[Steel Brigade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit & Run

Darklon came out looking fantastic! Really great use of the Marauder armored pieces because they really match up with how I always envisioned the o ring figure looking. Love the larger pouch on his chest, shoulder a roar and that gun to really give him an imposing look.
Always loved Toxo Viper & Toxo Zombie growing up so it?s awesome to see one of them finally pop up in your thread. Love that chrome marker you used on the face plate, then you tied the figure together nicely with that build. Awesome write up as always, haha, I never really thought about how miserable the troops who worked for a Cesspool type leader must be.
Daiyu is badass! Love the dress shirt combined with the MTF pants, really gives her a cool look. That?s a beautiful head that you picked up for her and the police belt & gear finishes off the look perfectly to match your backstory for her.
Lmao! I love that Pipeline?s close encounter rack included Leatherface?s chainsaw! I feel sorry for the trooper who meets him in the tight corridors of the command center and see him start up that thing! Really great take on Benchpress. He was one I had always planned on making since he was always so pricy to pick up but I finally did find him for like $20 one day so I added him to the collection. I would like to do my own version of him down the road though since every joe can use at least one additional version. Haha.
Bombstrike is another one of those characters that I always think about a v2 for. Your?s came out looking fantastic! Love the Scarlett Johansson head for her, really gives her something extra and that head is just beautifully painted! Really enjoying the MTF stickers you are adding to the figures, then she?s another with a great build. The exo suit part as a controller for a drone is so cool! Great twist on the character to aid her search and the execution is really awesome. Really like the switch out to give her boots a different color as well.
Can?t wait to dig in to the next group!

Ha ha! Thanks for always noticing the little things when it comes to my character builds! Being this round was parts-bin mostly, sometimes you just need that spark to get a character started, (usually the noggin), & then I feel you need to maximize wherever you can. I never try to look at things cost-wise when making a build, & just try to recreate the bashes the best I know how. With character driven heads, specific accessories, roster variety, & making the most of what I already have lol. Every time I think I've come to a creative speed bump some new inspiration strikes! Once again, I appreciate your thorough review and all the kind words! Hope you enjoyed your vacation & glad to have you back on the 'Tank!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint_rocks

That is absolutely perfection. I always liked Tollbooth and picked up the club figure which is a bit of a disappointment but the vest really sets this apart. I mean the whole custom is awesome, but that small detail really makes him stand out. I may have to grab one for the club figure now.

Big thanks buddy! Glad you like Tollbooth! The vest is the Texas Ranger Brown Vest (from Dime Novel Legends!) ;-)

.

[Steel Brigade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hebime

From the cult Leader with the kanabō to Action Girl in the short shorts these all look amazing SB!

LOL! Thanks boss, as always, welcome aboard!... & of course you know your stuff, whether it be the weapons or the butt-huggers! XD

[paokole]

Bro, another killer batch!! Your level of creativity never ceases to amaze!

Shutendoji is a totally unexpected build as you're continuing to expand your cosmos of awesomeness. And I don't see any crazy use of bin parts work here haha because it's quite apparent a plan/story preceded this build and it also contradicts your reputation as the true master builder! Exceptionally put together, bravo! I have a feeling we'll be seeing more builds that follow this very theme. Please say yes!

Dr Swan is another incredible build, the Talia MTF head is an excellent choice here and the lipstick red legs are spot on and complement the image of said character beautifully! Love this one!

Then you're really crushing it with the Jungle Cyber Gunner. This BAT version couldn't be better as it deviates from the usual customs one sees sporadically for being so unique with that awesome head and little touches (Kronos forearms & chest plate). Really nice!

Of course Hard Hat is unquestionably IMHO the best Tollbooth custom character I've seen so far. The hard hat cast you got off Etsy together with those parts/colors sets this apart. You even integrated that Hank head nicely. Quite the formula and I gotta say it's beyond successful!

I always enjoy checking out your lethal but gorgeous female characters which I find so appealing and Action Girl is no exception. She appears to be a simple build but well thought out nevertheless. Your choice of head is spot on. Fantastic build and full of color and ACTION!

I very much enjoyed going over the pictures as much as I had fun reading the background stories for each build. Definitely a bonus each time I visit your thread.

Really cool stuff man. Keep them coming!!

