Customizer of the Month – November 2015 – Scott Arendsen

This month we chat with Scott Arendsen.  From RTM, the Levy list, Yahoo, and finally at home on the MM, Scott is a longtime member of the Mego community who is one of the few who can make both a great custom figure and packaging to go with it.

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EH: Your name sir?

Scott Arendsen – ScottA on the MM

 

EH: Any Personal Info you are willing to share: (married? Kids? Pets? Occupation? Where from? Other hobbies,/Interests?)

I am from Montgomery, Alabama. I have been married to my wonderful wife Elaine for 28 years. We have 3 children: Andrew, Ashley and Adam. (Both boys have been to Mego Meet in the past). Right now I am a structural steel CAD detailer.

EH: How did you get started collecting Mego?

I was in college class one day and a friend mentioned he saw the Fantastic Four and Spider-man in Lionel Playworld over the weekend in Atlanta. This was in 1987. I said he was nuts but he assured me he wasn’t since he had Megos as a child and knew what they were as well. So I drove over to Atlanta the following weekend and sure enough there they were. I bought a complete set of Fantastic Four (a set I did not have as a child). That planted the seed to seek out more and I found out about Toy Shop right after that. The rest is history as they say.

 

EH: What is your favorite original Mego figure and line?

Robin from WGSH. To get a Solid Box version is a grail of mine.

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EH: What is, in your opinion, the biggest “hole” in Mego’s original lines. (What figure or figure line is missing that should have been done?)

Obviously the classics like Flash & Green Lantern for DC and Daredevil & Dr. Doom for Marvel. Sulu and Chekov from Star Trek.

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EH: Was it one of these holes that motivated you to start customizing, or something else?

Kinda. Around this time I met Charlee Flatt. He was just starting out and was making Flash and Green Lantern among others. He was doing his boxes by hand and I mentioned to him that I could do his boxes on computer and have them look more professional. So I did. So while I wasn’t actually making figures at the time I was making custom boxes. I’m probably one of the first to make custom packaging.

****Scott has made some great packaging over the years – these Captain Action boxes are just a taste.

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EH: How do you think customizing affects the Mego collecting hobby?

When customizing was in its infancy I don’t think it had a big impact on Mego collecting other than you could now have a Mego size Green Hornet or Silver Surfer. Back then you could tell a true Mego from a custom. Now with FTC and EMCE making figures that more closely resemble real Megos it does become harder to tell,

 EH: What was your first custom – and provide a pic if you have one.

Two of my first were Daredevil and Plastic Man.

BigScott2

 

EH: How did it come out? Looking back, would you do anything differently now?

I think they both turned out well, especially with Plastic Mans arms. But I always wanted to update Daredevils head and get away from the Batman look.

 

EH: Agreed on Pas and DD, although I am kind of partial to the DD look based on the Mego head.  Just how long have you been customizing, and what have you done/learned that has improved your customizing skills?

Wow, I guess I’ve been doing it over 22+ years now in one form or another. Computer programs have come a long way in helping make custom packaging now.

BigScott4

 

EH: What resources make it easier for you as a customizer? Do you have any favorite go-to pieces – a particular body, accessory, etc – that you use on a regular basis?

The recent explosion of offerings by Cast-A-Way, EMCE, FTC, ZICA etc. have given customizers more options than ever.  All of the above have their strengths. There really is no reason to destroy an original Mego piece anymore. And I use all of them in making customs.

 

EH: Do you have a favorite custom you’ve done and do you think it’s your best work? If not, what do you think is your best work?

The two I did as Mego Meet exclusives – Snyderman and Super-Soldier. Although I have to confess it took a lot of other people’s help to make them happen.

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EH: Snyderman is by far my favorite out of all of the awesome Mego Meet figures done over the years – Really a great idea for a figure.  How do you choose your projects, and what is on your “to do” list in the near future?

Really no rhyme or reason. Just what I think would look cool in Mego form. And I try and make mine as “Mego-esque” as possible – vinyl capes, sticker emblems, plastic boot/belts, etc. Right now (besides next years Mego Meet exclusive) I am working on 12 Amalgam characters to go with Super-Soldier and Dr.StrangeFate.

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EH: Looking forward to the Amalgam project continuing – another unique idea!  What does your family/friends think of your Mego custom work/hobby? (Rumor has it that Elaine has been known to join the fray and lend her sewing skills)

Oh, they like it well enough. Keeps me out of trouble.

EH: Last but not least – any tips or words of customizing advice to new customizers?

Take your time and do your research. There are a lot of people out there who can help if you aren’t good at something. I myself can’t sculpt or sew, lol, as Elaine can confirm.

 

EH: Thanks for stopping by Scott – looking forward to your next Mego Meet project.

Steve