The Imperial Shipyards
Imperial Creative Engineering => Custom Figures => Topic started by: Darklord1967 on October 03, 2010, 11:06:28 AM
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Greetings gang!
I'm new to the Imperial Shipyards Forums, and I wanted to say hi! ;D
I'm Roberto "Darklord" Williams, 43 year old STAR WARS toy / action figure customizer from Brooklyn, New York.
I thought I'd introduce myself with my latest project: A custom 3-3/4 " scale Boba Fett action figure that I've planned for about a year, and finally started working on last month. The figure is nearing completetion, and I hope you like it. ;D
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I’ve always been fascinated with the mysterious STAR WARS character, The Bounty Hunter BOBA FETT. His awesome outfit, and his mysterious ways have made him a legend and a favorite in STAR WARS fandom.
But it never fails to amaze me how even the tiniest detail on one of his 3-3/4 inch scale STAR WARS Action Figures can make all the difference as to whether or not it truly resembles him.
I must say in all honesty that I’m of the opinion that NONE of the previous action figure releases of Boba Fett have completely captured the full essence of the ornery, mysterious, gunslinger-hunter that we first saw in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.
Not one.
What makes this particularly troubling to me is the fact that some truly excellent STAR WARS action figures have been made of some of the other Episode V bounty Hunters (Re: IG:88, Bossk, and the recent, outstanding, Vintage Collection Dengar release)… figures which have all boasted a level of detail and craftsmanship which were un-surpassed anywhere in the Hasbro STAR WARS 3-3/4” scale action figure line. Yet Boba Fett himself has not received this same level of careful attention nor execution.
Also, call me stubborn, but I am still resisting the continued scale shrinkage of these action figures. For my personal collection (including my custom figures), I therefore insist that (at least primary characters like) Boba Fett be represented in a scale that is consistent with 2001’s Power of the Jedi line. This was the line which (hands down) represented STAR WARS action figure characters with the sharpest sculpts, the most accurate likenesses, the cleanest castings, and the neatest paint decos… at least to my eyes.
With this series of posts, I’m going to take a brief (and very critical) look at the history of 3-3/4 inch Boba Fett Action Figures.
Then, at the end of my analysis, I’m going to present a step by step look into the creation of my own brand new customized Boba Fett action figure. I believe I have developed an elegant solution to the problem of presenting this character properly as a custom 3-3/4 inch action figure.
It is a solution which (after several weeks of intense trial and error and re-sculpting work) comes closest to my preferred version of Fett’s appearance, while still maintaining the super-articulation which we have come to expect from our modern figures. ;D
So settle in and get comfortable, because this is gonna be very extensive...
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In order for you to properly understand my critiques of production Boba Fett figures (and the stylistic direction I chose when creating my own custom figure) I think it might be helpful for me to establish how it is that I personally “see” the bounty hunter:
Well… to me, Fett was about average height (roughly 5 feet 11 inches tall), wiry… athletically built… very much like Bruce Lee was. This was particularly evident in the prototype Fett outfit photos that ILM shot in 1978.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/churiemay/BobaFett.jpg)
Later on, during the character’s first film appearance, the most notable thing to me about his look was how sleek and slender he still appeared even while wearing his armored outfit. The costume was elaborate, yet it somehow did not look cumbersome or bulky in the way it sat upon his frame. Also, there’s a reason why Boba is sometimes referred to as “ol’ bucket head”: His helmet… It should look LARGE (even slightly over-sized) above that slender neck and shoulders. It’s the only way a human head could possibly fit in there.
(http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss303/CollectorsArsenal/Boba%20Fett/ESB_Boba_Fett.jpg)
Appearing as though he could move quickly if he needed to, Boba Fett was simply nasty-looking. Whether pointing his gun at his quarry, or merely standing still cradling the weapon, Fett appeared ready to blast anything or anyone with little provocation. Like a snake, he would move very slowly, and then suddenly STRIKE if he needed to. He misleadingly appeared very relaxed, but he was always coiled and ready for action. He was economical with his words, and economical with his body language (no elaborate posing or “showboating”). And for the sake of his dangerous, no-nonense vocation, his outfit’s color-pallate ideally leaned toward less-color and more stealth / camoflauge. What little color existed in the uniform had been pitted, soiled, and muted over time. Virtually every aspect of Boba Fett’s physical appearance reflected his rugged and violent past.
With that in mind, here is my analysis of all of the previous Boba Fett action figure offerings that we‘ve had over the years...
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Vintage Kenner Boba Fett (1979) :
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/vintageKennerBoba.jpg)
This figure featured a very nice sculpt for its day. However, it lacked the weathering, articulation, and fine costume details that we take for granted today. It is nice to see the return of this sculpt as a special offer figure of the current 2010 Vintage collection line.
POTF 2 Boba Fett (1995 -various releases):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/POTF2Fetts.jpg)
The Power of the Force 2 line launched a new line of STAR WARS action figures after a re-newed interest in the saga during the mid- 1990’s. This Boba Fett figure was one of the characters that everyone hailed as a “grand improvement” over the vintage Kenner version. I vehemently disagreed.
Yes, there was added detailing and weathering to his costume which was missing before, but to my eyes, this figure was actually a considerable step backward from resembling the on-screen character. At the time, I took to referring to him as “Bulky Fett” since the figure was far too barrel-chested and hulking to resemble the lithe and sleekly-built on-screen character . The figure’s collar armor was so thick and bulky, that he suffered from what I call “football shoulder pad / no-neck syndrome”
The overall body proportions of this figure were completely off. And in one aspect or another, these mis-matched anatomical proportions have been a problem that have plagued Boba Fett figures right up until the most recent sculpts.
POTJ Boba Fett 300th Figure Special Edition : (2001)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/POTJ300Fett.jpg)
This figure moved a lot closer to Boba Fett’s proper on-screen Episode V appearance. The trouble was, he was a pre-posed action-less figure. I DO have a lot of admiration for the EXCELLENT utility belt sculpt, and the beautifully-detailed wrist gauntlet weapons (the BEST from any Boba Fett Figure) . The backpack was especially nice too (with adjustable rocket nozzels, and removable concussion rocket. Plus the backpack was made from sturdy ABS plastic (versus the soft rubbery PVC plastic of previous releases). This allows the rocket pack’s sculpt details to be much sharper and for the accessory to maintain its shape. I was also VERY happy to see the laser rifle that appeared in The Empire Strikes Back used as this figure’s pack-in (versus the different configuration from Jedi)
Aside from the pre-posing and lack of articulation, I do wish the paint had been more neatly applied in some areas. Also, the basic size proportions and shape of Boba Fett’s helmet were not yet quite correct…
SAGA I Boba Fett Pit of Carkoon (2003)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/SAGA1Fett.jpg)
Looks like a box of crayons exploded all over Fett here. Far too colorful… even if it was meant to represent Fett’s more colorful outfit from Return of the Jedi. The paint was neater this time around. Upper body was still too bulky and the lower body was too spindly. There was an oddly articulated right knee that looked something like a cabinet hinge. The sculpted plastic side-cape truly sucked. And the (non-removable) backpack looked like a rainbow (even though it was molded in sturdy ABS plastic and held its shape nicely).
Also, this has to be (hands down) the strangest, pre-posed, anatomically disproportioned Fett since POTF 2!.
So far, (in my view) this figure introduced the neatest, cleanest, and sharpest sculpt of Fett’s helmet. I loved the neatness and razor-sharpness of the clean t-visor. This helmet was also the nicest size we had seen from all previous Fetts . The face of the helmet was pretty nice, but the shape of the helmet profile was still off (overly narrow at the crown and wide at the base). The flip-down target sight was too soft, too short, too thick, and warped its shape too easily. The target sight from POTJ Fett is longer, and a lot straighter and sturdier, but it also is too thick.
Vintage Original Trilogy Collection Boba Fett: (2004)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/VOTCFett.jpg)
Kudos for first super-articulated Fett we have ever had. Once again, this figure represented (my lesser preferred) more colorful Episode VI costume design. I’m sorry to say the body proportions sculpt continued to suffer: The upper body was far too bulky once again… arms and hands were HUGE ! Shoulder and elbow ball joints were enormous. Lower body (pelvis and legs) were proportionately very undersized, and the legs were proportionately too short. The helmet sculpt took a step backward in terms of overall accuracy and sculpt sharpness (not nearly as sharp a sculpt as SAGA I helmet , and the helmet profile was even more incorrect than before).
Admittedly, the presentation of soft-goods cape was very nice (beautifully deco’ed and cleanly folded for the perfect drape upon the figure). Unfortunately for me, this fabric was the wrong color for the Episode V cape. The backpack went back to being a warped piece of chewing gum with soft details and no working/moving parts. This was a disappointment and a surprise, especially in lieu of the fact that Boba actually employed the use of his rocket pack in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.
On the plus side, this figure represented some very nice, clean, smooth sculpts of the torso and crotch armor sections.
SAGA 2 Boba Fett Battle of Carkoon: (2006)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/SAGA2FETT.jpg)
With the exception of a more appropriately toned-down color paint scheme, none of the previously stated problems were resolved with this release… And some were actually made worse.
This Hasbro kit-bash combined the over-sized, awkwardly-posed upper body of the SAGA I “Pit of Carkoon” figure with the under-sized, un-even, overly wide-stanced legs of the VOTC Fett.
The result was a terribly un-balanced (looking AND standing) figure.
My favorite helmet sculpt had been re-used with more appropriately muted colors, but with a profile that was still unsatisfactory. In this photo, you can really see the sharpness and straightness of the sculpt.
Legacy Evolutions / 2010 Vintage Collection Boba Fett
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/VintageCollectionFett.jpg)
This most recent action figure version of Boba Fett presents the bounty hunter’s costume in the colors and details as they appeared in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
The figure’s overall anatomical proportions are atrocious. While the big bulbous shoulders from the VOTC Fett have been reduced, the over-sized elbow joints are still a problem. “Gorilla’ arms and hands are still far too large. Narrow stance of the figure is inappropriate, making the character seem even more top-heavy and awkwardly off balance (like if he could easily topple over).
There is an offensively pea-headed Boba head sculpt underneath a removable helmet. The Ironic thing about this head sculpt is the fact that despite how anatomically under-sized it is, it still too large for the inadequately sized helmet. In fact, the nose of this head sculpt actually bulges through the soft helmet when worn, warping its shape terribly.
As for the helmet itself, it is quite possibly the WORST helmet sculpt we’ve gotten for a Boba Fett figure yet (rubbery and warped-looking). Incorrect face shape. Incorrect profile. Target sight articulation offered in previous helmets has been taken away here!
Backpack is still chewing gum with none of the fun articulated parts from previous Fett backpack releases (like removable rocket cone, or adjustable rocket nozzels).
