We here at custom minifig have been busy all motnh, we’ve upgraded the blog, a new custom minifig shop is ready for the first delivery of Hazels custom minifig parts, and the new forum is now setup:

Both the forum and store are still being updated
however for those of you who are interested:

minifigshop.co.uk – is the custom minifig store and customminifig.co.uk/forum is the new custom minifig forum.

Apologies for the delay in updates and news, ultimately custom minifig is run on our spare time so you have to appreciate the slower response times.

Today’s been a very exciting day, I managed to meet the online marketing manager for Lego, Frank, a tall chilled bloke from Wisconsin working and living in Enfield, Connecticut (if i remember correctly), Keith is really cool and the meeting went really well,I got to see some amazing new products lego will be launching supplimentry to the standard Lego offering, the big ticket item from Lego which has already been blogged is the ATST walker, which I have to say is totally amazing. Aside from this there’s also cutler, book ends, and a really cool name plaque, i reckon these will be great for AFOLs but i don’t think these are the core proposition or big sellers, and sadly Frank didn’t have a Lego minifig card…apparently only the exhibition guys get those.

Conversation then continued to Lego Universe, sadly Frank couldn’t divuldge anything more than the 2010 Launch, and admit (much later on and a few beers in) that this was very much a venture into the unknown for Lego, Brave steps!

The really cool tidbit of news however is to do with Lego games, as you’ve probably seen from the Lego pyramid thats been doing the rounds, I was mentioning brickwars and Warhammer (Games Workshop) as brilliant for Lego which really got Frank getting excited about Legos 2009 plans, so I think its safe to guess this is an area that Lego is exploring.

Whilst this wasn’t really an interview or a serious meeting by any means and I realize there’s not much to go on, you have to remember this was a chance meeting and a casual conversation, nevertheless hopefully we’ll get more nws from the good sir in the coming months!

Stormtrooper minifigs valentines by Balakov

So tomorrow is valentines day, so from all of us at Custom minifig we’d like to wish you a Happy valentines day.

Here’s the latest Brickarms prototype which is due to be unveiled at Brickfest.
• The Timer is removable (with effort)
• It fits in a standard Lego briefcase
• It it recessed underneath to allow attachment to a standard LEGO stud (Ian says “Like on the side of a boat, for demolitions!)”

I can see the UK media kicking up a real fuss about this after all the noise they made over the Brick arms custom minifig terrorist.

I’m Happy to announce that customminifig.co.uk will be launching a small online store to retail Hazel’s amazing creations and any other custom minifig sculptors, designers and decal designers, whilst this is by no means an ambitious or totally commercial endevour, I decided to do this to help support and promote minifig customization.

The custom minifig store is being produced as we speak and should be up and running before the month is out.

so keep your eyes on the site because we’ll be doing all sorts of competitions and prize draws!

Lego To Start Making Board Games by `Dano

Theres’ been a bit of a rumor going round that Lego intends on expanding from Bricks and minifigs to making actual board games, as if Lego video games wasn’t enough, apparently “LEGO Games will launch in August 2009 with 8 games across a range of price points”, so from looking at this image, it looks like 2009 (august if you must know) will see the arrival of Lego board games, complete with mini-minifigs as you can see here.

 

so, rumor has it that Lego has teamed up with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games, who produced all of the previous Lego video games. From the information around, it seems the Lego Battles game, involves building bases and attacking opponents with minifigs, kind of like command and conquor, however this is still very much speculation. According to sources there will be three of Lego’s traditional themes in the Lego Battles game – LEGO Castle, LEGO Pirates and LEGO Space.

LEGO Battles pulls three LEGO themes together to create a unique extension of the LEGO build-and-play experience that stays true to the customization and humor that are the foundation of LEGO videogames.

Apparently there will be 6 story lines and over 70 levels, the gaming interface will allow players to mix and match units to create the ultimate customized LEGO squad.And the game is set to launch in summer over here in the UK

“LEGO® Battles offers players the action-packed and humor-filled gameplay that make LEGO games great, along with the added bonus of linked multiplayer battles on DS,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games Publishing. “We are excited to introduce a new LEGO videogame experience to fans and young gamers and look forward to expanding upon the beloved toy lines.”

So a while back we setup a competition, where the winner would get an interview, their minifig displayed on Custom minifig and of course the fantastic Lego prizes, which was a custom car garage from Lego.

So, today We’d like to announce the winner of the custom minifig competition:

defender91

who submitted this custom minifig of a drug baron on vacation

you’ll notice the really nice trench coat on this minifig, which Defenders ’speciality’

And here’s the interview:

Defender91 is a bit of a creative mind, he’s produced a wide range of custom minifig accessories, from wooden swords, to fabric coats, He’s also a very competent minifig customizer. So here’s a little insight into Defender91’s mind.

so, defender91, tell us a little about yourself?

