Going to attempt a custom - suggestions?

[Morph Green Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Morph]

OK, first of all I am by no means a "custom figure specialist". I have seen the work that a lot of you have done and they're great, but I can't do half of that.

But with that said, I am going to attempt one. I collect the figures I like, but I will never find myself an 'Iron Lantern' figure. So I think I'm going to tackle that one. I've been doing some looking on-line and getting some ideas and I'm actually talking with a guy that did the best Iron Lantern mod I've ever seen and he's giving me some suggestions on what he used.

But does anyone here have some suggestions on how I can go about doing this? One thing I'm worried about is painting. Do I paint with brush or do I try to spray paint. And if I spray paint am I going to have to take apart the figure? (which I'm guessing will wreck the figure).

I dunno, just looking for some insight here. I have built models before (cars, trucks, etc) in the past but I think this is a little different, and a new level of difficulty.

[unclegnewman Weaponer of Qward Find all posts View Profile Close unclegnewman]

I've done some sculpting before but I'm also trying to make a custom figure for the 1st time. I've found this website to be really helpful. Good luck

http://www.figurerealm.com/customtutorial.php

[Morph Green Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Morph]

thanks for the link, that will definitely help with what I'm going to attempt to do.

Luckily what I'm attempting is really not that hard (mostly paint differences). The hard part comes with hiding the mouth opening and especially the chest emblem.

[ion.nai existential absurdist Find all posts View Profile Close ion.nai]

don't be afraid to mess up... it's a constant learning experience.

[Morph Green Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Morph]

well it's not that I'm worried about messing up. It's the cost of messing up. For instance the Iron Lantern I'd like to do is using the 12" Repulsor Blast Iron Man, and from what I can find online it costs approx. 20-30 each. Perhaps I can find it at a local ToysRUs still, but that's hopeful thinking.

[Mycroft unable to translate Find all posts View Profile Close Mycroft]

Post your pics later

[Kuhan Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Kuhan]

i've never done this before either, but i'd suggest working with a cheaper toy to get some practice, then move on the the big guns.

[myuserid Lantern Hex Find all posts View Profile Close myuserid]

I've never tried one either, but I applaud your attempt. I look forward to seeing pics of your progress. Maybe you'll inspire me to finally try to do one myself instead of just admiring the awesome jobs the guys here do and wishing I could do it.

Good Luck.

[Gonza2814 Green Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Gonza2814]

http://wiki.joecustoms.com/wiki/Main_Page

This page has a lot of tutorials. You'll find it very useful

[Kuhan Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Kuhan]

I'd like to try customizing as well, but i figure that I should have some non-custom figures first

[Guest Close carbonor]

Ion.nai is exactly right. You will likely mess up the first one you try. I did (long, long ago) and I'm sure everyone else here has. And don't settle. I know it's hard to spend so much time on something without just wanting to get it done but be strong. And screw everybody else if they don't like it. Remember that it's for your personal collection and not ours.

[ion.nai existential absurdist Find all posts View Profile Close ion.nai]

Remember that it's for your personal collection and not ours.

exactly. if you see the finished work on your shelf and it makes you smile, then you've succeeded.

[Morph Green Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Morph]

Ion.nai is exactly right. You will likely mess up the first one you try. I did (long, long ago) and I'm sure everyone else here has. And don't settle. I know it's hard to spend so much time on something without just wanting to get it done but be strong. And screw everybody else if they don't like it. Remember that it's for your personal collection and not ours.

thanks. Not exactly the advise I had first sought out, but this is probably the most important and useful tidbit I could get. I'll definitely keep that in mind as I attempt my figures.

[Grundy Green Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Grundy]

If you choose to use sculpty for your custom remember that sculpty will cure as long as you get it to the proper temp, so what I do is instead of baking it I boil it. you have much more control over the fiqure this way. When you bake a fiqure the plastic tends to melt and deform. boiling it let's you remove the fiqure before this happens. a heat gun or possibly a hair dryer is another option. For the actual sculpting I use a toothpick and my fingers. Dried up sculpty can be brought back to usefullness by mixing in a little baby oil. That's all I can think of for now, Good Luck and have fun can't wait to see your custom.

[Gonza2814 Green Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Gonza2814]

Read many tutorials and then it's trial and error. The best way to learn. With each new custom your abilities will improve.