The paint and sculpt of this figure are terribly, terribly sloppy (flash plastic and mold release evident on inner gauntlets and arms. Shoulder armor is warped (giving this figure the football shoulder pad syndrome again. The braided wookie scalps molded to the shoulder armor is a feature left over from the POTF 2 days. And it has GOT… TO… GO!!! The torso armor plates actually look roughly sculpted… not smooth at all.
Frankly, in some places, this figure looks like it was painted with a house roller.
The soft goods side cape is far too long and it comes off as a large beach towel draped over his left shoulder.
On the plus side: This figure offers a decent sculpt of the utility belt side pouches, and the pants pockets . The Laser rifle pack-in (re-used sculpt from POTJ Fett ) is a welcome return. It is now detailed with more paint AND it is actually molded to be sturdier than before. Unfortunately, the holstered side-gun is a rubbery, warped mess.
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Clearly, I’ve had issues with virtually every single Boba Fett figure ever produced. There have been pros and cons to each, and certainly no “out-of the park” home runs on any version as far as I am concerned.
With the pending release of the beautiful new BIG Slave I Spaceship, I was inspired to stop waiting for the perfect Boba Fett figure and to create it as a custom for myself (before the in-evitable ESB paint deco’ed Slave I debuts).
In Hasbro’s defense, I quickly realized that Fett’s uniform is so complex and so elaborate, that a 3-3/4 inch action figure along the magnitude of what I was looking for was only ever going to be possible as a “dress up” custom… unlikely ever to be mass-produced by a toy company. This would be a figure where virtually every detail would have to be treated as a separate garment!
GETTING STARTED
I wanted to begin my custom figure with a Super-Articulated base figure body that would serve as a nice, clean, starting point for the ornery bounty hunter… a blank slate, if you will.
The trouble was, NONE of the existing Fett figures fit that bill. In addition to the issues I outlined previously, NONE of them had the anatomical proportions, attitude, nor the neutral stance that I felt was suitable for Fett.
LEGACY OF A NEW HOPE
With the release of Hasbro’s 2009 Legacy Collection, I finally found an action figure that I considered to be an excellent candidate for a Boba Fett base figure body: Imperial Scanning Crewman.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/ImperialScanningScrewman.jpg)
Here we had an excellent Super-Articulated body, with a really nice balanced anatomical proportion and stance… and a basic STAR WARS jumpsuit sculpt who’s color was a PERFECT match for Fett’s dingy flight suit. There was undoubtedly going to be some serious surgery required to pull this figure off, but at least Boba now had a basic body.
I gave myself a preview of the overall visual aesthetic of the final custom figure by placing a Boba Fett helmet on the Imperial Scanning Crewman. I must say that even at that earliest of stages, what I saw pleased me greatly.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01097.jpg)
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LEGS DON’T FAIL ME NOW
Although, the Imperial Scanning Crewman Base figure had a stance that I thought was great for Boba Fett, the details of his legs were, of course, completely wrong. The pants pockets needed to be replaced with the correct ones from Boba Fett’s jumpsuit (taken from 2010 Vintage Collection Fett).
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01141.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01143.jpg)
Every once in a while, the customizing Gods smile upon me and offer me a gift. This was one such occasion. To my surprise and delight, 2010 Boba's pants pockets were PERFECTLY compatible with the color of the Scanning Crewman’s jumpsuit since Hasbro molded the uniforms of both figures in the exact same color!!! WOOT!!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01144.jpg)
Then, the lower legs had to be replaced altogether since Fett does not wear tall black boots. That was when I recieved another customizing "GIFT" from the gods. I did not like the lower legs from the Legacy / 2010 Vintage Collection Fett for use on my figure because I found them to be far too frail and thin to be appropriate for Fett’s baggy pants (there's that annoying shrinking scale thing again!).
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01121.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01122.jpg)
But the lower legs of POTJ 300th figure Boba Fett came to my rescue here. And although they were not a 100% color match for the ISC uniform, they were certainly awfully, awfully close! Close enough that no re-painting would be required since the two leg sections would be separated by the yellow knee pads! Once again… WOOT!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01135.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01136.jpg)
If you place your thumb between the upper and lower legs sections in this photo (like Boba's knee pad), you can see how greatly REDUCED the color difference becomes in the two shades of grey pants.
I was forced to re-position the shin pockets that contained Fett’s cutting tools a bit lower to accommodate the yellow knee pads (cut off of POTJ 300th Boba Fett and Dremmeled out to be wearable). But the final look is just dandy!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01134.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01142.jpg)
Each leg is bottomed off with the ankle cuffs from Legacy / 2010 Vintage Collection Boba. And the boot feet (with correct color, center stripe, and steel toe spikes) were donated by SAGA 2 Fett. Ball articulation of the ankles / feet is fully preserved.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01137.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01138.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01139.jpg)
The original ISC figure’s (below average) height was brought up to a full 3-3/4” inches with this operation.
When the lower leg section was shaved down a bit to anatomically match the Imperial Scanning Crewman’s upper legs, the result was an absolutely PERFECT pair of legs that did NOT look anorexic, and were still fully articulate!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/BobaLegs.jpg)
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OUTFITTING A BOUNTY HUNTER
Putting together the articles of Boba Fett’s costume was going to be VERY time-consuming, VERY delicate, and VERY intricate work… a supreme challenge, but ultimately VERY important to me. I really wanted the outfit on my figure to have that “assembled” look that is so identifiable to me as Boba Fett’s signature look.
I find that when Fett’s various armor sections, garments, and weapons are all molded and / or painted onto the figure (as they are on production figures), much of that “sectioned” look is lost, in my opinion.
Interestingly enough, virtually EVERY figure that I critiqued before would provide me with vital parts for creating my final custom Boba Fett.
Here is the rundown:
I turned to the POTJ 300th figure Boba Fett for his yellow armored knee pads and shoulder armor bell pieces. It was a tricky matter of using a single edge razor to cut these sections out, and then Dremeling them into hollow wearable articles.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01124.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01119.jpg)
I discovered that when the shoulder bells are molded onto the figure’s upper arms (as they are on production Hasbro figures), there are always going to be three (3) major compromises to the integrity of the overall figure (which I was NOT going to accept on my custom):
1) The ball-jointed arms range of motion becomes partially impaired.
2) Un-due bulk is sculpted onto the figure’s shoulders, adversely affecting the slender aesthetic of the character.
3) The collar armor design is altered so that the outer ends curl upward where they meet the shoulder / arm socket. This is done to create clearance for the bulked-up ball-jointed arm (with the armored shoulder bells molded on).
The curled-up collar armor (in turn) only contributes to “football shoulder pad and no-neck syndrome”… which significantly reduces the slim, sleek aesthetic that this character is supposed to have.
By creating the shoulder bells as separate appliances, and then attaching them to the sleeve of a separate soft-goods flack vest garment (as they are meant to be), it was my hope to leave the figure’s shoulder articulation un-obstructed and maintain a slender build to Fett’s upper body.
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VOTC Boba Fett provided the armored torso plates of the bounty hunter’s flack vest, and the armored cod piece came from POTJ 300th Figure Fett. Once again, each section was carefully cut out of the molded action figure and Dremelled down into separate plates of an appropriate thinness for a figure of this scale. The crotch armor actually needed to be completed with sheet styrene since the figure only provided the raised center section of the cod-piece.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01128.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01129.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01110.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01112.jpg)
After looking at every single Boba Fett figure ever released, I came to the conclusion that vintage Kenner Fett had the best, cleanest detailed, and most solid collar armor. After cutting the armor off of a spare Kenner Fett body, I Dremelled it down to an appropriate thinness and cleaned the edges up into a really nice wearable plate.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01058.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01063.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01060.jpg)
The back armor plate (rocket pack mount) was carefully cut off the Legacy collection Fett figure, and trimmed to an appropriate size to fit an Imperial Scanning Crewman’s back.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01069.jpg)
Once I created all of these appliances, I did a quick test-fit on the Imperial Scanning Trooper Body (With the helmet) to check on the overall proportions, stance, and aesthetic attitude of the figure.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01066.jpg)
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Creating the pattern for Boba Fett’s flack vest was a matter of trial and error. But, I produced a paper template quickly enough, and used it to cut out a basic cloth vest. I added small upper sleeve extensions (for the armored shoulder bells to be attached to) and I made a neck hole in the vest with a paper hole-punch.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01107.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01109.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01108.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01100.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01102.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01103.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01113.jpg)
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Prior to the soft-goods flack vest being permanently glued to the Imperial Scanning Crewman body, I performed a test fit of the armored torso plates onto the vest to check the overall color layout and texture contrasts on the figure.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01115.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01116.jpg)
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I next decided to give Boba Fett's backpack some attention.
For this figure I always knew that I wanted to use the excellent backpack from the POTJ 300th figure Boba Fett.
Molded in solid ABS plastic, this backpack had superior detail in the casting to the softer PVC rubbery backpacks used by many Boba Fett figures. It also boasted adjustable rocket nozzels and a removable top concussion missile rocket (none of which are offered by Hasbro's latest Vintage Collection Fett)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01071.jpg)
There were, however, three (3) issues with this backpack that needed to be addressed:
1) The mounting system for the backpack is completely inconsistent with the custom figure I am creating. This system features a bulky mounting box molded to the inside of the backpack (which would create an unnatural space away from the figure's back when worn).
This backpack would have to be converted to the simpler peg mounting system utilized on today's figures.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01070.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01073.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01074.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01079.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01078.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01080.jpg)
2) The sculpted ribs around the neck base of the removable concussion missile rocket were NOT included with this backpack. They would have to be transferred over from another backpack that had them available.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01075.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01083.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01086.jpg)
I cut off the rubbery (non-removable) concussion missile rocket, and drilled a new hole into the ribbed neck to accommodate the removable POTJ 300th figure Boba Fett concussion rocket.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01087.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01089.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01090.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01092.jpg)
3) The adjustable rocket nozzels at the bottom of the backpack would have to be drilled open.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01093.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01095.jpg)
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TO CLONE, OR NOT TO CLONE. THAT IS THE QUESTION
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. I am a huge fan of the STAR WARS movie Saga… all 6 films. But I am strictly an Original Trilogy Collector.
Although I gave considerable thought to having a clone / Jango-esque head sculpt on my custom Fett figure, with a helmet engineered to be removable, I decided against proceeding in this direction.
There are two reasons for this:
1) I wanted to look upon my Boba Fett figure as faceless and anonymous… just as the character was in the OT.
2) Although I was confident that I could successfully increase the size of the helmet to be wearable by a clone head sculpt, I realized there was NOTHING I was going to be able to do about the resulting chewing gum helmet syndrome. This is the condition that exists with the current Vintage Collection Boba Fett figure helmet, where it is too soft to hold its shape since it is fashioned out of soft, rubbery PVC plastic.