Well, i am 16 and I live in Connecticut. My real name is Mac. I spend my time ATVing, reading, and of course, playing with lego. I have been a fan of lego since i was two, and my favorite theme is Rock Raiders.
I’ve blogged about your custom sword before and seen loads of your coats, what inspired you to focus on minifig accessories?
I was inspired by MMCB a few years back when i saw their customs and wanted to buy some. My parents however would not let me, so i figured i could make my own, and *snap* like that i was designing and creating customs wearables for minifigs.

you’ve always got stuff for trade and for sale, can you tell us a little more about that? Is it difficult for you to source particular items?
Yes i do sell/trade all of my customs as a way of funding my lego hobby and to obtain pieces that are no longer available. I also trade in order to give others a chance to obtain pieces they want, that i no longer need.

You Just opened BrickLink store from what I understand, fancy telling us a little bit more about that?
Yes i opened a bricklink store for the same reasons that i trade, in order to support my hobby. I saw how much Nannan Z was making from his and decided to give it a go. Also all my customs will be added to the store in the next few weeks, and i have created some very special coats that will only be available as freebies to those who order from my store. All my prices are guaranteed to be lower than the average selling price on bricklink. www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=defender90
as a customizer, whats the hardest part of creating a new piece?
I think that the hardest part of creating a new custom piece is getting the design just right so that people will like it. Also once you have created quite a few pieces it becomes difficult to create ones that are completly different from the others you have made. Some times I will sit down, and an hour later I will have cranked out 5 great new customs or I could go weeks and not make anything worthwhile.

Do you have any advice for beginners looking to get started in minifig customization?
My advice to beginners is, your first customs will not be as good as Hazels, or Jasbricks, but that doesn’t mean you should not bother or stopping making customs, because if you keep trying you will make some really great stuff. If you saw some of my first customs you would probably laugh, so just dont give up.

Obviously we all have of heroes, so, in terms of custom minifigs who would you say you look up to?

I would have to say that my minifig heroes are Hazel and Jasbrick.
thanks so far Defender, any last words of wisdom?
Like I said before, dont stop trying, just keeping going until you get your custom piece just right, and who knows, maybe your piece will end up as popular as Hazel’s or even Brickarms.

Space Pirate building competition, see here

So our good friend Cbla member has organized a Lego space pirate building competition, with two catagories: Ships and Minifigs.

Naturally, custom minifig, will be sponsoring the Minifig catagory, the prize, is going to be the limited edition Brickarms Limited Edition Silver Weapons pack and we’ll be interviewing the top three winners of this catagory for the custom minifig blog, get your name out there and let all the movers and shakers know how good you are.

so heres the low down on the custom minifig arm of the Lego space pirate building competition:

make a custom space pirate minifig whether you do some cutting gluing and painting or just find the perfect combination of TLG elements creativity is the key. Only one entry per person in the Custom Minifig category.

Originally uploaded by the_egg_uk

found this on Flickr, and because I’m knackered after a day of commuting and work, and its now late into the wee hours of the evening, Im going to take a break from custom minifig and get some sleep so tune in tomorrow for a massive upload of custom minifig photos tomorrow.

We at custom minifig regularly buy Lego and minifig stuff online. As a thankyou and a reward to those companies who have supported our Lego custom minifig passion, we have launched our ‘approved store scheme’, retailers of this approved store scheme are Lego retailers we have personally shopped at, and have received top drawer customer service, good prices, quick and efficent delivery and above all else a hassle free shopping expereience, these retailers are who we consider to be the creme de la creme of lego retailers and we’d heavily recommend you shop from these retailers.

Make sure you keep your eye out for this banner when ever you shop for custom minifig parts.

So I was shopping on bricklink, which for me is very unusual, I don’t even use eBay, especially considering I work in internet marketing, so I know all about the scams ppl run and I’m generally not very trusting.

I feel really strongly about this, so much so, that really I’m taking a break from showing you the cool custom minifigs from around the web, to give you the low down, in the hopes that you won’t fall for the same mistake.

Now I have to point out this is probably a transaction mistake that got out of hand but the point is very simple, and clear.

So to name and shame a less than professional outfit don’t shop at dmjesper

here’s the low down:

I’d made an order for the following:

Order Date: 1/4/2009 2:03:48 AM
Payment By: PayPal.com
Payment In: US Dollar
Buyer Requests Insurance: No

Total Items: 20
Unique Items (lots): 3
Total: $15.95

I paid instantly

Amount: $19.45 USD
Transaction Date: 4 Jan. 2009

THREE days later it was ’shipped’ (the 7th)

on the 19th (12 days later) I STILL hadn’t received anything so I sent the following:

Hi Jesper,

I hope you are well, I’m contacting you as I’ve still not yet received the below order from you and i wanted to see what the matter might be?

