Tag: custom mego

Win a FREE S-Type Body!

S-Type GiveawayPerhaps it’s the old disc jockey in me but I love doing contests and giveaways. It seems fitting that I incorporate that into the Toy Box. For this first contest of the new and improved Jim’s Toy Box I’m going to be giving away a FREE S-Type body as produced by ZICA and Castaway Toys.

Me and Sheldon 2
Like my moves Mr. Cooper? Of course you do!

I truly appreciate this revolutionary new body and it’s amazing possibilities. So much so that I put “me” where my mouth is. Little Buddy Jim is now outfitted with the new S-Type Body and I couldn’t be happier with the results. More possibility, flexibility and options. It also looks great as Robin the Boy Wonder!

“How do I win, Jim?” Boy am I glad you asked!

For the next two weeks to register to win all you have to do is tell me how you’re going to use this new S-Type body and promise to share a pic when your done. So what will you do? Create a custom from scratch? Swap out bodies with an existing figure? Something far more imaginative than my meager suggestions?

To enter email me your plan of action for this awesome action figure body to jimsmegos@yahoo.com. The contest will run from Sunday February 23, 2014 to Sunday March 8, 2014. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM CST for consideration. There is no cost to play. This S-Type body has been purchased by me and is in no way endorsed by ZICA Toys, Castaway Toys or the 8 Inch Super Store.

This is for fun and let’s keep it that way!

Now, Go Play!

Jim 02/23/14

Thank God for toys and toy pals on tough days.

Some days it just seems like the world is not only on your shoulders but also your head and neck region too. I’ve been having one of those.  Mountain after mountain, glitch after glitch, annoying humans… I’m sure you can all relate. But thankfully I have my toys and my toy pals.

IMG_20140210_141635_387While there have been some annoyances going on lately, when the burden gets so heavy I turn to my Toy Box and take a look inside. At the moment Sheldon Cooper from Bif Bang Pow and Entertainment Earth helps me smile a little. Then I get on facebook and a conversation begins between myself and my toy pal Tom Hagar about the possibilities of doing custom Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Mego style action figures. The wheels start turning.

 

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8 and 12 inch versions of my all time favorite comedy team would be so much fun to have around the house, office, car, everywhere. I have a vintage two sided hand puppet that could be cast or 3D scanned and worked into separate heads. Hmmmm. And then use the S-Type bodies from Castaway / ZICA. And then create or have the very talented Anthony Durso create custom card backs, individuals and of course a two pack. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. And then seal ’em up in a clamshell for display. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.  AND THEN (let’s dream really big shall we, get the lickeness / license rights and release them world wide!  HMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!

deanjerry1Sure it’s just a pipe dream but still its a fun daydream that really took my mind off the pressures of the real world. Imagination. Conversation. Inspiration. They all happened thanks to my toy pals and real pal Tom.

Thanks buddy for helping me stop, dream and breath. At this juncture I shall take my own advice and order myself to : Now, Go Play!

Jim 2/12/14

’76 Mego X-Men: What could have been.

This post comes on a Thursday morning and as such I got caught up in “throwback Thursday” mode. While I have no desire to share old pics of me rocking a mullet wearing a ’89 Batman shirt… OK maybe one:

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OK, I promise to never do it again.  Back to a better throwback… this time let’s go all the way back to 1976.

As America celebrated her Bicentennial,  1976 was also the year Jimmy Carter was elected the 39th President of the United States… NASA introduced the first space shuttle named of course in tribute to the Star Trek television show; The Enterprise . .. the ‘Rocky‘ series began… and more importantly Mego ruled the boys toy aisles. All of your favorite DC and Marvel super heroes were able to share in the 8 inch scale adventures of your imagination. Well, almost.

History shows us that there was one glowing omission. Professor Charles Xavier’s merry mutants were no where to be found. That problem was corrected thanks to the talented Mego customizer extraordinaire and a great Mego Museum pal of mine, Austin Hough.

In 2013 he came up with a customizing challenge for himself that is mind numbing in its scope. What he set out to do was create a new custom Mego figure for every week of the year. He actually exceeded that goal by quite  a few extra dozen figures. Impressive is an understatement. (links coming soon)

One of the final results of his efforts were Professor X’s best… The X-Men as featured in this groundbreaking book:

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Late last year (2013) Austin had contacted me about the project and asked me if I’d be willing to do some editing for him.  Of course I said yes and am very proud to share these fantastic “What If?” spots with you. So join me now as we revisit a 1976 that would have been super sweet had Mego looked over at the comic rack.

BUT WAIT! There’s even a playset!

I’d like to take this time to again thank Austin for allowing me to play in this fantastic “What if?” world he created.  It’s projects like this that inspire me and remind me that it’s so important to stop and play from time to time. And with that said thanks for popping in for this throwback Thursday moment. Again I apologize for the mullet.

Now, Go Play! – Jim 02/06/14

P.S. That super sweet playset is just one example of the incredible work that is done and available to you from Mego Museum founder Scott Adams. Check ’em out HERE or by clicking the pic.

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Time Traveling through Toyfare: Charlie Flatt’s Super Soldier Tutorial.

Once upon a time (actually Spring 1997) Charlie Flatt was the most well renowned Mego Customizer on the planet. The reason for this “super” distinction is that for all intents and purposes he was the only customizer at the time getting national press by way of the fledgling Toyfare magazine. In fact his article is what inspired me to get into the habit of customizing. So much so I ran out and bought a Dremel the day after I read the article. I never made a Super Soldier but I did do a lot of cool stuff with that handy little tool. That’s a reflection we’ll get to on another day.

 

With all the recent discussions about Flatt’s work at the Mego Museum (www.megomuseum.com ) I figured I should get this out here for everybody. Plus customizing Mego’s (and Re-Mego’s) is one of the more fun things about the hobby. Below is the high rez scans of Charlie’s article for your viewing and inspiring pleasure. Click on the pic to get the “Super Soldier” sized image.

And there you have it, the complete Charlie Flatt method of making Mego’s. Of course now days you can buy body’s from Dr. Mego and Castaway but if your up for an extreme, gettin’ back to basics challenge, here ya go.

Now, Go Play! – Jim 07/07/11

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