Smitty2733
06-29-2012, 10:34 AM
My first Joe was a straight-arm Flash and I still remember the first time I read issue #1 of the comic in 1982.
But the mid-90’s were dark days in Joe Fandom as the line and comic were both coming to an end. To entertain myself, I re-read my comics, discovered online communities, and began customizing figures.
I was always a huge fan of the Oktober Guard. Every great story has to have compelling antagonists, no?
Not only did I have Thomas Wheeler’s fanzine, I also customized my own team circa 1994. And I even expanded the ranks to include pilots, astronauts and other specialties.
I took a break from Joe during the whole Spy Troops/Valor Vs Venom/Joe vs Cobra period. The body type was just so darn unappealing. I think I have *maybe* 3 figures from a ten-year period?
But the 25th anniversary pulled me back in. Plus, my own son, 4 at the time, really started to enjoy GI Joe. We were, and are, able to enjoy Joe together.
I enjoyed “tweaking” the 25th anniversary figures into what I thought were more accurate depictions. As in Grand Slam, Steeler, and Grunt….
When they released Brekov/Red Star with Duke in the comic two-pack, I figured the rest of the Oktober Guard was inevitable. So I waited in vain. I mean, come on. If they were going to make Slaughter’s marauders and Extreme Conditions Desert Assault Squad, surely they would make the Warsaw Pact version of GI Joe.
Right? Right?!
But when I saw that they would be convention exclusives, and how much I’d have to pay, I realized I could make my own that would be somewhat comparable, and possibly better than the factory versions. But, hey, I’m not taking anything away from the convention figures—they look awesome.
Sooooo, before we get to my OG, first you have to understand my mindset when it comes to customs. I don’t consider myself lazy, but if an existing part, be it a head, helmet, or gear is sufficient on its own, I go with it. For instance, I thought Ripcord (Spec. Altitude) has a uniform that was just *fine* for my Sgt Misha figure. Would it have looked better if I had tried to paint a camo pattern on it myself? Probably not. So for Sgt. Misha, all I needed was a suitable head and headgear.
Why try harder?
And some customs just fall into your lap. For instance; Dragonsky. But we’ll get to that in a minute.
Anyhow….
Col Brekov
I just repainted him a better shade of tan and used a German officer’s pile cap from 21st Century Toys.
Diana
ROC Cover Girl, painting the uniform of Diana in her first appearance. Diana’s hair changed stle and color many times in the comics. So when I saw that her hair color was very similar to that of Star Wars X-wing pilot, Shira Brie, I went with a simple headswap.
Schrage (2 versions)
Head: ARAH Schrage
Body: 25th Duke
Boots: Star Wars Rebel Fleet Trooper
Bullets: Jin Roh Panzer Cops
Head: ARAH Schrage
Body: Indiana Jones Russian Colonol
Gloves: Star Wars x-wing pilot
Horror Show
Easily the most difficult. I used the 25th Bazooka, but put on a vest from a German 21st Century Toys officer and sculpted in sculpy, which was quite a hassle.
At first I had his uniform trousers the same brown that I was using for the rest of the OG—that would have provided some visual unity, but the green just seemed to fit better.
Stormavick
Body: ROC Sandstorm. I highly recommend this body. Very articulated and “baggy” uniform.
Head: Dusty
Beret: Maurader Gun Runners
Belt: 21st Century German soldier
Suspenders: ROC Heavy Duty
Dragonsky
Never a big fan of this guy. I mean, using outdated military tech is one thing. But trying to take seriously a guy who wore…pink? Come on, guys. But you could argue that if you’re doing Oktober Guard, you need to do Dragonsky.
And, as I mentioned, this guy fell into my lap. Looking in my spare pieces box, I noticed the body of some kind of urban warfare Destro. I ‘d purchased the Destro for his removable web gear, which I used for this custom of a 25th Lightfoot:
Body armor: check
Muscular sculpt: check
Dark red color: check
And it was off to the races. Add a helmet and then paint it and the armor a metallic purple. Find a bald head and BAM, you’re done.
Sgt. Misha, as I mentioned, came together quickly.
Body: Ripcord from Cobra Island 5-pack.
Head: Zap
Glasses: Dr. Henry Jones from the Indiana Jones line—a tip from a fellow customizer.
Lt. Gorky
Pretty easy.
