Tag Archives: guides

Tutorial – Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast Chest and Gun Backpack Fix

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Hey everyone! Got a brand new custom action figure tutorial for you. People have (rightfully) had complaints about the flaws of the new MOTUC Rio Blast figure. My new video tutorial shows you how to fix him so his chest flap closes all the way, his gun backpack sits correctly on his shoulders (so the visor covers Rio Blast’s eyes) and his leg chaps sit a bit closer to his thighs. Just click here to go to the full page with a written out detailed description. You can also watch the video below. If you know someone having frustration with the Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast, send them the link to the video. And if this is your first time here at Mint Condition Customs, check out the Custom Action Figure Archive. It’s full of every single custom action figure I’ve made up to this point. Mint Condition Customs is where toys are turned into “Interactive Art”!

Four New Guides Posted in the Tutorials Section

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Custom Action Figures Mint Condition John Harmon how to install an led circuit in an action figureHey everybody! I just wanted to let you guys know that I posted 4 new tutorials. One of them is a very quick one, that’s just a little trick on how to help preserve your paints:

A Quick Tip on Preserving Your Paints

Another one is a very important one that teaches you how to properly prepare your figures for painting and sculpting, and how to eliminate joint rub. Remember, customizing is 90% preparation, and 10% artistry so if you’re just getting into customizing, or having a problem with paint not adhering right, then you should definitely read this tutorial:

How to Prepare Your Figures for Painting and Sculpting, and how to Eliminate Joint Rub

The next two sort of go together. One teaches you how to use a soldering iron to put together an LED circuit. The other teaches you how to install in LED circuit in an action figure. I thought about putting them in one guide, but ultimately decided on two since each practice can be talked about in great length. That, and there could be a lot of people that already know how to solder, but don’t know how to install the LED circuit in their action figure, so two separate guides was definitely the way to go. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to solder, or how to make your action figures have light-up effects, then these tutorials are for you.

How to Solder an LED Circuit

How to Install an LED Circuit in an Action Figure for Light-Up Effects

That’s all I have to teach for now. I hope they help you in your customizing endeavors. And if you ever have any questions about customizing that I haven’t already covered, then always feel free to email me!

Three New Guides and Tutorials Posted

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Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that I have three new guides posted in the Guides and Tutorials section.

The first one is How to Fix a Stuck Waist Joint. I go over the best ways to get your action figure’s waist joint moving again. I just got the new Marvel Legends 2012 Piledriver figure and his waist couldn’t move! So I decided to fix it and make a tutorial on it.

The second is How to Conform Styrene and Plastic Sheets to Shapes and Action Figures. Here, I teach you how to take a piece of polystyrene and get it to perfectly conform around a part of your figure.

And my last new tutorial is How to Make Custom Decals and Insignias. It’s kind of a tough one if you’re unfamiliar with Photoshop, or if you don’t have it at all, but it’s essential if you’re making any character that has a patch, or logo, or insignia on his suit, because not even the steadiest of hands can match what a computer can do.

Alright, that’s all for now. I just wanted to update everybody on the new guides, and I hope they help you in your customizing endeavors!

Want to Learn How to Create Your Own Custom Action Figure? Introducing Guides and Tutorials!

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That’s right, I’m adding a new section to Mint Condition Customs: Guides and Tutorials!

Ever wanted to learn how to create your own custom action figure? Well just check right here.

I only have two guides up right now, but expect to see lots more real soon covering a wide range of customizing techniques. Right now I have the following:

Here, I teach you how to safely crack open an action figure while still keeping the pieces intact.

And here I teach you how to repair a broken peg with a screw.

I hope that these and any other future guides I offer help out as many people as possible with learning how to create their own action figure art.

Custom Action Figure Guides and Tutorials by John Harmon

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Custom Action Figure Gudies and Tutorials by John Harmon - Learn How to Create Your Own Custom Action Figures!

This is the collection of all my guides and step-by-step tutorials for making custom action figures. These guides will focus on general knowledge and techniques that can be applied to almost any custom. Please know in advance that these guides only offer techniques and depending on your skill level results will vary. These are meant to be stepping stones for the beginner as a way of learning and understanding the various techniques of customizing. As with any artistic guide, take what you need and make it your own. Learn the techniques here to help you develop your own style of customizing so you can create something really unique that stands out as your own work. I hope these guides help you to create your own pieces of action figure art.

 

Customizing

 

Installing LED Light-Up Effects in Action Figures

How to Solder an LED Circuit

Eliminating Joint Rub and Prepping Your Figures

Conforming Styrene to Shapes and Figures

Making Custom Decals and Insignias

Cracking Open an Action Figure

 

Painting

 

Preserving Your Paints

 

Action Figure Repair

 

Fixing a Stuck Waist Joint

Repairing Broken Pegs with Screws

 

Character Specific Guides

 

Masters of the Universe Classics Rio Blast Chest & Gun Backpack Fix

Fixing TMNT Classics 1990 Movie Figure Shoulder Joints

Repairing Arkham City Killer Croc’s Broken Shoulder

 

 

 

John Harmon’s Guides and Tutorials reflect the ideas and opinions of John Harmon. The methods used above are in no way definitive or set in stone and should be altered accordingly depending on skill level which figure you’re working with. John Harmon and Mint Condition Customs is in no way responsible for damage done to self or figures by incorrect use of these methods.