Lobsterman Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 (edited) Big update: I had some free time over the holidays and decided to clear a bunch of in-progress customs off my workbench. Then, I promptly got busy working on freelance stuff and ended up not having time to photograph anything. I was shooting some other stuff over the weekend and slated these in. Uncanny Avengers Havok and Rogue I love Cassaday's simple redesigns of classic costumes. Selfishly, I hope these aren't in the upcoming comic wave that may or may not be current X-men. Thunderbolts Luke Cage Hahahaha it's funny because... well, you know. I like my control gauntlets better. So nyah. Classic White Queen I thought she could to with an update to bring her in line with more modern 'mate design. Head and hair swap, and a more detailed chest decal design. Future Foundation This group had been in progress for a while. When we got those wings with Annihilus, how could I not do Dragon Man? I just happened to have some plastic test tube thingies that fit another bit I found in my parts bin to make Turg, the floating Moloid head. Thunderkitten bodies for the kids. Alice Better hair, poofy sleeves, and a Vorpal Blade. Snicker Snack! That's all I got. Edited April 1, 2014 by Lobsterman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undeadpool Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 dude that FF is snazzy as hell, especially love that Zero-G and Dragon Man the rest of your customs look phenomenal as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nessex Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 ZOMG! I want all of those! ALL OF THEM! They're all beatiful, but That updated White Queen & the Dragnoman are phenomenal. Seriously - Dragonman is just amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellpop Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Can we get a better look at Dragon Man? And please tell me you created a second, non-smart head for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youbastards Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Amazing stuff, your decals are always perfect. What are you using to design, just software, or are you designing with a tablet as well? Are your face decals transparent or printed on white decal paper, because the skin tones make me think transparent but the eyes are white. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fujis Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Great job as always! I am unfamiliar with Dragon Man but he makes me think of Goliath from Gargoyles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whywing Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Gargoyle minimates would rule! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzorio Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Great customs! And only now I saw Watchmen, they look amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigvis497 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I love that FF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shortysben Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 (edited) Was awesome going thru all this! Very talented lobster Edited April 2, 2014 by Shortysben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobsterman Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 Thanks for the kind words, everyone. HP: Sadly, no, just the smart head for Dragon Man. I'll try to take some more pics this weekend or next. YB: I do use a tablet. The decals are on clear paper; I mask the eyes and paint them white first. It's an extra step, but worth it, I think. Fujis: Mystery Man is going to cry when he reads that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youbastards Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Very cool, i would love to see a tutorial if you were inclined. What tablet/app are you using? Also brand of waterslide decals/sealent? All of the Papilio waterslide decals I've tried end up leaving the adhesive on the paper backing instead of the decal. I switched to adhesive film because of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwoosheyman Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 so awesome. Dragon Man is perfection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzorio Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Very cool, i would love to see a tutorial if you were inclined. What tablet/app are you using? Also brand of waterslide decals/sealent? All of the Papilio waterslide decals I've tried end up leaving the adhesive on the paper backing instead of the decal. I switched to adhesive film because of this. I second that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobsterman Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 I do the designs in Illustrator, and use an old Wacom Bamboo tablet; it's nothing fancy, but gets the job done. I still use the old-fashioned point-to-point mouse clicking with bezier curves for a lot of it. For masks, I use Avery clear label sheets for laser printers; for the decals, I use clear decal paper for laser printers from Bare Metal Foil Co. I've tried a lot of waterside decal sheets, and I think theirs is the best quality and most durable. Once applied, I use Solvaset decal activator, then spray with a couple coats of varnish (usually flat) from Microscale Industries – I like it because it's airbrushable and doesn't yellow. I'd love to do a tutorial if I can scrape together some time on a weekend, I'll see what I can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moo2172 Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 The future foundation is amazing! Excellent work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youbastards Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I do the designs in Illustrator, and use an old Wacom Bamboo tablet; it's nothing fancy, but gets the job done. I still use the old-fashioned point-to-point mouse clicking with bezier curves for a lot of it. For masks, I use Avery clear label sheets for laser printers; for the decals, I use clear decal paper for laser printers from Bare Metal Foil Co. I've tried a lot of waterside decal sheets, and I think theirs is the best quality and most durable. Once applied, I use Solvaset decal activator, then spray with a couple coats of varnish (usually flat) from Microscale Industries – I like it because it's airbrushable and doesn't yellow. I'd love to do a tutorial if I can scrape together some time on a weekend, I'll see what I can do. Wow, nice work, the extra steps are definitely worth it. Are you just using an xacto to make the holes in the mask for eyes, mouth, etc, then airbrushing those areas white, then aligning the decal on top? That's gotta be some precision cutting on the mask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous Rex Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I do the designs in Illustrator, and use an old Wacom Bamboo tablet; it's nothing fancy, but gets the job done. I still use the old-fashioned point-to-point mouse clicking with bezier curves for a lot of it. For masks, I use Avery clear label sheets for laser printers; for the decals, I use clear decal paper for laser printers from Bare Metal Foil Co. I've tried a lot of waterside decal sheets, and I think theirs is the best quality and most durable. Once applied, I use Solvaset decal activator, then spray with a couple coats of varnish (usually flat) from Microscale Industries I like it because it's airbrushable and doesn't yellow. I'd love to do a tutorial if I can scrape together some time on a weekend, I'll see what I can do. Wow, nice work, the extra steps are definitely worth it. Are you just using an xacto to make the holes in the mask for eyes, mouth, etc, then airbrushing those areas white, then aligning the decal on top? That's gotta be some precision cutting on the mask. I think we now know a workshop that lobby will be doing at the meetup! Paint masking 101 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobsterman Posted April 4, 2014 Author Share Posted April 4, 2014 If someone not taking an airplane to Chicago wants to bring an exacto and some white spray primer or an airbrush setup, I'd be happy to oblige. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TENIME_art Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I can do the exacto (I live in the suburbs and am driving into the city). I have neither of the other two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyguy Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 The new batch really are incredible. It's hard to pick a favourite but I really like your rework of the White Queen, and the FF are awesome too. I always look forward to your updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobsterman Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Months since my last update, and it's not even a Minimate custom... dun dun dunnnn My time in the garage with paint, dremel, and glue has been cut way down with a baby around, so I've had to turn to a more inside-friendly customizing fix. Kre-o Transformers have provided just that (although now we have the small part choking hazard issue...) I love the idea behind the Micro Changer combiners, and they're a lot of fun in person, but none of them I'm played with so far have been especially on model to the original source material. Case in point, Devastator: They got the colors right, I guess, but everything else is kind of a semi-random mishmash of parts. So, I decided to have a go: Mostly the same parts from the kit, just moved around a bit, and with a couple Lego pieces added. Now you've got Scrapper's funny "high-heel shoe" configuration for the right leg, Mixmaster's critical mixing drum (what the hell is that thing they used, like a bong or something?) on the left, Scavenger on on the right shoulder with his treads where they ought to be, and Bonecrusher on the left shoulder instead of a random purple hinge piece. Unlike Minimates, where sculpting, painting, cutting, etc is fair game, I consider it "cheating" to actually physically modify a building block piece. So, I only had to cheat once here, cutting down that bong thing a bit. It's making me a little crazy that the Lego cone pieces I used for Mixmaster's drum aren't quite the same color as the other gray pieces, but I probably won't stay awake at night thinking about whether I should paint it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nessex Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 oh wow - that is awesome! Nicely done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous Rex Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Looks great, these kreos are too much fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobsterman Posted October 14, 2015 Author Share Posted October 14, 2015 Given all the sculpted armor Iron Man has gotten, I thought XO could use a little love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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