Head: Hawk
Body: Heavy Metal
Beret: Marauder Gun Runners
Volga
Cap was from the ARAH Volga
Head: Star Wars Dorovia Bold
Body: Lady Jaye
Original Team
Full Team
Newest member
But the mid-90’s were dark days in Joe Fandom as the line and comic were both coming to an end. To entertain myself, I re-read my comics, discovered online communities, and began customizing figures.
I was always a huge fan of the Oktober Guard. Every great story has to have compelling antagonists, no?
Not only did I have Thomas Wheeler’s fanzine, I also customized my own team circa 1994. And I even expanded the ranks to include pilots, astronauts and other specialties.
I took a break from Joe during the whole Spy Troops/Valor Vs Venom/Joe vs Cobra period. The body type was just so darn unappealing. I think I have *maybe* 3 figures from a ten-year period?
But the 25th anniversary pulled me back in. Plus, my own son, 4 at the time, really started to enjoy GI Joe. We were, and are, able to enjoy Joe together.
I enjoyed “tweaking” the 25th anniversary figures into what I thought were more accurate depictions. As in Grand Slam, Steeler, and Grunt….
When they released Brekov/Red Star with Duke in the comic two-pack, I figured the rest of the Oktober Guard was inevitable. So I waited in vain. I mean, come on. If they were going to make Slaughter’s marauders and Extreme Conditions Desert Assault Squad, surely they would make the Warsaw Pact version of GI Joe.
Right? Right?!
But when I saw that they would be convention exclusives, and how much I’d have to pay, I realized I could make my own that would be somewhat comparable, and possibly better than the factory versions. But, hey, I’m not taking anything away from the convention figures—they look awesome.
Sooooo, before we get to my OG, first you have to understand my mindset when it comes to customs. I don’t consider myself lazy, but if an existing part, be it a head, helmet, or gear is sufficient on its own, I go with it. For instance, I thought Ripcord (Spec. Altitude) has a uniform that was just *fine* for my Sgt Misha figure. Would it have looked better if I had tried to paint a camo pattern on it myself? Probably not. So for Sgt. Misha, all I needed was a suitable head and headgear.
Why try harder?
And some customs just fall into your lap. For instance; Dragonsky. But we’ll get to that in a minute.
Anyhow….
Col Brekov
I just repainted him a better shade of tan and used a German officer’s pile cap from 21st Century Toys.
Diana
ROC Cover Girl, painting the uniform of Diana in her first appearance. Diana’s hair changed stle and color many times in the comics. So when I saw that her hair color was very similar to that of Star Wars X-wing pilot, Shira Brie, I went with a simple headswap.
Schrage (2 versions)
Head: ARAH Schrage
Body: 25th Duke
Boots: Star Wars Rebel Fleet Trooper
Bullets: Jin Roh Panzer Cops
Head: ARAH Schrage
Body: Indiana Jones Russian Colonol
Gloves: Star Wars x-wing pilot
Horror Show
Easily the most difficult. I used the 25th Bazooka, but put on a vest from a German 21st Century Toys officer and sculpted in sculpy, which was quite a hassle.
At first I had his uniform trousers the same brown that I was using for the rest of the OG—that would have provided some visual unity, but the green just seemed to fit better.
Stormavick
Body: ROC Sandstorm. I highly recommend this body. Very articulated and “baggy” uniform.
Head: Dusty
Beret: Maurader Gun Runners
Belt: 21st Century German soldier
Suspenders: ROC Heavy Duty
Dragonsky
Never a big fan of this guy. I mean, using outdated military tech is one thing. But trying to take seriously a guy who wore…pink? Come on, guys. But you could argue that if you’re doing Oktober Guard, you need to do Dragonsky.
And, as I mentioned, this guy fell into my lap. Looking in my spare pieces box, I noticed the body of some kind of urban warfare Destro. I ‘d purchased the Destro for his removable web gear, which I used for this custom of a 25th Lightfoot:
Body armor: check
Muscular sculpt: check
Dark red color: check
And it was off to the races. Add a helmet and then paint it and the armor a metallic purple. Find a bald head and BAM, you’re done.
Sgt. Misha, as I mentioned, came together quickly.
Body: Ripcord from Cobra Island 5-pack.
Head: Zap
Glasses: Dr. Henry Jones from the Indiana Jones line—a tip from a fellow customizer.
Lt. Gorky
Pretty easy.
Head: Hawk
Body: Heavy Metal
Beret: Marauder Gun Runners
Volga
Cap was from the ARAH Volga
Head: Star Wars Dorovia Bold
Body: Lady Jaye
Original Team
Full Team
Newest member