MINIFIGURES
|
LEGO FIGURES CUSTOMISATIONS GUIDE
![Picture](/uploads/5/1/4/4/5144993/5177877.jpg?343)
Ever since the arrival of the first minifigure in 1978, it sparked off the imagination of children and AFOL (Adult fans of LEGO) with the endless possibilities of characters LEGO have not released. From Sharpies, sticky labels, water scale decals and clear varnish to 3D laser printers, LEGO minifigure customisation is now a big business.
Like a wall of LEGO bricks, the minifigure can be pulled apart and with some imagination put back together as something totally different. Once you have an idea of what you want to make there are many ways to create it using LEGO elements, and commercially available third party parts. This guide will hopefully give you some useful tips and links so you can start making your own custom mini figures.
Purist Customisation
Purist customisation can be great fun and many consider to be the most difficult. Customisation requires a vision, so we always recommend you draw a picture or source an image of the minifigure you want to make. The next stage is identifying the parts you need including hair, head, body, and legs. Bricklink or Brick Owl for sourcing your minifigure parts, and due to an increasing demand for more specific pieces there are a number of high quality independent producers offering a range of fantastic weapons, headgear and bodywear.
Decal Customisation
Sometimes you exhaust your search for an exact match however using Waterslide decal film and plain minifigure parts or by removing printing off existing minifigures, you can create your own designs. This part of the hobby can be a bit more expensive as it requires computer art software, waterslide decal film, a printer, decaling solution, and application tools.
Waterslide decal film, decal setting and softening solutions can be found almost everywhere these days from hobby and art shops to Amazon. To remove printing the best option is Brasso which is also great for removing scratches. Decal sealants are needed to seal the decal, spray cans offer the easiest application or clear varnish can be used. To apply these items you will need some small brushes. Make sure the decals are completely dry first before sealing them!
Painting Customisation
If decals are too fiddly for you then painting minifigures is another option and can be very fulfilling. Acrylics only, no enamels. Acrylics are water-soluble, so they mix and wash-up easily. There are a lot of different paints on the market however we do recommend Citadel, P3, Testors (for military colors) and Vallejo.
We always advise you prime your parts before painting especially larger items like armour, vests, helmets and when you have finished you should always use a Sealer such as an acrylic matte finish. The basic order of operations is primer, paint, detail, more details, wash and or dry-brush, and sealer.
Sculpting Customisation.
Packages of sculpting clay are very economical and can be found most anywhere. You can work with the clay with homemade tools. Most often the lower priced tools are more than enough. Baking sculpting clay uses your home oven or you can cure it in near boiling water.
➡ LEGO CUSTOMIZATION LESSON #1 – STARTING OUT
This is you. You are the new guy. You saw some neat LEGO customs online or at a LEGO convention and it made you think. You said to yourself, “I want to do that!” Before you start anything, ask yourself;
What do you know already?
Have you been with LEGO all your life, or are you just getting back/starting up with the hobby? Have you built MOCs (My-Own-Creations) beforehand? What other skills do you have? Can you paint? Can you draw? Can you cut things?
What is it you want to do?
There are a lot of LEGO customizers who can do a myriad of things. I personally make custom LEGO video-game minifigs. I know people who make comic-book minifigs and some who make custom LEGO movie minifigs. Do you want to expand the LEGO Star Wars universe? Or tap into a theme LEGO has yet to touch?
What do you expect to get out of LEGO customizing?
Are you in it for profit or just for the fun of it? There are those who just mash LEGO figs together just to make a quick buck – to me that is not a true LEGO customizer. You got to have some heart. There is no problem selling your work, but just remember why you made them in the first place.
Who inspires you?
Do you want to make custom LEGO accessories like Will Chapman (BrickArms) or Armothe (BrickForge)? Do you want to design decals like Kaminoan (Fine Clonier), Roaglaan or Shmails? Do you want to paint like Jasbrick, PEDRO, or Pecovam? Do you want to cut custom cloth like MMCB? Or maybe you want to be a Brasso artist like myself? Look at these custom LEGO artists and ask yourself, “Can I do what they do?” Well, of course you can! Never tell yourself that you can’t do it, because you will never know until you try. When I first started out, I looked up to the big guys: Armothe, Will, and Kaminoan. Who are your heroes?
➡ CUSTOMIZATION LESSON #2 – CREATING YOUR IDENTITY
Now that we established what you know and want in regards to LEGO customizing, let’s apply it and actually get something out of it. Creating your identity is basically like becoming a superhero. What are your superpowers and what do you call yourself?
