Post by TxR on Jul 8, 2009 23:14:04 GMT -5
Alright, we're back with the second half of the critique...
GateCitySinner's Flash Funk...
This is a figure I really like. Both in concept and execution I think this is a fantastically original piece. What I would like to point out is the originality of the character selection for this team. I am not knocking the previous team at all, but honestly, how many Ravens have been done... tons... But I cannot recall the last time I saw a really good custom of any of the Scorpio characters. Kudos to you two for that one... Onto GCS's custom, As I started to say I'm a big fan of this style of work. You do so much to these figures, but make it look so simple, when we all know its not. The cleanliness of your work is what sets it out from the rest. The head looks a lot like Scorpio considering you didn't use an existing head of him. To me it looks like the CS Maivia head with modding done to the lips, ears and obviously the top of the head, but please correct me if I am wrong. The sculpting on the torso looks very clean. the V-neck of the top looks very symmetrical. I also like the cleanliness of the belt and belt buckle on the torso. I like the fact that you sculpted it on the torso rather than onto the crotch piece as well. The wrinkles on the torso may be a bit too defined, but you are not the first to fall victim to wrinkle sculpting. I like the boots. Some of the responses have been skeptical, but I'm a fan. I think its amusing that would went to the extra effort of trying to make this figure retain articulation while the other team opted for the completely posed look. It just shows the wide variety of skills on this forum. The details and wrinkles on the boots are great. I can only imagine how hard is must have been to sculpt the way over exaggerated boots he wore. Clearly your strong point is your painting. I think this is the perfect custom to showcase your painting abilities. Bright colors, difficult aspects like stars and the F's and you really pulled it off. I am impressed. I also like the metallic paints you used for the outfit. Gives off a very finished and professional look. Skintone is really the only downfall here. As you know it is a bit on the dark side. I enjoy the parts you have chosen on this figure. To me you have captured the body for Scorpio perfect. With the Regal torso and the arm combo it looks a lot like his late 90's appearance. Accessories are always a plus with me. dding the jacket, hat and especially the necklace are small accessories that very few people would bother with but I appreciate that you did. The necklace I love. I have to disagree with the previous comment about the choice of outfit. I am glad you went with this purple outfit seeing as Jakks did his more famous blue one on the BCA figure. Kudos for that. Great figure. I am very impressed with your abilities.
FamousJ's Scorpio...
I've said it before, I really enjoy FamousJ's work. He just puts so much into his customs and it really shows. I will address the decals first. Some like them, other hate them. I have always said if you have the tools and can make it looks natural, do it. Famous J is a perfect example of that. People have to ask if he used decals and I think that is when they are effective. The decals on the lettering don't bother me at all, and in this case help the figure look cleaner. The head is another part of the figure that has a love it or hate it look. I think although the lips are exaggerated, it does hold a resemblance to Scorpio. What I like most about the head is it's shape. While he had the ponytail I remember noticing the awkward shape of Scorpio's head Great work here with the sculpting on the pulled back hair into the ponytail. Moving down, the sculpting on the physique is really non-existent, however with the new Rey Mysterio torso there doesn't need to be any. I think the torso works almost perfect for Job Squad style Scorp. Nice part selection there my friend. The sculpting job on the crotch piece is great. It's heavy on wrinkles, but also looks very realistic. It is interesting to see what you did with the kneepads area. To me it looks like he's wearing really long kneepads from the reference picture which is very accurate to your figure. You really pulled off that look to a t. The wrinkles in that area look surprisingly good seeing as I think that has always been your weakness. Great improvement there. Something I noticed also is the wrist tape. It appears as if you used the old plumbers tape, which is an old trick I loved. Its very realistic looking. Doesn't have that "cast on each wrist" look, but rather has texture but not way too much. I like that! Obviously your painting abilities are way above par. the colors on the tights are so vibrant and the lines on the sides of the tights are very clean which also is a shock considering the tiny width of them. Very impressive famousJ! Along with your great pictures all your customs look fantastic. This is presentation at it's finest. What I would have liked to see here is use of removable accessories. Because you left the articulation open I would have really liked to see something like a Job Squad t-shirt. With the fringe at the bottom it would have made your figure look even more outstanding. You could really take a page out of GCS's playbook on that one.
Gosh... I am very impressed at the quality of work displayed in this contest. As a couple others have said previously. the real winners here the members of the board who get to enjoy this work. Although I do have to pick I winner of this match I want to express the fact that there are no losers here. Great showcase of art. I have tried to point out areas where there is room for improvement while highlighting the many good qualities of each figure. So rather than taking my words as blind criticism, please take them to heart and use them to continue to improve.
For this match, I have to give the nod to the team of GateCitySinner and FamousJ. Although it is clear that they went a different route with the articulation and amount of sculpting I feel that these two are the cleaner figures. Additionally, I'm all for original ideas, and the Flash Funk/Scorpio characters are just that... original. Fantastic work on all four corners, I just enjoyed these figures slightly more.
