Psyguy

Yeah, thanks for your hard work Nessex. I would be more than happy with any of the top 5.

I think Alpha Flight stands a good chance. Chuck said once that they would get around to them eventually, and with the new series due with the original line-up the timing just seems right.

Congratulatons to all the winners and participants, and many thanks to Boyd, Bob and Cappy for organising the contest.

Thanks to all the voters too, I'm flattered to have come out with a category win against such competition!

Apoxie Sculpt works well, but I have a tough time determining sometimes when it is 'ready' to use. I usually wait about 15 minutes after mixing, but sometimes that doesn't seem long enough as it is still tacky, but I'll keep playing with it. Millipout is an apoxy that you have to mix too, correct?

One more question, how do paint your knee and elbow joints so precisely? Are they still moveable without affecting the paint?

Yes, that's right. Sounds similar to Apoxie, I have the same trouble sometimes too. If I am attaching it to a part of the mate (like Ice's tassles) I pretty much stick it on straight away, and then add detail while it is drying slightly. I find if I leave it too long it won't stick to the plastic.

The knees and elbows: When I first started customising I would take the whole mate apart and paint everything, but I soon learned this made it pretty much impossible to put back together without damaging the mate or chipping the paint. Now I just paint with the arms and legs in a straight position. Once they have had a few coats I open the joints fully, remove any paint that has seeped on to the joints and give the joints a couple of thin coats of paint. I usually use less coats of paint on the joints, partly because they are less visible and partly to keep as much articulation as possible. At the end I use a thin brush to give a very thin coat on the "ball" joints. So far it has worked out, I have had a few customs that have lost a little paint on the joints when they have been opened, but I think the key is making sure the joints are free of any stray paint and just using thin coats.

Also, if I am going to paint arms/legs, I find that some mates have looser joints than others and usually try to use those from the start.

I'm not familiar with the character, but great sculpting, Psyguy! Got any tips for sculpting small, fine details like that? What sculpting compound are you using?

Thanks! I am using basic Milliput at the minute, although I have heard other board memebers using Fixit sculpt and Apoxie sculpt. I like Milliput because it sands down well, and if I am sculpting larger pieces a little water on my fingers helps to smooth and sculpt. This might be the same for other compounds but I haven't used anything else yet.

The tassles were rolled pieces of Milliput attached to the leg, I didn't use glue. When they were all in place I used a toothpick to add some texture. When the Milliput dries slightly it loses it's stickiness, which makes it pretty easy to add fine detail.

How does Apoxie Sculpt work for you?

He looks great! The scupting really does the character justice. I agree, the head choice is perfect too.

not a fan of fire (and ice) but great looking custom, i love your phantom stranger and i must say that bucky head works so great for so many characters

I'm a fan of the Bucky head too! I'm not a follower of DC but am enjoying making some customs. Here's Ice to go with Fire. Again, I looked at some others customs on the boards, I think I remember bobafett doing a similar design. She has Black Widow hair and a Captivity Six face. Her boot tassles are sculpted.

So....

Not had too much time for customizing recently, but have been able to put together a couple of commissions in the last week.

Here is DC's Phantom Stranger, I wasn't too familiar with the character but my custom is heavily influenced by Boyd's. Mine has a modified Mandarin cloak, Spirit hat and Bucky face. His chain was cut from Indiemate Kabuki's weapon and the medallion is milliput.

Fire is made with Witchblade hair and New X-Men Jean's head. I think her torso was Rachel Grey's. I had seen a few other customs of her on the boards. I can't seem to track the threads down at the minute, but I know bobafett's was one I looked at.

More to come soon, thanks for looking!

Hellcat is simply perfect, the hair is amazing! Love the Havok too. More please!

Really nice work! I have been hoping to make some Young Avengers for a while, Hulkling looks perfect so far! Where is his jacket piece from?

Voted. That was really difficult. Was planning on voting for Alpha Flight and the Brotherhood, but I can make do with my customs for now!

Unfortunately I can't take the credit for the Quicksilver update...I have copied it though! Really nice work on the new customs.

Is that Starfire's head on Tigra? She looks great.

Voted! Amazing work from everyone. Really tough decision, good luck to the nominees!

thanks to your customs and me reading up on who the heck that team was after seeing them I can now fully appreciate this promo art for the new series of new mutants issues.

