This past weekend the always entertaining NJCC (New Jersey Collectors’ Con) tore up New Jersey, and just like last year, the immortal Kevin Watts provided door prizes in the form of modified HISS Tanks.  This year, they focused on tanks for the 30th Anniversary Hazard Vipers, and they came out very nicely.

But as cool as the HAZARD Tanks are, this is where Kevin really knocked it out of the park.  As part of the show, Kevin build a diorama for the Compound Z Lab.  Using existing G.I. Joe playset parts, he assembled a very professional looking lab that fits the theme perfectly.

Check out the thread on HissTank.com and I’ve also mirrored a few images below.  Kevin does some fantastic work, I’m one of his biggest fans, and I think this is an example of some of the great stuff he can do.  Bad enough his customs are tearing it up, now he’s gotta depress me with his awesome diorama work, too.  Ah, well…

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Ohhh wow.  Too often I feel like G.I. Joe fans do not fully embrace the almost ridiculous nature of the G.I. Joe universe.  I love the real world military element as much as the next guy, but there were some far out concepts in the Joe universe that I thought really gave is some of that kid-based charm.  As collectors many of us shrug that stuff off, which is why I was really excited when I saw the latest JoeCustoms Group Project was for the Dino-Hunters.

With only two figures a part of this Hasbro theme, I loved the idea of expanding the whole Dino-Hunters concept.  Well, last week, JoeCustoms unveiled the Dino-Hunters, and it was good.  Unfortunately there wasn’t a huge turn out this time around, but quality rules over quantity in my mind.  Chief among this idea was the masterful work of Oreobuilder.

He took the whole Dino-Hunter concept and ran with it.  Sooooo cool!

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Link Talbot for the win.  And look at that Dino-Viper!  Love it!

Awesome work by Oreobuilder, and by everyone who submitted to this Group Project.  If you’re ever in the need of a custom fix, definitely check out the JoeCustoms Group Projects.  Some very impressive stuff there, and if you go back far enough, you can even see some of my work.  ;)

Well, we’ll see how long the return is for.  It’s been a long time since I added a kick ass custom to the front page, but I had some time to kill before my training this morning, so I figured I would throw something up here, especially work that is so well deserved.

Over at HissTank.com, member Wry1 has been doing both fan art and customs that have absolutely blown me away.  I’m not sure why I haven’t featured them on the site sooner, but I could hold off no longer.  It’s hard to just pick out one good piece, so I figured I’d just link his latest thread which features his takes on Scarlett, Ripcord, and Rock n Roll.  They are amazing.  If G.I. Joe was real world, current day military, this is what I’d want them to look like.

He goes in better detail over on the site, but for now, I’ve also mirrored a few of the images below.  They’re worth checking out.

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Anyone who pays attention to the hobby at this point has heard about the wonders of 3D printing.  The idea that you can design something in CAD, and actually model it and print it in 3 Dimensions.  Previously restricted to very high end production processes, these 3D printers are becoming more common place.

With this in mind, GeneralsJoes is very proud to introduce the latest sponsor to the site Yetibrew Design, who works with Shapeways to produce manufactured 3 dimensional components for G.I. Joe vehicles!

Their first item is a “Dragonfly Upgrade” kit of sorts, which includes two fins for the side of the copter, as well as a replacement chin gun, both of which harken back to a bit more realistic “Huey Cobra” design aesthetic.  These items are hard plastic, clean cut, and fit very nicely into the vehicle they’re designed for.  No cutting, no trimming, no worries, just plug ‘em in slap some paint on ‘em and enjoy!

The coolest thing here, too, is that the proprietor of Yetibrew Design is also a fan, and wants to make items with a fan appeal.

