CustoMego culture has exploded on the Internet of late, and we at the MegoMuseum felt it was time to bring back Customizer profiles to once again build a sense of community. Our first subject, Randall, is someone we have not featured in the past, and he’s doing some cool stuff. Look for more profiles every month. – Brain.
Ambition took care of him right to the end :
Hello. I’m Randall Wall, and I’m a Toyaholic.
CM: Any Personal Info you are willing to share: (married? Kids? Pets? Occupation? Where from? Other hobbies,/Interests?)
I’ve worked as a professional artist since about 1978. I’m 63. I’m married to a wonderful lady, have 4 grown children. 2 boys 2 girls. and 5 grandkids. My mom is 100 in August. I worked in Brandon at a small print company right out of commercial art training but soon moved to Winnipeg and secured a job as an illustrator in a busy studio, downtown. Over the years, I gained freelance clients. I had my first book, “ The Roadkill’s guide to gourmet cooking,” published in 1985 or 6. . Thousands sold worldwide and soon it was in the papers and on TV. It got me a lot of freelance. It was reprinted in Texas while I was stuck in LA. I started coloring graphic novels for Marvel, DC, First and a few other comic companies. I was never credited I don’t think because I was part of a team working for one guy. I moved my small family into a house. Over time, I started working in the garment business and was hired as a designer for “Chip and Pepper” wet wear.
They hit the big time, and that sent me to live in Hollywood for a while, to work, shop and expand my mind. Shortly after the culture shock wore off, Bum equipment bought us out and Chip and Pepper got their own show on NBC. Cartoon Madness. Saturday morning…in the style of…hum…Hudson brothers. Kyle Moony (SNL) recently did a spoof on that show. The twins. There are lots of clips on youtube. Such wild times in the hills, back then. Sunset Blvd, the rainbow, Hollywood Parties, Movie stars, Angeline on the billboard…Living life large….too large.
I held out in LA as long as possible and then moved back to Canada and opened the Artlab studio. Soon after that, I started sculpting dinosaurs for a local toy company. I can sculpt. Earthlore toys hired me as a designer/developer. A couple of years at New York Toyfair and I got a job sculpting dino skulls for Jurassic park dig toys. Earthlore was bought out by Action Products and I continued to design and develop cool stuff for them. Drop zone figures, wall walking robots, etc. After that, I started chilling out. Did a few magazine stories and small amounts of drawing and designing. I’m actually retired, but I can’t sit still. Now I enjoy my free time making card model designs. I always loved playing with boxes.
I have a few hobbies, but most are art related—painting, sculpting….stuff like that. I have a gigantic collection of toys, and working in the biz for 10 years really added to the….mess.
I’m also a keyboard player and synth guy. I play by ear and can’t read music but I can figure out anything. It just happens. I have about 20 keyboards. Most are synthesizers. I play in a rock, funk, and blues band with 6 others. We are Southside and getting warmed up for our Halloween show in October. We need the practice…were all old and got our asses kicked by covid.
CM: How did you get started collecting Mego?
I started actually collecting the Mego figures with the new releases, although I had a few old ones on my shelf. I was too old when all the heroes came out. I only had one lonely Action Jackson. I was busy with putting gas in my 64 chevy van and washing dishes to fulfill my obligation to Vanny. I didn’t see much of the products and the stuff I saw was not impressive. After all….i was used to the nosepicker 12-inch Joe and Johnny West. You could throw him through a windshield. I hear.
CM: What motivated you to start customizing?
Customizing figures was something I’ve always done. The only real custom I have in the mego scale, is the one of me. It’s not as good as my 12-inch Randall…but it’s a start. Needs flocking. Also did some full body tattoos on Kelly, to cover the red dye from the Retail (LA Melros store) dress. Very hot!
CM: What was your first custom?
My first win with the model kit stuff was the Mike powers outpost Popup Box. It was the idea behind the mego playset boxes I’ve been making in my free time. That led to about 20 different models I sell through Cotswolds collectibles.
I have many custom 12-inch figures but no favorite.
CM: What areas of customizing is your strongest points, or favorite things to do?
I’m more playset stuff and gear in the mego world I guess. It’s all new to me and may be part of the attraction to the Mego. The figures are nice, the clothing is awesome, and the price point is perfect. I don’t know how they do it. 15.00 7.50 3.75 …like 1.80….and low numbers to boot. Outstanding.
The mego scale kits are certainly less expensive to produce. I’m always doing some kind of self-designed model. It drives everyone nuts around here.
CM: What resources make it easier for you as a customizer?
My old megos needed some help. I got a few items from classic TV toys and finished off my old Zira (shoes) and Action Jackson ( belt boots helmet) . That was fun. I bought the blank vinyl playset, and at the moment, I’m designing a playset based on my Frankenstein Lab kits. So far, so good, I think.
Seeing other customizers out there is very inspiring. It shows an artist’s creativity and gives one the chance to create something unique. Plow ahead and don’t stop.
Thanks so much to Randall for this amazing look at his work. To check out more of his creations (and I sincerely hope you do) visit
