Customizer of the Month- March 2008- Bob Baitinger
Name: Bob Baitinger (bobbait)

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

BB: I'm married with 2 girls, 2 year old and a 5 month old. I'm a District Manager for Arby's Restaurants, been working for them for 18 years. Before that I was a Cop (Security Police)in the Air Force. I'm originally from Bridgeton, NJ, now I live in Leesburg, Va. Along with megos, I collect comics and Bowen Statues.

CM: How did you get started collecting mego?

BB: Well, around 2000 I was searching Ebay for the Star Wars song from Meco and low and behold there was a beat-up mego (the seller spelled mego wrong)Batman. I remember this being my favorite toy as a kid. He was missing gloves, belt and cape but in the description it said that I could get these things at mr. mego. I searched for mr. mego's web site but never found it( more on this later).

CM: What is your favorite original mego figure and line?

BB: Favorite mego would have to be RC Batman. He had the most playability. My favorite line was WGSH.

CM: 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).

BB: Villains! Batman had his and Spiderman had 2 good ones but everyone else was crap out of luck.

CM: What motivated you to start customizing?

BB: When I was a kid, I would put Robin's green shorts on Tarzan and call him Namor. I think that's where it started. Now fast forward to 2002, when I couldn't find mr. megos site, I found a site called notdolls.com. There I met David Lee who was selling custom parts. He tolded me about DR. MEGO and thats when I started customizing. So I would have to say that Dave's site motivated me.

CM: What was your first custom?

BB: Now, I did try my hand at one custom before I found Dave's site. It was Lobo. I was customizing HeroClixs at the time. Klingon head, Fonzie Jacket, Bat's suit, boots unknown and pant unknown.

CM: How did it come out? (looking back on it now)

BB: Man, I was so proud of that custom back then. Now I look at it and laugh. Someday I will redo him.

CM: What have you done/learned that has improved your customizing skills?

BB: The one thing I learned is "just do it" (sorry nike) I sat back and kept saying I cant do that, I cant do this. I remember talking to Meuleÿ telling him I cant restring a mego and he told me in so many word to stop whining and do. But as far as Flatt heads and such I would have to give credit to Blackknight, Russ and Type3toys. If you want to know anything, they will go out of there way to show you including taking pics to show you. By the end of the year I will be sewing and casting and maybe a little sculpting but don't hold your breath.

CM: What areas of customizing is your strongest points, or favorite things to do?

BB: I love painting!! I feel that with every head I get better and better. I don't think that I have any strong points.

CM: What resources make it easier for you as a customizer? (is there a source for parts? Information? Etc. that aids you more than anything else?).

BB: Well, when I go to the store or look on Ebay, I'm always looking for parts that are mego scale. The head shows and Brian Leitner are the 2 things that aid me the most. Russ's heads and parts are perfect along with Austins heads and suits and Brian is a customizers dream. Anytime I ask him to do a suit, no matter how hard, he always says yes.

CM: What is your favorite custom you've done and do you think it's your best work? If not, what do you think is your best work?

BB: My favorite custom is the Winter Soldier because as you all know I'm a huge Captain America fan but I don't think it's my best. My best right now would have to be my new Punisher.

CM: Why do you choose the projects you choose?

BB: They kind of chose me, I will see a new head from Russ or Austin and say to myself " I have to make that custom" or I will read a comic and think "he or she's pretty cool, I have to make them". It's kind of why I feel I'm all over the place with my customs.

CM: What are your favorite customs others have done and why?

BB: You know, I cant really answer that. I love customs, all customs. There are soooo many talented people out there. BUT if you make me tell you Jason's red and yellow Daredevil is my one of my favorites. Love that character and he really did him well. Tbolt's 253rd Batman was really awesome (just kidding about the 253rd, I know you only did 52 Batmen). Gman's Captain Action, DaveMc's Star Wars customs and Capt Mego and Type23toysÿ and...........( whew)See, I cant answer that...there are just to many!!

CM: What is on your "to do" list in the near future?

BB: Golden age figures and I would like to finish some of the lines I started like the Xmen.

CM: How do you think customizing affects the mego collecting hobby?

BB: I think I keeps it interesting. I mean, when you get every mego figure out there, where do you go? It also keeps it fun to see what a figure would look like "if" mego did them.

CM: Any tips or words of customizing advise to new customizers?

BB: Like I said " just do it" and if your custom didn't turn out how you wanted it to, do it again and ask questions!! The customizers on this board are the best! They will answer whatever you need.

CM: Do you sell custom figures or parts? If so, why?

BB:No, I make them for me.

CM: What does your family/friends think of your mego custom work/hobby?

BB: Well, before I got married my wife liked them but she seem to turn to the darkside after we got married. She tolerates it now, she knows I love it. I have 2 brothers, one loves my customs and the other thinks its childish but again, I do it for me so I'm the only one I have to please.ÿ

CM: Bob, thanks for taking the time to participate and share your thoughts with us.

BB: I just want to say it's been a blast here on the good ol' MM and I want to thank everyone who has helped me grow as a customizer.