Customs: Thing you wish you had known before starting to do customs.

Discussion in 'Creative General Discussion' started by Sioce, Sep 29, 2009.

  1. Sioce

    Sioce Radicon in training

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2009
    Posts:
    3,063
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    202
    Likes:
    +12
    Ebay:
    Title says it.
    What things do you wish you had known before starting custom work.
    For me it is: My eyes are apparently magnetic to all forms of flying molten plastic.
    Also Dullcote when sprayed to thick turns white...nice way to finish a figure I had been painting for a couple days.
     
  2. Treadshot A1

    Treadshot A1 Toy Designer

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2009
    Posts:
    7,789
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +621
    • Um, how about that doing a damaged paintjob is a lot easier than a clean one? Coz you can hide all the crap paint work with battle damage?
    • That enamels are useful, unless they're made by Humbrol.
    • That it takes a lot of time. ;) 
    • That it costs a lot. :lol 
     
  3. Autobot Burnout

    Autobot Burnout ...and I'll whisper "No."

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2008
    Posts:
    45,102
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    467
    Location:
    [REDACTED]
    Likes:
    +40,126
    That it's addictive.
     
  4. shinobi77

    shinobi77 Fatbastard

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2003
    Posts:
    1,314
    Trophy Points:
    247
    Likes:
    +91
    Ebay:
    That its obsessive.....
     
  5. prime13

    prime13 UCHUU KITAAAA

    Joined:
    May 17, 2009
    Posts:
    4,237
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    151
    Likes:
    +6
    that topspins foot was too thin a plastic.(D!@#$ HASBRO!)
    that olfa blades can be used as scalpels.(i prefer to cut my fingers not my wrists)
    that kray glue wont work if it falls off a five foot shelf onto solid concrete in 2 seconds.XD
     
  6. Treadshot A1

    Treadshot A1 Toy Designer

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2009
    Posts:
    7,789
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +621
    • That Zap a Gap beats Loctite Super Glue anyday in terms of holding power, but is a lot harder to apply, and a lot more annoying.
     
  7. amd098

    amd098 En taro Artanis!

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2004
    Posts:
    5,467
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    337
    Likes:
    +1,273
    Ebay:
    Facebook:
    for eyes, wear safety glasses :) 

    i wish id known the stupid pin removal trick [solderin iron], man thats a life saver
     
  8. Superquad7

    Superquad7 OCP Police Crime Prevention Unit 001 Super Content Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2003
    Posts:
    52,440
    News Credits:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    447
    Likes:
    +7,310
    Twitter:
    Sorry, two things really:

    I really wished I had known about Future.
    Cross posting on multiple other boards wastes a ton of time, especially since the same folks are doing the same.
     
  9. Treadshot A1

    Treadshot A1 Toy Designer

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2009
    Posts:
    7,789
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +621
    • That future was discontinued in Australia, so i wouldn't have spent days looking for it.
    • Oh, and that any other floor protective finish would do the job.
     
  10. Sioce

    Sioce Radicon in training

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2009
    Posts:
    3,063
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    202
    Likes:
    +12
    Ebay:
    doesn't seem to work. and I have nice safety glasses.
    If the plastic is molten and airborn...it hits me in the eye...everytime.
    I'm considering swimming goggles for eye protection.
    I just bought future finish the other day...I had a omgwtfbbq! moment when I tightened up my custom superion's hands, shoulders, and elbows with it.
    Then used it on just about every loose joint on every figure...Then used it to fix the tips on my tiny paint brushes, and the container still looks full.
    This board really has made my customizing a reality. Painting figs is one thing..but I never would have dreamed of attacking my precious transformers with a dremel until I saw some of the work on here.
     
  11. the (H)i(GH)con

    the (H)i(GH)con raver-in-diguise

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2008
    Posts:
    1,052
    Trophy Points:
    126
    Likes:
    +1
    -That pin removal isn't as easy as it looks (I STILL haven't gotten the hang of it 100% yet) -those darned paint rub spots!
    -it's not a poor man's hobby (which is why I haven't done as many as I'd like)

    Treadshot A1- 2 things:
    1) You lucky bastard- You live in Australia!
    2) You lucky bastard- You get to go to Hong Kong!
     
  12. Cybertronian

    Cybertronian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2006
    Posts:
    683
    Trophy Points:
    207
    Likes:
    +19
    I wish I'd known to use (light) primer on a black figure when painting it Red ("Rio Red" or "Crimson Guard... Crimson"). Fewer coats (should be) needed.
    So far, I've painted a Micromaster Blackjack to resemble my best friend's '92 Ford Probe and am currently trying to paint 2 Cobra B.A.T. Mark IIIs in a Crimson Guard-friendly color scheme. (Thank God the B.A.T. Mark IV I bought is already CG red).
     
  13. Treadshot A1

    Treadshot A1 Toy Designer

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2009
    Posts:
    7,789
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +621
    1) It's pretty much a life sentence to 40+ degrees torture.
    2) Yes, I know. Great, isn't it?

    • A few more things:
    • 1) That painting acrylic over enamels takes forever to cure, but once it does, it looks great.
    • 2) That you actually buy multiples of the same figure, just to kitbash them. Damn, i need more cash.
     
  14. Anti-Venom

    Anti-Venom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2009
    Posts:
    2,691
    Trophy Points:
    207
    Likes:
    +22
    THAT fuTURE floor finish + FIRE doesnt mix well.
     
  15. fateastray

    fateastray AnakRepublikMalukuSelatan

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2009
    Posts:
    1,064
    Trophy Points:
    137
    Likes:
    +14
    that any paint and a lacquer coat doesn't end well.
     
  16. Superquad7

    Superquad7 OCP Police Crime Prevention Unit 001 Super Content Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2003
    Posts:
    52,440
    News Credits:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    447
    Likes:
    +7,310
    Twitter:
    WHAT? Surely you read the label before use.
     
  17. Sioce

    Sioce Radicon in training

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2009
    Posts:
    3,063
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    202
    Likes:
    +12
    Ebay:
    I find myself very concerned for your safety...
     
  18. Autobot78

    Autobot78 G1er

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2009
    Posts:
    2,106
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    166
    Likes:
    +11
    this is the best thread yet, hilarious thanks guys im LOL
     
  19. Autobot78

    Autobot78 G1er

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2009
    Posts:
    2,106
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    166
    Likes:
    +11
    oh, one thing i would like to know, that can really help me out but i dont know how to ask without starting a thread and getting in trouble with supersquad:)  who is totally awesome by the way. i bought a G1 devy and the unicron and primus, and ptitvite's devy head but now i cant answer the obvious, can i use a G1 dev for a supreme devastator? using the unicron waist and so forth. its a stupid question but my brain is not working for this. the G1 devastator vehicles would be to small right? thanks and God bless you and yours
     
  20. Treadshot A1

    Treadshot A1 Toy Designer

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2009
    Posts:
    7,789
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +621
    Oh, SQ7 won't be happy with you now, either, since there's no squads around here. :lol 

    All depends on what joints you use. Technically, it's totally possible to make ANY figures combine, but you're probably gonna need to rework the whole process, downsize everyting, and use different connectors. So, it's possible to use g1 devs, but not with Ptitvite's tutorial, no.