Why do you customize a existing figure?

I was reading the topic about Dark Horse Vader aprentice custom. And it give me a idea of a poll.

I just want to know if you customize for estetic or for playability. I know, it could be both, but want I want to know is MOST of you custom concist of what, playability or estetic?

For me, most of the figure I customise, is for playability. Like hands that dont hold weapon very well, add articulation, add a removeable helmet so the caracter dont have to be masked all the time, add a holster,etc...

Mainly aesthetics. Sometimes I will add articulation.

To make him better/different.

I think for me mostly aesthetics. A figure isn't quite how I want...that kind of thing. As I'm doing this I keep in mind playability, so I don't hinder it at all, because kiddo gets most of my work.

Both, mainly cause when I'm done with it it looks & plays better than the production version.

Hasbro has a tendency to really screw up a figure, so it is our duty as customizers to correct there mistake or lack of vision.





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" In the ONE verse there is ONE known world, ONE known enemy, ONE hope........ONEFORCE!"

This is why....



typically when you polish a turd, you end with a REALLY shiny turd that is still crap. With Joes, you can take any turd such as Skidmark and turn him into a truly worthy addition to you team.

I for one like the polished look. But then again I am a fan of the nerf launching weapons and bright colors too. Choices that not many people like.

For me customizing over all isn't about making a better verison or having a version more playable. What I enjoy more is having different characters, groups, vehicles, and scale figures. Which is why I love the SHS line.

I rarely do different versions of exsisting production characters, but when I do they are generally to sepperate the characters production look. Case in point Backblast and Whiteout. Hasbro took the time to write the backstory but they looked like exsiting characters.

I don't know exactly where I would put my reason, given it shares facets of both, but for a different creative reason.

You see, what do you do when the existing character or toy exists, but in a scale that you cannot possibly appreciate or use? When I did my Leon and Ada, I knew they existed and looked great, in both their versions historically. But their scale was not remotely anything I could use. So I created mine with John's great help, and got exactly what I wanted, for both aesthetics and the ability to play with it in the diorama format.

So I don't know which one would get the vote, but scale was my main motivating factor.

[pluv]

Sometimes both. Sometimes neither. I have a vision for the character, whatever it is and sometimes that vision inlcudes added articulation and sometimes it is a different look entirely. I will add this, if the articulation, either pre-existing or added on, dramatically makes the figure look like poop I have to change it. Sometimes that means losing the artiulcation and a little playability and sometime that means making it look prettier from all angles. If you're going to improve it, go balls out and make it that much better.

1. To correct obvious errors, laziness, or oversights made by Hasbro. Headswaps are good examples of this. Some people have made really great 25A Roadblock customs by replacing the original head with the ARAH comic pack head (the best Roadblock head ever sculpted).

2. Sometimes I'll build a custom of an existing figure that I don't own, but would like to have some incarnation of in my collection. I'm working on some Action Force figures for this very reason right now.

3. Can't stand the color scheme. This is why I repainted a 25A Scarlett in an all-green outfit.

4. To make "unmasked" versions. I've made unmasked versions of Storm Shadow, Snake-Eyes, Kamakura, Firefly, and Beachhead.

While I will do the easy customs such as wrist rotations on figures that need it, I customize on an existing figure because it's easier than sculpting and casting my own. It's a lot easier to find a figure close to what you're already thinking and working with that.

Most customs I do of existing figures is to make them look more like their cartoon versions. I made a custom of a custom and that was the only time I did an existing figure to make it more playable. My Cover Girl custom had such small hands she could not hold a weapon, so I made another custom.

aesthetics... well mostly just to make something cool...
As being 26, playing with gi joes, is kinda not cool.

aesthetics... well mostly just to make something cool...
As being 26, playing with gi joes, is kinda not cool.

Well, I am 30 and you can consider me not cool