Topic: Darth Optimus' Custom Nerdery! STRIDER HIRYU, fully kitted

[Luke Sprywalker]

As I said on fb, this is really creative and some of your best work. I really like the this beast and figure combo! Paint work is also really wel done.

[Darth Optimus]

Thanks, Spry!  I credit all the fantastic customizers here for giving me the drive and inspiration to get better. I've actually customized off and on for over ten years, only just got decent after joining ISY a year or so ago.

[Darth Optimus]

I have been away from here for longer than I thought!  Life's been really busy (and complicated), and it's easier to snap pics w/ the ol' iPhone and post directly to Facebook...so that's what I've been doing.  But here are a few of the many (many) WIPs I have going on in the lab.  Thanks for looking!

Mandolorian Xenomorph Hunters.  This pair of siblings is for my Aliens universe, meant to co-exist along side my USCM squad and the team of gengineered Weyland-Yutani "Hands of Blue" team.  Gotta love the Samuel L. Jackson "Bad Mothafraka" head sculpt!


Up next is a large scale foray into Joe-style customs, and my latest fad: NINJA!  Who don't like ninja?  E'ry body like ninja! 
These are Lin Kuei ninja, the same clan as Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat.  1st pic is a quick parts fitting, 2nd pic is a rough draft of color schemes.



Next up is a photo collage of my other ninja project: a trio of ninja from the movie "The Warrior's Way".  If you have seen that awesome piece of film work, high five yourself.  If you haven't seen it, go now.  It's available as Instant Watch on Netflix.  Just waiting on casts of the wide-brimmed Asian hats.


Lastly, what's this?  A finished piece?  Whodathunk it!
This is my No Sculpt Kitbash Predator.  This beauty is made from equal parts Avenger's Chituari and Thor's Frost Giant, with "dreads" donated by a SW Kit FIsto.  Assorted greeblies round out the armor, weaponry and trophies.  The smart disk was hand cut from a "bubble" from on of the figs cards.







Thanks for tuning in!

[BlackThorne]

Very cool Yautja concept.

[M4K3R1]

Ninja's!!! Hey..... now you have my attention.
Looking good.

[Tamer]

What a great update, just awesome. I used the kit-bash predator, but I really like the look of your ninja work too.

It is snowing today and I will be stuck inside for at least today and probably tomorrow the ways it going so I am going to go watch that movie you recommended.

[SITHHAPPENS]

awesome kit bash predator

[Darth Optimus]

Thanks, everyone!  Here are moar kustomz!

A new Star Wars/Transformers crossover.  This time, it's the Constructicons (and their gestalt Devestator)!  Done up in genuine G1 lime green/purple/black paint scheme!

The Devestators!  A gang of Constructicon brand (tm) labor dorids, this unit of six was hit with a computer virus of unknown origin.  The virus (codenamed: Decepticon) swept thru the ranks swiftly due to a low-level subsonic carrier wave that links the minds of all the units in a team of six.  This team, gaining new-found sentience, left for the stars.  Gaining work as mercenaries, bounty hunters and enforcers, they are a force to be reconed with.  Several times the Devestators have come into conflict with the team of Mandalorians called Mythosaur Squad.  The two teams will stop at nothing to defeat the other.  Only unforseen intervention by outside forces have kept the two teams from destroying each other.

Scavenger and Scrapper (Team Leader)



Mixmaster and Hook



Bonecrusher and Long Haul



Team pic!


The Devestators were M.A.R.S. robots sold in two different 3-packs at Dollar General.  I picked these up a couple of years ago, but they still have them from time to time.  It's a pretty neat deal: three different robots (with decent ball jointed hips and shoulder for parts-swapping), a hand-held weapon, 1-2 shoulder-mounted weapons and three mino dio bases for only $5.  They are slightly shorter than 1/18 scale figs, but they work for this idea.  I'd love to snag another complete set or two and do one set in the G2 yellow/black color scheme and maybe one in "Shattered Glass" alternate-universe red/white.  Maybe one day...

BONUS PIC!  Here is a team shot of the Dinobot-inspired Mythosaur Squad Mandalorians, for those who haven't seen them before:

[Tamer]

Nice, I just got done watching The Warrior's Way an hour or so ago too. Good flick.

The only thing I hate about most foreign movies is that they never ever let the guy get the girl or have some type of generally happy ending. Cmon, just once let the hero live or get the girl or be happy at the end!

[BlackThorne]

Very cool mando team the paint is awesome, the bots are all well painted too.

[Mando Assasin]

Transformers and Star Wars. Two great universes! Mashed together you get............ FRAKKIN AWESOMENESS!

[Tamer]

On the front page. It would be cool to see a dio of these guys battling.

Awesome way to use those Mars robots too.

[mr.Jedi1977]

Outstanding !!!! i was planning to revisit my line of the sw /transformers crossover in the new year and one of the projects was gonna be the dinobots and you picked a perfect set to use them.
i have a few others in mind also.  the constructicons are awesome  another great use for the mars robots .  we should put ours together  and create the core of the generation 1 figures lol  Again beautiful work ....Art

[Darth Optimus]

Thanks, everyone!

[Luke Sprywalker]

Brilliant work Michael! Love these SW x Transformer customs!