[lmateo002]

HI from D&DCUSTOMS.
(BY THE END OF JULY 2016 THERE WILL BE ABOUT 175 TO 200 CUSTOM 6" 1:12TH SCALE GI JOE & COBRAS IN THIS THREAD)

PROJECT INTRO
About 5 to 7 years ago I started to sculpt GI JOES & COBRAS into a 6" INCH 1:12 SCALE FORMAT SIZE. I decided that the project would include every figure from 1982 through 1988 with a few exceptions from the later years like Shockwave (one of my favorite characters) or vipers/snake eyes/storm shadow ninja variants and a few more you can find on the list which extend into 1991.
As I got older I realized I still love my vintage 3&3/4 figure collection and the 25th and one modern era joes but wanted a middle ground between that size scale and the 12" inch Sideshow Gi JOES to put on display. So I went with a Marvel Legends Scale which is a midsize between those two scales. Every Joe clocks in at about 6" to 6.25 inches with some exceptions like DESTRO who should be taller so he is lie 6.5 inches.

THE PROCESS OF HOW TO MAKE A CUSTOM 6" INCH JOE

#1 ADVICE: PATIENCE - Take your time! Don't rush.
Also don't settle for less. If you think a part will make it better then get it.

NOT KITBASHING
I need to first start bby saying that making a 3&3/4 inch joe is usually just unscrewing and poping off parts and poping them on others and adding some paint which is commonly refered to kitbashing and is not what is involved in making 6 inch joes where there are no gi joe parts available. If a part needs to be attached it usually need to be heated off the orginal or chopped/dremeled off and retooled and dremeled and resculpted on.

PLANNING STAGE
I first go through the planning stage where I study every toy out there which is expensive as sometimes you have to buy to learn, old and current, to get ideas about how to approach making the figure. The likeness of the head/face is crucial in making the feel of the figure come to life. Then I research every available image which usually includes google image searches, comic book image art, carded figure art, and a mix comparison between vintage arah and modern era(25th, 30th, 50th, ROC, POC, VALOR Vs VENOM. etc)) and 12 inch figures to come up with a final look. I then try to decide a way to add on accessories to modernize them even further so they can maintain the classic look and upgrade to modern looks like stalker as an example, which is a very time consuming process.

ACQUIRING/MAKING PARTS & COSTS/EXPENSES
I almost never use used parts. I buy packaged brand new parts and open them myself if it is easier acquire a part instead of making it which can get very expensive considering you have to find each figure for an affordable price plus shipping for each part. That way I know there are no "cuties" and it has never been used/have odors/licked by dogs, etc., and the joints are unused and tight with no defects. One figure could cost $200 because of all the parts (which does not include money spent reseaching parts which I decided not to use) to buy just to make without including time lost for planning,and actual work sculpt/painting/photo session/computer pic upload /picture editting /uploading pics to server, then uploading links to various sites, and more time involved not mentioned here which could easily equal 100 hours per figure. If I were getting paid $4 an hour to do this each figure would technically have cost me about 100hrs*$4+$200parts or 600each to make. Some less obviously if less complicated and some more. As a person doing a specialty skill I really should value my time at more like $50 to 150 an hr and up so you can see the theoretical math. As it stands if I let one go they range from 100 to 650 being the highest which I do just to cover the cost of the project which has been TREMENDOUS. ART is subjective but I wanted to lay out some facts so the conversation can be fully debated in a constructive and postive intelligent manner who understand the world of having custom one of a kind items in the world. Many conversations have been has about the value of ART and what it's monetary value is worth based on the market or the individual or actual time and cost involved.

SCULPTING SESSIONS
Each figure usually has parts/multiple accessories from multiple figures/bases. I do not share parts so if there is a gun that one figure has and a pic where another pic has the same gun you are looking at two guns, meaning I went through the trouble of getting original accessories for each and every figure or there were custom cast. I sculpt every thing else using EPOXY NON TOXIC SCULPT by hand and metal scuplting tools. I use a dremel for extreme cutting and carving. Each sculpt session is about 4 hours so if you consider doing each part individually like the legs or arms or head or body, etc it could take 4hrs x each section. This needs to be done so no fingerprints or dents occur to previously done areas that are drying/hardening.

