Vintage and modern twelve inch figure hybrids.

It's not often that I get really fired up about my Star Wars but recently I came across some photos on Facebook in the Vintage Custom Figures group of vintage twelve inch Star Wars figures dressed in the clothing from the modern Kenner and Hasbro range. I discovered that they had been posted by Replicator but my imagination had already been fired.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1123765754365512&set=g.1037044969720327&type=1&theater

I have always had a deep affection for the original twelve inch range and like many fans, I have had a strong desire to obtain more characters and costumes. Many fans used their creative skills in the early days to increase the range twelve inch range, including a very talented lady I was in touch with who put together a whole selection.

I bought quite a few of the modern twelve inchers in the 90's but I have always thought that the likenesses to the actors were generally awful and certain characters such as Darth Vader, Boba Fett and especially Chewbacca were abysmal. Other figures such as Lando and Grand Moff Tarkin are of good enough quality to stand shoulder to shoulder with the vintage set. I have begun to raid my 90's characters for uniforms and accessories in order to dress some of my spare figures from the original range. My first success was Luke Skywalker in X-Wing gear and I almost wept. What's next? Luke Skywalker Hoth gear or Han Solo Bespin perhaps? I'm not sure my legs can hold me up.

I am aware how bad a reputation Replicator has and I don't support his manufacturing packaging copies but he has produced custom boxes for the original twelve inch range dressed in the modern clothing (anything from Leia Boushh to Han Hoth), so I wonder if there are other fans out there who are creating these vintage/modern hybrids. I would like to obtain some custom boxes (only for twelve inchers that don't exist) but it seems that Replicator is the only person making them. I would attempt to make some of my own but when the going rate is under £40 is seems hardly worth the bother.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/custom-Vintage-Star-wars-12-luke-skywalker-x-wing-pilot-box-inserts-/172368414326

So what do people think? Is creating vintage/modern twelve inch hybrids part of the Star Wars collecting hobby?

If Orme was a decent person and cared about this hobby then he would stick to customs - but just like others before him, Poon etc he is motivated purely by greed.

I think the figure you've linked to looks great - they aren't for me but I can see them being very popular - it is just a shame that we know that the profit he makes is poured back into making his reproduction rubbish

Actually, it would make more sense to make custom clothes and gear yourself closer to what Kenner would have done back in the late 70s. I would rather make my own custom boxes or go without versus giving that joker any of my money.

It's a nice idea in principle but I'm not sure creating costumes and accessories for twelve inch figures from scratch is all that viable, unless someone has the skills and a great deal of time on their hands. The modern Kenner and Hasbro toy lines have ready-made items to use and the figures languish unwanted on dealer tables and on the internet.

I will look into producing my own boxes though. I have other toy customs bubbling away in my mind, so it will be a useful skill to develop. Perhaps other customizers will have some advice on the card stock, fonts, etc. to use.

Perhaps it is mainly older fans who have a deep desire to extend the twelve inch range. It goes deep into my psyche. Like the fans who enjoy creating customized 3 ¾ figures, I would like to address the "what ifs" of the past. Especially if those "what ifs" end up on my shelf!