Your LEGO customs, your LEGO theme, even the name you use – all define who you are and what you are a fan of. I’m going to use myself as an example here (as well as a few others) to give you an idea.
Like a wall of LEGO bricks, the minifigure can be pulled apart and with some imagination put back together as something totally different. Once you have an idea of what you want to make there are many ways to create it using LEGO elements, and commercially available third party parts. This guide will hopefully give you some useful tips and links so you can start making your own custom mini figures.
Purist Customisation
Purist customisation can be great fun and many consider to be the most difficult. Customisation requires a vision, so we always recommend you draw a picture or source an image of the minifigure you want to make. The next stage is identifying the parts you need including hair, head, body, and legs. Bricklink or Brick Owl for sourcing your minifigure parts, and due to an increasing demand for more specific pieces there are a number of high quality independent producers offering a range of fantastic weapons, headgear and bodywear.
Decal Customisation
Sometimes you exhaust your search for an exact match however using Waterslide decal film and plain minifigure parts or by removing printing off existing minifigures, you can create your own designs. This part of the hobby can be a bit more expensive as it requires computer art software, waterslide decal film, a printer, decaling solution, and application tools.
Waterslide decal film, decal setting and softening solutions can be found almost everywhere these days from hobby and art shops to Amazon. To remove printing the best option is Brasso which is also great for removing scratches. Decal sealants are needed to seal the decal, spray cans offer the easiest application or clear varnish can be used. To apply these items you will need some small brushes. Make sure the decals are completely dry first before sealing them!
Painting Customisation
If decals are too fiddly for you then painting minifigures is another option and can be very fulfilling. Acrylics only, no enamels. Acrylics are water-soluble, so they mix and wash-up easily. There are a lot of different paints on the market however we do recommend Citadel, P3, Testors (for military colors) and Vallejo.
We always advise you prime your parts before painting especially larger items like armour, vests, helmets and when you have finished you should always use a Sealer such as an acrylic matte finish. The basic order of operations is primer, paint, detail, more details, wash and or dry-brush, and sealer.
Sculpting Customisation.
Packages of sculpting clay are very economical and can be found most anywhere. You can work with the clay with homemade tools. Most often the lower priced tools are more than enough. Baking sculpting clay uses your home oven or you can cure it in near boiling water.
➡ LEGO CUSTOMIZATION LESSON #1 – STARTING OUT
This is you. You are the new guy. You saw some neat LEGO customs online or at a LEGO convention and it made you think. You said to yourself, “I want to do that!” Before you start anything, ask yourself;
What do you know already?
Have you been with LEGO all your life, or are you just getting back/starting up with the hobby? Have you built MOCs (My-Own-Creations) beforehand? What other skills do you have? Can you paint? Can you draw? Can you cut things?
What is it you want to do?
There are a lot of LEGO customizers who can do a myriad of things. I personally make custom LEGO video-game minifigs. I know people who make comic-book minifigs and some who make custom LEGO movie minifigs. Do you want to expand the LEGO Star Wars universe? Or tap into a theme LEGO has yet to touch?
What do you expect to get out of LEGO customizing?
Are you in it for profit or just for the fun of it? There are those who just mash LEGO figs together just to make a quick buck – to me that is not a true LEGO customizer. You got to have some heart. There is no problem selling your work, but just remember why you made them in the first place.
Who inspires you?
Do you want to make custom LEGO accessories like Will Chapman (BrickArms) or Armothe (BrickForge)? Do you want to design decals like Kaminoan (Fine Clonier), Roaglaan or Shmails? Do you want to paint like Jasbrick, PEDRO, or Pecovam? Do you want to cut custom cloth like MMCB? Or maybe you want to be a Brasso artist like myself? Look at these custom LEGO artists and ask yourself, “Can I do what they do?” Well, of course you can! Never tell yourself that you can’t do it, because you will never know until you try. When I first started out, I looked up to the big guys: Armothe, Will, and Kaminoan. Who are your heroes?
➡ CUSTOMIZATION LESSON #2 – CREATING YOUR IDENTITY
Now that we established what you know and want in regards to LEGO customizing, let’s apply it and actually get something out of it. Creating your identity is basically like becoming a superhero. What are your superpowers and what do you call yourself?
Your LEGO customs, your LEGO theme, even the name you use – all define who you are and what you are a fan of. I’m going to use myself as an example here (as well as a few others) to give you an idea.