Please check out his site at Yetibrew Design and take a peek at what he’s done so far, but best of all keep in mind everything that could be coming down the pipe.  Some great potential here.  I have a set of the Dragonfly parts in hand, and they are extremely well produced.  A full review is coming, but for now, enjoy the images of these great items:

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You know, you really don’t see much in the way of o-ring style customs these days, so when I see them, I take notice.  Over on Facebook, Tom posted a link to the Cobra Re-Color project, which is an ambitious undertaking, essentially creating cohesive design and color schemes for the different Cobra divisions.  It’s a fascinating idea, made only cooler by the execution of it.

You can find the website right here, and I’ve hosted just a few images below.  You don’t really think about what a difference cohesive military color schemes make until you see some of these customs.  Great stuff, thanks to Tom for pointing it out.

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I’ve seen many fans lambasting the original G.I. Joe line, and most of their anger is directed towards “the 90′s”.  Invariably, that entire decade gets blamed for the downfall of G.I. Joe, but I’ve often felt like 1990 itself was a fantastic year for G.I. Joe, and almost perfectly exemplified what the fans want.

The figures were all new characters, very cool military colors, tons of original accessories.  Yes, 1990 was awesome.  And amazing customizier extraordinaire “Bad Sociologist” is tackling 1990 head on, with “Project 1990″.

I’m not even that huge a fan of modern figures that perfectly resemble the classics, but holy crap, these just must be seen to be believed.  The original thread is on HissTank.com, check out these amazing mirrored images below.

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You know, to be honest, I could put nearly every one of Jin’s customs on this page and not feel guilty about it.  Dude does some amazing work.  But once in a great while…  holy wow.

This time he took one of the recently released Iron Man 2 Combat Drones, smashed it together with a 25th Anniversary B.A.T., added some paint and flair, and…again…  holy wow.  Showcased on HissTank.com, this is one nasty version of the Cobra Battle Android Trooper, and this is coming from a guy who doesn’t even like the B.A.T.s all that much.

Check out Jin’s page right here, and some mirrored images below.

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Ya know, I haven’t posted one of these in a while…  I’ve seen plenty of awesome customs around, but just didn’t get a chance to post them up.  But this PoC Kamakura from HissTank member Mythic has prompted me to change that tune.

My recent review of the Pursuit of Cobra Jungle Assault Snake Eyes left me thinking that there were absolutely zero redeeming qualities about that battle-action Snake Eyes figure.  Well, Mythic has proven me completely and totally wrong.  This Kamakura is amazing.

Check it out here and some of the images are mirrored below.

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A little while ago I put some focus on a very cool 12″ Resolute Snake Eyes.  Well, the guy who made it was selling it, and GeneralsJoes contributor Hawkwinter got his hands on it!  Following, you can see his thoughts on this impressive looking custom of the coolest Snake Eyes figure evah!

This is a custom 12” Resolute Snake Eyes made by Toyphilia. (E-Bay seller name)

This stunning and incredibly accurate version of  Snake Eyes was made using the Marvel Icons Punisher figure as a base. Resolute Snake Eyes detail was then added by adding epoxy putty and some attention to detail sculpting. Figure was then air brushed and hand-painted.

The big draw for someone like me is not only that this is based on the awesome Resolute version of Snake Eyes but that it’s exactly like the 3 3/4” figure just larger. I generally do not like the 12” figures as I find their clothes awkward looking and they just don’t look as cool as the 3 3/4” figures. Well this one does.

Now if only there were a matching  Storm Shadow…….

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The guys over at JoeBattleLines recently held a custom contest encouraging folks to think “outside the box”.  The rules were a bit different…folks signed up for the contest, and THEN were told which character they were doing a custom of.  The results were unique to say the least, though every entry was fantastic.

As part of the prize for winning the contest, I promised to feature the first place winner here on GeneralsJoes, and I’m happy to do it.

The winner of the contest is Yoho Joe, with his entry the “Wild West Storm Shadow” and it certainly exemplifies thinking “outside the box”.  Check out the mirrored images below:

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To see some more information on this great custom, definitely check out YoHo Joe’s Workshop, and to see all the great “Outside the Box” contest entries, hit up JoeBattleLines.com.