Hi Steve,
it's great you joined us here on Imperialshipyards! I haven't gotten to comment on all the videos you shared here, yet. So I'll try my best to add everything here that I haven't included in my comments on YouTube.
Star Wars, memories and getting into collecting:I agree with Tamer here. Our collecting focus and habits change as much as we change as person over the years. I got my very first Star Wars action figure from my parents in 1999. It was Darth Maul and I was one happy 6-year-old kid back then. My parents didn't allow me to watch the movies though. In 2005 my family visited our relatives in New York and we went to Toys "R" Us. The Star Wars shelf there caught my attention because it was LOADED with figures and vehicles and I fell in love with Clone Troopers. That day I got Anakin's Jedi Starfighter and #41 Clone Trooper. The fever had caught me.
I actually wanted to see Revenge of the Sith in theatre, but I was too late once I got time and enough pocket money. So I started with A New Hope, which I watched with my dad.
So I can well understand you getting into Star Wars again with Captainn Rex of the Black Series! The 1/12 scale is pretty exciting and hands down Rex is one of Hasbro's best figures of their beloved Black Series. It's awesome that you grew up with Star Wars and Lucas' original trilogy. We all share priceless memories of our childhood and how we discovered Star Wars. You can read more about me and my addiction to Star Wars in my entry of this very topic.
Sometimes we just have to let go things. It's the memories that remain and nobody can take them from us. Is it needing money and selling your collection, loosing it in a fire or in flooding. It always hurts, but we have to let go as Lucas let us know through one of his best characters.
Having sold your stuff shouldn't make you feel sad anymore. No regrets because the money helped you get where you are today and today you can afford to get your most beloved collectibles back.
Getting back into collecting.
It's great that you enjoy the animated Clone Wars series that much! I started collecting Star Wars in 2005. I've always collected stuff starting with feathers, rocks, toy cars, Pokémon and so much more. In the meantime Darth Maul was almost forgotten in one of my toy boxes. He was the first thing I looked for after we returned from New York. And I found him right away. He stands next to the Clone Trooper in one of my glass cabinets since then.
You made a good point on Rex! He is a brilliant figure and one of the best characters of the Clone Wars. Hasbro decided to release him in his Phase II armor first, which I find odd, too, but I'm confident that we'll get him in Phase I armor as well down the road.
Reanimation of the hobby and making videos for YouTubeWell, it sounds as if you decided to make videos of your hobby quite spontaneously! Starting the hobby and getting into customizing is one great thing. But I think making YouTube videos is a challenge (at least to me). Do you have any experience with making videos? Because your first upload is pretty remarkable! Reading how you got into customizing is pretty impressive! There are thousands of new YouTube channels every single day and even some of the older ones don't have videos of that quality you do! Your videos are very well done and get even better with every new upload.
There are only a few channels on YouTube showing custom figures. Finding them is not quite easy, too! I also enjoy looking for custom figures & vehicles on YouTube, but most videos are about LEGO customs and my-own-creations...which is still great, but I was looking for Hasbro ones. So it's tough to find these channels. That's why I said your channel is such a win to YouTube and the customizer community! We need more of your kind!
It's good to hear that your wife supports you with your hobby, too! I'm happy that she got you some figures to your birthday, too!
I also do a lot of research before I start a project - has always lead me to good results.
One can really see that you enjoy what you're doing and that you got serious talent. I really enjoy listening to you and looking at your work of art.
I think it's not the best way to go with one video a day, though. I know you're on fire right now, but it should stay fun. As long as you can make one video a day, it's great. But you don't have to feel like you HAVE to make one. Channels with thousands or even millions of subscribers have to make videos that frequently in order to make money and their sponsors happy. You don't make money with YouTube, yet. So I wouldn't put so much pressure to myself. If you have time and motivataion to make so many videos, just go for it. But you can slow down any time. I know quite a few people being exhausted from YouTube, comments on there and making videos. One example is Terranscapes - I absolutely admire this guy! He finally quit his channel 3 weeks ago because it had become too much for him and he didn't get as much feedback out of it as the effort he put into it.
Here's a link to his channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TerranscapesYour customs:Commander Gree was the very first custom figure of yours that I saw. I already commented on most of your custom Clone Troopers and I really enjoy what I see there! Gree, Boil & Waxer, Echo & Fives, the Phase I Commander and so much more! I think you did an outstanding job on all of them. Each of them has its own favorite and unique properties.
Thank you also for your latest video on how you scratched and weathered your Clone Sergeant! The scratches and weatherig look brilliant! As said on YouTube I think the Sergeant and Officer both look as if Hasbro made them. Apparently your customs have much more detail than Hasbro will ever give us.
It's also great to know that you still have a reliable (& cheap) source for these bootleg figures! You can build your Clone Trooper army, quickly with AliExpress
To your reviews:Tamer already listed the most important things. I'm interested in the price you paid for the item. Comparing them is also good as long as you have previous released to compare to.
Your review of TBS Mace Windu made me chuckle! The picture of Mace and Obi-Wan is just too funny!
I really enjoyed watchting videos of
SithLord229 back in the days. He was actually the reason why I got on YouTube in the first place. If you already know him (his name is also Steve), his reviews might inspire you, too!
I really hope to make some videos, too!
So until then keep up the great work, please!
Thanks for joining the Yards!
- Philipp