The same thing would happen with any available helmet sculpt if I Dremelled it into a wearable helmet. The walls of the helmet would become too thin, and it would warp terribly when worn by the figure.
Unacceptable.
I also considered making a mold and hard resin casting of a Boba helmet knowing that a hollowed-out resin helmet would will hold its shape fine because it would be solid and NOT be rubbery.
This idea was rejected because during the inevitable shrinkage of the molding and casting process, I would lose 1% - 2% of my original helmet’s overall size.
Again, unacceptable
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PROFILING A HELMET
I selected (what I considered to be) the best Boba Fett helmet sculpt of all the available production figures released by Hasbro: SAGA 2 Boba Fett Battle of Carkoon: (2006)
To my eyes, this was the sharpest, straightest, cleanest (and certainly largest) sculpt we had gotten out of Hasbro from all the Fett figures they’d ever produced.
Was it PERFECT?
No. Not by a long shot. But I did consider it reasonably workable into a helmet that I would accept for my custom figure.
However… More surgery required.
I liked the face of the helmet very much (although it was NOT 100% accurate to the film prop).
But it was the helmet profile that I had major problems with.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01145.jpg)
Putting it simply, the crown of the helmet was far too narrow to adequately and realistically accommodate an average human male head. And with the base of the helmet being as wide as it was, the overly narrow crown was only augmented visually.
In THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Fett was mostly seen frontally. But we did get a few brief glimpses at the shape of the profile of his helmet. These were probably best seen during his conversation with Darth Vader (immediately after Han Solo’s torture). You’ll note the size of the helmet’s crown in relation to the base. Not nearly as narrow as Hasbro had presented.
I fixed the helmet’s profile by slicing it in half horizontally along the top of the head (ear to ear). I sliced clear down to the helmet base, but I DID NOT cut all the way through.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01146.jpg)
I pried the two helmet halves apart (while they were still attached at the helmet base.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01147.jpg)
Using an additional Battle of Carkoon helmet, I sliced a tiny wedge spacer, and glued it into my opened helmet (increasing the width of the crown dramatically).
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01148.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01149.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01151.jpg)
After carefully filling in all of the gaps around the helmet with spare helmet shavings, I trimmed and sanded the newly created seam until it was smooth.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01152.jpg)
I was reasonably pleased with the helmet’s new profile when compared to the original.
Next, I knew that in order for the helmet to look like wearable head gear, I was going to have to create a bit of a recess in the helmet’s underside to visually establish the helmet’s (supposed) wall thickness. I Dremmelled a full recess of about 1/8 of an inch up into the helmet’s base. I then Dremmelled a ball joint socket that I could pop onto the figure’s neck post.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01153.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01155.jpg)
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When I placed the helmet on the figure, I tested the various head positions to ensure the anatomical accuracy and symmetry of the neck pivot point.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01156.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01158.jpg)
This entire operation forced the loss of raised ridge details around the rear of the helmet’s crown and at the sides. These ridges will now have to be restored to the helmet. Also, an all-new flip-down target sight will have to be made for the helmet due to the current sight being too thick and about 1/32 of an inch too tall.
The final planned modification to this helmet will be the addition of a gloss coat to the black T-visor to give it a tinted glassy look.
NEXT UPDATE: Monday evening. Later guys!
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First and foremost, a great big welcome to the Shipyards! It's always a pleasure for a new member to join and post, and even a greater pleasure when they start off with both barrels blasting like you have!
This has to be one of the most comprehensive, detailed description of how a custom came to be that I've ever seen. Your history of the Boba Fett figure was very complete, and I enjoyed reading it all. I can't wait to see tomorrow's update, not to mention your next custom affair!
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welcome to the yards!
wow ! that is some serious customising work ! you are definatley a perfectionist
impressive...most impressive... :)
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holy crap !
that is awesome as in , best boba i have ever seen in my whole life !
the detail, the creativity , its fan bloody tastic
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Roberto, thanks so much for bringing your awesome vision of Boba to the Shipyards. I was going to PM you at RS and see if you would join here...you must have felt the vibe. Any way as I have said before this is looking great and can't wait to see this when you are done. Welcome to the Yards my Lord!
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Roberto, thanks so much for bringing your awesome vision of Boba to the Shipyards. I was going to PM you at RS and see if you would join here...you must have felt the vibe. Any way as I have said before this is looking great and can't wait to see this when you are done. Welcome to the Yards my Lord!
Thanks so much for the warm welcome LS, and the kind words everyone about this custom figure. I feel a bit self-serving posting this thread in a few sites, but it is my continued hope that the high-visibility of a figure like this will inspire Hasbro to produce better and better products.
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Of COURSE it is self serving, but that's the point of these forums, to self promote your works of art! I think he definitely came out excellent, the ultimate depiction of what he should look like, and your tutorial is out of this world!
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Good Lord! That is the best Boba Fett ever. Carry on good sir, carry on.
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HOLY SHUCKS!!!! that is one awesome boba fett!!!
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This is the post of the year! Your details of Fett are spot on and really interesting to read.
The build of your custom Fett is great and the final figure is the best representation I have ever seen of Boba Fett!
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This is the post of the year! Your details of Fett are spot on and really interesting to read.
The build of your custom Fett is great and the final figure is the best representation I have ever seen of Boba Fett!
Thanks a million friends! But don't forget: This figure is NOT YET FINISHED. There are still MANY final details pending that will be covered in future photo updates so stay tuned! ;D
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very kool cant wait for the finished custom!!
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Roberto, that was one heck of a first post, my man! I too was riveted by your history and commentary of the various boba Fett releases and enjoyed being able to compare all of those figures side by side.
Your in progress work-up of your boba project shows a passion and attention to detail that is unrivaled by many who don't have your obvious wealth of Patience. I cant wait to see your next update and your further endeavors.
Welcome to the Shipyards!
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That was outstanding to say the least. :o I wish I had that kind of patience to build a figure like that. I can't wait to see some your other or future work. And I was wondering if you do custom vehicles and dioramas too. With your attention to detail and high standards I would love to see a vehicle or a dio from you. Thanks for joining the Yards and sharing your knowledge and skills with us.
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Wow, what a great helmet. I know I echo all of the other sentiments, but that hemlet does look good. I can't wait to see how the rest works out. I must say I seem to recall a DarkLord that had a major vintage boxed collection that got water damage and that Darklord redid all of the boxes in a new type of vintage style I thought was just over the top. I probably do not have the right DarkLord, but welcome to the Yards!
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Fabulous tutorial.
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this is great man, welcome to the yards, absolutly impressive work!
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Wow, what a great helmet. I know I echo all of the other sentiments, but that hemlet does look good. I can't wait to see how the rest works out. I must say I seem to recall a DarkLord that had a major vintage boxed collection that got water damage and that Darklord redid all of the boxes in a new type of vintage style I thought was just over the top. I probably do not have the right DarkLord, but welcome to the Yards!
Actually, you DO have the right "Darklord". I am he! I'm the lunatic that re-created the water-damaged boxes of my collection in custom vintage Kenner style. :grin:
Thanks so much for the kind words and the warm welcome everyone! I'm really flattered!
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Okay, so following up on a PM’ed request, here is a comparison of custom Boba’s new helmet profile versus the original stock Hasbro helmet.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Helmetcompare.jpg)
As you can see, the helmet’s upper crown is now an appropriate size when compared to the helmet base, but the operation resulted in the loss of the raised ridge details at the rear of the bucket. They will now need to be replaced.
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HANDS AND A HOLSTER
This custom figure is now in the final anatomical phase of construction, and is entering the fine detail phase (which is really my favorite phase).
Tonight I worked to select a suitable set of hands for custom Boba Fett that would hold his laser rifle well, and would fit anatomically with the Imperial Scanning Crewman basic body.
I did not bother to look to any of the previous Hasbro Boba Fett figures for help since I consider virtually all of them either gorilla handed, or hook clawed.
But in my parts bin, I found a figure that I thought might be a very good hands / gloves candidate. None other than Jango Fett himself.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01173.jpg)
I believe this is a SAGA 1 Jango, and what I really liked about his gloved hands sculpt (besides their suitable size) is the fact that they included the folds of the fabric to really complete the look. They will have to be painted the correct color for Boba’s gloves, of course, but I think they have very nice detail.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01176.jpg)
I took a razor to Jango’s hands and then gradually shaved off the silver gauntlet remnants that remained on his wrist stumps.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01177.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01178.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01179.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01180-1.jpg)
Once the Jango hands were cleaned and prepped, I carefully sliced away the mounting pin from the Imperial Scanning Troopers hands and transferred them over to Jango’s severed mitts.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01182.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01183.jpg)
After these hands set, they will pop right into the Custom Boba’s gauntlet cuffs, and remain fully swivel articulated.
While the hands were drying, I officially turned my attention to this figure’s final fine detail phase.
I needed to outfit custom Boba with a holster for his side arm blaster. Only 2 Hasbro Boba Fetts have included this side holster (POTJ 300th Fett, and the most recent Legacy Collection / 2010 Vintage Collection sculpt). Both figures included the holster as a permanently molded part of the right thigh.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/SideHolsters.jpg)
Once again, I let my razor do the talking. I chose the POTJ holster for my project (because of its superior sharpness and detail ) Sliced it right off of the fodder figure, and then transferred it over (as a separate wearable accessory) to my custom Boba Fett.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01164.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01167.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01168.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Holsterinplace.jpg)
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Mate firstly welcome aboard,
I have to say that I couldn't stop reading and looking at the pics, the tutorial is excellent and for a figure that isn't even complete itlooks brillant alraedy. The thing that I am most impressed about is all the different parts you are using to make this movie accurate. My hat is off to you mate and look forward to more of your brillant work.
Ron
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Looking great Roberto! I was hoping you were going to give him "Blasterman" style articulated hands. Have you seen them on his figures at RS? He inserts lego levers into the arm stump then dremels a small hole into the hand and you have a ball jointed hand. Your looks great don't get me wrong but the ball joints are capable of so many cool poses.
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WOW!!
I don't have the words to express what I think of this great figure!!
Amazing!!
Keep up the great work!!!
Thanks for posting
and welcome ...
Rich
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Looking great Roberto! I was hoping you were going to give him "Blasterman" style articulated hands. Have you seen them on his figures at RS? He inserts lego levers into the arm stump then dremels a small hole into the hand and you have a ball jointed hand. Your looks great don't get me wrong but the ball joints are capable of so many cool poses.
Reeeeeally??? Well... I'll have to look into that then, won't I? ;)
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Sir, you truely are a master at this. :)
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wooow man this is looking better and better each time I look it!
amazing work!
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Looks good to me.
I thought I had the right DarkLord. Those vintage box conversion looked fantastic. I would love to see a pic of all that again!
