The Energon Pub

News Credits: 4 · by **flix** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 6:49 pm

Although transformers movie Swindle received his share of bad reviews, other than the poor choice of his name I truly didn't understand what everyone was talking about.
This thing was just cool!

Swindle was the second movie transformer I bought and it took me quite a while to figure out what to do with him. His paint job had to be great just to accentuate how great this character really is.

Suddenly I noticed in the TV series that G1 Smokescreen created smoke from his trunk, when he was in vehicle mode... same as the canon thing that pops out the trunk of movie swindle and that gave me the idea to give him the Smokescreen - treatment.

an extra thing I've added is the spoiler, originally from the Salvage character. He didn't need it anymore... It took me a while to figure out how the spoiler was going to work for the transformation. Swindle/Smokescreen's trunk aria is rotating during transformation and the spoiler would get in the way if it was glued on.

The solution was found with magnets. I drilled holes so the spoiler's magnets would keep the spoiler in place. In robot mode the spoiler can be

And extra magnets were placed on the window so after transformation the spoiler can be attached to Smokescreens back.

the extra head movement was created by cutting away the plastic that is blocking his head joint and removing plastic from the back of his head. I did not extend the neck joint. Personally Im not a fan of how he looks with a thin neck. I think it makes him look a little goofy - but that's personal taste.

Unfortunately one of the door hinges got broken, and extra customizing will nessecary when i figure out how to fix that..

I'm very pleased with the result ...he's definitely not a silly robot anymore.

new color palette is Red, blue, black, white, silver, gold, grey, darkgrey.
custom decals were made for the white/black lines, the autobot logos, carnumber and the (swiss) licence plate. I bought him there so I figured that made sense .

Highgloss finish was used to loose the plastic look but also matte finish was used for the robot parts.

Here we go and for once Im starting with the car!!
ps I'm sorry for the long read.

News Credits: 6 · by **Jacob P. Galvatron** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:37 pm

Very cool.
Very well done.

News Credits: 1014 · by **First Gen** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:41 am

This is pretty sweet. The colors are almost dead on from the G1 version.

News Credits: 9 · by **Mykltron** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:51 pm

I'm not a fan of taking characters and repainting them as someone else cos I normally don't think it work but this and the Swindle you did really DO work.

I like where the spoilers go in bot mode, love the leg detail and think he looks way better than the G1 toy in car mode.

News Credits: 8 · by **LiKwid** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:05 pm

Wow.. ya know I see swindle used in so many customs, I'm starting to wish i had picked up a few just for this reason.. The colors are totally spot on, especially the metaillics.. Very good mate

by **Oskjerta** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:21 am

Cool! A little note: try to make him a smokescreen head.

by **Prime Riblet** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 3:49 pm

You did one heck of a job on the "38". Really good work on this.

News Credits: 1 · by **Solrac333** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:38 pm

That is badass!!! I swear, for the ugliest movie figure it always looks a million time better when customized. Awesome! :APPLAUSE:

by **Ajad_Prime** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:15 pm

I love the paint and the mold for this I just think he deserved more the na cyclops head

News Credits: 7 · by **Stixx** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:55 pm

As always, a great custom, better than the hasbro Jazz repaint, but i agree with the swapping of the head if it doesn't interfere with the transformation