I'm currently working on a Pied Piper custom. This will be my first custom that isn't just a part swap.

I've oddly had the exact opposite problem. Pretty much every custom I make has been a repaint without any part swaps(not including accessories).

I've never been a fan of painted custom unless they're made by somebody like Pilk because they feel out of place. I'm slowly getting into customizing right now.

I see your point, but it doesn't work too badly for me. You can tell that it's custom work, but that just adds more personality to your display.

Also, whilst it's on my mind, I had a dream last night about making a more proper 3 3/4 inch Multiverse line. In the dream, I was at a convention where they were showing off these awesome two-packs and special sets. Here's what I can name off of the top of my head:

Arrow vs the Flash(Arrow had multiple arrows, Flash had lightning effects)

Supergirl vs Red Tornado

Flash of two worlds(Featuring 90's Live action Flash and the Jay from the end of CW Flash season 2)

Some kind of pack that had Brandon Routh Superman and Atom

1966 Batman and Robin

1966 Batmobile

1989 Batmobile

1978 movie Clark Kent to Superman(Had a Clark Kent with his shirt open, a better looking Chris Reeve Superman than what we already have, and a spinning door base).

And that's it. These were presumably pulled from my mind from ideas that I had for what DCM could've been, but will never be. It was nice to see these ideas in some sort of physical form, even if it was just in my head.

I personally would have passed on the Batmobiles since I'm not a vehicles guy but the rest of those are definitely SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY worthy.

Time to start messin' with the dreamscape aand pull that version of Mattel into this world.

A Red Tornado would be sweeeeet.

Not much of a vehicle guy myself, but I love the 1966 Batmobile. The one in my dream was likely inspired by the cost of 1:18th scale Batmobiles since they're all diecast metal.

The funko pop one is a little small but it works ok.

It's all cartoony and squished, though.

Here's the Pied Piper custom so far. The base was an MU Cloak figure with the Grim Reaper's lower legs to add some more articulation. It uses the Marvel Bucky Cap hands. So far, the only painting I've done is on the gloves since I'm unsure of what cloak/hood and head to use. The paint on the right arm is a little bit rough compared to the left hand but overall, I think I did pretty okay on the hands for a beginner.

The main reason I posted this was to get some suggestions on what head and cape/hood to use for Piper. This is the version of him that this custom is based off of.

https://i.imgur.com/dCL1sOB.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yeyLPBJ.jpg

Avengers assemble Hawkeye head since the hair will be covered by the hood. A gijoe cobra thug for the web gear you'll have to paint that too. And if you can get a spare spectre his good cape. If you can't get spectre use a storm shadow hood and a standard cape. Both will most likely need paint but a SS hood will be white so not to hard to paint I think

You could use a Zartan hood from his modern era release, or Retaliation release if you want the harness too.

Moon Knight's cape and the modern era release's hood could give you what you need combined. Same to the recommended Storm Shadow hood someone else said.

The Retaliation Zartan would give you a decent hooded harness without the cape, though you probably could still add one to it.

Spectre's cape would be a too tight of a fit because of the size difference. It's not designed for anything larger than Infinite Hero heads and even those, anything larger than the Spectre's bald head doesn't really fit and is too tight(I tried to do a Hal Jordan Spectre custom back when I first go the IH spectre figure, instead ended up making a Hal Jordan Parallax and GL Keeper of the Crypt styled Corps member since the Jordan head didn't fit in the hood right).

Doom's cape would look weird with the clasp on it. You could always go cloth cape too though, and superglue it to the inside of whatever hood you pick. That'd work for the Storm Shadow hood or the Retaliation Zartan harness hood.

If you use the Zartan Retaliation harness, I measuring the cloth for the outward neckline, then folding it about a quarter inch in, then ironing it so the crease stays permanent. Superglue at the fold so the harness looks more as part of the seam around the neck above the harness but on the hood. Then paint to match. Don't paint before gluing. Otherwise the glue will set into the paint and pull it off.
Or if you have any sewing skills, you can sew it around the hood for a snug fit that stays in place. If you feel really brave, you can do a clasp.

When I was a kid, my grandma made a bunch of little action figure capes for my DC figures. A really neat superman red cape, and some green ones. They all have metal clasps on them too for ease of changing them between my toys. But a cape like that with the retaliation Zartan harness would really complete that figure well. Though it'd be a bit more unique instead of the pictured straps and belt.

The Toy Biz first Doctor Doom figure from the 90s is possible too, and there's a kenner style green cape from one of their lines too I found, but no clue what figure it was with. It has the threading for the classic Batman/Superman/Robin neck clip on though which was mostly a Kenner thing. It's Doctor Doom style bright green, but his is tied in silver tiny loops at the top to go on his black clasp for the more regal look.

http://www.toyark.com/attachments/38...random-042.jpg

Sorry for the blurriness, lighting on that shelf sucks so the auto focus didn't want to work for a quick pic.

If you do a cloth cape like that, it'd mostly need to be measure to fit your needs and use a small clasp. The superman one is way too thick, but something closer to the green one could work. It has got a rolled collar though, you'd want a flat folded collar like the green cape's edges are done. Could give you a more 4'' masterpiece feel to your figure too.

The Zartan Retalation hood could still work too if you trimmed off the lower harness part.

Maybe Zartan Retaliations hood trim the harness off, and use Taskmaster's cape?

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'm going to be following both of your guys' advice. Red, what is that Cobra thug you mentioned?