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wow! most impressive, that is a pile of work.....Now this is a custom. ...Amazing.
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COLLARS AND SLEEVES
Hoo-boy! Tonight was about some serious, finger-aching, detail work on ol’ Custom Boba Fett.
I decided to add the correct short sleeves to Boba’s flack vest so that his shoulder bells could be placed in their final positions (attached to the sleeves).
As per my usual procedure, I began by making a paper template of the basic shape of the sleeve, and test-fit the pattern against the shoulder of the figure.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01186.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01187.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01188.jpg)
I then used the pattern to cut the basic shape in fabric, and then I created a fold-over finish seam on the sleeve’s edge. Each sleeve was very carefully glued into the arm holes of the flack vest and checked for final symmetry.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01189.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01190.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01191.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01192.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01195.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01196.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01197.jpg)
I know they were not accurate, but I really liked those two little raised details on the front of the collar armor which I fashioned from a vintage Kenner Boba Fett figure. Consequently, I was pretty sad to have to shave them off, and sand the area smooth.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01198.jpg)
I replaced all of the armor back onto the figure, and once again checked the overall stance and attitude of ol’Boba… now with his new flack vest sleeves!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01202.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01206.jpg)
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Beautiful- even in a w.i.p. stage its already the best Boba Fett I have ever seen.
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Roberto, I am just shaking my head in disbelief at how good that flack vest is and now you have added the sleeves! What glue are you useing to make the folded seams? I love your techniques and the results they produce! I am with you on the colar armor, I know the 2 small details are not accurate but they looked cool and gave a bit of detail to that piece. I guess if you are making the most screen accurate Boba ever they have to go though! Looking better than good man and have you found the info on B mans articulated wrists at RS? You will also need one of his awesome weapons for this guy!
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Roberto, I am just shaking my head in disbelief at how good that flack vest is and now you have added the sleeves! What glue are you useing to make the folded seams? I love your techniques and the results they produce! I am with you on the colar armor, I know the 2 small details are not accurate but they looked cool and gave a bit of detail to that piece. I guess if you are making the most screen accurate Boba ever they have to go though! Looking better than good man and have you found the info on B mans articulated wrists at RS? You will also need one of his awesome weapons for this guy!
Thanks a million LS!
The glue I am using to create fold-over seams (and to assemble the vest in general) is basic 3M spray mount adhesive. Strong stuff and it works PERMANENTLY on fabrics. The only trouble is you have to wait a few seconds before you start using it on your fabric because if it is too wet it will bleed right through the cloth. So it must be applied when it is getting thick and tacky, and you must work QUICKLY! I apply the glue with an old worn out paint brush.
Yeah, I was really used to the two small raised details on the front of the collar armor. Now that they're gone, it looks plain-jane to me. I'm sure it will look a whole lot more spruced up once I paint it and add the four tiny silver fastening studs the the collar armor's center shoulder line.
Disappointing news regarding the ball wrists: I have not spoken to BLASTERMAN, however, I was analyzing the situation directly on the figure itself, and it looks like ball-wrists will not be possible on this custom Boba. The reason for this is the weapon wrist gauntlets: For the sake of authenticity, I've created them with a fair amount of recess in the cuff so that Boba's wrists are pretty deeply buried. This doesn't leave much play for ball-wrist articulation. It loks like things are pretty much going to be limited to swivel wrists. But, you know, I'm really okay with that. On Boba Fett's real-life costume, it looks to me like he's a little bit limited in his wrist movements anyway because of those gauntlets. bbfet
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Regarding the wrist and gauntlet situation I agree with you. You may not like the look of them either now that I really think about it. It is an awesome technique for posing weaponry as you can point in any direction but when you look at the arm from the side it kind of looks like the hand is floating in mid air with a bit of gap to the wrist. This is because the lego lever is thin with a ball on the end. Hold on...I grabbed a pic for you.
(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u130/sk8twistedtrees/ISY/12.jpg)
(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u130/sk8twistedtrees/ISY/v2_trooper1.jpg)
Looks pretty good huh?
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Yup! those SA wristed hands are a SERIOUS piece of business! I really wish things were otherwise regarding Custom Boba, and wrists like these.
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absolutely amazing work my friend. I love the follow up explanation and research.
This is the kind of figure I'd love to have in my Fett collection. It's purely a work of art.
The vest impresses me the most. The fact you cut out all the individual armor pieces and glued them onto the cloth vest astouds me, it looks so good.
I personally would have probably gone with a torso that had a mid-section joint, especially since you covered most of the upper half of the figure with the flak vest. This would have given the figure some more articulation.... of course it would have also increased the overall build and height of the figure, something you obviously are against in your comments.
It's a hard thing to try and decide between screen accuracy and articulation. As you are seeing with the wrist joints. If you can figure it out I highly recomend makeing them work. That simple added point opens up so many more realistic poses it's unreal. The ball joints shown by LS are a good idea. I know your going for accuracy here but I used a set of Animated Clone Wars (TCW) Clone hands on one of my favorite mando customs:
(http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/012/b/6/SA_stealth_mando_4_by_SpudaFett.jpg)
They worked pretty well and were able to be recessed in far enough to look natural. I am not sure how you would feel about the overall look of them though, they do have that armor piece on the back of the hand that you might want to remove... Personally I think it looks very similar to the white patch that boba has on the back of his hands... so I'd leave it.
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Wow, I love the soft good portion of the armor! It would be sweet to see an entire figure done that way with the soft good under and then the armor pieces over top of that. Great idea and boy this figure is looking great.
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Wow, I love the soft good portion of the armor! It would be sweet to see an entire figure done that way with the soft good under and then the armor pieces over top of that. Great idea and boy this figure is looking great.
I know some guys on other forums that are doing AMAZING soft goods work for joes in the 1:18th scales. They look much more detailed and very lifelike... the greatest thing about using soft goods for the entire figure like they are doing you can use a spindly little super articulated figure's frame underneath it to add articulation without having to pick a source figure that looks correct...
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Wow, I love the soft good portion of the armor! It would be sweet to see an entire figure done that way with the soft good under and then the armor pieces over top of that. Great idea and boy this figure is looking great.
I know some guys on other forums that are doing AMAZING soft goods work for joes in the 1:18th scales. They look much more detailed and very lifelike... the greatest thing about using soft goods for the entire figure like they are doing you can use a spindly little super articulated figure's frame underneath it to add articulation without having to pick a source figure that looks correct...
Well tell those guys to get on over here and stop hoarding those pics. We would love to see em! I wonder how hard it would be to do the entire soft goods on this Fett for everything not just the chest?
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WOW Darklord, this is an amazing tutorial. I couldn't stop reading!! Love the work, and can't wait to see the completed Fett.
This would be the Ultimate Boba in any collection!!!!
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your Boba simply rocks!! stunning work and details... :o
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Next Update: Sunday Night.
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GET ‘IM ON THE SHINS!!
There has always been a detail on all Boba Fett action figures that I really wish had been treated like any of his loose weapon accessories: The shin pocket tools . I’ve honestly never really liked how the tools (and the pockets they were stored in), were always treated as a solid molded part of his lower leg sculpts.
Now when I embarked upon this project, I fully intended to include working shin pockets and separate tools details for my custom figure. But I had no idea what I was in for. I only partially succeeded in my effort since it wasn’t really possible for me to create accurate versions of the tools in this scale, AND to have them all fit into working shin pockets that were not actually made of cloth.
In the end, I made a compromise between screen accuracy and functionality that nevertheless preserved the established aesthetic of the figure.
I began by razoring out the two shin pockets that I intended to use on this figure. Although the two pockets came from two different figures, I selected them because they were size-compatible with one another, and because they matched the main Imperial Scanning Crewman jumpsuit color.
POTJ 300th figure Boba Fett provided the left shin pocket, while Legacy Evolutions Fett provided the right one.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01208.jpg)
I carefully used my trusty razor to cut out the two solid shin pocket “blocks” into actual open pockets. The pockets, in turn, were trimmed and glued to the figure’s shins.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01216.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01217.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01218.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01220.jpg)
As I set my sights on creating the shin tools, I attempted to utilize the sculpts that I found to be most accurate and detailed: Vintage Kenner Boba Fett. I sliced out the portions of the tools that were sculpted to be visible on the figure’s legs, and I actually attempted to complete the un-seen portion of the tools either by scratch building, and or scratch sculpting them . However, at this small a scale, that proved to be far more trouble than it was worth, especially since the preliminary full length tools I fashioned were far too long and would not fit into the pockets I had created.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01228.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01230.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01229.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01231.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01224.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01225.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01227.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01232.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01233.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01234.jpg)
My compromise ended up being to utilize the half shin tools sculpt from POTJ 300th Boba and SAGA I Pit of Carkoon Fett, and scratch building just enough of the un-seen portion of the tools so that they could slip into the shin pockets. I didn’t achieve the tiny separate tools accessories I hoped for, BUT at least I was able to do away with the solid molded shin pockets look which I disliked so much... a compromise that I was reasonably satisfied with.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01237.jpg)
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my hat is off to you, sir!! really amazing work, so full of love for all details, like this shin tools, they work perfect.
When he is done he should be featured in some poster artwork.
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Again flawless execution on this great work of art! The pocket details are outstanding!
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WOW!!
your attention to detail is amazing!!!
Great , I can't find the words!!!
Keep up the great work!!!
Rich
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incredible job man,the details are amazing!!!
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I'm going to be a little cinical here...
The pockets, although a great idea, are kind of a waste of effort if you ask me. It's hard to tell from the close up images but the new pockets look too bulbous and baggy as compared to the original molded on details. To me, at that scale, having the shin tools molded on is not a problem because (as you found out) it would be almost impossible to make usable, posable, working tools to fit into the pockets and yet still be able to be held and "used" by the figure.
That being said, it is a realy coold idea, and you made something that almost full-fills the feature you wanted. And THAT is what we all strive for while customizing.
Remember, that all of this is being said by a guy who destroys two figures (sometimes more) only to be able to add one or two added points of articulation into a figure!
I am definately still impressed with this project. I can't wait to see the final result of all your hard work.
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I'm going to be a little cinical here...
The pockets, although a great idea, are kind of a waste of effort if you ask me. It's hard to tell from the close up images but the new pockets look too bulbous and baggy as compared to the original molded on details. To me, at that scale, having the shin tools molded on is not a problem because (as you found out) it would be almost impossible to make usable, posable, working tools to fit into the pockets and yet still be able to be held and "used" by the figure.
That being said, it is a realy coold idea, and you made something that almost full-fills the feature you wanted. And THAT is what we all strive for while customizing.
Remember, that all of this is being said by a guy who destroys two figures (sometimes more) only to be able to add one or two added points of articulation into a figure!
I am definately still impressed with this project. I can't wait to see the final result of all your hard work.
Believe it or not, I kinda agree with you here.