[Steel Brigade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paokole

Bro, another killer batch!! Your level of creativity never ceases to amaze!
Shutendoji is a totally unexpected build as you're continuing to expand your cosmos of awesomeness. And I don't see any crazy use of bin parts work here haha because it's quite apparent a plan/story preceded this build and it also contradicts your reputation as the true master builder! Exceptionally put together, bravo! I have a feeling we'll be seeing more builds that follow this very theme. Please say yes!
Dr Swan is another incredible build, the Talia MTF head is an excellent choice here and the lipstick red legs are spot on and complement the image of said character beautifully! Love this one!
Then you're really crushing it with the Jungle Cyber Gunner. This BAT version couldn't be better as it deviates from the usual customs one sees sporadically for being so unique with that awesome head and little touches (Kronos forearms & chest plate). Really nice!
Of course Hard Hat is unquestionably IMHO the best Tollbooth custom character I've seen so far. The hard hat cast you got off Etsy together with those parts/colors sets this apart. You even integrated that Hank head nicely. Quite the formula and I gotta say it's beyond successful!
I always enjoy checking out your lethal but gorgeous female characters which I find so appealing and Action Girl is no exception. She appears to be a simple build but well thought out nevertheless. Your choice of head is spot on. Fantastic build and full of color and ACTION!
I very much enjoyed going over the pictures as much as I had fun reading the background stories for each build. Definitely a bonus each time I visit your thread. Really cool stuff man. Keep them coming!!

Thanks for your thoughtful review as always buddy! You and Hit & Run always give me such great feedback! I think the forum right now is at an all-time-high with the creativity pouring out of "the regulars" threads... everybody I follow is offering something fun, different, & inspirational!

I can tell you I do have some more outlandish characters planned for the "Shinjuku Demon Parade" story line so please stay tuned! lol

Wow you think my Tollbooth homage is the best? Awesome! Sometimes it's those lesser made characters that can really shine when you finally break them down for customs... I'm so glad this one was so well received!

I have LOTS of new "Lethal Ladies" to come & you will see that in the upcoming waves! XD Some really fun stuff for me & I hope you're ready lol! Glad you enjoy them so much as they are among my favorites to make! Thanks for all the kind words, it's always great to have you in this thread! =)

[Hit & Run]

That cult leader is vicious! Haha, never gonna see me complain about a multi colored limb figure so I love it! That badass mask.....then the reveal of the Shang Tsung looking head underneath! Fantastic!

That?s a great Biggles-Jones, definitely an improvement over the Club?s offering. Really like the head & goggles combo, then the pieces used on her ankles to give her the boot look was a great idea. I was waiting for the Galen Erso swerve in her bio where she?s been sabotaging all of the weapons she?s been forced to make. Haha. She?s got time, just wait until WRATH wants to build their own Death Star caliber weapon!

That was a great head to give you an alternate for the Jungle BAT, then the build finishes the look off perfectly. That was always just such a cool design, probably tough to get cheap now as well so this is the perfect formula to troop build them a bit!

Haha, someone I used to work with talked Joes with me the one day because another buddy & I were talking about our favorites growing up.....he said he asked for the GI Joe tank as a kid....I guess he wanted the MOBAT.....he got the Bridge Layer. Safe to say that coworker did not still have love for Joe twenty plus years later the same way us tank receiving kids do. Haha. I did pick up a Bridge Layer with a vintage Tollbooth a few years ago though and I love it. Haha. Makes for some unique picture opportunities.

That build is perfect for Tollbooth, love the dress shirt and cloth legs combo. Then that head, hard hat & vest combo really bring it home. I like the Club?s version, but this is a great way to go if you?d like your Tollboith to have a little more height. Haha. I just pretend Tollbooth is 5?4 in my Joe universe because of the Club figure.

Love the origins of Action Girl, always fun when you can bring in a callback to your younger days into the collection. And a combo of Claire Danes & Chun Li......as a huge fan of the 90?s....umm, hell yes! Haha. That?s a beautiful head you chose for her, then a brilliant build for her tank top. The exposed skin on the shorts piece pairs perfectly with the orange BF torso to achieve your sleeveless t shirt look. As always, just great building there. Then love the sneakers and spiked collar as well. Really fun & original character!

I?m all caught up now! Let?s see the new recruits! Hahaha.

[nancy2K]

In response to no particular custom in this thread, I just wanted to say I'm very grateful for your work. I'm just getting back into customizing after 18 years away from the hobby. As I've been familiarizing myself with all of the incredible options now available to customizers, I keep coming back to this thread for inspiration as well as "proof of concept." There's hardly a thing that can be done with MTF parts (and a judicious sprinkling of BFS and custom cast items) that you haven't already tried. Beyond being a document of unbridled creativity and the joy of customization, this thread is an invaluable resource--a catalog of how parts can be combined, re-contextualized, and reimagined. Thanks for sharing your work with us.

