Fitting in with the GI Joe 25th Anniversary line is Jin Saotome’s Custom Iron Grenadier TARGAT figure.  TARGAT was one of those cool figures that was introduced way back in 1989 and Jin has done a great job getting the colors exactly right on this one.  This version has an updated look and will go great standing next to your other GI Joe 25th figures.  To check out more photos, head over to eBay and view Jin’s Custom Iron Grenadier TARGAT figure.

What a blast from the past!  As a kid, MASK was one of my favorite cartoons to watch and toys to play with.  As I am writing this article, I am staring at my MASK collection longingly and Jin Saotome has brought the nostalgia with his Custom Matt Trakker MASK figure from the GI Joe 25th Anniversary line.  Jin has redesigned this cool figure to be more cartoon accurate and he did an excellent job capturing the feel of the old figure.  Check out Jin’s Custom Matt Trakker MASK figure on eBay to place a bid!

If the movie, The Watchmen, is as good as the Custom Marvel Legends The Watchmen set that M1 Customs has created, then fans are in for a real treat.  From what I have seen from the movie trailers, The Watchmen looks like a blockbuster and what a way to ring in the movie.  As pictured above, M1 has made Rorschach, Ozymandias, Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, Dr. Manhattan, and The Comedian.  My favorite figure out of the bunch is the Dr. Manhattan as the perfect shade of blue was chosen and I love how the features of the figure are accented and acentuated.  For more detailed photos on all 5 figures, head over to eBay and check out M1’s Custom Marvel Legends The Watchmen set of figures.

13Customs has brought to life this lovely X-MEN character with his Custom Marvel Legends Polaris figure.  There was something that drew me to this figure and I can’t quite put my finger on it but there seems to be an innocence to this figure in the way that the face was sculpted and painted.  The hair is nicely done and the figure overall is executed very well.  Sometimes it is the little things make a huge difference.  For example, the subtle black outlining on the figure really makes the costume off of the flesh tone skin.  The shades of green pay a great homage to this X-MEN enchantress.  Head over to eBay to place a bid on 13Custom’s Custom Marvel Legends Polaris figure.

I thought I would ring in the New Year with a big bang and feature L.K.’s Custom G1 Masterpiece Bruticus figure.  I have seen a nice run of combiner figures in the last couple months and I just have to say to all of the customizers out there making them…keep them coming!  This is the 3rd in L.K.’s Masterpiece Custom (MPC) figures and I do have to say that there are a few customizers that know how to do these figures right and L.K. is one of them.  Not only is the Generation 1feel intact and preserved, but the scale of the figure goes so much better with the scale of the G1 figures.  If you look at the cartoon, the combiners towered above the other bots but somehow the sense of scale was lost when the characters were translated into the toys (which is one of my pet peeves).  If you want to check out an amazing piece of work, head over to eBay and view Custom G1 Masterpeice Bruticus figure.

I first got to know Sabrina by her outstanding work customizing Transformers figures.  Her technique is top notch and I was extremely fortunate to get a glimpse into her world.  Here is the latest addition to the interview series for your reading pleasure:

AFC: Tell the fans of your work a little about yourself.
Sabrina Ng: Well, I’m 24 come this January ‘09. I’m pretty much a very cheerful girl that loves challenges. Some of my favorite past times (besides painting) are dragon boating, working out in the gym, watching Japanese anime, and SHOPPING!!! Heh, which girl doesn’t? :)  I’ve also just obtained a degree in Business Management and am looking around for a job in the Human Resource field. It’s been my interest ever since I started my program.  I do airbrushing as a past time. But it was so exciting that I started a small blog (http://www.artsylovers.blogspot.com/) to document and promote my work.

AFC: You use a really detailed painting technique, can you tell me more about your process?

Sabrina Ng: Well, I always start by cleaning the figure of any factory goo and muck. I’ll then prime the figure as this step helps paint adhesion especially on the smoother plastic surfaces. From there, what I do entirely depends on the custom’s requirement. Generally though, alI my customs are done with an airbrush at a very low PSI setting. I do many thin coats of paint while using cmpounds to buff the surface as soon as it is dry to the touch so as to improve the smoothness of the surface for a more vibrant shine.

AFC: Can you share some details about your workspace?

Imagine if Darth Sidious did not leave Darth Maul on the floor to be mopped up by the Naboo janitor but took him to his pad back on Coruscant and gave him the Darth Vader treatment?  This is what Maul would look like and fstoys4u gives us this Custom Star Wars Cyborg Darth Maul figure to play this out.  Darth Maul has a General Greivous type look to him so he can continue to be the badass that he is.  I give the customizer props for the concept and for giving Darth Maul a second chance!

