elhonez Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 So true. I'm inherently impatient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kotter Comics Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Or, and hear me out, you could do something akin to Luke's custom offerings and print a whole sticker sheet worth of decals for the same character and either sell them as "do it yourself applications" or complete them as full custom figures for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cylonchaney Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 (edited) Since I've been dong vehicles, I tend to fill out sheets with vehicle stickers to use later, if I don't have a full sheet. Lately I've been 3d printing my customs and I usually make 3 and then pick the best one. I make a few duplicate stickers in case I screw something up. And still I feel like I waste some sticker paper. I have to remind myself sometimes that I can afford to use a whole sheet for one custom if I want. I don't really need to treat it as preciously as I do but it's good not to be wasteful. Edited October 11, 2023 by cylonchaney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elhonez Posted October 11, 2023 Author Share Posted October 11, 2023 (edited) 8 hours ago, cylonchaney said: Since I've been dong vehicles, I tend to fill out sheets with vehicle stickers to use later, if I don't have a full sheet. Lately I've been 3d printing my customs and I usually make 3 and then pick the best one. I make a few duplicate stickers in case I screw something up. And still I feel like I waste some sticker paper. I have to remind myself sometimes that I can afford to use a whole sheet for one custom if I want. I don't really need to treat it as preciously as I do but it's good not to be wasteful. I like that philosophy, and I think if I'm honest with myself, I just like the idea of being able to drop a lot of new customs at once. The character list requiring decals has expanded to 40, but I'm already 7 into them, so that's a positive sign. 10 hours ago, Kotter Comics said: Or, and hear me out, you could do something akin to Luke's custom offerings and print a whole sticker sheet worth of decals for the same character and either sell them as "do it yourself applications" or complete them as full custom figures for sale. I'm thinking about providing the art sheet free of charge to folks who want to print their own when all is said and done. I lack the parts (and frankly the patience) to make multiples, and I wouldn't feel right about charging for my novice art. Plus a key Luke differentiator/innovation in his last batch was pre-cut sticker sheets, which is definitely something I'm happy paying for, but lack the logistics to deliver. Also, my stuff is... super niche. I will wager that even the most diehard Marvel fans will get to learn about characters they've never heard of before as I slowly knock these out. EDIT: I re-read your comment and now understand you were suggesting printing multiples of the same character -- I think that's a good idea! But I'll probably stay committed to this "big batch" idea since I'm 25% through it. Even though I say I've completed 7, there are also pre-existing decals from older customs on my main sheet which counts for another handful. So, maybe there will be some takers when I offer up a PDF at the end of all of this. Edited October 11, 2023 by elhonez my lack of comprehension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Paco Posted October 18, 2023 Share Posted October 18, 2023 On 6/28/2023 at 1:07 AM, elhonez said: Awesome set, I am wishing they would have made tis set as they are cool and have some nice details. I would certainly buy a set of these as I like Western figures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elhonez Posted October 20, 2023 Author Share Posted October 20, 2023 (edited) Thanks! I agree, I would definitely pick up a Marvel Western set. It wouldn't require any new tooling either, although I'm sure they could improve on/refine the existing cowboy hat options. Another thought: I wasn't able to be this ambitious for this "release," but I did start thinking about how I might incorporate Venger's horse into a custom. Edited October 20, 2023 by elhonez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jettstorm Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 Man, that is one of my biggest wants right now. Cowboy hats. Just a couple of different styles (Wide flat Tombstone style, Curved Lone Ranger Style). I've tried for years to find someone to 3d print minimate size cowboy hats that i could buy some bulk in for customs. The good existing hats are locked behind paywalls for the Dollar Trilogy sets mostly unless im missing some other good options. Great job elhonez! I'd buy that set or any western themed sets in a heartbeat like many others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttheadsmate Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 I'm no expert but I have had a good experience (years ago) with a Lego Wehrmacht helmet ....it fitted a Minimate head no problem . Just a suggestion . Google 'Lego cowboy hats' ,there seems to be plenty of choice. -cowboyhatsmate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cylonchaney Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 They could bring back the MAX line. Cowboys MAX with a Minimate horse. I wonder if that would sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jettstorm Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 Quote On 10/24/2023 at 9:48 AM, buttheadsmate said: I'm no expert but I have had a good experience (years ago) with a Lego Wehrmacht helmet ....it fitted a Minimate head no problem . Just a suggestion . Google 'Lego cowboy hats' ,there seems to be plenty of choice. -cowboyhatsmate I would love it if it were that easy but if Im not completely mistaken....I don't think Lego hats or hair fit on Minimate heads. I unfortunately don't have any lego figures sitting around right now to verify but just looking online even they appear to have different sized heads. I found some knockoff playmobileish styled western figures years ago that had hats that fit ok but they were not easy to find. I wonder if you could make cowboy hats for 1/18 figure heads fit? Dime Novel Legends makes a few styles of hats but not sure they would work. I kept looking for years and hoping someone would post a minimate sized/style cowboy hat on one of the 3d printing sites that I could purchase but never found one. I need to make more friends with 3d printing people hah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cylonchaney Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 (edited) 38 minutes ago, jettstorm said: I would love it if it were that easy but if Im not completely mistaken....I don't think Lego hats or hair fit on Minimate heads. I unfortunately don't have any lego figures sitting around right now to verify but just looking online even they appear to have different sized heads. I found some knockoff playmobileish styled western figures years ago that had hats that fit ok but they were not easy to find. I wonder if you could make cowboy hats for 1/18 figure heads fit? Dime Novel Legends makes a few styles of hats but not sure they would work. I kept looking for years and hoping someone would post a minimate sized/style cowboy hat on one of the 3d