[Fall]

Just wanted to echo nancy2k's sentiment. I haven't posted in this thread yet for lack of having anything constructive to add, but I'm always excited to see your posts and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your creations.

[Steel Brigade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit & Run

That cult leader is vicious! Haha, never gonna see me complain about a multi colored limb figure so I love it! That badass mask.....then the reveal of the Shang Tsung looking head underneath! Fantastic!
That?s a great Biggles-Jones, definitely an improvement over the Club?s offering. Really like the head & goggles combo, then the pieces used on her ankles to give her the boot look was a great idea. I was waiting for the Galen Erso swerve in her bio where she?s been sabotaging all of the weapons she?s been forced to make. Haha. She?s got time, just wait until WRATH wants to build their own Death Star caliber weapon!
That was a great head to give you an alternate for the Jungle BAT, then the build finishes the look off perfectly. That was always just such a cool design, probably tough to get cheap now as well so this is the perfect formula to troop build them a bit!
Haha, someone I used to work with talked Joes with me the one day because another buddy & I were talking about our favorites growing up.....he said he asked for the GI Joe tank as a kid....I guess he wanted the MOBAT.....he got the Bridge Layer. Safe to say that coworker did not still have love for Joe twenty plus years later the same way us tank receiving kids do. Haha. I did pick up a Bridge Layer with a vintage Tollbooth a few years ago though and I love it. Haha. Makes for some unique picture opportunities.
That build is perfect for Tollbooth, love the dress shirt and cloth legs combo. Then that head, hard hat & vest combo really bring it home. I like the Club?s version, but this is a great way to go if you?d like your Tollboith to have a little more height. Haha. I just pretend Tollbooth is 5?4 in my Joe universe because of the Club figure.
Love the origins of Action Girl, always fun when you can bring in a callback to your younger days into the collection. And a combo of Claire Danes & Chun Li......as a huge fan of the 90?s....umm, hell yes! Haha. That?s a beautiful head you chose for her, then a brilliant build for her tank top. The exposed skin on the shorts piece pairs perfectly with the orange BF torso to achieve your sleeveless t shirt look. As always, just great building there. Then love the sneakers and spiked collar as well. Really fun & original character!
I?m all caught up now! Let?s see the new recruits! Hahaha.

BIG THANKS bro! Yes, with Shinjuku Demon Parade I am purposely able to bend realism a bit more than with the other story-lines, so the "Cult Leader" was a fun departure from most of what I have done so far, I can tell you he really stands out on the shelf! @[email protected] Ha! The Rogue One Galen Erso twist...who knows! Maybe that will come later in the story, I like it! XD The Jungle B.A.T. homage was really out of the blue, all thanks to that extra freebie head, I have the Hasbro original & like it as the B.A.T. mold was always good, but I figured let's make an MGR version that can be as cool & just as versatile in the current ranks! You're Tollbooth stories were fun, thanks for sharing! I remember the Bridge Layer being in your dio pics! Love me some good shorter characters for realism, but it just seemed an odd choice on the Club's Tollbooth build lol! Action Girl holds a special place for me & was created during a wonderful time in my life, so it was amazing to see her fully realized in an "action figure" form... even all these years later!

Thanks as always for your thoughtful feedback!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancy2K

In response to no particular custom in this thread, I just wanted to say I'm very grateful for your work. I'm just getting back into customizing after 18 years away from the hobby. As I've been familiarizing myself with all of the incredible options now available to customizers, I keep coming back to this thread for inspiration as well as "proof of concept." There's hardly a thing that can be done with MTF parts (and a judicious sprinkling of BFS and custom cast items) that you haven't already tried. Beyond being a document of unbridled creativity and the joy of customization, this thread is an invaluable resource--a catalog of how parts can be combined, re-contextualized, and reimagined. Thanks for sharing your work with us.

Wow! That's awesome! Thanks for all of that great feedback on my MTF Universe! I always hope to inspire, & really appreciate your thoughts on this thread as a joyful documentation, as I see it that way too. I try to provide easy ways to recreate characters that everyone can make on their own (if they want to), so all of your kind words and the thoughtful retrospective mean a lot... I hope to see you come back often!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fall

Just wanted to echo nancy2k's sentiment. I haven't posted in this thread yet for lack of having anything constructive to add, but I'm always excited to see your posts and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your creations.

