Greg Liska Responses to A Comment Made, Greg is back with a short article. It is in response to the comment about putting lipstick on a pig. Greg has done some more conversions this time to some MPC ring hand figures. We will see how people respond.
Greg Liska Responses to A Comment Made Greg’s Comments
I couldn’t stop with just putting lipstick on a pig. Piggy got a full makeover. I got these ringhands from Mike Kutnick as a ‘gimme’ (thanks, Mike!) and was curious as to what could be done with them. I seriously trimmed back the MPC muskets to fit, added Kepis from AIP ACW figures that were getting slouch hats. One figure got a Timmee cowboy hat. The other poses were turned into artillerymen, but that wouldn’t work for these guys. Notice the beardless guys are actually WWII figures that I’d cut the pockets off of. All had cartridge boxes and bayonet scabbards added. None of them are ‘great’ but they are way better than they were and I enjoyed it. I will continue to enjoy them as they become part of my Timmee-Lido-MPC ‘Corps’ in my 60mm ACW set.
Greg,
The “pigs” have become more attractive.
I am always reminded of how successful people work with what they are given. You appear to be able to do this well. I have enjoyed your conversions. As a kid I would try modifications but it was often difficult and ending up with favorite figures that became severe casualties. I never considered alterations until I read this site. I have tried numerous conversions with some luck. I do think it allows for creative thought, learning how to work with the plastic, and new life for broken or unwanted figures.
Thanks, Jack. I’d like to add that I don’t want to have this come off like I got all pouty over the ‘pig’ comment. I much prefer honest feedback to false praise and in truth, the figures I’m messing with are bargain basement. I’m just having fun with scraps dropped off by others to see what I can come up with.
Hi Greg. Is there any way we could communicate via emails? I’d like to talk about Quantrill’s Raiders. I saw your fox hunter conversion, very good. I’m in process of creating Bushwackers diorama, and would like to hear your opinion. I think your converting cheaper figures is great. I’ve done conversions with the DGN cheapies, BMC, and unbranded foreign. All the pig figures that the elitists can’t understand. I’ve got issues with an elitist on the forum, but that’s typical of large groups, many opinions…with one questionable attitude. Anyway, I’d like to compare Border War notes. Thanks, Carl
Great stuff, Greg. I always enjoy your conversions and those of others. Seeing your stuff gave me the courage to try a few of my own – not that I’ve had the same great results. Yet…
As always, thanks for sharing.
To each his own.
I just can’t see bothering with junk, when you can spend the time making excellent conversions, using quality figures and parts.
Bill – The difference between a chef and a cook is that anybody can make a steak taste good. Turning stuff like snails or bizarre parts of an animal that no one normally eats and making it palatable is where a chef comes in. I take pure garbage, scraps given to me that would have gone into a land fill somewhere, and make them better than they’ve ever been. It’s a big ‘feel good’ for me. I saved a vintage toy from the trash, I made it look as good as it did to me when I was a young kid and didn’t know any better. Everything is made from scraps, even the parts to fix the junk figures I worked on. I like the challenge, I like the nostalgia, I like the feeling of saving it from ‘plastic purgatory’. There’s no challenge in converting a figure that is already ‘quality’.
Isn’t that what this hobby is about, having fun and enjoying what you do? Heck, people may not like my conversions, but I enjoy making them and it keeps me out of trouble. Even if no one ever bought them, I’d still make them because I enjoy it and to me that’s what this is all about.
Best looking ring hands I’ve ever seen.
I wouldn’t go so far as saying there is no challenge converting quality figures, there is a challenge to change a pose with parts from other figures. It may be a different challenge, but a challenge none the less.
The challenge to me is in making a figure that looks like it was molded that way and Greg did a really good job here! As long as I like my figure, it doesn’t matter what others may say.
As I said “to each his own.”
OK, I should not go so far as to say ‘no challenge’, it takes skill to make it look like it was made that way no matter how well done they were to start with.
Nice job Greg.
My personal comment.There nothing about pig or horrible in these conversion,the heads used and positioned of musket/rifle aim near face is indeed more much accurate at moment of before or after fire with type weapon than mos super accurate figures(INCLUDED MANY MARX ) where weapons of time are very near face and WAS NOT appropriate or safe doing it.
So these figures are much better than many done before and now in realism.
great job Greg .Only critique i would had erased (putting lipstick on a pig) as not worth add such waste words in so great job,it was more than lipstick.
Neither pig are so pig
my thoughts.
best
The pig has ring worm.
At this point I feel we have had enough on this subjecct. I find the work of Greg’s interesting and excellent. To knock someone else’s work just they used figures of lesser quality for their conversion is wrong.
I don’t know, Paul. Such clever and constructive comments like that last one help illustrate my point. I encourage more such eloquent monologue from opponents of my views.
Nice Job Greg , from ugly ducklings to some nice looking figures !
e comments, if you need more figures of any kind just holler, Ed and I picked up a whole bunch at the Chicago Show. And , isn’t Ed right? Isn’t helping each other part of this great hobby of ours? Just my two cents worth…
One slight correction to Mikes statement, we won’t be giving away any Barzso character figures , tan or powder blue 60mm cavalry, or Marx character figures. However, they are for sale. It’s nice to help, but it has it’s limits. However, I will sell you Mike and cheap too.
Thanks, everybody. I do want to emphasize that I did not take Bill’s comments as being mean at all. I’m sure he did not intend it to be taken that way, too. I get his point, I just clarified mine.
Ed….man! So, you WON’T just give away tan 60mm Marx Cavalry?! What’s wrong with you?! (Please note: The previous statement is rated G and contains light hearted sarcasm).
Greg, It was not meant to be mean. I say what I think. Everybody has their own opinion. If it makes you happy, than by all means, go for it.
Getting enjoyment out of the hobby is why we do it in the first place.
Not my cup of tea. I still think MPC ringhands, BMC and some others are junk figures and not worth dealing with. I would not put any of those figures in my displays. But that’s just me.
As I have said before, “to each his own.”
Roger. That’s how I took it.