DREMELING/TOOLING
I can not tell you how many cuts and bruises and injuries I have sustained from slicing and dremeling hard objects to make customs. My hands have suffered. My advise is to really get the proper tools to hold items in place and wear adequate safety equipment like goggles and gloves.

PAINTING SESSIONS
Painting sessions as well can last 24hrs as each layer needs to be added sometimes after drying. I use professional water based acrylic paints from the local hobby shop and custom mix paints with water ratios, and apply multiple thin layer coats to each figure by hand. I then add color washes, and the varnish sealers. I usually use original color joints or treat joints for minimal paint wear rub. Each figure is scaled to each other except for one or two. I offer tutorials and will help and assist someone who wants to make one on there own.

PHOTO SESSIONS
I use a cowboy lighting studio tent with black background but will do new picks with a grey background soon when I can find the background. Any suggestions on where to get one would help. I take about 6 to 10 different photos per figure but take about 50 switching between settings and flash and no flash per figure so each figure could have 100 to 200 photos to edit down to 6 to 8 usuable photos. Perhaps each figure is a 30 minute photo session. Later on I like to add the figure in scenes and settings with other figures which could take more time and photos. After I load them on the pc and go through the laborious process of deleting most and editing the remaining photos down to the usable 8 or so. Then I upload to the main host site and copy edit again for titling. Then I copy to the harddrive and copy every url to encode them on all the various sites that host these photos for display.

COMMENT ON SOME EARLY ORIGINALS 1.0 SCULPTS
Some 1.0 original figures don't look so great but keep in mind that they were probally done 5 to 7 years ago when I first started and was learning this new medium, and had no idea how to sculpt or paint. I invested a lot of time and money and taught myself and practiced as much as I could, and am happy with the progress I have made over the years.

OTHER SCULPTING PROJECTS
I probably have made over 800 sculptures to date. I only really post the GI JOE sculptures here since this is a JOE site, but I have made full lines of the STAR WARS , MATRIX, MORTAL KOMBAT, TEKKEN, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, METAL GEAR, UNDERWORLD , TOMB RAIDER, and multiple movie and tv series lines for all those fun action cult classic movies that people who love toys usually love all in a ONE:12 6" INCH SCALE FORMAT. I will try to post all those pics here maybe in September 2016. I have them on thefwoosh.

TRAGEDY AT HOME
On a personal note I have been battling a very serious illness since a few years back to this day and this HOBBY has been a lifeline/obsession for me to keep my mind occupied through that dark time. Basically sculpted whenever I was capable. I am extremely happy that I am near the end of this project with only the Dreadnoks left to complete which should be done in AUGUST 2016.

The Vehicle challenge.
Tried to find/customize/make as many vehicles as I could which were in scale with the 6" figures but not so big that I could not live with them. It was a very difficult balance. Somewhere in August/September I should start posting pics of all the HEADQUARTERS, DIORAMA BASES, and VEHICLES DISPLAYS I have set up including 1 updated FULL GI JOE 6: INCH GROUP PHOTO SHOT & FULL COBRA 6: GROUP PHOTO SHOT with INDEX of ALL JOES & COBRAS & VEHICLES & DIORAMAS to DATE.


Update the pics on my home page and add new figures there first. Then I add to this thread. If you click on my idname it should take you there. I add new figures to that page first. Need to update album for at least 100 more joes and cobras and vehicles and playsets/dioramas. You can see more pics of each figure throughout this thread. Take a look. Thanks! Please only nice constructive criticism. New custom figures are posted on the last page. I will be taking a new GI JOE GROUP SHOT VERY SOON when I finish the few on the list below and a NEW COBRA GROUP SHOT right after. I will start taking the remaining vehicle photos this summer as well. Finally I will post group tactical shots and more diorama shots soon now that I am so close to finishing all the Joes.

