Customizer Joe Harvey
1- What does the word customizer mean to you?
To me a "customizer" adds to existing toys to create new toys or add more features to an existing toy.
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The Road Warriors |
2- How did you begin customizing?
I have done minor customizing to toys since I was young. Little add-ons and adjusting to complete the visual or enhance play. I only started serious customizing of toys about a year ago. I loved the movie Desperado and I saw an Antonio Banderas figure from the movie Spy Kids that was on clearance at Toys R' Us for $2.95 so I thought I would give it a try.
3- As a customizer what do you create?
I have a HUGE wrestling figure collection so I have been creating wrestling figures from the old NWA and AWA wrestling federations that I grew up watching. I try to make figures that may not be made by the toy companies. I also make a few odds and ends like the Desperado figure or Clawful from the Masters of the Universe line (I get tired of waiting on Mattel to do something with the line)
4- What is your process when you are customizing, from start to finish?
Once I decide on a character to make, I hit the stores looking for a figure that I can work with. The process is basically stripping away what's not needed on the figure and adding what is needed.
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The Great Muta |
5- Have you ever sold any of your customs, if so where?
Not really, I sold a few of my early sub-par customs after I re-made them once I learned better ways to do things.
6- What has been the highest price that you have received for a custom?
I received $55.00 for the wrestling tag team Demolition. They were sub-par customs that I re-made. (The buyer loved them)
7- Do you get requests?
I used some of my custom wrestling figures to hold some custom championship belts (that I do sell from time to time) on Ebay and the requests started flying in.
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"Desperado" |
8- What has been the oddest request?
No real odd requests.
9- What has been the easiest item to customize?
I do not feel one custom is easier than another, only the amount of time involved.
10- What has been the hardest item to customize?
The Clawful I am working on now is taking the longest due to all the sculpting involved.
11- When you are customizing what are the essential tools one needs?
I use Sculpey, Acrylic paint, Exacto knives, and a Roto-cutter. I also use whatever I can find to create the desired result like toothpicks and pins.
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Nikita Koloff |
12- Who in the customizing world or other has been an inspiration?
I would say Ebay. Ebay was my first and only contact I have had with customizing.
13- What project would you like to take on as a customizer?
I have a list of wrestlers I would like to make for my collection and of course finishing Clawful. After that I don’t know.
14- When you want to see other customizers is there a place where you go?
I browse through Ebay at custom figures sometimes. I am also looking forward to the custom gallery at EternalCollector as it grows.
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The "Rock n' Roll" Express |
15- What has been the best creation that you or someone else has made?
My best custom is my Desperado. It was an original idea and my first custom. On Ebay I saw Guns N' Roses made from wrestlers that looked cool.
16- On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate yourself as a customizer?
It depends on the custom. Some turn out better than others. I like what I do and am happy with the results or I would quit making them.
17- What would you say makes your customs different from others?
I can only compare with the wrestling figures on Ebay. The majority are only repaints with little detail. Detail is the key. The biggest thing I do different is tweak the existing face to resemble the character I am creating.
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The Masked Superstar |
18- Why do you think people started customizing? And where do you think customizing will lead to in the future?
I customize for two reasons, figures not being made or detail left out by the toy company. I don’t think customizing effects toy companies. It will remain a hobby and another aspect of toy collecting.
19- Do you hope to create your own toy line like McFarlane?
No, but I would like to create prototypes of characters from a comic book I am developing.
20- Do you also collect toys or artwork perhaps for inspiration?
I only customize to enhance my toy collection.
21- Any advice for anyone looking to get into customizing?
It’s easier to customize something you want or care about.
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Demolition |
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The Four Horsemen |
