Customizing: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| (30 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{picsneeded|An official prototype w/kitbashed parts, also Jizaitoys Cyclonus/Wheelie or similar.}} | {{picsneeded|An official prototype w/kitbashed parts, also Jizaitoys Cyclonus/Wheelie or similar.}} | ||
[[ | [[File:Cybertrontoy-Quickslinger.jpg|upright=2.5|thumb|[[Quickslinger (Cybertron)|Quickslinger]] doesn't have an official toy, but with a Ransack toy and some lavender paint, you can have your own!]] | ||
'''Customizing''' is the process of modifying an existing toy to obtain something that can't be bought, to improve something that can, or simply to engage in a refreshing exercise of creativity. Customizing is also frequently used in the toy industry by designers to develop "proof of concept" models to showcase an idea. The term '''kitbashing''', derived from customizers of model kits, is sometimes used. | '''Customizing''' is the process of modifying an existing toy to obtain something that can't be bought, to improve something that can, or simply to engage in a refreshing exercise of creativity. Customizing is also frequently used in the toy industry by designers to develop "proof of concept" models to showcase an idea. The term '''kitbashing''', derived from customizers of model kits, is sometimes used. | ||
Customizing may be as simple as repainting a small detail. It may also be quite extensive, resulting in a product that in no way resembles any of its original sources. The derived parts are frequently augmented by [[Scratchbuilding|scratchbuilt]] ones, and any part from any source, whether it is a | Customizing may be as simple as repainting a small detail. It may also be quite extensive, resulting in a product that in no way resembles any of its original sources. The derived parts are frequently augmented by [[Scratchbuilding|scratchbuilt]] ones, and any part from any source, whether it is a [[LEGO]] brick, a plastic tank tread, or a Barbie doll head, can be part of a customized figure. | ||
As the Transformers brand expands, the customs market is becoming increasingly profitable for non-official companies. Searching for "Custom Transformers" on [[eBay]] will produce a variety of fan-created items, some of which have sold for thousands of dollars. [http://reprolabels.com/ Reprolabels] have been around for many years, starting off by selling replica G1 sticker sets. As advanced casting and mold-making technology becomes more readily available, a number of fans have turned to mass-producing their creations. These range from model kits of the [[Quintesson | Customizing may also be done to create a toy representation of a character without a toy, for example ''Generations'' [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] into [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]]. | ||
As the Transformers brand expands, the customs market is becoming increasingly profitable for non-official companies. Searching for "Custom Transformers" on [[eBay]] will produce a variety of fan-created items, some of which have sold for thousands of dollars. [http://reprolabels.com/ Reprolabels] have been around for many years, starting off by selling replica G1 sticker sets. As advanced casting and mold-making technology becomes more readily available, as well as 3D printing services like Shapeways, a number of fans have turned to mass-producing their creations. These range from model kits of the [[Quintesson]]s to fully transformable model kits of [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/toys|Cyclonus]] and "upgrade" kits to add extra parts to ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys|Cliffjumper]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]]. As these are not officially licensed Hasbro/Takara product, they are generally beyond the purview of this Wiki, so we'll just leave it at "Yes, we know they exist and yes, they're neat." | |||
==Customizing in official capacities== | ==Customizing in official capacities== | ||
| Line 12: | Line 14: | ||
===Mock-ups=== | ===Mock-ups=== | ||