CUSTOM GI JOE 6" INCH 1:12th SCALE ACTION FIGURES BLACK SERIES MARVEL LEGENDS STYLE






I Will be adding about 100 more figures this month for figures missing from photo with some notables being (Spirit & Freedom, Alpine, SCI FI , LADY JAYE & FLINT 2.0 , SNAKE EYES 1985 3.0 etc..). See my album for individual portraits, dioramas and vehicles all in 6" inch scale.


OLD GI JOE GROUP PIC LIST - Starting from left to right ( about 60 JOES so far at the time the pic was taken):
FALCON
MOVIE SCARLETT
ROCK N' ROLL
SGT SLAUGHTER DRILL SERGEANT
STORM SHADOW 88
LAW & ORDER
GENERAL HAWK
SNAKE EYES 85
QUICK KICK
OUTBACK
TUNNEL RAT
MAINFRAME
STALKER
SNAKE EYES 91
NUNCHUK
STORM SHADOW 91
JINX
RECONDO
MUTT & JUNKYARD
DOC
REPEATER
SPEARHEAD & MAX
BLIZZARD
ROADBLOCK 84
DIALTONE
LEATHERNECK
SCARLETT
SNAKE EYES 82
DUKE
DUSTY
SGT. SLAUGHTER USA
FLINT
LOW-LIGHT
LADY JAYE
ROADBLOCK 86
CUTTER
BAZOOKA
BEACHHEAD
TRIPWIRE
HIT & RUN
AIRBORNE
FOOTLOOSE
SNAKE EYES 83
SLIPSTREAM/ACE
RIPCORD
WILD BILL
COVER GIRL
STEELER
GUNG-HO
LIFT TICKET
TORPEDO
MUSKRAT
WETSUIT
FLINT in COBRA DISGUISE
SHIPWRECK
SHOCKWAVE

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New 6" inch 1:12TH SCALE Joes & Cobras added:
37 Cobras ADDED to THREAD
bazooka trooper, motor-viper, desert-viper, desert scorpion, jungle-viper, night-viper, heat-viper, crystal ball, iron grenadier, ice-viper, copperhead, strato-viper, wild weasel, cobra trooper red mask red logo male, cobra trooper black mask silver logo male, cobra trooper black mask red logo male, cobra trooper black mask red logo female, COBRA OFFICER SILVER LOGO MALE, COBRA SOLDIER SILVER LOGO MALE , Cobra special forces 1 & 2, (HOODED COBRA COMMANDER & DESTRO),MAJOR BLUDD 2.0, BATTLE ARMOR COBRA COMMANDER with AIR CHARIOT, DESTRO 3.0, HELMET COBRA COMMANDER, HOODED COBRA COMMANDER 2heads soft&roughhood, RISE OF COBRA RETALIATION BLACK HELMET COBRA COMMANDER, HOODED COBRA COMMANDER DARK BLUE MAIL IN BOOTS , ROCK VIPER , LASER VIPER, PARA-VIPER, SAW VIPER, ALLEY VIPER,

23 GI JOES ADDED to THREAD
HARDBALL, GUNG-HO, LIFELINE, LIGHTFOOT, HIT & RUN, LAW & ORDER, WIDESCOPE, TOLBOOTH, ACE, psyche-out, DUKE , AIRTIGHT,BARBEQUE, BLOWTORCH,DUSTY 2.0, SNOW JOB, ULTIMATE SNAKE EYES, KAMAKURA, CHUCKLES, CRAZY LEGS ,THUNDER, CRANKCASE, HEAVY METAL

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NEXT UP AUGUST 2016: LAMPREYS,PYTHON PATROL CRIMSON GUARD, TOMAX & XAMOT, SERPENTOR CRIMSON GUARD 2.0 DRESS MARINE BLUES GUNG-HO
WILL ADD NEXT WEEK to THREAD: FRAG VIPER , ASTRO VIPER, ACE, PAYLOAD, WWII HOODED COBRA COMMANDER , BUDO ,CHARBROIL