printing sites that I could purchase but never found one. I need to make more friends with 3d printing people hah. I believe you are correct. I use lego hair models for some of my 3d printed characters and have to upscale them to fit a Minimate head. PS It's still on my radar to make some Minimate hats and release them for free but other projects are higher on the list currently. I made one hat with a separate [hair below the hat] piece for ease of printing. But I didn't account for the hair when designing so the hat looks too far forward with hair. Looks OK on a bald guy. It's more of a pimp hat though. One of these days I'll finish and post that project. Edited October 26, 2023 by cylonchaney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttheadsmate Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 You...mean.....I'm wrong ! I hate being wrong , it always means that everybody would have been happier if I'd been right . The future for Minimates is undoubtedly 'custom' pieces ......but I might be wrong ? Not twice ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elhonez Posted October 31, 2023 Author Share Posted October 31, 2023 I had an epiphany. I was doing too much with my self-imposed decal challenge, and once I hit 18 characters worth of decals I realized I had enough to start printing. So I'm gonna. However, I am now faced with an even harder part, now that I've got a good production pipeline for decals and a good-enough painting setup. That harder part is PARTS. Parse that. Although even the Parthenon is partial presently. Par for the course? Pardon me, what I mean to impart is... Parts are the real bottleneck for my customs. There are just some things that don't turn up on eBay anymore, at least with any regularity. And some of the parts I need... ahh. I'm kicking myself. At least two are parts that I've had, but sold, thinking, "I'll never need this bit for a custom." Which is extra aggravating considering I'm normally Scrooge McDuck with parts, dreading this precise moment where my mini-fisted FOMO proved insufficient insulation from the demands of future innovation. So without further ado, my Hail Mary entreaty for some parts for my next 7 waves, some of which I recognize carry higher relative value on the secondary market and would be compensated appropriately: Rolento (if partial: legs & feet) Expendables Barney Ross (box set #2 version) War Machine Mark II (James Rhodes Wave 23; if partial: just his torso cap/shoulder piece) Age of Ultron Scarlet Witch (if partial: her arms) I'd also like to consult with anyone who has successfully swapped shins+pins -- I am nervous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elhonez Posted November 8, 2023 Author Share Posted November 8, 2023 Quick update: I was able to wheel and deal for everything but the War Machine part, so if you "know a guy who knows a guy," HMU. I'm also curious if anyone here has swapped the shins of 'mates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elhonez Posted November 16, 2023 Author Share Posted November 16, 2023 A potboiler of sorts -- I shared these years ago, but recently touched them up and thought it would be fun to photograph them like a box set from the days of yore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cylonchaney Posted November 16, 2023 Share Posted November 16, 2023 Those look great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke314pi Posted November 16, 2023 Share Posted November 16, 2023 I love those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSTZach Posted November 16, 2023 Share Posted November 16, 2023 Great customs! I read about them in the Marvel Handbook, but never any of their stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elhonez Posted November 17, 2023 Author Share Posted November 17, 2023 21 hours ago, DSTZach said: Great customs! I read about them in the Marvel Handbook, but never any of their stories. Never let it be said that I don't dig deep for some of these. Over the next few waves, I'm sure there will be more than one character whose sum comic appearances could be counted on a single hand. Lookin at you, xxxxxxx! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elhonez Posted November 20, 2023 Author Share Posted November 20, 2023 (edited) I decided to go back and fix up / meddle with / otherwise improve some of my very first quick-ish customs. Some got more TLC than others, but all are now more comic-accurate. No "HangMate" this time, since this wave name was already out there in the very first post. Cheshire Cat is basically all-new, since I had the color wrong the first go-round. I added some Janine Melnitz glasses to complete the look. I remember these being somewhat timely in that I made them after the Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode aired that featured a bunch of c-listers (including Spear and the Mangler), but before Netflix's Luke Cage aired, which of course heightened Shades' and Comanche's profiles. Fun Fact that I only recently learned: Shades is the father of the second Power Man, Victor Alvarez. (well, technically 3rd if you include Erik Josten's early alias). Edited November 20, 2023 by elhonez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cylonchaney Posted November 20, 2023 Share Posted November 20, 2023 You have a real talent for Minimate customizing. I like how you've captured the DST promo photo style as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freaqualizer Posted November 20, 2023 Share Posted November 20, 2023 8 hours ago, elhonez said: I decided to go back and fix up / meddle with / otherwise improve some of my very first quick-ish customs. Some got more TLC than others, but all are now more comic-accurate. No "HangMate" this time, since this wave name was already out there in the very first post. Cheshire Cat is basically all-new, since I had the color wrong the first go-round. I added some Janine Melnitz glasses to complete the look. I remember these being somewhat timely in that I made them after the Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode aired that featured a bunch of c-listers (including Spear and the Mangler), but before Netflix's Luke Cage aired, which of course heightened Shades' and Comanche's profiles. Fun Fact that I only recently learned: Shades is the father of the second Power Man, Victor Alvarez. (well, technically 3rd if you include Erik Josten's early alias). These are so awesome! Great job! I love seeing the lesser known characters represented in minimate form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elhonez Posted November 20, 2023 Author Share Posted November 20, 2023 2 hours ago, cylonchaney said: You have a real talent for Minimate customizing. I like how you've captured the DST promo photo style as well. Thank you! I'm excited to do more with this format. There should be at least 6 more PMIF-themed "waves" before I'm done with that group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elhonez Posted November 21, 2023 Author Share Posted November 21, 2023 It'll be some time before it's ready, but Wave 2 has a loose, somewhat abstract theme: __ __ __ __ __ __ __, __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cylonchaney Posted November 21, 2023 Share Posted November 21, 2023 Q Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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