The Energon Pub

Hello gang. I've been working on MP Ironhide and Ratchet for the past few months and have done a few prototypes. I'm currently selling one on ebay. If you're interested you can see the auction here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Masterpiece-Ironhide-Kitbash-Custom-Box-G1-Style_W0QQitemZ6048310400QQcategoryZ4696QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Also, here's a few pics of the finished piece. Crits welcome of course.

Wow. Awsome job there. Nice to see the old alt-mode interpreted into them both.

I do think the arms are too far back. Had I anywhere NEAR that kind of capability, I probably would have attached the arms to the front doors and created a hinge mechanism from there. (If that were even possible--you may have discovered there was no chance of stability doing it that way) And yeah, I know you'd totally lose the G1 look, but as it stands I think it makes the whole chest section look too big.

Still, considering the work that I can see went into that thing, it's great. You really do some great G1 Alt mods.

omg jaf thats amazing , how did you even manage to think that one up, i want bumblebee next

wwwwwwwwwoooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww

Holy Crap, JAF...It's awesome (and then some...)

Really like what you've done to the legs. One of my gripes with Skids is the stupid look of the aft doors on the side of his legs sticking out. Folding the side of the car onto the back of the leg really looks great.

Do feel that using SKids his puny arms make the chest look a bit too big, but it's minor point.


Man, I wish I could do something like this. Ah well, I've added the auction to the "my e-bay" list and I may very well bid on this (only way I ever get the chance to own a decent Ironhide it seems).


As for the MP status...didn't have G-1 Ironhide have a yellow stripe on his side? I know he did as a toy, but can't remember the comic and the cartoon.

call me a nitpicker but that isn`t a vanette, it`s a Volkswagen transporter kit isn`t it Jaf?not that it isn`t awesome but not very G1 accurate.

a bit blokie

call me a nitpicker but that isn`t a vanette

This is a prototype. I used a more common VW van kit because I have only found one Vanette 1/24 scale kit and it cost me BOOKOO DINERO. So rather than screw it up figuring out how to make this TF the best it can be, I just decided to do multiple versions that may not be as G1 accurate until I got the desired effect.

It's also interesting to note that the vanette kit is considerable smaller than the VW van. So I think the Skids arms will look more proportioned on that. Even so I'm thinking about ways to bulk them up without affecting their articulation/transformability

I probably would have attached the arms to the front doors and created a hinge mechanism from there. (If that were even possible--you may have discovered there was no chance of stability doing it that way)

I'm working on another way to move the arms forward (been trying to make a stable mechanism that for some time). It's just a matter of crafting the right type of swiveling hinge that maintains a tight enough joint to stay in place. None of these van kits have opening front doors. I actually think it makes them more G1 accurate so the hinges I use will have to rest over the existing front doors and still be stable. We'll see...

As for the MP status...didn't have G-1 Ironhide have a yellow stripe on his side?

Yes he did, it was actually GOLD on the real vanette. I used waterslide decals so the color got lost since my printer doesnt do metallic colors. I could have made a yellow stripe over the decal but didn't think it made a huge difference at this point. There actually is a yellowish color on the stripe but it's hardly visible due to the transparent decal film .

Anyway, thanks for the great comments and feedback everyone. I'll post pics of some of the other protos I made using Gundam parts soon.

Very good figure you got there, JAF.

Everytime I stare at it I think "How could him look if the cockpit went to the robot's back instead to become his stomach..."

another amazing 'bash Jaf.
looks great and i'm excited to see the real thing!

looked at the auction... i love the ratchet!!!!!!!!and hell thats just to box art!

I like Rachet's arms and thighs. Gundam I assume. One question on Ironhide, why are his windows tinted orange? If anything shouldn't they be tinted blue? And please, more pics of rachet.

I really don't give a poop about Ironhide being a VW! I think you did an amazing job! I also love the head. Excellent!