I got the following back (to be fair) the same day I emailed:

Thats sounds not gut. I don’t have a tracking number becouse of no insurence.

I can send you some new police men and headgear if you not se the packet within the next days

Regards Jesper
On the 22nd (another 3 days later)

I sent the following:

Hi Jasper,

I still haven’t received any of my order

what can we do to resolve this? 

I got the following message the same day:

I will send you some policimen and headgear.

I don’t have to, becouse you have not chosen insurence, but I do it anyway.

I will send it this weekend

Regards Jesper

HANG on a moment, didn’t I just PAY YOU?! Haven’t I just waited for erm…18 DAYS?! and YOUR doing ME a favor? MATE you’re lucky I’m still willing to WAIT before posting negative comments!

so the 27th arrives a full 23 days since i first made the order.

I get the following:

I have send you some new policemen and headgear. I hope you get the new packet. I’m going on holiday friday. I will be back in march

Sincerely,

Jesper Pedersen
Owner of Castle Bricks etc

STILL NOTHING so on the 29th I posted, on the BrickLink site, admittedly I didn’t have insurance, but I’m willing to entertain that things do get lost in the post, and whilst I didn’t mention it i was happy to split the cost of the next posting, and ultimately made it clear I wanted to resolve things.

i posted the following comment:

 after 24days waiting and two deliveries, I am still waiting.  

as a negative comment, which i believe is fair whilst not being accusational or attacking, after all its true, i am STILL waiting and it HAS been 24 days, and he IS going on vacation, and his store IS CLOSED!

I got an email:

Why are you giving me negative feedback, when we were communicating and I promise to send you new items. They were send to you tree days ago!

Jesper

Mate, i’m posting negative feedback because I STILL haven’t receive my order! DUH! and lets face it as far as negative feedback goes, you got off lightly!

Next thing I know, he’s given ME negative feedback, the cheek!

this was the response he gave on bricklink:

Reply: I’m too kind. I have allready send two packages. He have not paid for insurence!

Then he posts feed back to me:

Have shipped two times. He have no insurence. Thats too expensive for me!! 

It’s now the 31st of January, a whole 27 days after my inital order, since then 6 of my bricklink orders have arrrived without a hitch, and 2 have contacted and give clear and concise deadlines for when I should expect delivery. Its only today that I received the items I ordered and…

1. they were poorly packaged (fine, not a biggie, I can appreciate we need to make a saving here)

2. there was not letter of apology in the envelope or anything of that nature (fine, thats jsut splitting hairs)

-BUT-

3. THE ORDER WAS WRONG! can you believe it? ONE of the items (minifig heads) i orders was replaced with  totally different minifig heads! :O

and now I’m supposed to be the one feeling bad for giving criticism?! c’mon mate, thats rubbish, I PAID YOU to deliver YOU FAILED…TWICE!

basically lessons learned 1. don’t shop with dmjesper, terrible customer service, and 2. get insurance so anyone else who tries this won’t be able to get away with it.

This is the Mr grey custom minifig by Brickarms, its the next in the line of terrorist looking custom minifigs produced by brickarms, personally I don’t know what the fuss is about with terrorist Lego, but hey-ho, the accessories are custom minifig weapons casted using the same material and process as normal Lego, so they are very high quality, whist the torso of the minifig is from the raiders in the Lego Starwars series and the legs, head and ninja mask are all standard Lego minifig pieces, what you’re paying for is a completed custom minifig, complete with Brick arms weapons.

After just one full month online, custom minfig has reached its 200th post! we’d like to thank all you loyal readers for your support and all the Lego custom minifig fans for all your creations, with out either, custom minifg wouldn’t exist.

We’ve now got a chat room, as well as a forum and we are read as far away as Korea, with over 150 unique readers a day.

we’ve got two competitions going, one for the the best minifig and one for the top poster on the forum.

we’re also looking at ways of making finding, shopping and designing custom minifigs easier, so these are exciting times, and we hope you’ve enjoyed reading custom minifig as much as we’ve enjoyed writing it!

 

(Lego 2009 star wars Hoth echo base minifigs by julencin2000)

Whilst there’s no new minifigs as such for the Lego Star Wars series, we now have the snow monster thingy that Luke and han solo ride, i’m not a hardcore Star Wars fan so I don’t know what they are called. Anyways the set to look out for is the Hoth Base set, as its got a few winter rebel troops, by the way check out the super power gun thingy on the left being held by the snow storm trooper.