Ideamine Still At It

I apologize for all this Ideamine nonsense. Ever since I pointed out his plagiarism on eBay, he's been insistent on attacking me. This man has launched a twitter, facebook and blog campaign against me as well as sent veiled threats at me via the comments on this blog.

Please note that despite the blogs he's set up, I in NO WAY endorse this person. This man has stolen images from talented and legitimate customizers and passed them off as his own.

He's never denied this nor tried to dispute it.

Instead, he puts all his efforts into attacking those who have tried to bring light to the subject. Please note that we have been working with authorities who are looking into these threats and plagiarist acts and we can only hope there is resolution soon so that we can all just go back to enjoying customs.

I apologize for the inconvenience. Let's just get back to making great custom works of art!

I thank all of you have supported me with emails and PMs!

Custom McFarlane: Chuck Bednarik KOs Frank Gifford

Charlie Conerly, hit Gifford out of the backfield over the middle and Bednarik slammed into him 15 yards downfield, hitting him in the ribs. Gifford's head hit the ground and he immediately lost conciousness.

Chuck Bednarik then stands over a prone Frank Gifford, his right arm high in the air in celebration, a 1960 version of a fist pump. It is was a perfectly legal hit, even by today's far more stringent standards -- a blow to the ribs that was so hard that it knocked Gifford's head to the ground, causing a concussion.

What caused the biggest ruckus was the picture of Bednarik, the Mack Truck, giving the impression, particularly in New York, that he was celebrating the unconscious state of his rival's star player. Celebration. Yes, because Bednarik's teammate Chuck Weber had recovered the ball to clinch the game. Celebrating the injury? No way, says Bednarik.

"I was thinking 'this f---in game is over,'' Bednarik says. "It appears from the picture that I was gloating over him. I wasn't gloating over him. I had no idea he was there.''

This is probably my new favorite custom to date - it was by far the toughest one I've made! I scoured the internet to find as many reference photos as I could to get every detail as close as possible. Chuck's facemask was completely scratchbuilt from wire. I hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I enjoyed making it!

What to look for in a Customizer

Finding the right customizer can be really tough. As this hobby grows, new artists pop up every day. Some are excited at merger of sports and art and others may just be trying to make a quick buck. If you don't choose me as your customizer, I hope you find the one that's the perfect fit for you. Here are some things to look for:

• 1. A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

Take a close look at the pictures the artist provides you. How well can you see the details? If the work is good, the artist won't be afraid to show the item in all it's glory with a few close-ups thrown in. Poor customizers will purposely shoot their items from a far distance and/or shoot at only certain angles to hide flaws and poor quality. Don't be afraid to ask for better pictures.

• 2. You Get What You Pay For
  

Price is a tricky factor. Every artist is going to put a value on their work as well as a value on their time. A customizer with a lot of free time may put a lower value on their time than a family man. Generally, the more expensive the custom, the more detailed it's going to be. Straight repaints of existing figures are the least expensive options but you'll be limited to the equipment details of that base figure. Custom poses definitely cost more but will allow the customizer to add every last detail you are looking for. Also, expect to pay a down payment.

• 3. Turn Around Time

Turn around time can be hard to predict. It could be 2 weeks or it could be 3 months. Don't be afraid to ask how long it will take but understand the wait can be long. Most customizers have several customs in the works for different customers at any given time. Where you are in the queue will affect the finish time. There are very few full-time customizers so the amount of time that can be spent on the craft will effect turn-around. The biggest key is open communication, be sure you can find a customizer that will keep up to date on where the project is at.

• 4. eBay

eBay can actually be a good place to find customs at a low price but see point 1. I know some great customizers that sell their works on eBay and I know some complete hacks that sell on there as well. Why would a good customizer sell on eBay? The answer to that is freedom. My work is 100% commissions so the figures I make are dictated by the customer. A lot of artists don't want to be bound to that, they want to make stuff that really excites them. eBay allows them an outlet to sell their work when it's finished. The artist knows that if you really like the work, you might make a request for one later. A lot of customizers build quite the customer base from eBay. But, for every artist truly excited about their craft, there is one out there just trying to make a quick buck. Let the pictures be your judge and don't bid on anything that seems questionable.