At times, Hasbro's design teams resort to customizing to show new possible concepts to their bosses. Of note, some planned ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' redecos of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] molds were found as hand-painted mock-ups and put up for sale on | At times, Hasbro's design teams resort to customizing to show new possible concepts to their bosses. Of note, some planned ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' redecos of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Notes|Sideswipe]] molds were found as hand-painted mock-ups and put up for sale on eBay. Also, at [[BotCon 2007]], the "Not Gonna Happen" display featured mock-ups of a planned "military vehicles" line, which were actually military vehicle toys or models modified onto various ''Transformers'' parts.<ref name="hasbrotour1">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-images/events/Botcon-2007/Hasbro-Tour/Buzzbeak-Botcon-0021.jpg.html BotCon 2007 Hasbro Tour] at TFW2005</ref><ref name="hasbrotour2">[http://www.seibertron.com/events/gallery.php?event_id=70&size=0&start=0 BotCon 2007 Hasbro Tour] at Seibertron</ref> | ||
===Customizing class=== | |||
[[File:SGtoy-Nightbeat.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.95|Shattered Glass [[Nightbeat (SG)|Nightbeat]], some assembly and painting required.]] | |||
Starting with [[BotCon 2006]], [[Fun Publications]] offered a customizing class to attendees that allowed them to assemble and paint their own exclusives. This event proved to be very popular, selling out within hours of being announced every year. | |||
{{-}} | |||
=== | ===[[Canonizing]]=== | ||
[[ | [[File:Galvatronsgcustom.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Custom...]] | ||
[[File:SGtoy-Galvatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|...made canon.]] | |||
*[[Megatron (SG)#Galvatron|''Shattered Glass'' Galvatron]] is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Evac (Cybertron)#Voyager|Evac]] which transforms into a gray and purple Eurocopter Dauphin rescue helicopter, inspired by a customized toy by Fun Publications' [[Jesse Wittenrich]], who painted a Galvatron using the ''[[War Within (toyline)|War Within]]'' [[Springer (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Springer]] he didn't want. | |||
{{-}} | {{-}} | ||
==Fiction== | ==Fiction== | ||
After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was captured by the [[Decepticon]]s, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] used his parts to build an [[ | ===''The Transformers'' cartoon=== | ||
After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was captured by the [[Decepticon]]s, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] used his parts to build an [[Alligaticon]]. {{storylink|City of Steel (episode)|City of Steel}} | |||
===Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics=== | |||
{{noteukexclusive|Customizing}} | |||
[[File:Target 2006 repaint.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]] | |||
[[Time travel]]ling back to [[1986]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]], [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]], and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] found an old [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] lying around the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and resprayed it into a [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}} | |||
{{-}} | |||
===''Animated'' cartoon=== | |||
[[Wheeljack (Animated)|Wheeljack]] was constantly making modifications to his [[65483-2483-321]] body, to the point where [[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]] estimated that less than 15.71976% of the original body was left. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| Line 29: | Line 46: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://www. | *[http://www.camphortree.net/tf/kitbashes/ Kitbash Clearing House] - A collection of links to many Transformers kitbash projects. | ||
*[http://www.dvandom.com/kitbash/kitbashguide Dave's Guide to Kitbashing] - Dave Van Domelen explains the basics. | *[http://www.dvandom.com/kitbash/kitbashguide Dave's Guide to Kitbashing] - Dave Van Domelen explains the basics. | ||
*[ | *[https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/forums/radicons-customs.406/ TFW2005 Radicons], TFW2005's site where [[Don Figueroa]] is known to hang out | ||
*[http://www.sector70.com/ Sector70 - A Kitbashing Resource] | *[http://www.sector70.com/ Sector70 - A Kitbashing Resource] | ||
{{ | {{toystub}} | ||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Fandom]] | [[Category:Fandom]] | ||
[[Category:Toys]] | [[Category:Toys]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:49, 11 August 2025
{{#if: PicsNeeded.gif |
{{#if: {{#if: An official prototype w/kitbashed parts, also Jizaitoys Cyclonus/Wheelie or similar.|Specifics: An official prototype w/kitbashed parts, also Jizaitoys Cyclonus/Wheelie or similar. |}}|{{#if: An official prototype w/kitbashed parts, also Jizaitoys Cyclonus/Wheelie or similar.|Specifics: An official prototype w/kitbashed parts, also Jizaitoys Cyclonus/Wheelie or similar. |}}|}}
|}} This article is in need of images.