Yeah, I saw that on CBR today! Interested to see how it pans out. Think The Hellions are due a resurrection that sticks.

Finished Bevatron, he was Firestar's replacement in The Hellions, but I think he only appeared in a couple of issues.

I also put together a simple Crystal. I'm sure the Inhumans must be on their way but she didn't take long so I thought I may as well make her. I'm not totally happy with her, I need to get her some modified boots.

just a quick update (his hair still needs another coat and i may add some detail) but heres my finished modified quicksilver (thanks bobafett the hairpeice is PERFECT)

Wow...I did not expect that. Good spot bobafett! I agree, the faces for Quicksilver and Wanda look great too. So good I think I will be using them for my own...!

Dr Doomsy is simply genius!

Amazing work as always!

What brand/model of printer do you use to print your decals? I am still looking to replace my printer and just trying to get an idea of what other customizers use to print their decals.

It's a Lexmark Z500. It's really old and is on its last legs, the cartridges cost a fortune.....but it does print well. Last night it started making some strange noises, I fear it may have packed in. I have had it for about 10 years so I might be the one asking you for advice on a new printer soon! I would possibly be tempted to get another Lexmark, even though the cartridges are ridiculously expensive, they do tend to last and the quality of print is usually crisp.

Edit: One thing I will say is that sometimes the colour quality (especially flesh tones) is not as good as I would hope for.

Your better than factory work makes up for those awfully repulsive costume designs!

What can I say? There was little accounting for taste in the eighties...!

Thanks! I didn't think these would go down that well as they are pretty D-list characters.

I couldn't sell these....but if you want the decals let me know. I have a couple few commissions lined up but would be open to making another set in the future if anyone is interested.

D-List? They are the REASON that the White Queen is now an X-Man!

Ok, so maybe that doesn't really elivate them above D-listism, but they are a great part of X-history and fantastic customs.

Did you have much trouble matching the paint colours and the decal colours?

Let's just call them aspiring A-listers.

I cheated a little on the decals. They are printed on clear decal paper on a chest piece painted half white, half pink, so the pink seen on the chest is actually the paint. Does that make sense?! I'm not sure I have explained that very well. It's late.

very nice, sir!

Where did you get the purple flight base from?

Thanks!

It's just a basic orange flight base with a watered-down purple wash over it, then sealed.

Sir, write any amount on this piece of paper and i will pay it!

Those are just beautiful. I've toyed with making Hellions customs - i now see that there is not point. I can't compete!

A+

Thanks! I didn't think these would go down that well as they are pretty D-list characters.

I couldn't sell these....but if you want the decals let me know. I have a couple few commissions lined up but would be open to making another set in the future if anyone is interested.

Yes, their costimes are pretty awful (and very eighties...), but you have to love The Hellions. Outshone by the New Mutants and the New Warriors before being dispatched by Trevor Fitzroy. I always seem to root for the underdogs!

Anyway here's Jetstream, who was Emma Frost's answer to Cannonball. Repainted minimate with Space Seed Khan head and Beyonder hair, and a purple wash over a blast base. Decals for chest and wrists/legs detail.

Roulette has Pepper Potts hair, Sue Storm face and a little milliput "good luck" disk.

Catseye has Black Widow hair, modified FA Jean face and a Feral tail.

Empath has a Tony Stark hairpiece and modified Angel face.

Tarot has a Rahne face, X-23 hair and a milliput tarot card with a decal.

Here's a group shot.

I plan on displaying them with Emma Frost and the New Mutants, I have a couple more members in the works.

Me too! Would really like to see an AoA Storm too. Luke, did you make a replacement decal for the AoA Jean, like you said you might?

Wow...simply beautiful, as always!

I wish that DST weren't done with the AoA after the next TRU series. Would love to see Shadowcat, Colossus and more. Do you have plans for others after Jubilee?

I wa always going to pick up this set, but they look so much better in hand than I was expecting. Archangel and Psylocke look awesome and I am even liking the Deadpool mate. Wolvie on the other hand.....just, no. Fantomex better not be a nightmare to pick up.

Would still like a Vanisher, Wolfsbane, Domino from the earlier line-up. Maybe even Elixir and Cypher in their X-Force uniforms. I can hope!