Aethyr

Having had a look at the pictures from Toyfair, I have to say I'm really impressed with the translation of the RGB ghosts and the Calico Jack Pirates line would be really useful for customizing (and just having), and the prospect of Jak & Daxter in toy form. The only thing I'm slightly discourage about is seeing so many that are marked for Toys R Us, which means that these things are going to be near-to-impossible to get for non-US residents and probably very expensive.

The 11 Doctors set probably wins out in terms of accessories. Just from the pictures alone, there'll be a bunch of screwdrivers and an umbrella. If Character duplicates the accessories that were included in the 5" 11th Doctor Set, then we should see a walking stick and recorder as well... although that's speculation on my part. Either way, there'd be a good number of accessories that could be customized.

Well, I'm impressed. I think the main standout of this line, for me, is the 11 Doctors set. It looks fantastic and it's a nice surprise to see it so soon. I'd have figured they'd run with the 11th for a bit and then get around to the previous Doctors if the line did well.

It was announced today that Character Options is entering the mini-fig/construction toy market with a line of Doctor Who mini-figs. From the BBC Press office: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldw...r_options.shtml From Doctor Who Toys website (with larger pictures): http://www.doctorwhotoys.net/characterbuilding.htm

If anyone signed up for the free copy of ep. 1 and hasn't heard, the free episode will be available in February.

Inertia from DC Comics Inertia is a clone of Bart Allen (Impulse), which means this is the 3rd character that I've created using the same design and altering the colours & hair. The 2nd Doctor Patrick Troughton's face was very difficult to depict at that size/style and I don't think I was able to successfully capture it. The clothes hopefully help to sell who the character is supposed to be. R2 Unit This came about from an experiment of how far I could push a design & still have it be a Minimate. It was one of those moments of inspiration of "I wonder if this would work". I've got a test mock-up that proves the idea can work. There is very little space between the leg & torso piece, so I'm thinking that as the body shell is a circle, there would have to be a compromise and the side be flat, while the front, back, & top remain round. Most likely a tricky custom for someone to make, but I think the end result would be worth it.

Daxter is way too big, generally he's about knee-thigh height on Jax and usually rides on Jax's shoulder-guard. It would be nice if there was a small, solid figure that was sculpted onto Jax's shoulder-guard or could plug into it. Jak looks fine given the camera angles, although I wouldn't mind seeing what his face looks like.

Finished two designs for Zuko. I might do a design for Aang if he hasn't already been done in Minimate form. Zuko (season 1) Zuko (season 3) Comments are, as always, most appreciated. Especially any comments about the Zuko face decal if there are aspects of it that need to be adjusted.

Thought I'd give try to do a face decal for Zuko from Avatar, the Last Airbender. A full costume design (or two) for Zuko will come later. (pic currently unavailable) Oh, and no moustached variant of MAA. I couldn't do that to the character. <img src="http://www.minimatemultiverse.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Man-at-Arms from Masters of the Universe. A template to aid in creating MOTU characters. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/460570...8d940ec1c_o.png Sulu as he appeared in the Where No Man has Gone Before. Just a matter of taking a Sulu and head/hand swapping it onto a "The Cage" Spock. Picture was a too dark so I had to adjust in Photoshop, which is why the background is a bit wonky.

Klaus Nomi, the German countertenor (pic currently unavailable) Mercury, a character from the DC/Marvel Amalgam universe. Basically just an Impulse repaint with different hair. (pic currently unavailable) Fawkes, from Fallout 3. I did this design after starting on the physical minimate. (pic currently unavailable) I started Fawkes without a design first, using screenshots as a guide. Probably not the best way to do it, but the creative impulse took hold. I used a 2.5 Kilowog as the base, removed the ears, sanded lightly and started painting. More of a proof of concept, but this is the result: For height comparison purposes. The Vault suit is a quick photoshop edit.

