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Post by kayfabefan on Sept 11, 2009 13:53:34 GMT -5
Mods make it a thread on the top so that we can discuss what we can do regarding the situation.
Well, let’s cut to the chase. We all know that wwe/tna/ufc figure world is surviving its toughest times.
Jakks Pacific is switching to making DA only bodies hence the upcoming ugliness of TNA/UFC is going to be of epic proportions. Well at least we are getting new head scan for our customs.
Mattel might deliver something but again, they are out of scale with Jakks, much smaller and to start collecting from scratch is unrealistic.
What surprises me is that in all years of this forums existence never once I heard anyone trying to customize the spare parts for figures!
Think about it, it is a no-brainer! All we need to do is put together a collective sculpting effort and then get them mass-produced in China for pennies.
It does not have to be anything super sophisticated. We just need a good sculptor. This sculptor can be a student.
We can loose all this stupid crapaltogether. Think about it, no more 24” biceps, no more thunder thighs. Plus at that every unique body type can be developed.
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Post by kustomkreations on Sept 11, 2009 15:47:39 GMT -5
Not to be a total dick but.....That isn't gonna happen. Anytime that I make a new figure it has a completely new body style. If it didn't, I wouldn't make it because there wouldn't be a challenge otherwise. I'm pretty sure that FamousJ, and a few others do the same. As far a getting parts made overseas - It isn't cheap. Most of the time it's a MINIMUM of a $10,000 start-up fee for plastic mass production. Jakks figures and most action figures are plastic and not resin. There's a difference. Good idea but, it's not practical. Hell, try mass producing 20 parts and keeping this group happy....  |
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Post by kayfabefan on Sept 11, 2009 17:56:34 GMT -5
Not to be a total dick but.....That isn't gonna happen. Anytime that I make a new figure it has a completely new body style. If it didn't, I wouldn't make it because there wouldn't be a challenge otherwise. I'm pretty sure that FamousJ, and a few others do the same. As far a getting parts made overseas - It isn't cheap. Most of the time it's a MINIMUM of a $10,000 start-up fee for plastic mass production. Jakks figures and most action figures are plastic and not resin. There's a difference. Good idea but, it's not practical. Hell, try mass producing 20 parts and keeping this group happy.... Well, you are not a dick. All you said is true. However you thought about it and researched it that is why you are coming up with the numbers. I guess body parts can be made in here - nothing is impossible and yes you probably can make 20 of each and keep the group happy. Sorry, I see things positively not negatively. |
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Post by kustomkreations on Sept 11, 2009 18:18:07 GMT -5
Not to be a total dick but.....That isn't gonna happen. Anytime that I make a new figure it has a completely new body style. If it didn't, I wouldn't make it because there wouldn't be a challenge otherwise. I'm pretty sure that FamousJ, and a few others do the same. As far a getting parts made overseas - It isn't cheap. Most of the time it's a MINIMUM of a $10,000 start-up fee for plastic mass production. Jakks figures and most action figures are plastic and not resin. There's a difference. Good idea but, it's not practical. Hell, try mass producing 20 parts and keeping this group happy.... Well, you are not a dick. All you said is true. However you thought about it and researched it that is why you are coming up with the numbers. I guess body parts can be made in here - nothing is impossible and yes you probably can make 20 of each and keep the group happy. Sorry, I see things positively not negatively. Yep, I've done lots of research. The the thing is, the "numbers". I've got people bugging me to start a business similar to Warsmans (heads, sculptures, castings,molding). It's just not worth it. I always have the supplies on hand. Home mass production is a bitch. I've been there - done that many times. It's impossible to break even - time wise. I would need at least $13-15/head to make it worthwhile and that's too expensive. The casting of body parts would be a nightmare!!! Not many people do it because of the time involved. |
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Post by kustomkreations on Sept 11, 2009 22:16:30 GMT -5
Here you go. I just snapped a quick pic of a few molds. The tiny ones next to Melina are RA "head size". I've got more wasted silicone laying around then all of San Fernando Valley.  The thing being held up by my shoe is a demon head. Even after the production and labor I only pocket a few hundred - and it's my sculpt, mold, casting and paint. The molds are just too valuable to junk out and they build up quick.  The Demon does make a cool flower planter though.  Unless you've experienced it yourself....It's hard to explain how frustrating this stuff can be.   |
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Post by Nick Maniwa on Sept 12, 2009 11:57:27 GMT -5
Rozz isn't trying to think negatively. He just knows. Point blank period.
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T-Phunk
Main Eventer
T-Phunkamania Runnin' Wild!!!
Joined on: Jun 23, 2004 11:32:19 GMT -5
Posts: 4,265
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Post by T-Phunk on Sept 12, 2009 12:29:44 GMT -5
I am sorry, I applaud your enthusiasm, but I just don't see this working. As someone who participated in Project Macho and the failed Project Owen it is way too hard for a group of this size to collaborate. I'd say the results of Project Macho were at best 75% well received and that was trying to get one single part made for a much smaller group. With Project Owen we didn't so much as agree on a look for the head before the organizer disappeared. You would need a large start-up cost to even get a project like this off the ground so that means a very large group of people involved. This board is filled with mostly just collectors, not entrepreneurs. If you are determined enough to do it, then fantastic for you, but you have a long hard road in front of you.
