The Energon Pub

TheMuffin wrote:So...How much would I have to pay you just to get half as quality of a paint job?

To answer your question (from my experience)....

* It takes time, attention, and repetition to get the skill. That time and training can have various price tags depending on the individuals commitment

* Supplies?? My God, I've plopped down nearly $100 just on supplies in the past week for a MP Nemesis Prime I am starting (just started tonight actually) There are alot of the stuff I bought I can use on future projects, but most of it was just for MP Nemesis!!!

* In the end... the results are priceless. Nothing compares to the satisfaction of a completed project.

With that, I wish you good luck, and I suggest you do it yourself, dont pay someone.

REGARDING THE CUSTOM BRAWL.... badass dude, badass. I used to do Gundam models all the time, and this is my first venture into custom TF. Seeing a project like yours come together makes me confident about the outcome of my project!!

wow, this really is a gorgeous looking Brawl. great job on him! also great work on presenting him as nicely as you have. it's really cool to see someone go the extra mile to take creative pics (backdrops, lighting, composition) of their figures. if this is how you photograph all of your work i REALLY look forward to seeing more of it.

hey buddy, how did you achieve the 'curling up' look of metal on some of the damage? I've been using apoxy scult or bonding puddy, it usually just lays down, but I'd love to achieve a sturdy curl look on some shrapnel.

muffin - if I do a repaint, I just can't be happy with only doing parts. In my eyes, a repaint is just that... a full repaint. The standard plastic colors, even washed, etc, usually don't cut it for me. All or nothing, baby!

zatara - thank you very much, and I look forward to seeing your customs as well!! well said on the custom thing too... yeah, it's hard to put a price on it, so that's why I let bidders decide. Like I've said, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it... like any collectible or piece of art, really.

frenzy_rumble - very easy: no sculpting compound at all! I used a Dremel hotknife... it had a few tips, including a soldering tip, a sharp wedge (a woodburning tip), and an Xacto blade tip. I used the woodburning tip... I let it get nice and hot, and then it goes through plastic literally like a hot knife through butter. If you go to quick though, you get clean lines... to get the curling up, you move slowly (just not too deep). The plastic will bubble and curl up like that. Don't go too slow though or you'll burn it. Don't breath in the fumes when doing it though! Toxic stuff... I wear a breather mask when I do it, just in case.

CONGRADULATIONS on the big ebay sale. Like $360.00 smackerooos folks! WoHOOO! You deserve it, man. It is a beautiful piece.

Asepticon wrote:CONGRADULATIONS on the big ebay sale. Like $360.00 smackerooos folks! WoHOOO! You deserve it, man. It is a beautiful piece.

Thats all? Unbelievable...

I don't know man... where I'm from, $360 is pretty decent coin for a $40 figure. Even after listing fees, etc.

However, the winning bidder has 0 feedback, and has yet to contact me... so I'm a little nervous about it right now...

pairadocs wrote:I don't know man... where I'm from, $360 is pretty decent coin for a $40 figure. Even after listing fees, etc.

However, the winning bidder has 0 feedback, and has yet to contact me... so I'm a little nervous about it right now...

Oh im not knocking 360 its a great profit BUT, other people have done lesser repaints on smaller figs and got thousands...

Sonray wrote:

pairadocs wrote:I don't know man... where I'm from, $360 is pretty decent coin for a $40 figure. Even after listing fees, etc.

However, the winning bidder has 0 feedback, and has yet to contact me... so I'm a little nervous about it right now...

Oh im not knocking 360 its a great profit BUT, other people have done lesser repaints on smaller figs and got thousands...

True... but I don't dwell on stuff like that.

I do this for fun, and in my spare time (the profit just helps pay a bill or two and lets me buy a toy here and there.) Keeps the wife happy with my hobby - so that's an added bonus.

post of the year above mine.

this isn't about the money. If it's only about the $, then you're never gonna make any because you're in this for the wrong reason.

money = bonus.

look at that guy who got banned from TFW boards because he was so focused on the money...

frenzy_rumble wrote:post of the year above mine.

this isn't about the money. If it's only about the $, then you're never gonna make any because you're in this for the wrong reason.

money = bonus.

look at that guy who got banned from TFW boards because he was so focused on the money...

I don't know about that guy and I agree that this fig is probably worth more, but it's good money still. I am not done with mine yet, but you better believe I'm keep'n that sucker. Oh, and it's not just a 40.00 fig when you concider all the work (especially for a novice like me) and also the quality paint and such.

well i guess it's a matter of opinion for you then. I justly understand wanting compensation for supplies and time spent, but if you really love what you are doing, compensation for supply is sometimes sufficiant enough.

WOW I JUST POOPED MYSELF!

This is an incredible figure. The detailing is so real. And some really good photography to show it off too.

Thanks again guys...

Yeah, I mean, don't get me wrong... it is nice to make a couple bucks off these... but that's not my sole intent. It would become a "job" then, and not a "hobby." I have a job... I do this to take my mind off it.

If I make my money back on the figure, plus costs of ebay fees, supplies, etc. and still have a couple bucks to spend, I'm content. If I started worrying about how much I'd make, how much profit, how much mine made compared to someone else's, etc. - it would no longer be fun for me.


Of course, once it sells, it would be nice if the winning bidder pays you... it's only been two days, but I can't get a reply to my emails to the 0 feedback bidder who won. I thought I had a No 0 feedback bidder rule in effect... going to have to make sure that goes in. He could end up paying, and I truly hope he does, or at least responds to me... but if not, Brawl will be going back up on the block.

Wow ... that is really amazing! So movie accurate
Picture number. 7 might be my favoritel, he just look so ... shiny right there ! In all hes pride

So... winner is a no-show..

he's back up on ebay if interested!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320162913318

I think one of the main reasons your customs sell is the dynamic photography!! Great work!!

Deceptiwho? wrote:I think one of the main reasons your customs sell is the dynamic photography!! Great work!!

Thanks man... I was sort of hoping it had to do with the quality of the custom itself too, though...

pairadocs wrote:

Deceptiwho? wrote:I think one of the main reasons your customs sell is the dynamic photography!! Great work!!

Thanks man... I was sort of hoping it had to do with the quality of the custom itself too, though...

Oh it does, but the photography is a really great form of advertizing. Hey, maybe you should include the nice pictures, or one of them, on photopaper as a bonus. Ebayers love bonuses and it helps them be impulsive. You did not deserve that last "no show". They outa be ashamed and I'm sure their karma will take care of them in due course. I hope you get even more this time around.

truely kickass man great job dude