Darkcave Customs has made the most intricate and detailed combiner figures yet with his Custom Generation 1 Predaking Prime figure.  This is one badass beast and you have to hand it to Darkcave’s imagination for making this one into a reality.  The story behind Predaking Prime is Optimus unleashing his inner beast and this is what Darkcave translated this into…a G1 style behemoth that stands 17.5 inches tall and 13 inches wide.  This deviates from the traditional combiner figures as only 3 figures combine to form the larger robot but this is a welcome deviation as the other two figures are not needed as Prime’s legs are used in place of the two figures.  I love the colors that he chose on this one as it harkins me back to the 80’s when Predaking made his colorful debut.  My favorite part of this figure, which are many, is the lion chest plate smack dab in the middle of the figure and the massive sword that this beats yields.  Let’s check out Predaking Prime’s alternative mode:

To learn more about this awesome custom, head over to eBay and check out Darkcave’s Custom Generation 1 Predaking Prime figure!

Claws Inc has blended the classic with the modern with this Custom Marvel Legends Outback Colossus figure.  I love it when customizers go out on their own and make something that blends the classic nature of the characters with a more updated feel.  This technique gives the best the best of both worlds for collectors who are grew up with the older style of the figures but are now also into the newer versions as well.  I love the paint aps on this figure and the overall concept.  The metallic paint and the hue of red is just perfect for the figure.  Claws Inc tells us more about this great figure:

“Here we have a…..CUSTOM: Marvel Legends “OUTBACK COLOSSUS” figure.  I wanted him to be kind of a cross between the Modern and the older classic X-Men ‘Outback’ Colossus….Hence the cleaner look overall, brighter metalic paint (with just a hint of light blue) and a much lighter/cleaner yellow on his belt etc. And of course the other yellow that was on him is now gone…I think way better. I’ve aways loved the ‘Outback’ look for Colossus, and I hope I’ve done him justice.“

To own this great figure, head over to eBay and place a bid for Claws Inc’s Custom Marvel Legends Outback Colossus figure.

Beachhead was always one of those characters who flew under the radar.  Making his debut in 1986, Beachhead became a great addition to the GI Joe’s fight against Cobra.  Wats9876 has epitomized this great Joe in Sigma Six form with his Custom Sigma  Six Beachhead figure.  This figure will fit perfectly in with your existing Sigma Six figures as Wats9876 has done an excellent job matching the look and feel of the line while still retaining some classic look to the figure.  For example, Beachhead is in his classic green uniform, which is his classic look, and he is wearing yellow camo pants, which gives him a more updated feel to him.  Head over to eBay to check out Wats9876’s Custom Sigma  Six Beachhead figure and to place a bid!

Sabrina Ng has gone above and beyond with her latest homage to the great leader of the Autobots with her Custom Leader Class Optimus Prime with trailer.  This custom is jam packed with detail, as well as a uniquely designed MP-02 Trailer and a custom Battler Roller (remember that six wheeled little guy…yup…he is in there too!).  I love the way that Sabrina can turn plastic into metal and she has a great eye for the color palette.  Here to give us more detail is Sabrina herself:

“This figure is one the main reasons why I wanted to take up customizing initially. I’ve always wanted to do up a full repaint of the Movie Optimus Prime but it was too complex at first. The multiple layering of colours as well as flames made it a nightmare for most customizers. My G1 Prime enabled me to  understand the toy’s design better while I planned for a colour concept that would be unique to him. 6 months after my 1st custom, I belief that I’ve managed to recreate a Movie version of Optimus Prime that is truly aesthetically pleasing.  This auction includes Movie Optimus Prime, an MP-04 trailer, the MP-02 Commander Set, the TFC-EX002 Battle Roller as well as an extra weapon for Optimus Prime.  Optimus Prime was given many shades of colours that range from sunset yellow to orange, red and blue. Most of the colours blend smoothly into one another. He was also given a Mirror Chrome finish on certain parts of him. Do note that this is the Hasbro version of Optimus Prime. He does not initially have any Chrome parts unlike Takara’s Premium mold.  The MP-04 trailer was covered with styrene to emulate an actual truck better. Only the autobot logo from the original trailer remained. Flames that matched Optimus Prime were painted on the exterior and the internal compartment was dry brushed with silver and detailed accordingly. The upper, front and rear ends of the trailer were given a post and pre-shading treatment for a weathered look. The repair dock was painted in a metallic blue shade.  The Mp-02 Commander Set was repainted to match Optimus Prime’s colour scheme as the original colour was meant for Ultra Magnus.  The TFC-EX002 was given a chromy metallic blue finish as well as a pair of articulated fists that holds an additional weapon. His joints have been tighten for more stability as compared to the vanilla version.”

Head over to eBay and don’t miss this once and a lifetime opportunity to own one of Sabrina’s masterpieces so check out her Custom Leader Class Optimus Prime with trailer.

A couple days ago I featured Frenzy.Rumble’s Custom 18″ Defensor figure and today he has his first bonus installment.  The winner of this figure will get to choose from the colors above.  Which set of eyes do you think would look the best?  If you have a preference, take the poll I just created located in the right bottom module.