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CMC
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Joined on: Jul 18, 2008 10:34:53 GMT -5
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Post by CMC on Sept 12, 2009 13:00:08 GMT -5
No chance in this happening. Sorry, but there just isn't. I also hate how a lot of collecters are assuming EVERYONE hates DA, which is not true.
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Post by kustomkreations on Sept 12, 2009 13:54:32 GMT -5
It's just all a common misconception of the actual process. It's not meant to make sense I guess. I'm not a toy collector....just an artist and quasi-wrestling fan - damn I've never even read a comic book  . I've pissed around in lots of mediums so all of this kinda melts together and makes sense to me. As far a sculpting and designing a figure...Stay tuned. I might have a big contest coming up that will include prototype designing. It's been in the works for a few months now. I'd love to actually start up a business but, I'm always fighting with time so it's just not something that I can commit to. The money isn't even a question. So little is made that you either have to be a huge fan or collector. I know that there was a thread about Warsman and I didn't comment in. I should have. Like I said earlier, this is a VERY difficult craft (there's a difference between art and craft - ya know?). You never know whats gonna pop out of the mold. It could be perfect the first time, and the next 3 might be filled with tiny air bubbles. And that's at the end of the long and hair-pulling process. Warsman is Nucking Futs but he's a cool dude. I won't even get into the molding frustrations - just try it yourself. I might be offering a few transparent resin casts in the future. It looks like a wax museum figure or silicone prop . I could also have a few things like Chikara heads, Wrestlecrap, and head sets soon if things hold out and time is still ticking. All of it would have to be in advance and then sold. I'll only make things that I want to create......We'll see Screw it before this gets closed....I also have a gallon of Jakks colored skin tone. It was computer scanned. It's also pre-thinned and formulated for airbrushing. A paintbrush will still work but you have to watch your layers.  I might be bottling it soon. I'll let you know. Please don't PM me about it now. |
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Post by Nick Maniwa on Sept 12, 2009 14:21:16 GMT -5
Gold Club has dibs on that paint,  . |
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Post by NYdream™ on Sept 12, 2009 14:29:43 GMT -5
I already had talked to rozz about getting some of it Nick, haha...
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darkdm
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Joined on: Nov 7, 2005 18:30:29 GMT -5
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Post by darkdm on Sept 15, 2009 11:22:51 GMT -5
I f'n want some of that colour!!! How can i have it? Plmk!
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Post by kayfabefan on Sept 15, 2009 14:46:11 GMT -5
I might be offering a few transparent resin casts in the future. It looks like a wax museum figure or silicone prop . I could also have a few things like Chikara heads, Wrestlecrap, and head sets soon if things hold out and time is still ticking. All of it would have to be in advance and then sold. I'll only make things that I want to create......We'll see Screw it before this gets closed....I also have a gallon of Jakks colored skin tone. It was computer scanned. It's also pre-thinned and formulated for airbrushing. A paintbrush will still work but you have to watch your layers. I might be bottling it soon. I'll let you know. Please don't PM me about it now. Hey I would like to have some of that color. Let me know how. Also I am down for whatever cast you will be willing to sell in the future, the only request must fit RA/Da figs. LMK. |
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Post by That guy next door. on Sept 15, 2009 15:30:38 GMT -5
Hey Rozz, i'd take a few bottles of that colour, also. I think i came up with a cheaper solution than silicone. Plasterscine in which the molds are cast and filled by some Plaster of Paris.
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Post by kustomkreations on Sept 15, 2009 16:09:37 GMT -5
Hey Rozz, i'd take a few bottles of that colour, also. I think i came up with a cheaper solution than silicone. Plasterscine in which the molds are cast and filled by some Plaster of Paris. Na, that wouldn't work. I wish that it would because I have 200lbs of Chavant NSP sitting here along with 2 pallets of WED (water based clay with added glycerin ...It actually stands for Walter Elais Disney - formulated for Disney)for large sculptures. It would be LOTS cheaper. Now, the reverse method of what you mentioned is how latex is cast. First sculpted, molded with plaster, cast in latex.....The problem is, that regular paint won't stick to it. Here are 3 molds that I made last week. These will be for children's Halloween costumes. The biggest one is just some goofy zombie that the kid wanted, the 2nd is Shorty the Clown from Killer Klowns, and the smallest is a toddler sized Hurricane mask. These will all be pretty much movie quality.The bottle of water just shows the size. These suckers get heavy and the ones pictured are tiny compared to what I've made in the past.  Heres a figure that I made a latex mini mask for with the same method. I'm working on a female wrestler now that has lots of latex work. It's such a bitch to work with...    I need to make my own thread. |
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Gonzo Customs
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Post by Gonzo Customs on Sept 16, 2009 12:54:50 GMT -5
This is a really good idea and something I've thought about myself, but I think Rozz is right that ultimately it would fail.
I have made some simple casts of heads and feet for various figures I've made. I don't mind doing a few commissions here and there, and I have done a few already. Sometime in the near, my plan has been to convert a Colin Delaney body to MMA and make molds of the legs and torso and arms. Once I do that I can make my own body molds of the body, see where they go from there. If I actually do it, I'll let yall know how things turn out.
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