What better way to ease back into the customs than a trooper
excellent work here, and I'm looking forward to seeing the others!
top stuff - although not a fan of the new film on the whole, you've made here a faithful recreation.
There will be some of the Star Wars Command figures for the new film - a shame they're too large for our scale...

also, FFG may release Imperial Command figures for the new film in 2nd quarter next year...
so there's some options if you're looking for bulk lots of troopers.


Also, you achieved a perfect effect on the "ebony and ivory" style blaster - that is accurate to what is on screen in the film.
Although the Tron-style speech effect was thankfully dropped, I've seen a few local customs which retain the glowing red when troopers are talking... its odd, IMHO. to each their own on that one

The only thing I could think of regarding concrit/feedback with the painting is;
maybe there was a bit too much paint for the basecoat? Not that the source mini was terribly detailed to begin with hehe.
You did: White coat -> black coat -> details and drybrushing,
for the painting order, right? that's spot on and how many folks do their painting.
For blending if you want battledamage too, you can drybrush while previous layers are sorta wet still. Though, your inking/detail pass already demonstrates that you've got blending down and all under control!
I also cannot recommend enough, for hyperdetail,
a 0.1 or 0.2mm Stadler permanent pen - these will write on plastic too, and will not run - they're a similar matte black to Games Workshop Black (whatever lore/fluff name that goes by these days) or Vallejo Black.
This approach is so much easier for those of us with less-steady hands, as you can prop the wrist and pen against the table and move the mini as needed hehehe.

Thanks for sharing!
(PS, the 'greenscreen' background is a nice touch too!)

I stand corrected re the painting sequence,
though thats pretty much it - you can only enhance the base mini so much from where it starts, so overall it is awesome.
some folks go the extra bit, as in;
undercoat -> detail pass 1 -> drybrush -> detail pass 2 -> oils/inks -> touchup -> fine detail pass | -> (optional) sealer?|
that format being used a lot by folks on DakkaDakka and CoolMiniOrNot, as well as youtubesters that do 'speed painting'

I don't personally do that variant - haven't yet the skills at that style hehe
so my approach is more;
undercoat -> inks and detail run 1 -> drybrush -> fine detail pass. sometimes sealer.
By condensing the inks and detail run into the same step, the mini is play-ready a fraction quicker... at the risk of being a little sloppy at the blending (this is feedback from some minis I've sold over the holiday season)

I'm looking forward to seeing other stuff - especially the aliens and droids