Also, Snow, thanks for all of the effort into helping out. I'm definitely going the modern Zartan route for the hood now. Although, do you know of a better harness for Piper that fits the one in the picture.

I really wish I could have a cloth cape for him, but there aren't any that I know of that I'd like to use, and I can't make my own. I'm still unsure about what cape to use for him.

It's either a 25th anniversary cobra trooper or cobra flame trooper the web gear was yellow with silver paint on it it looks almost exactly like his

Not sure on the harness. Would have to check out the YoJoe database on that. As for capes. I'll look into that more today for ya and see what I can find.

Not a bad lineup, but the problem is it has no longevity. It's too "shot your load and passed out." To put it in simple terms.

I'd prefer they do single carded releases, but if they do two packs they need to pair them up to mainstay and unknown for longer sales.

Arrow and Diggle.

Atom and Felicity.

Hawkwoman and Ramone

Hawkman and Vandal Savage

Flash and Iris West.

Reverse Flash and Wells.

Zoom and earth 3 Jay Garrick.

Reverb and Barry Allen

DeathStorm and Killer Frost

Supergirl and her sister(season finale version) or Aunt.

Red Tornado and Maxwell Lord.

Martian Manhunter and Hank Henshaw.

FireStorm(Ronnie version) and Ronnie.
Firestorm(Jackson version) and Professor Stein.
Jackson and Rip Hunter.
White Canary and Heatwave
Captain Cold and Ray
Etc.
But the other problem with Legends is should you do the BAF as giant Atom/the Savage atomic giant or the Wave Rider ship?

If you do two packs, you want to use a selling mainstay and pair it up with one that could peg warm, except in rare cases where the character may have only had one appearance anyway. Keep them show oriented to their appearance with minimal crossover unless warranted by the episodes. Like Firestorm and Deathstorm have small amounts of episodes, as does Roy Harper(about as many as the Ronnie Firestorm).

This was the main problem with the Movie Multiverse sales. The idea was 2 superman for every 1 Zod sold. But if they two packed them, they could have moved 1 zod to every 1 superman sold.

With stuff like Red Tornado having a stronger market presence now because of Young Justice's toon and Netflix season 3 from re-watches, he has a stronger market potential to lead as a mainstay for his two pack, or as a single carded too.

So you'd want to lean heavier on stuff like that.
My example could use some re-working, it was hastily thrown together really, but they definitely shouldn't do a straight up Arrow vs Flash pack. Yes it'd sell, but that's the problem. Instead of selling 1 unit, you could have sold 2+ since they are both the stars of their respective series and high demand characters. At the very least if they go two packs, they should go all of them as hero and plainclothes. And where a hero identity or plainclothes is close to the hero identity, pair it up to a side character that wouldn't get a release otherwise.

Like Arrow and Ollie.
But then Diggle with removable helmet, and Felicity.

But most of the civ forms wouldn't sell at high numbers except for the support crew of the shows that have no hero identities. Varies per character. Like a standalone Ollie figure wouldn't sell as much as a standalone Barry Allen figure or a Lois and Clark figures can. Ollie by himself doesn't have the same pull isolated like that.

But when you pair it up right, he does.
Like Arrow vs Slade wilson(unmasked)
and then Ollie vs Deathstroke(with mask).



Would definitely love a line that did the TV universe in 4'' scale, but if they do it, I hope they do lean more towards single carded releases or show boxsets that feature full support crew/teammates.

Single carded would be the best though since the line could keep going based on what's added per season, and wouldn't have to worry as much on spoilers. And could filter back in the strong sellers from demand that were lower case ratios early on because of unsure of their numbers for sales initially like they might be hesitant on Iris, Joe, or Felicity early on.

You guys over in the Marvel thread know that I recently got the 2 pack Silver Centurion Iron Man with the intent to customize him into a classic Ultron. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem right for that character in hand, but he might work for Red Tornado:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...96c3f3d611.jpg

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/...20150305135346

Showing those two in particular since I might make it a mix of those two designs.

5 PoA Ironman head on 5 PoA Spiderman body with cape made from vinyl from an old notebook binder and paint.
http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/y...psfuu6lwct.jpg


CCC.

Dr. Alchemy and Golden Age Reverse Flash,
http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/y.../P24162644.jpg
Star Spangeled Kid, Stripesy, Sandman and Sandy.
http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/y.../allstars1.jpg
The Ray
http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/y.../P11105934.jpg


CCC.

Well, I want more articulation, plus I already have the Silver Centurion figure, so...

Liberty Belle.
http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/y.../P12135014.jpg
Human Bomb.
http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/y.../P27145041.jpg
and you think you have it rough at the airport.
from Legion of Super Heroes.
http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/y...stoms/LSH3.jpg



CCC.

Pretty soon, but here's my Red Tornado WIP. I'm particularly proud of the Tornado effect idea, as it gives an otherwise useless accessory some purpose.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Vy...w1280-h1920-no


Btw, awesome customs, Mudd.

Kind of want to try a Bombshells Batwoman figure. Should be an easy enough custom, I can sculpt the hat and possibly bat myself. Though it'd be cool to get a gun to sculpt the bat around as an alternate prop.

This one has been sitting on the shelf waiting on the last touch ups of paint.
http://i804.photobucket.com/albums/y...psxjlw3w3e.jpg


CCC.

Finished Red Tornado.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NI...w1280-h1920-no