GateCitySinner's Flash Funk...
This is a figure I really like. Both in concept and execution I think this is a fantastically original piece. What I would like to point out is the originality of the character selection for this team. I am not knocking the previous team at all, but honestly, how many Ravens have been done... tons... But I cannot recall the last time I saw a really good custom of any of the Scorpio characters. Kudos to you two for that one... Onto GCS's custom, As I started to say I'm a big fan of this style of work. You do so much to these figures, but make it look so simple, when we all know its not. The cleanliness of your work is what sets it out from the rest. The head looks a lot like Scorpio considering you didn't use an existing head of him. To me it looks like the CS Maivia head with modding done to the lips, ears and obviously the top of the head, but please correct me if I am wrong. The sculpting on the torso looks very clean. the V-neck of the top looks very symmetrical. I also like the cleanliness of the belt and belt buckle on the torso. I like the fact that you sculpted it on the torso rather than onto the crotch piece as well. The wrinkles on the torso may be a bit too defined, but you are not the first to fall victim to wrinkle sculpting. I like the boots. Some of the responses have been skeptical, but I'm a fan. I think its amusing that would went to the extra effort of trying to make this figure retain articulation while the other team opted for the completely posed look. It just shows the wide variety of skills on this forum. The details and wrinkles on the boots are great. I can only imagine how hard is must have been to sculpt the way over exaggerated boots he wore. Clearly your strong point is your painting. I think this is the perfect custom to showcase your painting abilities. Bright colors, difficult aspects like stars and the F's and you really pulled it off. I am impressed. I also like the metallic paints you used for the outfit. Gives off a very finished and professional look. Skintone is really the only downfall here. As you know it is a bit on the dark side. I enjoy the parts you have chosen on this figure. To me you have captured the body for Scorpio perfect. With the Regal torso and the arm combo it looks a lot like his late 90's appearance. Accessories are always a plus with me. dding the jacket, hat and especially the necklace are small accessories that very few people would bother with but I appreciate that you did. The necklace I love. I have to disagree with the previous comment about the choice of outfit. I am glad you went with this purple outfit seeing as Jakks did his more famous blue one on the BCA figure. Kudos for that. Great figure. I am very impressed with your abilities.
FamousJ's Scorpio...
I've said it before, I really enjoy FamousJ's work. He just puts so much into his customs and it really shows. I will address the decals first. Some like them, other hate them. I have always said if you have the tools and can make it looks natural, do it. Famous J is a perfect example of that. People have to ask if he used decals and I think that is when they are effective. The decals on the lettering don't bother me at all, and in this case help the figure look cleaner. The head is another part of the figure that has a love it or hate it look. I think although the lips are exaggerated, it does hold a resemblance to Scorpio. What I like most about the head is it's shape. While he had the ponytail I remember noticing the awkward shape of Scorpio's head Great work here with the sculpting on the pulled back hair into the ponytail. Moving down, the sculpting on the physique is really non-existent, however with the new Rey Mysterio torso there doesn't need to be any. I think the torso works almost perfect for Job Squad style Scorp. Nice part selection there my friend. The sculpting job on the crotch piece is great. It's heavy on wrinkles, but also looks very realistic. It is interesting to see what you did with the kneepads area. To me it looks like he's wearing really long kneepads from the reference picture which is very accurate to your figure. You really pulled off that look to a t. The wrinkles in that area look surprisingly good seeing as I think that has always been your weakness. Great improvement there. Something I noticed also is the wrist tape. It appears as if you used the old plumbers tape, which is an old trick I loved. Its very realistic looking. Doesn't have that "cast on each wrist" look, but rather has texture but not way too much. I like that! Obviously your painting abilities are way above par. the colors on the tights are so vibrant and the lines on the sides of the tights are very clean which also is a shock considering the tiny width of them. Very impressive famousJ! Along with your great pictures all your customs look fantastic. This is presentation at it's finest. What I would have liked to see here is use of removable accessories. Because you left the articulation open I would have really liked to see something like a Job Squad t-shirt. With the fringe at the bottom it would have made your figure look even more outstanding. You could really take a page out of GCS's playbook on that one.
Gosh... I am very impressed at the quality of work displayed in this contest. As a couple others have said previously. the real winners here the members of the board who get to enjoy this work. Although I do have to pick I winner of this match I want to express the fact that there are no losers here. Great showcase of art. I have tried to point out areas where there is room for improvement while highlighting the many good qualities of each figure. So rather than taking my words as blind criticism, please take them to heart and use them to continue to improve.
For this match, I have to give the nod to the team of GateCitySinner and FamousJ. Although it is clear that they went a different route with the articulation and amount of sculpting I feel that these two are the cleaner figures. Additionally, I'm all for original ideas, and the Flash Funk/Scorpio characters are just that... original. Fantastic work on all four corners, I just enjoyed these figures slightly more.