There have been a few different looks of this classic Marvel character over the years and Stevid has done an awesome job capturing this icon with his Custom Marvel Legends Drax The Destroyer figure.  This version of Drax appears to stem from the Captain Marvel series of comics where Drax is epitomized in green, gold, and purple.  The subtle detail in this figure is brought out by shading and the leg muscles and arm muscles add another dimension.  Head over to eBay and view more photos and while you there, place a bid on Stevid’s Custom Marvel Legends Drax The Destroyer figure to add this to your collection.

The Dreadnoks were a staple in my GI Joe universe as a kid and I remember filling the Thunder Machine to the brim with Zartan’s crew.  StratoViper has captured the true essence of one the clan with his Custom GI Joe 25th Anniversary Monkeywrench figure.  This figure looks exactly like the one from the 80’s but with better articulation and a more streamlined look.  I like the bandannas around the legs and he even captured the patches on the jeans.  Fan of the Dreadnoks or not, this figure would make an awesome addition to your GI Joe collection so head over to eBay and place a bid on StratoViper’s Custom GI Joe 25th Anniversary Monkeywrench figure.

Frenzy.Rumble has outdone himself again and who would of thought he could top his Custom Devastator Combiner I featured a few weeks ago?  This week, he has tackled one of the great G1 combiners of the 80’s with his Custom 18″ Defensor figure, which is made up of the five Protectobots (Hot Spot, Blades, Streetwise, Groove, and First Aid) you see below:

Frenzy.Rumble did a bang up job capturing the essence of this classic combiner with the color choice, which is spot on, and his choice of figures.  He also added some great features, which include LED lights that flash and siren sounds.  I was told by Frenzy.Rumble himself that he will have 5 bonus items throughout the duration of this auction so check back often to get the latest updates!  Not only is Frenzy.Rumble one of the best customizers out there, he also is a stunning photographer who takes the coolest pictures of his customs so head over to eBay and check out more photos and place a bid while you are there for his Custom 18″ Defensor figure.

I love it when customizers do what they think is right to enhance a figure to its full potential and Claws Inc has done just this with his Custom Marvel Legends Phoenix figure.  There are many aspects of this figure that would make any collector want to add this to their Marvel collection.  First, this is a one of a kind design straight from the mind and fingers of Claws Inc.  For example, the paint aps for this figure were done in a white and bright gold, which goes very nicely with the fiery red hair, which is one of my favorite parts of this custom.  The reason I like the hair is that (1) is looks very realistic and (2) the deep shadowing of the hair, which makes it look like it is flowing as she is rising up.  I also like the definition that is given to the flesh tones that makes this figure one of the best.  Head over to eBay to check out more photos and to place a bid on Claws Inc’s Custom Marvel Legends Phoenix figure.

I have to hand it Encline Designs for his latest in his series of Transformers Ultra Class figures.  His Custom Transformers Movie Blackout transcends any custom in this class this year.  This figure is the third in his lineup and I was happy to cover his other two earlier in the year, which were his Custom 15″ Optimus Prime and his Custom 13″ Bonecrusher figures.  Let’s take a look at some of the aspects that puts this figure in a class by itself.  First, the led lights in the figure make it unique and add another dimension to the figure, which replicates the way that Blackout was portrayed in the movie:

The huge chest cannon is massive and looks like it could cause massive damage.  Made from a mix of model helicopter parts and other figures, Blackout’s blades give the appearance of a mid-transformation where is then breaks out the huge canon and opens a can of whoopass on the base in Qatar.  I seriously was in awe watching the first live action Transformer come to life and Encline Designs has captured the true essence of the movie figure with his massive creation.  Here is what the figure looks like standing next to Megatron:

Head over to eBay and place a bid for one of the best Custom Transformers Movie Blackout’s I have seen!

Jin Saotome is adding to Cobra Commander’s BAT arsenal with his Custom Bodyguard Cobra Battle Android Trooper from the GI Joe 25th Anniversary line.  It looks like he has taken the upper torso from the Crimson Twins and went to town on the rest of the figure.  I love the way the figure mixes both realistic looking body parts (e.g, upper thighs and upper arms) with cyborg parts.  Jin as interesting back story on this figure so let’s see what he has to say:

“Destro is the king of black-market arms dealing and in that crowd you need extra protection. Recently our Intel has reported of him travelling with a new type of Cobra BAT decked out to match his team and always standing close by in case some mercenary tries to steal what he’s already stolen. What worries us is the upgrades he’s installed. These BATs have advanced combat training and are more than just the walk-and-shoot type. They are even agile enough to climb up walls and follow a target quietly, drawing a knife when it’s time to move in for the kill!”

If you want a totally unique figure from one of the best customizers out there, head over to eBay and check out Jin’s Custom Bodyguard Cobra Battle Android Trooper.

I never get tired of seeing customizers pay homage to the great leader of the Decepticons and jcartwork does an excellent job with his Custom Leader Class Transformers Movie Megatron figure.  The shadowing and black washing on this figure is amazing and his technique makes the plastic cast a battle scared metallic look.  The gold accents are in all the right places and add another dimension to the figure.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the fine detailing:

Head over to eBay and check out jcartwork’s Custom Leader Class Transformers Movie Megatron figure!