Thanks for the enthusiasm! I really do appreciate it, as well as you stopping by! =)

*Good news for friends of this thread, the plan is to have more "NEW RECRUITS" drop this weekend!

[Steel Brigade]

NEW RECRUITS : NINJA-THON EDITION!!!!!

#326/X120. SAKI (based on Saki from the Japanese movie OneChanbara)
Hilko Labs
Origin: Japan
Season 9
*Japanese Anti/Heroines series

SAKI was completed back in October of 2021 (along with the Robo Joe & Battle Angel homages) but I kept pushing her back because I wanted to have her on this awesome Japanese rooftop background (& it finally came in from BBTS a couple weeks back lol.) When making that decision, I was building other Japanese Ninja-Types and decided to hold them all back until this backdrop came in, so this drop of 5 figures is characters built over the course of the last 8 months & then assembled for another Ninja themed drop like I had done around the 200 mark. XD Based heavily on the OneChanbara (1st film) version of Saki, (with touches from the video game series), I really like the actress Chise Nakamura who played her in that 1st film & have collected some of her filmography since. This build was early on when I first started combining MGR & Boss Fight parts & made for both a good representation of her movie appearance & as a tactical ninja (with that Japanese schoolgirl charm) that fit well within my universe. The custom pony-tailed head was painted by the always amazing Spartan 1:18, & it was hard to keep holding her back for so long when she was one of the very first I made for the Japanese Anti/Heroine series.

SAKI grew-up under the shadow of her older half-sister, who's then joint ninja families sacred combined bloodline manifested her half-sister's amazing fighting capabilities early on... always making SAKI fall short by comparison, (with only having one of the families bloodlines running within her.) It was discovered as time passed while in training that SAKI is more susceptible to the effects of her single bloodlines "blood rage" than that of her sister's joint bloodline, as her small frame harbors a highly conflicted personality & sense of self loathing that has only built up since she began her ninja training. Years had passed & the long resentful SAKI eventually murdered the 2 sister's master & was exiled. She eventually became a sword for hire, & one who's powers (although late) had now manifested enough, where she could easily dispose of much more seasoned fighters in mere seconds.
SAKI'S skills peaked the interest of HILKO LABS, & now her ninja blood has been used as the basis for all of their current experiments, which are intended to defend Japan's new upstart leaders, by creating a hybrid army under the control of it's rogue scientists... The earliest experimental blood mutations caused a zombie-like horde who could not handle the blood transfusions from SAKI. But afterwards, using their young female captives for the transfusions, (plus adding viral injections, animal enhancements, & limb replacements), HILKO LABS has finally had success developing their fighting squad of Mutant Girls!

[Steel Brigade]

#327/X121. YUREI KAGE (BATTLE ARMOR VERSION) (based on POC Whirlwind Kick Storm Shadow 2011 aka v40)
Marauder Task Force Affiliated
Battle Armor Version/Version 5
Origin: Japan
Season 9

Here's another one that's been finished since January of this year but I held back for my Ninja-thon lol! When coming up with different story-lines & which characters would be a part of them, I knew Storm Shadow would be coming back for an adventure to fight off the crazy Hilko Labs happenings in Japan. I was fond of the POC "Whirlwind Kick" Storm Shadow's design, as he looked a lot like Ryu Hayabusa from Ninja Gaiden, but was not a fan of the gimmick... So I decided he needed a revisit in my MTF Universe. He was actually built twice by me, because of his off-white color, I went first with a gray base but adorned him with white armor, which did not look so hot imho, so I went at it again with an all gray tone pallet which makes him more visually interesting & cohesive. I used add-ons/gear from MGR, Boss Fight, & AWOK to complete him, & to replicate the Hasbro figure's overall visual design. Yet when I showed him to one of my brothers, he thought he might have been the Shredder lol!

After Japan was among the first of the nations to sink mostly below sea level, most of the islands inhabitants moved on to safer grounds (for the time being), but for those who remained, Japan has gone radio silent. Determined to find out the situation of her homeland, YAKU requested that she go back to Japan to find out the current state of her country. The MTF agreed & expressed interest in her findings of the once allied (now fallen), sunken nation. YAKU requested that YUREI KAGE join her, & her cousin agreed to come in for such an important mission. What they will find there is a mostly a drowned island, with the remaining high ground under control of Hilko Labs monstrous female creations, warring Yakuza, & rogue ninja. Returning to the Arashikage's hidden temple upon their arrival in the Akaishi Mountains, YUREI chose a combination of garb & weapons.... from modern, to timeless, to the most sacred ...for what could be the final battle to save his homeland...