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By Ron, on March 11th, 2010 
I was chatting with some of the guys about taking pictures of action figures – a hobby near and dear to my heart, in case you hadn’t noticed. We got onto the subject of backgrounds. I’ve used plain dark backgrounds for dramatic lighting and plain light backgrounds to highlight the figures. And there’s guys like Sandman, who build elaborate sets for his photo shoots – see Sandman’s recent pictorial reviews for some mind-blowing shots.
There’s another type of background – the photo backdrop. A simple photo backdrop can provide the effect of a three-dimensional environment without having to build one. That’s the subject of this how-to article.
There’s more… click to continue reading How To Create Your Own Photo Backdrop
By Ron, on February 23rd, 2010 In AFP’s Border Patrol, we scour active eBay auctions for customized action figure that you won’t want to let slip by!
  
Marvel Legends Rhino – the auction for this Rhino ends today, so don’t miss out – check out the texture on the Rhino hide! – ends Feb 23, 2010 19:01:14 PST
There’s more… click to continue reading Border Patrol: Marvel Legends Rhino, Crimson Dynamo, and Deadpool
By Buzzy Fret, on February 18th, 2010 
Since I made a new Batman, could a new Robin be far behind?
When the DCUC Wave 3 Robin came out I was a little disappointed in it. The Mattel version has a great sculpt and good articulation but (IMO) it’s just too dang short for this version of Tim Drake. So a little over a year ago I made a custom Robin that was taller. After posting in my gallery on Fwoosh, it was snapped up by a BIG DCUC fan. Then I made 2 more for a couple people who also thought the DCUC Robin wasn’t right either. When it was all said and done, I still didn’t have a taller Robin on my shelf.
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One of my earlier custom Robins made with a DCUC Sinestro body, biceps, upper legs, Robin head, forearms, lower legs, belt and cape. |
There’s more… click to continue reading DC Universe Classics Custom Freddie Williams II-Styled Robin by Buzzy Fret
By Buzzy Fret, on February 7th, 2010 … or more affectionately titled; the G.D. Batman.
First off I have to give Ron props. I loved his CustomCon 24 DC Universe Classics Earth 2 Customs and they (especially the Robin and Batman) were a big part of the inspiration for making this G.D. Batman. If you haven’t seen them, definitely check ‘em out.
  
There’s more… click to continue reading DC Universe Classics Custom All-Star Batman by Buzzy Fret
By Buzzy Fret, on January 30th, 2010 Welcome to Customizing Tips from the Buzzy Cave! Hopefully I’ll pass on some tips, tricks or minutiae that will help make action figure customizing easier for someone out there.
I’m always getting asked… well a lot of people have asked… um… okay, a couple guys have commented in the past that my paint apps are pretty smooth and they asked; “How does a ham-fisted idiot like you do that?”
Very simply, I use a wet palette.
But Buzzy, what the hell is a wet palette and why would I need one?
According to Wikipedia- a wet palette is especially useful with acrylics that dry quickly on a dry palette. A wet palette is a sealable container with a layer of absorbent material (such as tissue paper) that can be soaked with water and a semi-permeable membrane over that. The paint sits on the membrane and is kept wet by osmosis. Wet palettes can be bought, but are easily made.
There’s more… click to continue reading Customizing Tips from the Buzzy Cave: Making Your Own Wet Palette
By Ron, on January 21st, 2010 In AFP’s Border Patrol, we scour active eBay auctions for customized action figure that you won’t want to let slip by!
  
ROTF Leader Class Megatron – I really dig the weathering on this figure, although the electronics no longer work – ends Jan 24, 2010 11:48:07 PST
There’s more… click to continue reading Border Patrol: Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Make-A-Wish Set of 3 Autobots
By Ron, on January 12th, 2010 In AFP’s Border Patrol, we scour active eBay auctions for customized action figure that you won’t want to let slip by!
  
Marvel Legends Sauron – nice execution on a tried and true recipe – ends Jan 15, 2010 19:00:07 PST
There’s more… click to continue reading Border Patrol: Marvel Legends Sauron, Wrecker, and Luke Cage
By Ron, on January 11th, 2010  Cosmic Odyssey Forager and Batman with Aspect Catcher If you’ve known me for a while, you might know what a big fan of Jim Starlin and Mike Mignola’s Cosmic Odyssey I am. As a comic book mini-series, it’s got everything: big hitters from the DC Universe, New Gods, the possible destruction of our universe, and tragedy on both a planetary and personal scale. And, as I have suggested to my toy-collecting friends, DC Universe Classics is the line Mattel created so they could produce all the characters from Cosmic Odyssey. Surely enough, Mattel has continued making them – in the Wal-Mart exclusive wave 10, they made Forager, and in wave 11, they made John Stewart. (I’m still partial to the Cosmic Odyssey custom John Stewart that Robokillah made for me.)
However, when Forager and Batman teamed up to defend Earth, Batman had Alfred put together a black costume for Forager that was better suited for Batman’s work at night. So when I had the opportunity to pick up another Forager (thanks again to VeeBee for the first one!) I knew I would have to do a quick custom to get him suited up in black.
Forager
  
There’s more… click to continue reading DC Universe Classics Custom Cosmic Odyssey Forager and Anti-Life Aspect Catchers
By Ron, on January 9th, 2010 In AFP’s Border Patrol, we scour active eBay auctions for customized action figure that you won’t want to let slip by!
These 1/6 custom figures of Blondie and Angel Eyes are built on Hot Toys bodies and feature the likenesses of Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef and hand-made accessories to complete their outfits in detail. I am still waiting for the Tuco / Eli Wallach to be listed, but he looks awesome too. There’s lots of pictures in the eBay listings.
By Ron, on December 28th, 2009 In AFP’s Border Patrol, we scour active eBay auctions for customized action figure that you won’t want to let slip by!
Marvel Legends Surtur – Cal never fails to impress, this time with an oversized Surtur to menace your Thor – I just with he had a big flaming sword! – ends Dec 28, 2009 18:30:58 PST
There’s more… click to continue reading Border Patrol: Surtur, Nemesis Prime, and Super Powers
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