I will point out that the pockets really look more bulbous in photos than they do in person.
Nevertheless, I actually went in yesterday and removed the pockets and trimmed them down CONSIDERABLY.
They are now much more flush against the figure's shins and look amazing. In the next full body shot of the figure, you will see what I mean.
Still no actual full tools in the pockets (only the exposed tops). But the "tools" are still clearly emerging as separate pieces out of those pockets. In the final analysis that is really want I wanted to achieve to get away from that molded look.
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wow great job . looks alote better that way cant wait to see it done . Im new to this site as well . welcome
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I'm going to be a little cinical here...
The pockets, although a great idea, are kind of a waste of effort if you ask me. It's hard to tell from the close up images but the new pockets look too bulbous and baggy as compared to the original molded on details. To me, at that scale, having the shin tools molded on is not a problem because (as you found out) it would be almost impossible to make usable, posable, working tools to fit into the pockets and yet still be able to be held and "used" by the figure.
That being said, it is a realy coold idea, and you made something that almost full-fills the feature you wanted. And THAT is what we all strive for while customizing.
Remember, that all of this is being said by a guy who destroys two figures (sometimes more) only to be able to add one or two added points of articulation into a figure!
I am definately still impressed with this project. I can't wait to see the final result of all your hard work.
Believe it or not, I kinda agree with you here.
I will point out that the pockets really look more bulbous in photos than they do in person.
Nevertheless, I actually went in yesterday and removed the pockets and trimmed them down CONSIDERABLY.
They are now much more flush against the figure's shins and look amazing. In the next full body shot of the figure, you will see what I mean.
Still no actual full tools in the pockets (only the exposed tops). But the "tools" are still clearly emerging as separate pieces out of those pockets. In the final analysis that is really want I wanted to achieve to get away from that molded look.
great! I can't wait to see the final product of this project. I'm thinking about trying the cloth armor mount myself on a future project. where did you get the glue you are using for the cloth?
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The glue I use for fabric can be found at virtually ANY hardware store, arts and crafts store, office supply, or even the school supply section in a department store. I use 3M Spray Mount Adhesive. This glue is deigned to be used on virtually ANY surfaces that you wish to join.
Naturally when making something as small and precise as an action figure's garment, you will not be working with the glue in its spray form. I like to use a piece of old cardboard where I'll spray some of the glue onto (like a pallate). Then I'll use an old worn small paint brush to dip into the glue, and apply in a controlled way to the small part I am creating.
SPECIAL NOTE When working with this glue to bond fabrics, allow the glue to become a little tacky first. If the fabric is being joined to another surface of another material (like say, custom Boba's vest being permanently glued to the action figure's plastic torso), then apply the slightly tacky glue to the other surface , and NOT directly to the fabric itself.
The reason for this rule of thumb is to avoid the glue's seepage through your cloth. If the glue is too wet when you use it, (especially when bonding fabric to fabric, and you have no choice but to apply directly to the fabric's back), there will be an unsightly seepage stain visible right through the fabric.
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Thanks for the tip! I've been experimenting a little bit with soft goods and cloth accessories a little lately and I've been using super glue to bond them together and that anoying seeping problem has been killing me!
Does this glue your using cause the fabric to become stiff? or does it remain pretty flexible?
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Shab, this is the most detailed Boba I've seen so far.
Absolutely great work!
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Thanks for the tip! I've been experimenting a little bit with soft goods and cloth accessories a little lately and I've been using super glue to bond them together and that anoying seeping problem has been killing me!
Does this glue your using cause the fabric to become stiff? or does it remain pretty flexible?
That's the nice part! Once dry, The glue does not make the fabric hard! It will remain flexible! ;D
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HELMET DETAILING
Sometimes the fine detail phase is fun. And sometimes it is NOT.
Tonight, it was definitely NOT fun!
I worked to finalize the final details of Boba Fett’s helmet and it was truly a tedious experience.
Using strip styrene, I re-created the raised ridge details at the back of the helmet (which were lost during the cranial enlargement operation I performed three weeks ago).
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01243.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01244.jpg)
I carefully measured the required size of the raised ridge and began assembling it off of the helmet. I made 45 degree angled miter cuts at the corners to form the right angles on this raised detail.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01245.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01246.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01247.jpg)
Let’s just say that when the strips are this small, performing this operation accurately requires more that a few attempts.
When the square ridge detail had fully set, I painted it in the correct dull red.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01250.jpg)
While I waited for the paint to dry, I painted the rear bottom half of the helmet in dark green.
Using superglue, I carefully attached the assembled, painted ridge to the rear of the helmet.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01252.jpg)
I next turned my attention to the helmet’s rangefinder.
I really felt like I needed to correct the rubbery, overly thick rod of the rangefinder into something that was thinner and cleaner.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01254.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01255.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01256.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01257.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01258.jpg)
I actually used a single staple from a grapple gun, straightened it, and attached the rangefinder tip. I was very pleased with its overall slender metallic look once it was attached to the helmet.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01263.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01264.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01265.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01266.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01267N.jpg)
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Alright, some PM'ed requests have come in for some up to date photos of the custom Boba Fett figure in it's current state. It's also been requested to make the photos a bit less "shadowy" so that all details of the figure are visible.
Well here are some new photos more frontally lit.
Since the last time a full body shot of the figure was taken, I added:
1) The Working Shin Pockets with separate Shin tools (veneers) to get away from the standard production figure's molded look. The pockets have since been made even MORE flush again the figure's shins (they were a bit too bulky before / Now they are correct). NOTE: Looking at these new photos, I am SOOOOO glad that I went to the trouble of creating these pockets and tools veneers. To my eyes they make such a huge difference in the final look of the figure when compared to the molded pocket/shins look.
2) The stalk for the helmet's rangefinder has been made much stronger, straighter, slimmer, and sturdier (with the use of a grapple gun staple)
3) The rear of the helmet has had the ridge details finalized (not visible from these photos).
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01242A.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01239A.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01240A.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01241A.jpg)
DEATILS STILL PENDING:
1) All pieces of armor (crotch, torso plates, backpack mount, collar armor) painted (if needed) and final glue.
2) Fastening straps added to the the backs of armored knee pads, and to the underside of crotch armor.
3) Final gloved hands painted and the raised white details added to the backs of both hands
4) Bicep sleeve cuffs sculpted to both upper arms
5) Power feed tube added to right arm wrist weapon gauntlet.
6) Final decal graphics added to back rocketpack
7) Tiny fastening studs added to collar armor shoulder seams. Aperature drilled into collar armor for side cape fastening.
8) Correct color wookie braids (3 strands) added and bundled with correct red and black bands.
9) Flack vest turtle neck created in fabric to match the rest of the garment.
10) Touch ups on paint rubs on the utility belt and left hand wrist gauntlet weapon.
11) Darkening right shoulder bell into (correct) deep orange (while left shoulder bell stays the current (correct) yellow.
12) Performing silver paint touch ups on steel toe spikes and steel fastening studs on sides on armored knee pads.
13) Lastly, Laser rifle updated into correct configuration to match prop as seen in film.
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I love this Boba man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
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I can't wait to see the rifle and wookie braids!
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Holy Wow! I feel unworthy.
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simply terrific!!
you are doing a unbelievalble job, I would only glue all parts to my fingers...
most excellent, he is not just a better Boba, he is the BEST :o
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Damn, this is awesome.
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bloody hell! you make the rest of us look like rank amatuers!
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WOW!!!
This is truly a work of art!!!!!
Great job!!!
Can't wait to see whats next!!!
Rich
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Thanks for those awesome pics. They do show the details better and the new pouch treatment looks even better than the first try. Very well done my friend!
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this is looking superb.
I love the adjusted rangefinder with the staple, great technique.
the wookie braids are somethign i've been wanting to do for a long time, what type thread are you useing? are you braiding them yourself?
Might I offer a detail that I put on one of my older mando/boba figs? you mentioned the toe barbs... It looks realy sweet if you trim off the molded on details and then take and insert two needle pin tips (with the sharp end out of course) in the correct spots for the barbs. when I did this I used a pair of needle-nose pliers to hold the needles with while I heated them with a lighter, then gently pushed them into the correct position in the foot. The heated pin will sink into the plastic as it melts around it, when it cools it should hold secure. It makes for a very effective sharp, metalic toe-barb!
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well thats it next to this i feel like a kid playing with my finger paints that one bad ass custom sir.
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FINALIZING THE ARMOR
Alright, when last we saw custom Boba Fett, there were a few items that were awaiting attention on my “Still Pending” list. The first item on that list was to make all of Fett’s armor its final color.
That task is what I concentrated on this evening. However, as usual, what I estimated to be a quick operation took me all night:
The collar armor, back armor plate (backpack mount), and crotch armor all needed their final paint job to match the torso armor plates (factory-painted at Hasbro).
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01305.jpg)
The collar and back armor pieces needed prep by having the original factory paint carefully sanded off by hand.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01306.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01307.jpg)
Next, I used the Hasbro painted torso armor pieces as color reference to mix the paint for the collar, back, and crotch armor.
Using my Valejo hobby paint set, I was able to mix up a VERY, VERY close duplication of the flat green for Boba’s armor.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01308.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01309.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01310.jpg)
I loaded up my airbrush and went to work.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01312.jpg)
Once the newly painted armor pieces were dry, I placed them back onto the figure and checked their final color accuracy under a white light against the Hasbro factory painted torso armor pieces.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01314.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01315.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01316.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01317.jpg)
I drilled a tiny hole into the back of the collar armor to accommodate Boba’s side cape, and cut the fastening lead of the cape into a very fine point. I applied some glue, and then inserted the cape into the hole in the armor.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01318.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01319.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01320.jpg)
Another series of photos to check the color accuracy and quality of Boba’s new armor paint-job:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/customBobatwo.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/customBobaFett-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/customBobarear.jpg)
I love how this photo demonstrates the preservation of this figure’s slender build despite the addition of the soft-goods flak vest and the torso armor pieces.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/customBobaside.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/customBoba3.jpg)
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The attention to just every detail really pushes this one to new levels. Wow is an understatement. Back to the front page.
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:o :o never saw something like this... outstanding details and figure!
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This is amazing work! The helmet with your metal rangefinder arm is just so perfect! Still blows me away when I see it and that flak vest. The side shot is a jaw dropper, so slender and life like. The paint color came out great and really glad to see you moving along on this. Thanks for the update!
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i thought this would be a 12" figure because of the attention to detail ... its friggin amazing
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This is truly an awesome piece of work. I wish I could have one like this. Hasbro pay attention. This is how Boba Fett SHOULD be made.
I think the only thing I would prefer (THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY, NOT A CRITIQUE) is to have the mismatched green and red gauntlets and instead of bare hands I would have the gloves. However, let me reiterate that I could NOT make such a figure and in no way criticizing this amazing custom.