AUGUST 2016: DREADNOKS; RIPPER, BUZZER, TORCH, MONKEY WRENCH, ZARANA, ZARTAN, ZANDAR, THRASHER, GHAWGAHYDE, ROAD PIG, BURN-OUT, ZANYA

AUGUST 2016: FLINT & LADY JAYE 2.0 , SCARLETT 2.0, COVER GIRL 2.0 LOW-LIGHT 2.0, BEACH-HEAD, SCARLET 2.0, STORM SHADOW 3.0, STORM SHADOW RISE OF COBRA, FIREFLY 3.0, ALPINE, SPIRIT, GENERAL FLAGG, FROSTBITE, ICEBERG, SCI FI, SNOW SERPENT 2.0, SNEEK PEEK, FAST DRAW, GUNG-HO MARINE DRESS BLUES, Wet

VEHICLES: BATTLE BEAR, STEALTH JET, FIREBAT, TOMAHAWK, NIGHT RAVEN, STEEL CRUSHER, DESERT HUMVEE, ARMY GREEN HUMVEE, BLACK HUMVEE NIGHT OPS, WHALE, FANG, FERRET, AIR CHARIOT, BROADCAST ENEERGY TRANSMITTER B.E.T., COBRA H.I.S.S. TANK & GI JOE & COBRA HEADQUARTERS & MORE

PICTURES: NEW GI JOE GROUP SHOT, NEW COBRA GROUP SHOT, NEW CARDED FIGURE COBRA GROUP SHOT, NEW GI JOE CARDED FIGURE GROUP SHOT, GROUP SHOT BY YEAR FOR JOES & COBRAS, CARDED BY YEAR FOR JOES & COBRA, NEW DREADNOK GROUP SHOT, SGT SLAUGHTER RENEGADES GROUP SHOT, COBRALA GROUP SHOT, IRON GRENADIER GROUP SHOT, COBRA VIPER GROUP SHOT, COBRA DRIVERS GROUP SHOT, COBRA TROOPERS GROUP SHOT, COBRA NINJAS GROUP SHOT, COBRA TACTICAL TEAMS GROUP SHOT, GI JOE OPERATION RESCUE SQUAD, GI JOE SWAT TEAM, GI JOE RIOT TEAM, GI JOE FIRE TEAM, GI JOE BOMB SQUAD, GI JOE DESERT TEAM, GI JOE JUNGLE FOREST TEAM, GI JOE ARCTIC TEAM, GI JOE AIRBORNE TEAM, GI JOE SEAL TEAM, MP SECURITY TEAM, WAREHOUSE, HANGER BAY, COBRA THRONE ROOM, COMPUTER COMMAND ROOM, OFFICE SITUATION ROOM, ARMORY, PRISON, BOILER ROOM, COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY STATION, DRONE COMMAND ROOM, SATELLITE DOWN, SAFARI HUNT
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[ShawnDustin]

Nice

[GILTYONE]

Looks good. I wouldn't have used those lower arms for CC though. But over all a really nice job.
Good job on all that I seen!

[lmateo002]

We just added a DandDcustoms GI JOE Marvel legends Style 6.5 INCH Fully poseable COBRA SOLDIER action figure. Here is the link:

CUSTOM GI JOE MARVEL LEGENDS 25th STYLE COBRA SOLDIER - eBay (item 370265733616 end time Oct-05-09 17:05:48 PDT)


male figure and not female as title states

[lmateo002]

We just added a DandDcustoms GI JOE Marvel legends Style 6 INCH Fully poseable COBRA CRIMSON GUARD ELITE TROOPER action figure. Here is the link:

CUSTOM GI JOE MARVEL LEGENDS STYLE COBRA CRIMSON GUARD - eBay (item 370265853567 end time Oct-06-09 18:35:01 PDT)

[lmateo002]

We just added a DandDcustoms GI JOE Marvel legends Style 6.5 INCH Fully poseable COBRA VIPER action figure. Here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MESCX:IT

[steve2477]

Nice.

[steve2477]

Looks great.

[steve2477]

Nice work.

[ShawnDustin]

Very Nice!!