Custom Figures (ALL)

Introduction & Overview

Custom figure making is a hobby where people create their own action figures.  The scales generally range from the smaller 3.45″ scale up to the 12″ scale.  While I started out in the smaller scale in 2000 I moved to the 6-8″ scale, which is what I mostly still work in today. The figures are generally made by combining parts of existing figures with newly sculpted and created parts.  Most custom figure makers create everything from their favorite characters to the more obscure characters from their favorite properties.  I tend to create my own designs that are re-imagined designs of characters or combinations of characters with new genres or themes.

Also I would like to state for the record, that while many of these lines and combinations are quite prevalent in pop-culture today in cosplay, art, toys, comics, etc. when I created each line I did extensive research for weeks and at the time of their inception there were nothing like them on line.  For example when I had the idea of Samurai Wars no one had done so much as a drawing of what a Samurai themed Star Wars would look like.  I always wanted to be creating something new as if my creations were visual essays that were the continuations of the research papers I did in college.  I also do not have a desire to rip off another artists ideas or be derivative in some fashion. Many lines were never even started because I found something like it already existing.

 My Work

 But beyond simply sculpting the figures I usually create names and backstory that also gives the characters more depth.    My miscellaneous commissions appear at the bottom of the page not in chronological order.   Items not appearing on the page:  my older and traditional 3.75″, some commissions, and some older superhero redesigns.

OR CLICK HERE FOR A MENU OF EACH INDIVIDUAL LINE WITH CHARACTERS NAMES AND BACKSTORY.


The “Wars” Lines

The majority of my work falls into what I call the “Wars” lines.  These lines are, by far, my most well known.  They started in 2002 as an attempt to to explore the origins and influences of Star Wars, as well as a curious experiment to see what those lines would look like.  When George Lucas was creating Star Wars he was pulling from a myriad of sources that ranged from real history, world religion, mythological archetypes, Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, the films of Akira Kurosawa, and the westerns and sci fi serials of his youth.    Star Wars was created by putting all of Lucas’s influences into one collective experience.  My goal was to pullout a single influence and isolate it.  For example what would an entirely Western version of Star Wars have looked like.  I pull from the same mythological archetypes as Mr. Lucas and arrive at my own unique creations complete with new names and a back story that creates a wholly new narrative.

2022

REAL JOES: ENEMY

Enemy soldiers in the spirit of G.I. Joe done in a realistic style of modern style and military garb.

2021

REAL JOES

Modern soldiers in the spirit of G.I. Joe done in a realistic style of the US Military.

JABBA’S PALACE (6″ SPEED & BUDGET BUILDS)

A series of faithful 6″ custom figures from Jabba’s Palace. All done for 5$ and in less than 24 hours.

2020

ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE

The line I created as a follow up to my first line Revisions. Attempted to keep all the influences and boil each character down to 2 core words and redesign them from there.

STAR WARS CANTINA (6″ SPEED & BUDGET BUILDS)

A series of faithful 6″ custom figures from the Mos Eisley Cantina. All done for 5$ and in less than 24 hours.

2019

THE WAR GALACTIC

My 3rd commission for Patton Oswalt. Star Wars if directed by Wes Anderson. I also created a miniature dollhouse for them all to capture that Wes Anderson production design aesthetic.

2018

DUNE 2.0

I had tackled my favorite book of all time, Dune, years ago. I decided to take a 2nd crack at it. This time approaching like a production designer. I tried to forget all previous source material.

2017

FANTASY RPG CHARACTERS

Over the years I have crafted a number of my characters I created to play Dungeons and Dragons.

2016

HE-WARS

I created this line to be featured in a Lucasfilm documentary about fandom called “In a Galaxy”. Unfortunately it was bought by Verizon and died on their failed Go90 platform. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

2015

GRAFFITI WARS

Star Wars archetypes mashed up with American Graffiti and a 50’s & 60’s biker films.  The original Star Wars told a story of growing up very similar to American Graffiti but in space. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

PIRATE WARS

Star Wars archetypes set in the 1500’s during the Dutch Rebellion against the Hapsburg Empire in the New World.  Available for purchase on For Sale page.    The original Star Wars attempted to capture the swashbuckling spirit of the old Errol Flynn films and this line is that spirit. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

DOCTOR WARS

More of a fun experiment when I took Star Wars archetypes mashed up with Doctor Who classics characters. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

REVOLT

Star Wars Rebels archetypes in the style of 1700’s revolution against British Empire.  Available for purchase on For Sale page. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

PULP SERIAL

DC character reimagined in the style of classic pulp character styles.