The Force is definitely your ally.
Let me echo beige-4...friggin amazing.
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This is truly an awesome piece of work. I wish I could have one like this. Hasbro pay attention. This is how Boba Fett SHOULD be made.
I think the only thing I would prefer (THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY, NOT A CRITIQUE) is to have the mismatched green and red gauntlets and instead of bare hands I would have the gloves. However, let me reiterate that I could NOT make such a figure and in no way criticizing this amazing custom.
The Force is definitely your ally.
Let me echo beige-4...friggin amazing.
look back a few pages he already has gloves for boba ..
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damn that's coming together very nicely. VERY well done indeed.
watching the progression of this figure is a thrill if I say so myself. with each installment the details and the awesomeness just builds upon everything you've already accomplished.
I for one know that I will never again attempt makeing a screen accurate boba fett again in my customizing career... I will not give up my love for mando customs, there is just no way I could ever get a boba to look as good as this one does.
phenomenal.
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words.............fail me.......... :o
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This Boba simply RULES all other figures. I am also wondering why go with the bare hands?
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This Boba simply RULES all other figures. I am also wondering why go with the bare hands?
guys... read the thread instead of just looking at the pictures.
he clearly states in a previous post that the hands are stand ins right now, he hasn't worked out the fine details of the gloves yet and he will paint them when he does.
what part of "work in progress" is so hard to grasp?
sorry to call yall out but it's been said twice now and someone ALREADY pointed out that the answer was in the thread.... ::)
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I see on October 5th he did say he's going to use Jango hands. Sorry I forgot.
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I see on October 5th he did say he's going to use Jango hands. Sorry I forgot. And I don't read everyone else's posts all the time. You know what, you're a real JERK! I don't think I'm going to contribute to this site anymore. Jay,Hemble,Tamer,Clint, and Rich are all cool and I'm sorry about this but this big mouth really pissed me off. I thought the theme of this website was "collecting without the attitute".
Don't let me ruin it for you. Life is always going to have one bad apple in the bunch.
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tsssss !! oh no you didnt !
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tsssss !! oh no you didnt !
and by bad apple I mean that's me. (sarchasm and tone of voice don't work well on the internet.)
just to be clear I felt like you guys wern't giving darklord enough credit here. Your nitpicking an unfinished custom and the answers to your questions were already stated. That is a little frustrating for someone who knows how much work goes into something like this.
I will admit, that you were trying to be pro-active and I appreciate that.
I appologize for my outburst, now let's drop this and quit hi-jacking his thread. This should be about his custom and it's awesomeness!
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I guess I missed the scuffle here but can understand Spud's mild frustration knowing that he is so affectionate about mando customs while seeing this incredible step-by-step opus unfold before us. Kudos to you, Devin, for penning an apology. Tom, I am sure that spud didn't mean any harm. I myself have been known to do the step-by-step process here where it will take several pages and some info or explanation can be lost in the flotsam.
Now, back to Darklord's custom.
I used to think that I was a stickler for detail but this build-up is on a whole new level of microdetailing. You sir, should be commended over and over again. Your passion for detail here is inspiring.
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Glad to see things are working themselves out and we are focusing attention where it is deserved.
I think we can all agree that with this figure, perfection is the rule, not the exception.
Still, it is nice to see everyone is noticing this custom.
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This is one of the most insane customs i have ever seen.....This is the ULTIMATE Fett, Fantastic job mate.
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best bobba custom ive seen so far. AWESOME MAN JUST AWESOME!!
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best bobba custom ive seen so far. AWESOME MAN JUST AWESOME!!
welcome Crow to the Shpyards. We are all liking this one.
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Beige-4 thanks for pointing out the info about the gloves. I must have missed that post.
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no problem mate
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that's freeking awesome
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welcome Crow to the Shpyards. We are all liking this one.
Thanks for the warm welcome sir. Can't wait to see this Boba done.
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A couple more days until the next update...
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wooohooo!! cant wait!!
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GLOVES? the mans a freakin genious this custom is gonna be worth the wait cant wait for it to be done!!!
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My camera has now been repaired, and I'll be taking delivery shortly, so the final updates to ol' Boba will be up in a couple of days. So sorry for the delay.
In the meantime, I received a PM request a couple of days ago asking if I had any photos of any other recent Original Trilogy custom action figures that I had created.
Well...
From A NEW HOPE here's my Custom Uncle Owen Lars
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/UncleOwen.jpg)
Now there was a strange figure to make!
When that Owen / Darth Maul comic 2-pack was released this summer, like a lot of people, I thought "Great! A nice new OT version of Uncle Owen to replace the outdated POTF 2 version"
Then when I ordered the figure and it arrived, my heart sank... Legs too short (making him virtually the same height as Luke), small-headed (again), Overly wide-stanced, incorrectly-colored robe...
CUSTOMIZATION REQUIRED
I bought a duplicate Owen figure and used both to lengthen the legs by about 1/16th of an inch. The operation also narrowed the stance to an appropriate width.
Episode II Owen provided the correctly colored robe. And I took the time to do a head-swap (neck replacement and all)with the POTF 2 Owen Lars sculpt (which was the only part of that figure that was worth anything to me).
Now Owen Lars is properly stanced, properly outfitted, appropriately-aged, and next to my custom Luke, he is the correct height.
The only drawback is that now, after all that surgery, custom Owen is now REALLY a grouch!
And here are a couple of Solos from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Custom Bespin Han Solo
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/BespinHan.jpg)
I'm a little tired of waiting for Hasbro to retire that wonky-torsoed, pencil-legged Han Solo body sculpt they've been using for the last few years. And I know they'll eventually release a Bespin Han Solo. But for the time being, I really don't see myself liking it more than my own custom figure.
Custom Hoth Han Solo
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01369.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/DSC01370.jpg)
I thought Hasbro came close to nailing this figure. They gave us versions with the hood sculpted up... sculpted down... blue coat... brown coat... yadda, yadda, yadda...
I just wanted a figure that had a soft-goods fur-lined hood that could flip back and reveal the Han Solo head sculpt (which is my personal favorite, and which I use with ALL of my custom Solos). Also I know it's been Lucasfilm confirmed that Han Solo's coat was actually BROWN. But I don't care! It photographed blue-ish to my eyes, and as a tribute to the Vintage Kenner Hoth Han Solo action figure I owned as a kid, I made sure my modern Hoth Solo was a BLUE COAT!
Luke Skywalker: Tatooine Farmboy
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/CUSTOM%20STAR%20WARS%20Action%20Figures/LukeSkywalkerTato11F68B.jpg)
Luke Skywalker: Jedi Knight
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/CUSTOM%20STAR%20WARS%20Action%20Figures/LukeSkywalkerJediKnight.jpg)
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/CUSTOM%20STAR%20WARS%20Action%20Figures/BenObi-WanKenobi.jpg)
Yoda
Once again, I've gotten a little tired of waiting for Hasbro to do a decent Original Trilogy Yoda. Instead, they keep giving us pea-headed angry-looking "warrior" Yodas from the prequels. He really should be large-headed so that he looks brainy... cerebral...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/CUSTOM%20STAR%20WARS%20Action%20Figures/Yoda.jpg)
Emperor Palpatine
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/CUSTOM%20STAR%20WARS%20Action%20Figures/TheEmperorPalpatine.jpg)
Darth Vader / Disfigured Anakin Skywalker
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/CUSTOM%20STAR%20WARS%20Action%20Figures/impressive.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/CUSTOM%20STAR%20WARS%20Action%20Figures/DarthVaderrevealed-1.jpg)
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I've been wanting to do a Han Solo custom. What figure does that favorite Han head come from? All of these images are fantastic by the way. I am also very interested to know what you used to make that Yoda.
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I've been wanting to do a Han Solo custom. What figure does that favorite Han head come from? All of these images are fantastic by the way. I am also very interested to know what you used to make that Yoda.
Well you should know that as a sort of a TRIBUTE to the early days of the re-launch of the STAR WARS toy line (with POTF 2), I don't really bother with trying to make my Custom Action Figures of main characters look like younger or older versions of themselves relative to the film they are supposed to be from. So I always choose ONE head sculpt that i like the most for each character, and use that sculpt for ALL versions of that character that i create.
Most of my preferred head sculpts for main human characters come from the Power of the Jedi line (from 2001), because i really feel that the sharpest sculpts and castings and the cleanest paints and decos for heads happened then. My favorite human heads are as follows:
Luke Skywalker : POTJ 25th Anniversary Swing To Freedom Luke Skywalker
Han Solo: POTJ Death Star Escape Han Solo (to my eyes, most closely resembles an idealized version of Han Solo right down to the lopsided, sarcastic smirk)
Lando Calrissian: POTJ Lando Calrissian: Bespin Escape
Princess Leia POTJ 25th Anniversary Swing To Freedom Leia, POTJ Leia Organa Bespin Escape (Both are the same sculpt with different hair). This sculpt really captured the stern but cute likeness of Leia Organa.
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi: POTJ Ben Kenobi Jedi Knight. Alright, while the latest "old Obi-Wan" head sculpt is very nice, it is nevertheless shrunken AND ball-joint neck articulated... which means that a very odd jaw line is part of that sculpt. For that reason, my favorite Kenobi head sculpt is still the 2001 POTJ Ben.
Anakin Skywalker POTF 2 "Flashback" Anakin Skywalker (A GREAT head sculpt, but boy was it tough to carefully shave away all his hair to make him bald!)
Now as for YODA, there has been NO SCULPT that more accurately captured the essence of that character (as seen in the Original Trilogy than the POTF 2 "Flashback" Yoda (with rooted hair). I converted that headsculpt for ball-jointed neck use, and adapted it to the Original Trilogy Collection (2004) SA Yoda body. I got rid of the over-sized VOTC robe and replaced it with the more suitably-sized vintage Kenner Yoda robe. I used the pouch and detail items from his belt and made a new, more slender belt using brown ribbon.
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Wow, that was some great information. I thought I was the only one who thought the face sculpts on the POTJ line were really good.
I also would like to note that thanks to your great figure here there have for sure been some alterations and modifications to your design that have given the customizers here some great motivation and information. I would like to see our first Hasbro Q and A question feature this type of figure to see if there is any hope for us non customizers to see something like this. I love the soft goods under the armor.
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Yeah, t think in the case of ol' custom Boba, the soft-goods underneath the armor is DEFINITELY the way to go. If executed correctly, it truly gives the figure a slick professional look, and really allows for specific details that are otherwise impossible without a soft goods vest.
The downside is that despite my experience with customizing at this scale, accurately creating that flak vest was certainly as supreme a challenge as I had ever faced. Certainly NOT for the weak of heart. All the more reason I wholeheartedly congratulate Clonesniper78 for his bravery, and his terrific results. 'Cause the truth is, it ain't easy. ::)
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amazing work on those other figures from the OT. The OT will allways be my favorite of the movies and it's nice to see perfected versions of the characters, as it always seems like hasbro leaves something out or lets something slide....
