Praiter Yed

Arggh, I shouldn't have said anything - imagination is exactly what I'm lacking

Possibly the first stupid question but here goes... For categories 2 & 3 it says; "No figures based on existing media will be allowed." - but not for Category 1. Does this mean Category 1 could be a historical figure, a character from a movie or whatever we want (as long as we feel it represents a country/nation)?

Thanks Masked, controversial - Biggs seems to be the most popular choice Cheers legobodgers, I still consider myself a novice and have to say the ones I've posted here are definitely the best decals I've managed so far. I don't think it's any coincidence that they're also the first ones I've done using transparent decal paper which I've found harder to work with, but worth it for the end results. Aunt Beru didn't turn out as bad as I thought but still not as good as I'd like - I'm going to try again using different materials so might be a while before any more updates.

More good ones there Skrytsson although it looks like you're taking things back into the gutter Here's a new one from me... Keen eyed afolsw might recognise part of the Yavin IV sketch from the Lego Star Wars Visual Dictionary

Thanks Mr. Man. Doesn't every afolsw plan to build an X-Wing squadron ? Cheers Brickdoctor. I'm not sure who will be next - the imperials are partially printed (I've tried the hat print but what I wanted to do doesn't work ) and I've just applied Aunt Beru's torso decal but I have a feeling it's gone wrong - will have to wait and see

I've been considering making a kilt for a possible future project and have to say I'm really pleasantly surprised at how effective your use of coloured pencil is - it has added a very cloth like texture. I agree, but the brown ones are rare and pretty expensive for one small part.

Thanks darthnihilius - I think the Biggs one is best too. I'm happy to share all of these if anybody can let me know what is the best format/resolution to upload. These are vector graphics so a pdf would probably be best but brickshelf & flickr don't seem to allow them

I found it very hard to vote in all categories because there were so many great entries. I'm both honoured and surprised to come third in category 3 ! Thanks to everyone who gave me a vote, congratulations to all the winners and thanks to ISC for organising such a fun contest.

Here's two more, just face decals this time... Biggs Darklighter and Jek Porkins I really should have done a decal for Porkins' helmet but there seems little point with Lego releasing him in 2012. I really can't believe they're doing a Porkins figure - I expected a new Biggs but Porkins, never! Maybe I should have done a proper Wedge face instead.

It's been so long since I've seen ROTJ that I'd actually forgotten Luke has a different outfit at the end to what he wore in Jabba's Palace . I'm not a huge fan of the decal design because imho it looks a little too simple (I like the second one better though). However it does look very well applied and on the pictures the speckles look quite good at least on the belt buckle because it makes it look silver.

Brilliant! Love this . It's a mean feat to create this in LDD what with being forced to make totally legal connections. I don't know about you, but I sometimes find LDD a bit unwieldy. Any plans to build it for real?

I visited a friend in Koln recently and I think they already had this in store but I didn't pay it much attention (I'd never been in an actual Lego store before so was too fascinated with the PAB wall ).

There's not much to add to what most people have said already - a really lovely looking system scaled T-16, except, nice work on the photo editing too I like how you included the Lars' homestead on the last pic

Interesting, Ralph McQuarrie worked on concept designs for Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and it's a rumoured that the Snowspeeder design was inspired by/based on his designs for the 'Buck Rogers's' star fighters (which were also the initial designs for the original Battlestar Galactica's Vipers). A lot of mid - late 70's sci-fi shared a common aesthetic, that of ships looking functional and used. Star Wars is often credited as being the first sci-fi using this look but it is not (Space 1999 anyone?). However, this style has always until recently been the SW 'style' even the PT which is set during a more prosperous 'golden age' reflects this aesthetic. For me this has always been the way I judge a fanon creation - if it looks functional and 'lived in' then it's more than likely acceptable as a 'SW style creation'. But to make a sweeping statement; I generally feel that fanon creations should go in the sci-fi forum. I'm reluctant to comment on anything fanon, apart from to say 'that's a really good creation' or 'I don't think this is very well built' - how are you supposed to judge it when you can't compare it to an existing SW object?

