Customizing Action Figures Tutorial - Preparing joints for paint - Customizing Tips 

Thanks!

More to come!

Thank you very much. I'm planning on adding more tutorials 🙂

Awesome, thank you!

Thank you 👍

I'm glad that you found it helpful. 🙂

Thanks, I'm glad you found it useful. And like you said it's very important to protect your eyes when doing this kind of stuff.

Awesome, thank you 👍 I subscribed to your channel as well.

I'm glad that they were helpful 🙂👍

Thank you, I'm hoping that these videos help those that are wanting to get into customizing. Back when I started there wasn't many resources to learn from.

@@CollectorExpress I know these videos will because when I started I found only pictures of finished customs or w.i.p.s to go from. Since then I have learned from mistakes and my own projects and others who have been helpful in sharing knowledge. Please keep sharing and helping people to grow. Ive started to post more on my RU-vid channel but mainly I use IG as a platform.

I'm glad to hear that this was helpful. I got out of customizing for several years as well, and only got back into customizing late 2019 to early 2020. I started customizing action figure prob around the same time as you, but before then I was big into customizing Transformers. Yeah, some of those old tutorials back in the the day had some sketchy stuff in them. And back then it seemed like so many older customizers didn't want to really share their knowledge. That's one of the things that wanted to do with my channel to share some of the stuff that I've learned over the years, and hopefully help others out that are wanting to get into customizing. I enjoy helping others and doing so helps grow the hobby. With how much figures cost now we definitely need to be more careful when customizing.

What do you mean by totally disassembling? Popping the joints out of the torso, and heating popping the biceps off? Or cutting out the disc hinges? Just let me know which, and I'll try to help.

@@CollectorExpress i mean disassemble the hinges of the shoulder. Because i cant find a way to pop it out or heat it..my only option is to cut it. Idk what you call it shoulder disc???..thanks

​@felixcalaguasiii8134 3 years later and he didn't answer back 😭

On some instances that is true, but on this it wouldn't have been possible since I was going from maroon to bright red. This is more for when it's not possible to dye the parts the color that you need.

That's one of the reasons that I use the marker. Once you grind off all of the mark on the joints it should be enough clearance. On the disc hinges you should be able to see a gap between the disc and the opening of the part. When smoothing the joints I try to make them as smooth as the texture on rest of the figure.

@@CollectorExpress wow thank for replying so fast. I really love action figures and want to get into customizing them so those video really helped

I do paint them broken down like this. I use a blow dryer to heat the parts back to reassemble them. The heat can affect some paints, but I rarely have any issues with reassembling them.

It's a Dremel 3000. They usually come with an assortment of different bits to get you started. I've used cheaper ones, but usually just burn out after a short time.

I modify the ankles on this project when I start working on the boots. On my Instagram I have some pictures of prepping the shoulders and wrist on one of the Hulk customs. I use a similar method on ankle and shoulders as in this video but of course those can't be removed on most cases. I start with marking the joints with a marker and with a course bit grind off material with the peg pushed as far as it will go to one side, and then repeat that after moving it the other direction. Then I use a smoother bit to clean up the grinding marks. instagram.com/p/CXXKxH7spGE/

Pretty much it can be if they use similar style joints, and of course pinless joints you will only be able to modify the exposed areas.

I haven't had any issues with the figures that I prepared like this. You just have to make sure to removed enough material for clearance.

I do indeed paint them before reassembly. When putting them together I use a blow dryer to heat the areas where the pins go and carefully push the pins back in using pliers and rounded tool to push them in which can be something like the end of a paint brush.

@@CollectorExpress Thank you for your response, and great video. How do you reassemble joints such as elbows after painting them without marring them, as they have to be bent and flexed to get them back into place?

A sealer is necessary to make the paint more durable. Testors and Mr Hobby clear and dull coats work great.

@@CollectorExpress can you give my a good spray brand name and colors? Becasue i make orders only on Amazon. And there I find only model colors and citadel

@@CollectorExpress you use this sealer before painting the figure or after??

👍 there can be a lot of work and hours that can go into making customs.

@@CollectorExpress I know. I'm a customizer too.