I can't wait to see more on boba though...
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nice
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Merry Christmas!
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hope the bobas improveing merry christmas
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Happy New Year!
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
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Awesome customs, they look so cool!
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The downside is that despite my experience with customizing at this scale, accurately creating that flak vest was certainly as supreme a challenge as I had ever faced. Certainly NOT for the weak of heart. All the more reason I wholeheartedly congratulate Clonesniper78 for his bravery, and his terrific results. 'Cause the truth is, it ain't easy. ::)
That is why I marvel so much at the customs here. I would have probably thrown that figure up against the wall a hundred times and howled in frustration and given up before ever achieving anything like this. I can only imagine what a stormtrooper or clone trooper would look like with this same treatment. I have too wondered about if we would ever see an AT-AT Driver in a total softgoods flight suit under the armor. Wouldn't that be cool!
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As most of you know, my camera was down for about a month, preventing me from documenting some of my work on this figure.
I was therefore unable to document some progress steps that occurred during the camera’s repair time.
Since those updates on the figure will be evident in the photos that I’m about to post anyway, I will list what those updates were.
1) The rangefinder on Boba’s helmet was shortened by about 2½ scale inches.
2) The cheek stripes on the helmet were re-painted in the correct flat black.
3) The T-visor on the helmet was re-painted in a darker shade of red. (Note: this T-visor re-paint was something that I was originally NOT planning to do . But admittedly I did change my mind about the desirability of the “toyetic” bright red after I saw it contrasted against the new flat black cheek stripes.
4 The minor paint rubs on the utility belt have all been touched up.
5 The armored shoulder bell for Boba’s left shoulder has been re-painted in the correct canary yellow. Knee pads and right armored shoulder bell have been left orange yellow.
Alright… onto to yesterday’s work…
A couple of months back when I performed the operation to change the profile of the figure’s helmet, I did a lot of filling work with plastic shavings to fill the gaps between the two helmet halves.
There was still a seam visible from the operation that I wanted to make disappear.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Helmetseam.jpg)
I began by using a line of Krazy Glue. I laid down a sealant directly on the seam, and waited for the glue to dry and set.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Helmetglueseam.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Helmetseamfilled.jpg)
Once the glue dried and hardened, I sanded the seam smooth with 500 grit sandpaper, and then I did a fine wet-sanding with 1000 grit sandpaper to make the dome as smooth as possible.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Helmetseamsanded.jpg)
I will air-brush the dome tomorrow, once and for all, effectively making the seam vanish.
Undoutedly, the most time-consuming operation I performed yesterday was converting the Imperial Scanning Trooper’s arm sleeves into Boba Fett’s correct double sleeve (sans arm mini pocket).
The first thing I did was to use an X-acto blade to carefully shave away the mini-pocket molded to the right arm. I gave the area a fine sanding to smooth it off, and then I got to work making the upper arm double sleeve.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/shavearmpocket.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/sandarmpocket.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/smootharm.jpg)
I used some sewing thread to layout the edge of the upper sleeves by carefully gluing it down around the circumfrence of both arms. Then, with my trusty razor (God, what would I do without that thing?) I re-sculpted the lower sleeve into a narrow taper that appears to emerge from underneath the upper sleeve.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/thread.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/threadloop.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/threadaroundrtarm.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/rightarmthreaded.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/rightarmsculpt.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/finishedrightarm.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/finishedrightarm3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/threadaroundlftarm.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/leftarmthreaded.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/leftarmsculpt.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Finishedleftarm.jpg)
The guide thread at the edge of each new upper sleeve is only TEMPORARY. They will be replaced by micro-thin ribbon to simulate the sleeve cuffs.
Boba’s right arm weapon gauntlet features a clear power tube that tucks underneath his right arm upper sleeve.
I used a big needle to make a hole underneath the upper sleeve ridge that I created. I then made a second hole in the coupling on the wrist weapon gauntlet. These would be the two connection points for the gauntlet’s power feed tube.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/bigneedle.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/needletosleeve.jpg)
I looked around the house for a suitable item to use as the tube. A tiny white / clear plastic binder on the bundle of new sox that I just bought was something that I thought might do the trick. In the end, I rejected it because it did not look like a tube to me, it seemed a bit small in its scale, and it did not have the flexibility I was hoping for. It kept popping out of the sleeve connection point every time I posed the figure’s elbow.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/sox.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/soxtab.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/installwrongtube.jpg)
I knew I was going to need a far more flexible material to resolve that issue.
A frantic search ensued in my wife’s closet, and as luck would have it, I located a brand new cashmere sweater that my wife bought for herself. The tag was still attached to the garment by a small clear rubber string! Yes!! Back in business.!!!
I cut a fragment of the string and installed it on the figure. The thicker size, the clarity, and the flexibility of the “tube” were all PERFECT!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/finaltube.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/finaltubecut.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/guantlettubeinstalled2.jpg)
My next order of business was to add the straps for Boba’s armored knee pads. A reasonably straight-forward operation. I used some Plastruct strip styrene to create the straps and glued them into place behind the knees, making sure that the leg articulation was un-affected.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/kneestrapmeasure.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/settingkneestraps.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/finishedkneestraps.jpg)
So… a brief re-cap…
1) Helmet’s face colors have been corrected to correct shades
2) Helmet’s rangefinder has been shortened to correct height
3) Utility belt paint rubs have been repaired
4) Armored shoulder bell for left shoulder has been re-painted in correct yellow
5) Helmet seam has been filled and sanded (awaits air brushing)
6) Arm pocket has been shaved off / arm sanded smooth
7) Secondary upper sleeves have been layed-out and sculpted for both arms
8) Power tube for right weapon gauntlet has been installed
9) Rear fastening straps for armored knee pads have been installed
Custom Boba as of January 9th, 2011, 7:30 AM:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/customBobaright.jpg)
Coming up next: WOOKIE SCALPS…
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/microbraids.jpg)
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Fantastic! Look for this to show up on the front page this week.
I don't know that I have ever seen this much attention to even the smallest detail. I can't wait to see you add the scalps.
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GREAT HOLY MOTHER !!! this is awesome can't wait for the guide for the wookiee scalp!!
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amazing. Most of us would have stopped a long time ago. Your attention to every fine detail astounds me.
I have one comment though, in the final image so far the double sleeves look a little long. This might just be the angle of the photo but they look slightly off to me.
Of course I don't know how I can even criticize such a tiny detail when you've thought of about 10 more tiny details I'd never even fooled with!
Can't wait to see your work for the wookie scalps, doing a set of soft goods scalps has always been on my to-do list!
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Awesome work Roberto! You have left no detail untouched. This is an amazing work of art complete to the finest details. I can't believe the flack you are getting from one person at RS over this figure. It is AMAZING and will be the most accurate Boba at this scale ever!
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WooW what an amazing work man!
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now this is customising at level A+
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WOW!! top notch the detail is amazing you have great patience show that to hasbro !!!
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This was too good to keep off the front page. Roberto, thank you for showing the process. It is just awesome to see pics with said details and knowing how much time and effort you have put into this gives me a greater understanding into just how awesome this figure really is.
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Roberto this is simply amazing. I was wondering what you were going to do about the power cord. I didn't expect you to do the double sleeve, that was awesome. I can't wait to see the braids. This Boba is turning out even better and more detailed than I thought. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
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Beautiful update, roberto. I liked the thread trick for denoting the end of the sleeve.
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GREAT!!
The detail is 2nd to none!!
WOW!!! Great job!!! I don't have the words!!!
thanks for the pictures!!!
Great to see it every step of the way!!!
Rich
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How you have that kind of patience is beyond me.....Simply amazing custom figure. That last photo of Fett is now my desktop background ;D
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:o It just keeps getting better!
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Darklord,
Big fan here. I've been watching your progress on Boba and I have to say it is amazing/crazy. Looking forward to your next update.
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amazing. Most of us would have stopped a long time ago. Your attention to every fine detail astounds me.
I have one comment though, in the final image so far the double sleeves look a little long. This might just be the angle of the photo but they look slightly off to me.
Of course I don't know how I can even criticize such a tiny detail when you've thought of about 10 more tiny details I'd never even fooled with!
No... of course critiques are always welcome! They help me to make sure that this custom Boba Fett is the very best that it can be!
As for the length of the sleeves, according to my research, they are actually the proper length (Re: about 3/4 of the way down the bicep, just before the elbow bend)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Hallway_02a.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Hallway_01.jpg)
I suspect the angle of my photo might be throwing you off. Or perhaps it is the undue amount of attention that the sleeves got during this update, and so therefore your eyes now go right to them, where as before they may have been an innocuous detail barely noticed.
Awesome work Roberto! You have left no detail untouched. This is an amazing work of art complete to the finest details. I can't believe the flack you are getting from one person at RS over this figure. It is AMAZING and will be the most accurate Boba at this scale ever!
Thanks a million, buddy! I'm sure trying! ;D Yes that individual who is giving me so much flak over this figure definitely has some kind of issue with me from the moment he saw my custom figure on another site. For those that may not know: The individual in question took to judging this figure based on the several un-finished / missing/ temporary details that it sported during the last update. He made it his mission to repeatedly state an actual LIST of what those "incorrect" details were, despite the fact that I informed him that I was already aware of what they were, and that I had already done a LOT of research on Boba fetts outfit from TESB. I explained that I had definite plans to address these "incorrect" details in future updates... and that they were never intended to be final. He responded that I had no business calling this figure "a Better" Boba Fett". When I called him out on his rather brusque manner, he made it a point to troll the postings of this Custom figure work in progress on at least 2 other message boards that I know of.
I honestly do not take him personally.
I do not really know what his issue with me is. I can only speculate, which would be pointless. He has evidently made several custom Boba Fett figures of his own for sale . He most recently did a most impressive job of updating action figure Boba's blaster rifle into a screen accurate one. Last week, (despite his venom toward me), I posted in his thread what impressive work I thought he did on the rifle. No response other than this morning (in my latest update thread) when he implied that I somehow lied about my planned accuracy updates on this figure, and that I only performed them because of his recommendations. ::)
It's really not worth the energy to respond to that kind of thing anymore.
This was too good to keep off the front page. Roberto, thank you for showing the process. It is just awesome to see pics with said details and knowing how much time and effort you have put into this gives me a greater understanding into just how awesome this figure really is.