I thought I was going to move away from DC characters design for a bit, but when I saw Nightwing the compulsion to make a design was too great to ignore. Thus, here he is in his first outfit: (pic currently unavailable) A headless from the Ultima series of PC role-playing games. (pic currently unavailable) The Ultima headless realized in minimate form. Removed the head peg, repainted the whole figure to get a matching skin tone & used a ultra fine sharpie on the chest block. The headless became my first actual design to be realized in minimate form because a)the design is extremely simple and easy to do, and <img src="http://www.minimatemultiverse.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="cool.gif" /> the leg joint snapped in half on a minimate moments I took it out of the packaging. With a figure suddenly becoming parts, it seems as good an opportunity to make one of the designs a reality. Comments, as always, are greatly appreciated.

Spoiler (pic currently unavailable) Specter's cape & cowl work best for this design, the rest is paint & decals. There might be a belt from another figure that would serve, otherwise it would have to be painted. Max Mercury (pic currently unavailable) Apart from the collar/upper chest piece from a Deadman figure, Max can be created with a chest decal & paint. Given the relative ease of the two above designs, one of them will most likely be used for my first attempt in creating a physical minimate.

Before I display any new designs, I thought I'd best complete the last step of what I've already done. Thus: decals. Jayna, Superfriends (pic currently unavailable) This should be fairly easy to make. Apart from painting the pieces to match the decals, the only thing that needs to be created is the belt. The hairpiece from a Spock minimate could serve well as a base for the hair - at least you don't have to sculpt pointed ears. I've provided two versions of the chest block, the right one is blank so anyone who wants to use the collar from a Deadman minimate can do so. Jayna, Young Justice (pic currently unavailable) Apart from painting, the hairpiece would be the only thing that would need to be created. Seventh Doctor (pic currently unavailable) A jacket, hair or hair with hat (depending which you'd prefer) would need to be found & modified. The legs would probably need to be painted. Seventh Doctor, 1996 TVM (pic currently unavailable) A jacket, hair or hair with hat (depending which you'd prefer) would need to be found & modified. The legs would probably need to be painted. Zan, Superfriends (pic currently unavailable) Like the Jayna design, pretty much a simple matter of painting & creating the belt. Again, Spock's hairpiece would work well. I've provided two versions of the chest block, the right one is blank so anyone who wants to use the collar from a Deadman minimate can do so. Zan, Young Justice (pic currently unavailable) Paint to match & done. <img src="http://www.minimatemultiverse.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> Slobo (pic currently unavailable) Technically, the chest block should be the striped t-shirt, but I'd finished the shirt w/ vest before I remembered the vest should be a separate piece. So I've provided the option of either having the vest as a separate piece or simply part of the chest block. The rest of the figure would need to be painted and a belt created. Arrowette (pic currently unavailable) Apart from painting, the skirt, quiver, bow, & hair would need to be created/modified. Secret (pic currently unavailable) The hair & coat would need creating/modifying. The figure would probably look best in clear/semi-clear plastic if possible. (pic currently unavailable) The belt and vest would most likely need to be created/modified. I figure the pony-tail would be the trickiest part to create given the volume of the hair and the connecting piece would be (I think) a weak point.

Thanks for the kind comments. Glantern- good to know, thanks. Good to see the entire team's been covered in one form or another. As for the designs, that's why I've posted them. If you or anyone wants to realize any of the designs I've done/will be doing in plastic form, please go ahead. I'd be most interested in seeing how they turn out. I'd just appreciate a "based upon" credit or something. Cap Minimate - An interesting idea. It might work if the hair piece could be somehow "locked" with the side ear wings of the mask. At the moment I can only speculate on how to do it as I lack any Blue Beetle figs (which are about as easy to find as hens teeth).