2014

THE AWESOMES

Commission for Seth Meyers and his Hulu show “The Awesomes”.  They were given to the voice actors as gifts. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

2013

ROAD WARS – PATTON OSWALT COMMISSION

2nd Commission for Patton Oswalt. Star Wars archetypes  meets Mad Max’s post apocalyptic style.   Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

DUNGEON LEAGUE

Justice League in the style of RPG classes.  Available for purchase on For Sale page. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

SEUSSTASTIC PARK

Jurassic Park in the style of Dr. Seuss.  Commission for Dino Hotel in Denver Colorado. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

FASTER, EMPIRE! STRIKE! STRIKE!

1st Commission for Patton Oswalt. Star Wars archetypes in a gender flipped Russ Meyer exploitation film inspired line. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

2012

FANTASY WARS

Star Wars archetypes in the style of medieval fantasy world.  Available for purchase on For Sale page.   The original Star Wars utilized many archetypes and plot structures from classic fairy tales and medieval fantasy. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

PULP SERIAL

Classic Pulp characters.   Available for purchase on For Sale page.

CYBER WARS

Star Wars archetypes in the style of a Cyberpunk/Anime. High tech. Low life. inspired by things like Bladerunner, Neuromancer, Akira, etc. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

ROMAN WARS

The line that serves as a prequel to my medieval fantasy line.  Since the Roman Empire preceded the Middle Ages I figured it should in my line as well.  Available for purchase on For Sale page. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

2011

WEST WARS

 Star Wars archetypes in classic spaghetti western style.  The original Star Wars film had many elements reminiscent of classic westerns. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

SERIAL WARS

Star Wars archetypes in the style of 1930’s & 40’s Sci Fi Serials like Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon.  Of course, those films were one of the biggest inspirations for the real Star Wars. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

NOIR WARS

Star Wars archetypes in the style of gritty 1940’s Film Noir.  Born simply out of my love of the genre. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, a video, backstory and descriptions.

2010

SAMURAI WARS

Star Wars archetypes in the style of an Akira Kurosawa Samurai Film.   Available for purchase on For Sale page.   The original Star Wars films were heavily influenced by Kurosawa films such as The Hidden Fortress. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

GASLIGHT LEGION

Legion of Doom characters in a Victorian somewhat Steampunk setting. A sequel to my Gaslight League. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

2009

STEAM WARS: VOL III

My continued exploration of Star Wars archetypes in the Victorian / Steampunk setting.   Available for purchase on For Sale page. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

HELLBOY

A collection of 3.75 and 7″ scale figures inspired by the Guillermo Del Toro films of Hellboy. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

ORIGINAL CREATIONS

A series of original character designs for a steampunk novel/script I wrote.

THE FILMS OF TERRY GILLIAM

Terry Gilliam is one of my favorite directors.  His uniquely quirky films feature some of the most interesting production design in cinema history.

STEAM WARS: VOL II

My continued exploration of Star Wars archetypes in the Victorian / Steampunk setting.   Available for purchase on For Sale page. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

WORLD WARS

Star Wars archetypes in the style of World War 2.  The original Star Wars films borrowed heavily from the era of WW2 in events, battle tones, and combat. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

2007

STEAM WARS: VOL I

My first exploration of Star Wars archetypes in the Victorian / Steampunk setting. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

SILLOF’S DUNE

Dune is my favorite book of all time.  This is my attempt to design the Dune Universe as if I was a production designer on a Dune Film.  I used only the literary descriptions from the original Frank Herbert books of the characters, costumes and colors for my designs. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

2006

GASLIGHT LEAGUE

My first foray into a Victorian somewhat Steampunk setting using the Justice League as characters.  Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

2005

REVISIONS

My first attempt at redesigning Star Wars archetypes.  Unlike my later work that would isolate and emphasize individual themes this line blends them all together in to retro sci, medieval fantasy, futuristic, western, fairy tale. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

VENTURE BROTHERS

I absolutely loved the Venture Brothers cartoon on Adult Swim.  The total absences of any merchandise for years led me to making many of the core characters. Go to the line’s main page for more pics, backstory and descriptions.

MISCELLANEOUS CUSTOMS FROM OVER THE YEARS