCW era and would focus on Rykrof's son.

I thought it might have been very cool if Rykrof was killed at the end of the Clone Wars, never having gotten the chance to go home again and then, years later, his son could make discoveries about the father that he never knew.

Anyway, like I said, not a criticism at all, just an alternative idea.  I DO like how you used the family visit against Rykrof and how it might lead to his undoing, as Palpatine is using it to turn everyone against Rykrof.  Again, I wish there was a litttle more explanation for why everyone is suddenly interest in Rykrof, but, beyond that, the plotting is working very well.

All in all, another terrific job!  Thanks for your hard work and creativity!  Can't wait to see the next one....

Yeah, I saw this on Owen's site and it's damn amazing!

I'm sure we'll be seeing it a lot in the upcoming adventures of Ryrof and company!