Latest designs are: Secret (pic currently unavailable) If/when built, a clear or semi-clear plastic minimate body would be ideal. Empress (pic currently unavailable) With Secret & Empress drawn, I'm considering the YJ lineup finished, apart from one thing. I have not done a YJ-era version of Wonder Girl or Superboy as I'm unsure if someone's already created a YJ version of either of these characters. If there isn't a YJ version, then I'll do them up to complete the set. The question is: what versions of these two would people prefer: early outfits or the later outfits. If anyone could let me know if if a YJ-version of Wonder Girl or Superboy exists or not that would be most helpful. Also, A variant of the Seventh Doctor. Seventh Doctor (96 TV Movie) (updated with slipper feet)

With Arrowette complete, I just have to draw up Secret and Empress and I'm essentially done the Young Justice line-up. If there aren't versions of Wonder Girl, Superboy & Robin as they appeared in YJ, then I'll be 4-5 characters away from finishing the YJ team. Arrowette, from Young Justice (pic currently unavailable) I've finished the the design of the seventh Doctor. This design covers his two BBC outfits. I'll be working on the outfit he wore in the TVM at some point in the future. The seventh Doctor (updated with slipper feet) (pic currently unavailable)

I hadn't planned on designing a Gleek, especially since there's one displayed on "Boyd's Mnimate Customs" website. I suppose I could do one if there's enough interest in seeing another design of the character.

This relates to the previously shown Impulse design. I've taken a stab at making decals from the design, the results of which are: (pic currently unavailable) New designs this round are - Slobo, from Young Justice I'd initially thought that the Wonder Twins would be relatively obscure and an easy costume design. While looking for reference photos for eye colour, I discovered they'd already been done. As I'd already done a significant amount of work on the two, I decided to do two things. First, I finished the designs. Apart from the chest emblem, the costumes are identical, which is why the body/leg pieces are split between the two twins. Zan, from Superfriends Zayna, from Superfriends Secondly, I made designs based upon their appearance in the Young Justice comic. Zan, from Young Justice Zayna, from Young Justice

Thanks for the welcome and the comments. I've been working away on the Impulse design and have reached a point where I can call it finished. (pic currently unavailable) While I don't have the parts nor the skill (as of yet) to physically realize this design, I feel the following recipe would work: - The face & chest block would be decals. - If possible the legs forearms would be decals, otherwise paint might be the only other option. - The easiest way to get the gloves would probably be to find a pair of red hands and simply paint the flesh area. Otherwise you're having to reverse the painting process which would require flesh hands & the appropriate shade of red paint. - For the hair, I'd say the series 7 Nightwing hair would work best. It would need to be bulked up a bit (Impulse has huge hair) and then painted to as close to a chestnut shade as possible. - As previously stated, the goggles would probably come from a heavily modified Blue Beetles. These would then need to be attached a hair piece (modified Nightwing - see above) If anyone wants to give this a shot or create decals from this design (or any others that I come up with for that matter), feel free.

I've taken my first tentative steps into modifying/creating/designing minimate figures. Everything is still in-process but they're far enough along to display and get feedback. (pic currently unavailable) The Seventh Doctor from Doctor Who. The purpose of this design was mainly for the chest block. The tie is missing the paisley design and the figure is missing hair and hat (mostly as I don't think I could do hair to save my life). The face is my first attempt to try to get an actor's likeness down (this was done with scaling a photo of McCoy's face in Photoshop scaling). (pic currently unavailable) Impulse from DC Comics. Again, I'm unsure of what to do with his hair and he's got huge hair. If and when this was to be translated into an actual figure, I've based the face grin of Robin's (from 2nd wave). To my mind the mask would be a heavily modified version of Blue Beetles with added hair and slip-over the head. The chest piece is missing muscle definition as well, as I'm somewhat stumped on this at the moment. This is a concept proof (and a way of getting myself used to painting over existing parts). The figure is Lauren Blackwell from Blackwell Unbound, which is an adventure game from Wadjet Eye Games. The face & torso are placeholders until proper decals can be adapted from the low-res sprites.

I have two questions with regards to waterslide decals. First, I was curious to know how water-proof ink-jet printer ink is when printed on the waterslide decal paper and the submerged in water. Is there any colour bleeding or smearing? Secondly, I've seen references to clear-coating the decal once applied and dry. I've used a spray matt varnish for acrylic paints when doing miniatures and I wondered if this was applicable/safe to over decals. Or is the clear coat a different substance entirely. Thanks