Customs vs Kit-bashes

[samurainoir]

I've been lurking on the 1/6th custom forums trying to pick up some tips and tricks, and I've noticed that they make the distinction between the terms Customs and Kit-Bashes.

Not sure if we really note the differences around here, but it did clue me in that I probably shouldn't be calling stuff I'm doing Customs, since I'm just taking different parts already available and Kit-Bashing them.

Do folks around here tend to make that differentiation? It seems to depend on the custom-community.

[Meule]

Both terms are used here, but I consider a kitbashed figured a custom as well. A custom to me is a figure that wasn't made by Mego.

[Boywonder0]

You both are right. Kit bashing is putting together existing parts into a single creation and most likely tweaking to taste. It is a custom figure as nobody else will be able to make it exactly like yours.

[spamn]

It's tough nowadays to draw the line. If you buy a Commisioner Gordon head, paid someone to paint it, and a Doc Mego suit on a Doc Mego body, is that a custom or a kitbash?

In my head, a kitbash is anything made from a combination of factory made parts whether released at retail or sold online from our numerous boutique operations. A custom is something that required hand work, be it sewing, casting, or painting.

Where does that leave things like desktop printscreened suits, professionally printshopped diecut stickers, and custom lasercut acrylic things that I hope lasermego gets to again? Dunno.

[LadyZod]

I would consider a kitbash a form of custom.

Not all customs are kitbashes, but all kitbashes are customs kind of thing.

[Mego Milk]

I think they are all customs.
aw yeah customizing!

[ctc]

Hmmm...

That came up around here before and I think the general consensus was that it wasn't an important distinction.

Don C.

[spamn]

Hmmm...

That came up around here before and I think the general consensus was that it wasn't an important distinction.

Don C.

It is to me - I have a lot more respect in the craftsmanship involved with sculpting, painting, sewing than I do in combining parts that already exist. I say this as someone who doesn't sculpt, sew, or paint heads.

Anyone can assemble something, and though it's cool to come up with some combination of elements to make something 'new' out of them, I think it's a lot bigger act of creation to bring a new sculpt into the world or 'craft' a new part or figure from scratch.

That being said, I'm glad custom parts are available for sale or I could never have cool custom figures, because I lack the skill, and time to obtain the skill, to make ones I would be satisfied with otherwise.

Just my $.02.

[HardyGirl]

Well the most I can do is the kitbash form of customizing, although Jess did help me w/ my Rick Springfield as she re-sculpted a fake POTA Astronaut head. (and about to help me w/ another one). But a custom is a custom.

[YANOULI]

It is to me - I have a lot more respect in the craftsmanship involved with sculpting, painting, sewing than I do in combining parts that already exist. I say this as someone who doesn't sculpt, sew, or paint heads.

Anyone can assemble something, and though it's cool to come up with some combination of elements to make something 'new' out of them, I think it's a lot bigger act of creation to bring a new sculpt into the world or 'craft' a new part or figure from scratch.

That being said, I'm glad custom parts are available for sale or I could never have cool custom figures, because I lack the skill, and time to obtain the skill, to make ones I would be satisfied with otherwise.

Just my $.02.

Ok, what about if you used 100% custom made pieces ( for a specific project but obtained from different sources ) and put them together.
Would you class that as a custom or kitbash?

Personally i don't see any differentiation between custom and kitbash.
You are making something to your own spec's that wasn't commercially produced.

[spamn]

Ok, what about if you used 100% custom made pieces ( for a specific project but obtained from different sources ) and put them together.
Would you class that as a custom or kitbash?

Personally i don't see any differentiation between custom and kitbash.
You are making something to your own spec's that wasn't commercially produced.

If all the pieces are one-of-a-kind and not mass produced, it's more of a custom than a kitbash.

I think of a kitbash as a custom anyone can make or could assemble because the pieces are available. Custom implies more one-of-a-kind-ness to me, or at the very least, elbow grease involved - dremeling, gluing, etc - with the assembly.

The more I think about it, though, it's a silly distinction to make.

[ctc]

>I think it's a lot bigger act of creation to bring a new sculpt into the world

It is; but I don't think that's a whole different thing. Maybe a different level.... different degree of skill, but it's still essentially a custom to change stuff around.

Don C.

[Bizarro Amy]

I make the distinction, although I try not to be petty about it. Don't get me wrong, I've seen some people put things together that turn out very well. But I'll be honest, I'm more in awe of someone who takes the time to make at least some stuff on their own than order every part from a different seller.

[BlackKnight]

There's a Huge difference between Customs and Kitbashes imo.
Ofcourse not enough to warrent a seperate thread, as was suggested.
However both take time and skill to pull off. If someone is just taking a body, slapping some clothes on it, with a painted, or china made head, obviously, that's just a kit bash , even more so with the guy over here, that just hand made, and poured an entire body in his house, spent 2 days painting a head, and a few weeks sewing and prototyping out a suit .

[bgrimm77]

I for one am a kit-basher , I cant sculpt or sew. But the figures I make I consider custom because I made them for me.