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Shinobitron is one of the most talented Transformers customizers I have met thus far. He also makes customs for Marvel Legends, Video Games, and GI Joe but I am drawn his work with the Transformers. If you are looking for a one of a kind custom to proudly display on your shelf next to the originals, you need to check out his work! I have blogged about several of his customs, including Highbrow, Beachcomber, Rampage, and the latest, Dragstrip. Please check out all my reviews of his figures on his dedicated page. I was lucky enough to get some insight and learn more about Shinobitron so please enjoy!

My artist name comes from 2 things 1) Shinobi, one of my favorite video games of all time. Not only that but the remake for the PS2 had Hotsuma, the main character, in one awesome looking uniform. 2) Tron, not for the old movie but as in Megatron. I’ve always like the bad guys more. I currently started a website called Shinobitrons Dojo
http://www.freewebs.com/shinobitron/index.htm

I can be contacted there or thru my regular email at:
shinobi13j@aol.com

AFC: When did you start making customs?

AFC: How many customs do you work on at one time?

Shinobitron: For the most part I try to keep all my focus on one figure at a time. This lets me give all my attention to one item and let me give one figure my all. I do however base coat figures that up for painting while working on another figure. This let any sculpty or glues I have on my main project harden and keeps me from sitting idle. (I do cave and treat myself to some PS2 or PC games in between phases though)

AFC: What is your favorite toy line to do customs for?

Shinobitron: I have to go with Transformers on this one. First of all each piece can end up being super easy or one heck of a challenge. After you finish one of the pieces you get a great sense of accomplishment, knowing that you made not one but two toys in one project. You got a badass looking robot and a sleek vehicle that looks equally badass.

Another reason I like TFs is the fans reaction. TF has a diehard fan base that love their bots. When you sell a figure to a person and he/she says that your piece is proudly displayed in their collection for everyone they know to see it give you a great sense of pride.

Shinobitron: That’s a tough question. I would have to say a very rough tie between my Darkstalkers, Ghost in the Shell, Galvatron, and Hotsuma figures. These piece have a special place for me as they are major display pieces on my shelves.

Shinobitron: My minds always working on what to make up next. I’m a real spur of the moment kind of person and even though I set myself a list of figure to make I usually end up doing something else cause I just got a great base fig I “have” to use right then and there. Heres a tenative list: Goldbug, Movie Beachcomber, Hoist, SHS Venture Bros figures, Animated Deadpool, Female Junkions, gears, The entire Cowboy Bebop cast, Bludgeon, Anime X-Men, 8″ Master Cheif, Hellsing characters, G2 Grimlock, and more Sigma 6 Cobra members.
Believe me there so many I can’t even remember them all.

AFC: If you had one piece of advice for other customizers out there, what would you say to them?

I was introduced to l.design’s talent when I first reviewed his Custom Marvel Legends Icon Batman back in January and he continues to provide his fans the unique, one of a kind custom experience that only he can deliver. Week after week, l.designs produces top quality customs. I had the great opportunity to interview l.designs so let’s learn more about this talented customizer.

AFC: Tell the fans of your work a little about yourself

Lehgraphics@gmail.com and I will be more than happy to help you. I usually work on custom versions of characters that made an impression on me as a kid, that can be hit and miss as far as other peoples taste goes, so yeah if you want to see my spin on a character let me know, you can even include reference pictures to get me going on the right track.

AFC: When did you start making customs?

l.designs: Truth be told, I think I was altering and tinkering around with my toys since I was about 12 or 13. I recently started doing this for the public however about a year ago or so. Before action figures I was doing wargaming terrain for a few years (and still am) after that I started constructing custom lightsabers (still do a few of them here and there as well).

AFC: How many customs do you work on at one time?

l.designs: Anywhere between 1 and 5, that way I always have something to do and am not stopped dead in my tracks to wait for paint or apoxie sculpt to cure.

AFC: What is the custom you are most proud of?

l.designs: I would have to say whatever I am currently working on. Well if I have to really pick maybe the second 12 inch Batman I just finished, or maybe the 6 inch Swamp Thing.

AFC: What is your favorite toy line to do customs for?

l.designs: Marvel Legends without a doubt…the Toy Biz ones. However people have been bugging me to do some Transformers so…

AFC: What customs do you have lined up for your next ones?

l.designs: I am currently working on some classic Spiderman villains with my twist on them. And I just today dropped off a nightmare demon version of the 12 inch Batman at Heroes Alley

AFC: If you had one piece of advice for other customizers out there, what would you say to them?

l.designs: Follow your passion, and you will do your best work! Enjoy what you are doing, it shows through in your end product. There are a ton of resources online if you need inspiration or help.

