I'd vote "any of the above" were it not for the "just a different characterization" option.. because that does not actually MODIFY the toy.

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So the rhetorical "Who lays their own eggs?" was not sufficient.



Any of the above...




I suppose this is just it, because it most nearly recommends following one's feelings here-- one's own sense of self, and of expression... that's being alive.

(It is actually in this context that I really do have to answer "Any of the above", including the mere re-characterizations-- since by that same grace, the potential there for an equal expression of Creation is still tantamount).

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I don't know, even with "just a different characterization", people usually at least give them a different gun than they originally came with. That's not exactly customizing in the sense of the word we know, but it's is still customizing to and extent.

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For me a head swap or any part swap is a custom. Paint is a custom even if it just repairs a factory flaw. Modifications and sculpting and adding bits and taking bits off are all customs.

While I appreciate re-characterizations, I don't consider them customs. Mike T and General Hawk really influenced how I perceived certain figures. Mike T especially altered how I used those figures in my Joe-verse. But if that figure were put in critiques I'd urge the person to make at least some kind of alteration that fits the new characterization.

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I voted for "any" of the above, but I agree with Jay and pluv that just changing the purpose of a figure isn't really a custom. I custom made some Iron Man figures. But then I also have a set of untouched production Iron Man figs that I use for props, Hall of Armor, etc... Those are useful to me, and I may or may not call them something other than the canon story-line. But those aren't customs.

It's a simple rule, I think. If you can buy the same thing from the store, in the same exact way, it's not a custom. If it's not available without making a physical change in some way, no matter how small, it is a custom.

Certainly that leaves open wide debate for the depth of the custom, but that's why we use the terminology we do, LBCs, etc...

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I think that's a pretty good start, but....


I'm pretty much fully in agreement with that.

I'm not sure why...but I just don't really count things like fixing eyes, or touching up hair lines, or even painting buckles as customs.... Part of it is because I don't think I would immediately be able to tell what was done....Part of it is because it strikes me as overly anal-retentive...it goes along the lines of hermetically sealing modern figures in acrylic cases and assigning them a bar code that guarantees their condition. It just doesn't have the "heart" that I think is inherent in customizing.

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I can't agree with 'gear-swapping' as qualifying as a custom. The simple fact that guns and hats and vest are removeable and are intended to be so by Hasbro means that swapping stuff around is part of the intended use of the toy, which one must go against in order to customize. It's perfectly plausible that Duke could pick up and use RoadBlock's street-sweeper minigun in-continuity, so simply swapping guns around and calling it a new character doesn't qualify as a custom any more than putting a HISS Driver in the Mean Dog customizes the Mean Dog.

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I think it includes everything except the re-characterization.

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I feel like what ever your skill level is, be it painting, sculpting, cast work, creating back story's. Its all one big canvas, you decide what style and how deep you want to go.

Customizing is a sense of making one character into another, or bringing your vision of a character to life.

If you do nothing to the figure, but open it from the package and set it on the shelf, you are a collector. However if you do anything that would change its appearance, its customizing.

We all did head swaps back in the day, taking the screw out of the back of the figure was the first step to customizing.

I would say the biggest problem when talking about what is a custom, is the talking. More yapping and less custom work. Not said in a bad way, just saying.................

I feel that anything that makes you feel like you made that character your own makes it a custom! I do think there are different levels of custom. As a kid I would always rename guys that I didn't know or didnt relate to, but like the mold and details. If you come up with a history and bio for a charactor you only re-accessorize (like swapping packs, guns, i.e. ....tools of the trade if you will, I count that as a low grade custom, cause thats where I started. Dont think I'll post those though, lol.... Can't customizing be something different for each of us? Our customs are! I bought a 25th para viper and you know what i saw? I saw new gear to give black Ripcord his old gear back, and I saw fodder for a future Beachhead....But the fig is nice enough that I really considered a more realistic repaint and a more personal bio, but he'd stay a paraviper..Just an idea to show the diff.

What did you see when/if you picked him up?

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If you take Duke and cal him Hawk, that's not a custom.
If you call him Hawk and give him a new gun, that's not a custom.
If you give him Mindbender's cape, Cobra Commadner's helmet, some spy troops armor, Nemesis Enforcer wings... he'd probably look silly. That might be a custom. Iffy.


If you take a figure with an eye that came out of the box painted wrong and fix it, it's not a custom.
If you take that same figure, take a magic marker, and change it's hair color, that's a custom.


Anytime you swap parts, it's a custom.
If you do any sculpting, you darn well better belive it's a custom.

If you cut off anything... maybe.

Including part of your finger when the plastic gives way too easily and a scalpel blade slices through the all too malleable flesh?

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I said yes to the first 4, but I don't really see just a recharecterization as a custom. If it's a custom that is recharecterized that is different.

Can LBCs be customs, you bet.

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Depends.

Did you bleed on the figure?

That gives 'battle damage' a whole new meaning.

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