Thank you so, so very much Tamer! I'm honored good buddy! You are most kind. :)
Roberto this is simply amazing. I was wondering what you were going to do about the power cord. I didn't expect you to do the double sleeve, that was awesome. I can't wait to see the braids. This Boba is turning out even better and more detailed than I thought. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
Thanks buddy! We've corresponded via PM a few times so you know me by now. You must know that I am an insane individual and that I will (wherever possible) add the most inconsequential detail to this figure... yes even the double sleeves. Believe me i would have preferred not to! Those darn sleeves took up my ENTIRE DAY yesterday! But ol' Boba wouln't have looked right without 'em. ;)
How you have that kind of patience is beyond me.....Simply amazing custom figure. That last photo of Fett is now my desktop background ;D
Thanks buddy! I do the same thing. By putting a photo of whatever figure (s) I'm working on on my desktop, I keeps me thinking of ways to make them better and better until I finish them. ;D
Thanks again everyone! See you soon at the next update!! Keep on customizin'!!!
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It is sad to hear that you are experiencing negative issues with this figure at other places. I can only assume there are some "green" issues there as I can nothing but a better more accurate figure with each update. I believe the premise was building a better Boba Fett and I don't see how anyone could argue that this is not the case with this figure.
Still, as long as this figure is fun for you who cares what the rest of the world thinks. One of the reasons we created this place was to ensure folks could just have fun with SW and this place rapidly became a custom Meeca so to speak. I am glad this is only giving you motivation to just keep going for bigger and better. The quality is just amazing and the fact that you are documenting this and showing the rest of us exactly what you are doing is a "true gift" to the customizing community whether they like SW or any theme that caters to that size of figure.
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It is sad to hear that you are experiencing negative issues with this figure at other places. I can only assume there are some "green" issues there as I can nothing but a better more accurate figure with each update. I believe the premise was building a better Boba Fett and I don't see how anyone could argue that this is not the case with this figure.
Still, as long as this figure is fun for you who cares what the rest of the world thinks. One of the reasons we created this place was to ensure folks could just have fun with SW and this place rapidly became a custom Meeca so to speak. I am glad this is only giving you motivation to just keep going for bigger and better. The quality is just amazing and the fact that you are documenting this and showing the rest of us exactly what you are doing is a "true gift" to the customizing community whether they like SW or any theme that caters to that size of figure.
I agree with Tamer whole-heartedly, if you are happy and satisfied with your figure than you should enjoy it!
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sounds like jealously as long as your happy thats all that matters thats one fine boba
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its an awesome translation mate and you should feel justifiably proud!
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DarkLord, somehow it doesn't surprise me that there has been some negativity around your figure on other sites, and although it is a great shame, it has to boil down to the fact that this figure is so damn good it makes other customisers feel bad about themselves.
I feel sorry for anyone who finds it hard to appreciate other artists creations in the correct way, as instead of feeling inspired they feel jealous...and we all know what jealousy leads to don't we...that's it THE DARK SIDE....Booo hissss
Anyhow, you are with friends here, and I just have to say how damn fine I think your figure is. I love your step by step shots as they show yout fanatical devotion to detail and authenticity. This has to be one of the premier customs figures of all time.
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DarkLord, somehow it doesn't surprise me that there has been some negativity around your figure on other sites, and although it is a great shame, it has to boil down to the fact that this figure is so damn good it makes other customisers feel bad about themselves.
I feel sorry for anyone who finds it hard to appreciate other artists creations in the correct way, instead of feeling inspired they feel jealous...and we all know what jealousy leads to don't we...that's it THE DARK SIDE....Booo hissss
Anyhow, you are with friends here, and I just have to say how damn fine your figure is. I love your step by step shots as well, as they show yout fanatical devotion to detail and authenticity. This has to be one of the premier customs of all time.
i can totally echo this sentiment
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No... of course critiques are always welcome! They help me to make sure that this custom Boba Fett is the very best that it can be!
As for the length of the sleeves, according to my research, they are actually the proper length (Re: about 3/4 of the way down the bicep, just before the elbow bend)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Hallway_02a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/darklord1967/Hallway_01.jpg
I suspect the angle of my photo might be throwing you off. Or perhaps it is the undue amount of attention that the sleeves got during this update, and so therefore your eyes now go right to them, where as before they may have been an innocuous detail barely noticed.
I actually went back and looked at some images I had saved myself and compared them to your wip shot and your right on the money. The images you linked to in your replay also reflect that. I think I've been looking at hasbro's version for too long and thought they were higher up on the arm because I'm used to where the double sleeve comes to on the production figure! I have a feeling this is definately the case because I hadn't even realized that the power cord/tubing was clear in the costume! I was thinking that it was black like the production figure's.... :(
and as far as this other guy trolling your threads, it comes with the territory of publically displaying your work. Unfourtunately almost in EVERY forum I've ever been a part of there is someone who takes it upon themselves to point out everyone else's flaws... even the non-existant ones.
You clearly state in your thread that this is an ongoing project and that each update is just that, an update. If someone can't take the time to fully read your thread and understand that, then you shouldn't take up your time to correct them (or fuel their trolling behavior).
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Without any doubt, this is the ultimate Boba Fett figure.
Let the trolls prove themselves by showing their own custom Boba...
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really awesome job on the Boba bbfet bbfet
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what an ass! how can anyone not like this . by the way i hope im not callled stupid but what is RS ?
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RebelScum
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oh thanks
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Roberto - you are amazing. I plan to sit down and go back thru this thread once I wrap up my latest contest entry and study your techniques and LEARN! Then I'll put it all to work and - hopefully - IMPROVE! To me, that's what this is all about - show off what you are proud of and learn from the folks who can do the stuff you only dream about. Thanks for being a gentleman and sharing with us all.
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Thank you Doc hounds and everyone for your very kind words of support. You are all very fine gentlemen, and I feel very priviledged to be a part of your community!
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WOW Just read the stuff posted on RS and was amazed at the critism by the other forum member. Sounds like he needs to get laid for one the other thing is the way he states his comments big hint ( ITS A CUSTOM!!!!!!) so Darklord keep doing what you do and like everyone here has already stated its a hell of a custom dont let insignificant comments deter you from doing your thing by the looks of it 99.9% of people that look at your fig know its a bad ass custom brother keep on doing your thing FTW!!! LOL!!
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Thanks Kreeper!
Yeah, that guy CLEARLY has some major mental issues. Early this morning, (over at POTF2.com) he actually sent me a PM with a GIANT photo blow up of my own face (taken from one of my profile pages somewhere) just so that he could tell me how ugly I am. That is seriously some stalker-type crap.
According to this guy, he describes himself as nearly 50 years old!! Wow.
With the way he behaves, and expresses himself (with his poorly written messages full of bad grammar and misspelled words), I was certain he was a 10 year old.
He really should be ashamed of himself. He truly does not understand what the spirit of sharing, friendship, and artistry in the STAR WARS collecting comunity is all about.
Anyhow. I will not waste one more word discussing that individual.
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WOW! sounds like you might need a restraining order its a shame just think they walk among us!!
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I would start thinking of notifying the police.
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If the harassment continues, I may just have to do that!
By the way, CS78, the vintage Kenner Fett is on his way to you for your custom Boba Fett. ;D
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That's good news, I just wish you would have waited one more day. My fault though. I was going to ask if you got any of that clear tube left over. If not that's ok, I'll live.
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ahh ! i just read the stuff on rs ! he seriously has some problems . ah well don't mind him and if he coes on this site and moans or whines he'll have to face the police or, well , tamer before typing anything .
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I certainly hope he does NOT show himself over here.
And even if he does, I'm sure he knows by now that everywhere he goes to troll my custom Boba Fett project, he will likely be met by the same hostility from the customizing community as what he received over on Rebelscum. Incidentally, these responses, in most cases, came from people who don't even know me or have ever even corresponded with me (and therefore have no vested interest in defending me or my work).
I have absolutely no issues with receiving constructive critique on my work. Believe me. The LAST thing I believe about my own work is that it's somehow perfect... (or frankly even particularly good). As an artist, I'm primarily always seeing the FLAWS in my techniques, and I am on a constant quest to find ways to become better at my craft.
But the truth is, this guy had no interest in offering constructive critique. He wanted to bash my work. He even said so! At POTF2.com, he declared that he would no longer give me any more "hints" to help me improve my figure. He explained that instead, he would prefer to wait until my figure were finished, and then he would point out all of my mistakes !
Now, what is the reason for this? I can only speculate.
Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that he too has made custom Boba Fett figures, a few of which he has offered for sale. Maybe in his mind, I was somehow muscling in on his "territorry" with this project. I really do not know.
He certainly spoke as if my silly little custom project were an "invasion" on his turf... especially when he'd say things like "... i'm tired of people creating incorrect fetts and leading folks on. be it a high end company or an individual..." "...i do not like it when folks build inaccuracies and then want to portray them as correct. i also told you i don't care if this comes from high end companies or individuals. 30 years after esb with todays technology i expect better for my money..." He said these things as of I were offering my figure for sale somehow (which I most certainly am not).
Last week, I even tried to extend an olive branch of truce by commenting on HIS CUSTOM BOBA FETT FIGURE (over at POTF2.com) (http://potf2.com/potj/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14490&whichpage=1). I told him what a great job I thought he did on the recent customizing of the laser rifle for the figure to be more screen accurate. I was sincere, and legitimately meant what I said.
Evidently, that did nothing to end his attempts to smear my work.
In the final analysis, I do my very best to get along with everyone, and to be helpful and accessible within the STAR WARS toy/customizing community.
So this venom and stalking really took me by surprise.
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well thats NOT gonna happen here ! you have my word
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Of that, I had absolutely no doubt whatsoever, buddy.
Thanks.
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well thats NOT gonna happen here ! you have my word
Not on our watch, eh, Jay?
Roberto, you are more than welcome to continue to wow us with your spectacular talents and attention to detail.
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I'll certainly do my best pal! ;)
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well thats NOT gonna happen here ! you have my word
Not on our watch, eh, Jay?
Roberto, you are more than welcome to continue to wow us with your spectacular talents and attention to detail.
yep clint you got it !
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well thats NOT gonna happen here ! you have my word
Not on our watch, eh, Jay?
Roberto, you are more than welcome to continue to wow us with your spectacular talents and attention to detail.
Even if your detail may be 1/4-scale-inch off or two shades too light... ;D
Bring on the awesome - I'm ready!
8)
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Yeah, that guy CLEARLY has some major mental issues. Early this morning, (over at POTF2.com) he actually sent me a PM with a GIANT photo blow up of my own face (taken from one of my profile pages somewhere) just so that he could tell me how ugly I am. That is seriously some stalker-type crap.
I had to laugh at this. Not at your plight, but how pathetic the guy is who did that to you. He's obviously jealous of you. Hilarious.
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any update on this sir?
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Been following this thread for quite some time; can't wait to see new updates!
Your focus on developing an even more high-quality figure that captures the essence of the true Boba Fett is admirable regardless of what others might believe. Looking forward to new updates!