Rateeg: Rateeg when spelled backward is Geetar. I play guitar and in a classic rock band. I also have a huge passion on marvel superheroes. The only thing that we can do to immortalize them is to own an action figure of the characters we like. It all started there. More infos about me on my website:
http://rateegcreations.8.forumer.com/

http://rateegcreations.x.am/

AFC: When did you start making customs?

Rateeg: I started this hobby around 2 years ago when i read “The Hobbit” book. Grabbed a toybiz LOTR Gimli and started repainting it to be Thorin Oakenshield.

AFC: How many customs do you work on at one time?

Rateeg: Before I usually finish a custom 2 to 3 days. But now I can work 2 to 3 customs a week. I practice speed but still gives attention to details and paints. I dont want rushed customs and end up ruining it.

AFC: What is the custom you are most proud of?

Rateeg: Wow this is hard. I guess my TYGRA custom. I havent seen so much Tygra customs around and he’s my favorite character in the Thundercats series. I’m proud of him cause he’s chosen and gonna appear in TOYFARE #128 coming this Feb.13, 2008.

AFC: What is your favorite toy line to do customs for?
Rateeg: I really enjoy making x-men related customs especially the female ones. I would love to do again a psylocke and emma frost custom and include them in my x-men collection, though I made a couple for commissions already.

AFC: What customs do you have lined up for your next ones?

Rateeg: So many lined up on my list. Some commissions and some for my personal collection. I still have to complete the thundercats, x-men, wrecking crew, avengers, g.i.joe ML scaled and 25th Anniv scaled, valiant comics customs, etc…

AFC: If you had one piece of advice for other customizers out there, what would you say to them?

Rateeg: Basically just enjoy what you do. Always gather critiques and learn from them. Do not be afraid to get bad comments. Never listen to exaggerated praises cause it’s only an illusion. Just appreciate the people who give comments, good or bad, remember your best teacher is still TRIAL and ERROR.

I had the great opportunity to correspond with Hal Zucati, owner/operator of Rabid Squirrel Productions. Hal’s primary role at Rabid Squirrel Productions is owner and operator but he is also heavily involved in all aspects of all projects. He contributes to the design, execution and ultimate production from the first drawing to the final released project. He works in all areas of the business from Project Management, Planning, and Development to Marketing, Advertising, Customer Relations, and Production (molding + casting + assembly). Hal even ships as well and that leaves me wondering where he finds time to do all of this? Well, being the one ultimately responsible for the success of Rabid Squirrel Productions and the happiness of its customers, Hal has assembled a crack team of sculptors/engineers and he also hires freelance artists and painters when needed. His lineup includes Eric Chan, one of the most talented and skilled sculptor’s Hal has ever worked with. They have worked together almost from the beginning back in 2004. Jonhda Starling is an artist and one of the primary driving forces behind the CyberFembot J.E.T. pieces. Her original art work inspired Hal and many others to fall in love with female jets. Her work and sketches can be seen here. She is amazingly talented and finds time to do this work between her busy work and personal life. Here’s some of Jonhda’s work she did for the CyberFembot A.R.C. project:

Hal: I started making custom toys in 2003 around the time I started buying and selling Transformers on eBay. I bought and sold every type of Transformer toy I could find including the Japaneese ones, the Diaclone ones and everything produced here in the US. I found that there was a gap in the toy lines, one toy in particular that no one had ever made: Arcee. Being a completist and, at the time, a rabid collector I looked everywhere for and Arcee transformer to add to my collection. No luck.

Hal: The custom piece that I’m most proud of is the CyberFembot A.R.C. piece. She was my original passion and the reason I got into customizing in the first place. I think however, that some of the upcoming works I’m doing may surpass her. We’ll see.

AFC: What was the origin of the CyberFembot A.R.C?Hal: CyberFembot A.R.C. was created to fill a void. The void of the female transforming robot. For more than 20 years transforming toys have been bought and sold, collected, traded, played with and generally enjoyed by generations of children and adults alike. During that time there have only been a handful of female characters, toys and statues made. We at Rabid Squirrel Productions felt that this lack of solid female characters was a huge and glaring problem. One that we believed that we could help to fix. With that in mind we created our CyberFembot A.R.C. The first in the CyberFembot series and a piece that we believe has been long overdue. You can learn more about the CyberFembot A.R.C here.