I'd like to give you a critique if that's ok. In my experience building models it's often good practice to think of the small details to make your final piece completely cohesive. For instance, if you look at shadow commander you'd think that he'd be in a battle with other robots and they primarily use lasers in combat. Your figure is covered in what look like bullets holes which would be used by humans. A laser blast leaves a completely different kind of damage, like something you'd see in star wars on the millenium falcon just to cite an example. You'd see a round impact "wound" that would have burn or scorch marks on the hull. Instead you can see globs of metal built up around the sides of your holes which really doesn't make much sense unless he were made of liquid metal like T1000 from terminator. Using reference will really help, so be sure to research pictures of the kind of damage you want to reproduce before you plug the iron in. Take a look at the Bludgeon figure Frenzy_Rumble made and you will see what I mean. The damage looks exactly like what you'd expect once you take his character, opponents, and environment into consideration. Also, the "slash" type damage on your figure are all completely uniform and come in series of "3" which make me think he's been in a fight with a giant cat. Both these types of damage don't really fit in the same environment as the base figure which leaves the whole piece looking unconvincing and artificial. Finally, the mud is a nice touch, but the color and texture make it look like he was driving through a brownie pan. Take it easy on stuff like that including the dry brushing on the gun. It's easy to over do it with those types of details where the rule of "less is more" should be taken into account. It may sound crazy to think of these kind of details when conceptualizing your piece, but you and your audience will notice and appreciate the thought put into it subconsciously making the whole piece more cohesive and believable. I do really love the shattered glass look and it looks as if you looked at some reference for the spider web effect! Very nice! Can you share any more info on how you achieved that look?
Lol thanks for the critique. Two things though, the claw marks are made from the dinobots they tell a story if you look into them and are what the client requested. Bullet like holes are my preference in the terms of damage and the flanges the holes create are the result of high powered(and high heat) lasers. Being that it's a toy with damage based on fictional weapons I hope nobody tries to read so deeply into them though. To me that's what ruins the fun of all this. ^_^
This is what I'm taking about. Which of the Dinobots could create damage like that based on their characteristics? I would think bite marks, flame burns, and possibly some gouges from horns. None of them have the ability to slash based on their appearance. The fact you had a story to go on should have really made you push the situation the character was placed in. The weapons in this universe may be fictional, but their properties are still grounded in reality. In other words, it looks like you took a soldering iron to it. It doesn't look like it's been in a battle. Just some things to take into consideration.
Well, first off, I commend you for even attempting a custom of this nature. Being an artist in the gaming industry, I am well versed in various mediums and the difficulty of projects of this degree. That being said, I have to agree with some of the comments made in this thread about taking some more time and going the extra mile to really make a custom convincing. I think you could have maybe taken some more time to really flush out the damage and such that you have on your figure. In fact, I think some of this can still be remedied with a little more time and effort. Good luck!
Again thanks for both your feedback, I can see where this may be correct but bottom line is my client is happy(just look at my last feedback to see for yourself). If you desire a custom that you are describing go ahead and email me, I have over 10 years invested in my work and can make something to your specifications no problem if that's what you want. If not, again thanks for your feedback. I must get back to finishing mock ups and prototypes for a company in time for Toy Fair. Have a good one.
I wouldn't trust you with any of my tf's, but here's hoping you can learn to take constructive criticism in the future and use it to improve your work over time, you've got a ways to go, but keep it up!
This looks great. I really like the mud effect you used as well. What did you use to get the mud to look so good?
Excuse me...but what part of "this is what the client requested" is incomprehensible to you? A client commissioned this from him, to these specifications, and the client is pleased with the results. End of story. Tony is one of the best in the business, and his work (both past and present) speaks for itself. There's a difference between being judged by your peers, and being judged by peons. Radicons is a great community where everybody is happy to extend a helping hand, but for someone who is admittedly just starting out in the customizing field, your tone will cause you to quickly become alienated, if not a pariah to this same community. Perhaps once you've built up more of a custom repertoire of your own, you can begin to understand this. FYI, in the 1986 movie, Grimlock slashed the hell out of a Sharkticon and caused his entire face to fall apart. There is your precendent for Dinobot slashing ability.
Customizing transformers is a very small niche of a much larger scene that would be worth taking a look at sometime to see examples of true artisan ship. Being a professional artist and giving and taking critiques is part of the business no matter how small. I understand this is for a "client" but in my honest opinion the work is severely lacking not only in technical merit, but thought and comprehension of his subject. However, if the client is happy that is all that really matters, but as artwork it must be held to higher standards if anyone is to improve their art. The only reason I cared to write such a comprehensive critique in the first place is because I recognize the potential for greatness, and hope to see in the future what Tony is capable of. I'm going to be harsh, but I'm also going to be fair in hopes of seeing everyone's artwork improve. I realize that not everyone is a professional artist so I will tone my critiques back to avoid this type of situation in the future. I completely forgot about that! Good call. But taking the anatomy of a T-Rex into account, it would be highly unlikely they would be able to slash anything. In Tony's case the marks are pretty much everywhere on the model and the patterns of the attacks don't make any sense. Maybe the one across the face and a set at the appropriate height level for Grimlock to reach would have been perfect, but they are over used to a point that reaches absurdity. I'm finished, I don't need to spend any more time defending my critique or opinions.
Thank you. ^_^ Thanks! The mud was created using a hot wax tool to melt the wheel-well area a bit to make it simulate a but of chunky mud. I then used a gloss brown to make it look fresh. Well said, thank you. Thanks, the background is several Mechanical Chain Bases that were imported from japan and then painted.
Well to me, just an observer (I dont have the credentials to be a real critique) , I say Tony's work is one of the best here, and the bottom line here is its his art, his canvas. his interpretation! We can never truly please everyone but for Tony's (I don't even know this guy) He has my respect here at Radicons. Keep it up Tony Customs, More customs please!
Well I know what it's like to do a commish on 1 persons specific idea only to have other people tell you, you did it all wrong. That's fine, the people that actually do it, do it well enough it can look easy to do to the untrained eye. If I see Golf on TV it looks easy, lord knows what an embarrassment I'd be out on the green.......but it looks easy Constructive critiques are great but without actually handing over info/techniques and real world tips from someone who is experienced in said field you lose a lot of the constructive. I could tell Tony he needs to make it get up & walk...but then again, I have no idea how to undertake such a task.
That is wicked cool man. Awesome awesome awesome. The only thing is it looks like there is too many stray bullet holes. But still cool.
Glad you like it bro. Thanks again. Thanks man, I might have gone overboard but meh, he was in a battle with all the dinobots so who's to say how much damage was sustained right? Edit* Also guys,
