SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT! Packrat studios!

This Saturday I'm super juiced to bring you a spot light on guy who needs no introduction. He's Jonathan Kuriscak of pack rat studios. And he is an Epic level Customizer.

I contacted Jonathan about being featured and he was more then happy to oblige, which in turn made my day. He has been featured on Figure Realm, Wired Magazine, Toycutter and many more.

Among his fine works are a Dark Knight Returns Batman

A WWII themed Star Wars Empire Strikes Back bounty hunter set.

As well as a Vader to lead them.

An AWESOME apocalypse!

An R2-D2 Bertie World War Robot that blew me away.

I'm a huge Ashley Wood fan :]

A Concept Red Cross

And a concept Robo Cop to name a few.

But what caught my eye was the first thing I ever saw him do. 

This bad ass Steam punk Iron Man and Tony Stark Smithy! Personally Stam Punk is a Genera that leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth due to the amount of vagueness surrounding it. It was just.....

Stuff like this always turned me off.

Well stuff like this got me going. Thats a costume by the way. A PERSON IS INSIDE THAT!

The figure is a bit larger then a ML scale fig and the Tony Stark is a Ml Univers.
I started off with the normal question. Tell me a bit about yourself.

"PRC: I'm a Action figure collector, who since I was in high school "customized" figures. Its a hobby I have loved doing for a long time, and in the last 5 years gone further into the rabbit hole, basically, I'm addicted!"

I share this sentiment. It is a truly addictive experience, making something, from start to finish that their is no other like. And Mr. Kuriscak has certainly done that, and then some.just look at the detail on the back from gas tanks to the port hatch for tony stark. This Figure is an amazing scratch build.

A common question here is how did you get started?
PRC: As stated before, I did this in high school, but after Graduating from University I got back into it.

Getting the chance to ask him about his recipes was a thing I couldn't pass up! HE was Kind enough to share his amazing process with us.


PRC: Recipe for my SteamPunk Iron Man, goes as follows (from what I can recall):

Fox Cleatus Robot figure for the Chest, and Upper Arms.
To this day i want to get my hands on a cleatus. Such an awesome base.

Custom Built head from StyreneCustom Legs, built around a Sigma Six figure for the joints using styrene again


Feet, Styrene and Sculpt.


Lower arms an Hands: Mega Morph Hulk


Rest is basic bits and fodder from my (ever growing) fodder collection


Hex Rod cuts for the bolt heads

Fake Candle/tea light for the light

Thats not the least of it.
 He felt he also had to make a Thor to match.

This isn't just a normal Thor. Aside from being a Steam punk Thor its an INSANE CUSTOM!
 He was kind enough to provide us with the recipe for this as well.

RPC: For my Steampunk Thor:

Legendary Comic Book Heroes Conan for the Base

Magneto Head I believe, with sculpted beard

Hair is from... I believe an LOTR Aragorn figure

Boots from an Aragorn Figure

Right arm is built up with styrene, as is the other armor

Hand from a fox Cleatus figure

Then the HAMMER:

I created a Clear acrylic box out of clear plastic, sculpted on a rock formation, leaving the cracks clear.


In the box was Flickering LED Setup I created, with a switch on the outside of the box, hidden in the rock formations.

I then painted the rocks, left the cracks unpainted, but then followed up with a blue clear in the cracks.

Shaft of the hammer is built from a tube from fodder, and wrapped in vinyl.



Wow, just wow. All of what is here is amazing. True craftsmanship. So with everything accomplished here I had to ask, of someone who made such amazing things. What can you say to others looking to follow in your footsteps?



PRC:Keep learning, and dont be sloppy!
Learn how to paint! Read up on it, in the customizing forums, Tutorials, GO TO MODEL Maker FORUMS!!! Tons of stuff out there, worth learning!!! If it is a figure you are really interested in creating take your time, give it 100 percent, and practice. Keep trying! I dont do this with dreams of working in the big biz of Toys, I do this because I enjoy doing it, for me its a hobby! If you enjoy customizing, keep it up, it takes time to learn how to do all the various different techniques out there!
 
I can't agree more. Their seems to be a theme among customize I interview. From the novice to the pro. Which is learn, practice, and do what you love for yourself. It makes me feel good about our hobby community. We have, in most of the forums I go to, a great community. Great people all looking to share the knowledge and experience. And that's a good sing of things to come as our hobby community grows and grows.

Check Pack Rat Studios blog

And his Facebook!