No worries The Penguin, I didn't take any offence to your question, I'd rather you asked than think I'd been tinkering with the image. I've just found some spare time to apply Biggs' face decals so hopefully I'll get chance to photograph them at the weekend. Thanks again to everyone for the encouraging comments

Thanks The Penguin. I certainly wouldn't have the skill or patience to paint minifigs the way you do. I'm not shy of a little photo-retouching, if I build an MOC I'll happily take out some dust or scratches, things that don't really improve the build but just just enhance the picture. With a custom decal I'd only be fooling myself to retouch the image. I'm pleased with the way these turned out but if I did anything wrong or can improve them in anyway I'd rather show them as they are and be advised by my peers. Naturally I picked the best image to show, here is a darker picture where you can see the edge but it's still not that visible. Thanks Mr Man. The flesh tone looks darker on Ewok Leia due to the tan torso showing through the print on the transparent decal. I'm happy to hear you're looking forward to the Scanning Crew, my aim is to print the arms of these guys and possibly the hats too (and the top of their scanning gear) but for now here's a purist version I did a while ago...

Thanks Brickdoctor and cheers for the blog. I'm not against the new more complex prints, imho some work, some don't but ANH Leia's print seems to have lasted through all the revisions probably because it does the job, nothing else is needed, I think these are the same. Maybe dark tan would be better for Ewok Leia though. Thanks, commdr_neyo. I think I really over-did the cleavage on Ewok Village Leia - you can see on the decal design how I changed it at the last minute before printing - I thought the smaller cleavage wouldn't stand out but now she looks like she's wearing a Wonder-Bra (maybe Ewoks keep them in stock?). Yes, it's a waterside decal - transparent, ink-jet printable. Thanks Legostein. I collect OT minifigs so I tried (and mostly failed) to guess which figures TLG probably wouldn't produce - so I've not really planned any vignettes for these, although I have a very simple idea for the Celebration Leia but you'll have to wait until Celebration Han is released to see that one . Cheers Masked Builder. Absolutely, I've already got Aunt Beru, Biggs Darklighter, Jek Porkins and the Imperial Scanning Crew ready to apply - just need to find some spare time. Cheers KDM. Thanks Shadows. There has been a rumour that Celebration Leia will be released with the Y-Wing next year but I don't think it's confirmed yet. As for Ewok Village Leia, who knows, maybe for the ROTJ anniversary... ? Thank you Luxor V. I think I will buy a new hair piece from BL when I get chance.

pong0814 - I didn't realise my eyeballs could rotate through 360° until now Looks like The Penguin is on a roll! Great Santa Yoda jokes

I've updated this 1st post to make it easier to find the various customs in this topic. Apart from the first two (which are just further down the page) each image links to the larger versions... Original Post... If anybody wants TLG to produce some official figures, just ask me to make a custom first! My first ever attempt at a decal was for a Bossk figure, shortly after Lego released their far superior version. I recently designed and printed (but have not yet applied) a Jek Porkins face decal, an official figure is now due for release in 2012. And now I present to you, the first Star Wars custom that I have considered worthy enough to show here and now rumoured for a 2012 official version my Yavin IV Ceremonial Princess Leia... Also, Ewok Village Princess Leia... I'm not sure about the hair on this one. I'm thinking that maybe this would be better. Comments, criticism and suggestions welcome. I hope to update this when I have more to show. More in my flickr. and even more in my Brickshelf when public.

That's really amazing but some of your helpers look a bit dodgy. But seriously how do you go about creating something this size? I notice the pixelated print of Ben Kenobi's face - do you create an image as a template where each pixel represents a brick or maybe project an image onto your base-boards and 'trace' the image in bricks?

Nice landscape and lovely waterfall. Also a novel use of battle droid heads.

Number 2 is brilliant The Penguin.

Very nice Oky. A lovely contrast of angles and curves.

Thanks commdr_neyo There are two sellers in the UK doing this as a 'buy it now' along with some other items that I'm not particularly bothered about, but it looks like I'll be spending some of my hard-earned on eBay after-all. I can pm you the eBay links if you're interested? EDIT: Bought one, there's only one UK seller now

I've seen these Bowcasters being sold on eBay as part of packs with other custom weapons, at first I thought it was from The Little Arms Shop but I can't see it on their website. Anybody know who produces it?