Customs in Iraq

don · Post by **don** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:39 am

I will use this thread to show some newer customs, I am in Iraq now and will get some more 'in Iraq' photos of the few figures I have with me. Look for those within a week or so...
For now I am going to start with some pictures of BBI figures in Iraq while on my first tour (2003-2004).
On the bank of the Tigris River, downtown Baghdad.

In the desert:

blaster_e11 · Post by **blaster_e11** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:48 am

nice pics, the background and lightning bring life to those customs

ain't the weather too hot for them to wear a balaklava

don · Post by **don** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:07 am

As long as I'm showing these. Anyone want to play guess where the head came from? I'm sure most of you will recognize them.
First the old man of the group;

He's wearing a Target-BBI camelbak accessory, and while I'm not sure the photo detail is enough to show it, I actually cut the water tube away from the pack using an exacto knife and wrapped it around to the chest of the figure where it is glued in place;

Anyone know the head yet?

Next an obvious head (I do plan to paint the hat);

Also wearing a water bladder;

Next a couple BBI heads;

Used the BBI pack straps to set up some on-the-back gear mounting options;

Alot of my modifications are to the gear, notice the drop-down pouches on the left leg of some of the figures yet?

The glasses came from a Star Wars podracer pilot who's name I forgot, they were altered a little;

I like to think this guy is my medic, which is why he has the big pack glued on.

These SAW pouches are my own cast copies of the BBI ones;

And now my two favorites;

His butt-pack and drop-down pouch are casts as well.

don · Post by **don** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:15 am

I also love to customize the weapons too, here are some pitures of those too. Alot of the M-4 add-on accessories came from PTE guns. I don't like thier guns because the plastic is soft, but love them for thier add-on details.

And my XM-109 with reference picture;

steelbonnet · Post by **steelbonnet** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:51 am

Don,
Outstanding mate truely outstanding

That`s a great team you have there & nicely tricked out they are too

The action photos in Iraq are Awesome

The each character photos are also superb & show them off really well

The weapon mods though Bloody GREAT mate Well done

As for the Old man,a guess on the head would be Duke shaved head? or the Fallie Commander?

Again Outstanding & nice to see all of these mate

Ja
Steel Bonnet

Razor17019 · Post by **Razor17019** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:59 am

The old man is Patton!

Really like the pics.
Great job blending the back and fore grounds into one.

steelbonnet · Post by **steelbonnet** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:17 am

Razor,
Ahhhh it could be Patton never thought of that.

Don,
An idea mate. The figures As said lok awesome though have you thought of using Joe arms or later BBI (with proper articulated elbows) & also Eversparkle legs?
Also add the BBI articulated feet too.

This gives the figure so much more articulation for stances & well play value too

Not that we play with these.....Ohhh no

Ive done this to some of my BBI torso`s & it certainly make the difference.

Ja
Steel Bonnet

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:25 am

Nice looking stuff.....very nice.

luftpanzer · Post by **luftpanzer** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:40 am

Wonder what an Iraqi would think of an American soldier possing dolls in the Desert. Do they think its cool? Have any of them asked you questions about them, Were they any near buy when you took the pictures. Just curious as to weather or not our hobby would cath on in an Islamic country such as Iraq. Also on another subject have you come accross any WW2 period vehicles while in Iraq. I remember seeing a photo of a GI next to an abandon Iraqi WW2 italian fiat tankete.

INTREPER · Post by **INTREPER** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:58 pm

So thats what you do in Iraq, eh Don!?!?!
Nice customs, specially the Patton headed figure.
How's the weather looking out that way?

don · Post by **don** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:07 am

Yep, it's Patton's head. Showed up in an Ebay lot, I wasn't even expecting it, but now it's one of my favorite customs.
No Iraqis saw me staging these figures. The desert ones were taken clear the hell out in the desert and no one was around. The photo from the river though. There were some third country nationals (Pakistanis I think) working as garbage collectors who saw me setting them up and came over to watch. There was concertina wire strung along the bank of the river wrecking my shot so the paki's pulled it aside and held it while I took the shot. They were laughing and pointing at the figure, then at me and saying "same-same" and "American-american" that sounded more like "am-air-eee-can".
While I have doubts that mil-figures would succeed in Iraq, who knows they seem to be very popular in Asia...
Steelbonnet, I don't know what an eversparkle leg is. Do you have links to pics?

And in case anyone cares. Most of the other heads are Star Wars. There is a Sam Jackson as Mace Windu head. The asian looking guy is the Bespin Security Guard head. The two bearded guys are Star Wars generals; Dodonna and Madine. Don't think I forgot any...

steelbonnet · Post by **steelbonnet** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:53 am

That`s a fun little tale mate & glad to see the pakistani guys helped out too

As for the Eversparkle legs,there alike to the BBI one`s with a set waist with a plug to have the torso placed upon. The advantage though of the eversparkle legs is they have fully articulated thighs,so there legs can be opened (ooo errr) but helps with some great poses & well if you have Quads or bikes they CAN ride them.

Think of them as PTE figures though leaner.

The Eversparkle figures come in Green or Black uniforms.here`s a shot of one of my Black clad guys. I have also added articulated INTOYZ feet to this one

With BBI articulated feet added.

Here`s one of My Modern German`s using Eversparkle legs.

Hope that helps.

So your last custom here that`s a Star Wars head.....WOW I`d never had figured I thought it was a custom.

ja
Steel Bonnet

wise690 · Post by **wise690** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 12:30 pm

Awesome figs. Those LMG's and pouches look great.