{{ #if: |{{ #if: | | |
{{#ifeq: ||}}{{#ifeq: |File|}}
Customizing is the process of modifying an existing toy to obtain something that can't be bought, to improve something that can, or simply to engage in a refreshing exercise of creativity. Customizing is also frequently used in the toy industry by designers to develop "proof of concept" models to showcase an idea. The term kitbashing, derived from customizers of model kits, is sometimes used.
Customizing may be as simple as repainting a small detail. It may also be quite extensive, resulting in a product that in no way resembles any of its original sources. The derived parts are frequently augmented by scratchbuilt ones, and any part from any source, whether it is a LEGO brick, a plastic tank tread, or a Barbie doll head, can be part of a customized figure.
Customizing may also be done to create a toy representation of a character without a toy, for example Generations Metroplex into Metrotitan.
As the Transformers brand expands, the customs market is becoming increasingly profitable for non-official companies. Searching for "Custom Transformers" on eBay will produce a variety of fan-created items, some of which have sold for thousands of dollars. Reprolabels have been around for many years, starting off by selling replica G1 sticker sets. As advanced casting and mold-making technology becomes more readily available, as well as 3D printing services like Shapeways, a number of fans have turned to mass-producing their creations. These range from model kits of the Quintessons to fully transformable model kits of Wheelie and Cyclonus and "upgrade" kits to add extra parts to Classics Cliffjumper and Ultra Magnus. As these are not officially licensed Hasbro/Takara product, they are generally beyond the purview of this Wiki, so we'll just leave it at "Yes, we know they exist and yes, they're neat."
Customizing in official capacities
[edit]Customizing is actually used in official capacities.
Mock-ups
[edit]At times, Hasbro's design teams resort to customizing to show new possible concepts to their bosses. Of note, some planned Generation 2 redecos of the Seeker and Sideswipe molds were found as hand-painted mock-ups and put up for sale on eBay. Also, at BotCon 2007, the "Not Gonna Happen" display featured mock-ups of a planned "military vehicles" line, which were actually military vehicle toys or models modified onto various Transformers parts.<ref name="hasbrotour1">BotCon 2007 Hasbro Tour at TFW2005</ref><ref name="hasbrotour2">BotCon 2007 Hasbro Tour at Seibertron</ref>
Customizing class
[edit]
Starting with BotCon 2006, Fun Publications offered a customizing class to attendees that allowed them to assemble and paint their own exclusives. This event proved to be very popular, selling out within hours of being announced every year.
- Shattered Glass Galvatron is a redeco of Cybertron Evac which transforms into a gray and purple Eurocopter Dauphin rescue helicopter, inspired by a customized toy by Fun Publications' Jesse Wittenrich, who painted a Galvatron using the War Within Springer he didn't want.
Fiction
[edit]The Transformers cartoon
[edit]After Optimus Prime was captured by the Decepticons, the Constructicons used his parts to build an Alligaticon. City of Steel
Marvel The Transformers comics
[edit]
Time travelling back to 1986, Hot Rod, Kup, and Blurr found an old Skywarp lying around the Ark and resprayed it into a Starscream. Target: 2006
Animated cartoon
[edit]Wheeljack was constantly making modifications to his 65483-2483-321 body, to the point where Perceptor estimated that less than 15.71976% of the original body was left. The AllSpark Almanac II
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]- Kitbash Clearing House - A collection of links to many Transformers kitbash projects.
- Dave's Guide to Kitbashing - Dave Van Domelen explains the basics.
- TFW2005 Radicons, TFW2005's site where Don Figueroa is known to hang out
- Sector70 - A Kitbashing Resource
{{#if: Child's Play Aron.jpg|90x72px |
{{#if: {{#if: |What's needed: |}}|{{#if: |What's needed: |}}|}}
|}} This toys & merchandise-related article is a stub. |
{{#ifeq: ||}}{{#ifeq: |File|}}