Welcome to Worn Down Customs, my name's Derek, and I like painting toys.
Specifically I enjoy weathering and distressing figures and vehicles in the 4" and 6" scales, making them look, well, worn down, of course! Using various paints and techniques I've learned over the years, I aim to bring otherwise bland and "plastic looking" toys to life, and offer something one of a kind that stands out on the shelf.
One of my biggest heroes, George Lucas set his Star Wars films in a universe that felt lived in, worn down. One that showed the dirt and grime, scratches and dents that would be all but absent in any sci fi film prior to stand out from the sterile settings of science fiction films of the past. This look, this feeling, became a staple of the universe he created, and influenced the look of just about every science fiction property since, as well as inspired model makers, customizers, and hobbyists for generations to come.
I fall into one of those last groups since bringing my toys to life through posing and light painting has always been a hobby, just never got very good, at least not good enough to share.
I recently noticed the only thing holding me back from making the figures look the way I wanted, was my lackluster tools and paint selection, and a dash of free time, so over the last year I've expanded my repertoire to include things like magnifiers, rotary tool, exacto knife, sculpting putty, sandpapers, thinners, and much more, and I have never been as happy with the results.
Another aspect of customizing I enjoy experimenting with is finding ways to improve small parts usually made of plastic like chains, capes, tubes, straps, and the like, and replace them with the real thing, making it even more detailed and less "toy like".
So I hope you join me on this journey as I populate this page with before and after photos, glam shots, as well as updating my blog with tips, tricks, reviews and more.
Take care everyone and don't forget to believe in yourselves!
-Derek
Comments