How do you make your figures?

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Each figure is a unique "Frankenstein" that is typically built with parts from several "donor" figures. Leftover parts are sorted and stored for future projects. With plastic waste becoming an ongoing problem in the world, it's very important to me that I recycle as much as possible from pre-existing figures. This ranges from full body parts, flexible add-ons, or just recycling the factory-strong joints. 

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Parts are then dremeled, resculpted, sanded, and repainted to create new parts. Never wanting to forget the "action" in action figure, I do my best to maintain as much articulation as possible without disrupting the sculpt. 

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With the advancement of 3D printing, there are now unlimited possibilities of what can be created in toy form. Despite this, I still do the vast majority of my creations by hand.

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How did you get into making toys? 

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Ive been collecting action figures since the early 90s. They were my creative outlet as a kid who spent a lot of time by himself watching Saturday morning cartoons, Toy Story, and reading comics. I had this innate need to have a figure of any character that I liked in-hand so that I could continue that character's adventures myself.

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I was heavily inspired by ToyFare Magazine that had a "Homemade Heroes" section where readers could submit their custom figures that they made at home. I was rarely satisfied with the character selection or figure designs offered, so I dove into the craft drawer and took it upon myself to create what I wanted.

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When COVID lockdown forced everyone inside, my childhood hobby became a fun job and I haven't looked back. 

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Where can I buy one of your figures?

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95% of my figures are private commissions. Occasionally I will have items for sale through my Instagram @tims_toyz or at live convention events. Follow me and keep an eye on my stories for sale items. I'll ship anywhere. 

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How do I commission a custom and how much do they cost?

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Every figure requires a different work process and in turn, a different price. You may submit a custom request through my CONTACT page. Due to the large volumes of requests (particularly, duplicates) I am selective about the characters I choose to make. I prioritize projects that I find creatively fulfilling or "spark joy". I also limit the amount of duplicates I will make. Some characters are "in the vault" and will not have any more made.

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Can I move your figures around? How durable are they?

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The vast majority of the unseen work hours in these pieces come in preserving the paint/sculpts of the figure for regular posing/movement. Each joint is painstakingly sanded, primed, painted, and sealed for durability. Despite this, consider each figure a piece of art that primarily should be left to display only with gentle handling. Some character designs will limit posing in favor of costume design.

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