The Energon Pub

Again, I only use metallic permanent markers.

that looks so much better than the original!

That was my purpouse.

Very well made

Fanfreakamazefantasticool!!!!!!!!! I now love that mold! Definitely gotta get some of those markers

...I wasn't planning on posting here until I had something even remotely worthy to show you guys... but this has totally got my attention. ^_^ I *was* going to get GF Vector Prime, because I prefer his paint apps; but this is so, so much better.

Without further ado; could you possbily let us in on your secret - the brand of metallic markers and their place of purchase? ^___^

Edit: I'm going to feel really silly if the answer is "Sharpie"...

I don't want you to feel silly, but I actually use a Red Sharpie, and gold Metalink (made in Mexico, it covers EVERYTHING) and Pilot Silver Marker. I bought all of them in Mexico, where I am living now.

Ah, 'Gold Metalink'... I'll remember that. ^_^ I think it's quite the find; the gold seems to have come out absolutely beautifully - and it looks so much better on the wings!

I'll try and get some. ^_^

How's the durability on the stuff? I notice you put it on the key; even on the section that goes in the slot... is it really that good that it won't scrape off?

You have to apply the ink two or three times, and after that it covers everything and won't scrape off. I play sometimes with the key and the gold remains perfect, you can touch it and nothing happens.

I tried to find the MetalInk gold pen online; no luck though. >_< I think it doesn't help that "MetalInk" just so happens to read the same as "METAlink"... D'oh!

I'm going to keep trying to find it though; the gold in those photos has come out amazing... I don't think I've seen gold done that well outside of Non-Metallic Metals in miniature painting. And now that I'm set on finding that MetalInk gold pen, not only for Vector Prime, but also to touch up Cybertron Sideways too. ^_^

I have use this stuff in several TF's with great results. The marker looks like this:



I don't know how to help you, maybe you can try searching on a mexican on-line shop. I wish you luck.

Hey, no problem - the very fact that you went to the trouble to take a picture of the pen is greatly appreciated! ^___^ I'll keep looking around online; if I ever find somebody that sells those pens, this will be the first place to know. ^_^

In the interim, I've got a couple of Pilot superfine metallic markers on the way - we'll see how they shape up for detailing VP. As an aside, I got mine from a Meijers the other week - and his left forearm-guard (can't remember the proper name for it right now) wouldn't stay up - likewise, the tips of his right wing assembly were kinda bent.

Sooo, took it back and asked Meijers politely if I could swap it for another - and they were good enough to say yes. ^_^ So I get that one home, open it up... same thing! Argh! Must be a batch problem... anyone else have the same issue? It's minor and I can live with it; I'm just curious as to whether it's an epidemic or not. ^_^

No trouble taking a picture. My VP was perfect (aside from the lack of detail), and never heard about that issue. Maybe somebody knows how to fix it. Como on, masters of KB, we need help.

The reason why the wingtips bend like that is because the plastic used for the wings is a soft, rubber-lke urethane plastic and the tipps aren?t supported by the rod that attaches them to the wing mount. As a result, they will invariably bend as a result of gravity. As far as the ar guards go, they are attached by a simple slide mechanism made up of a post in a slot. It isn?t meant to be very tight, since it needs to slide freely, and the only thing holding it in is the screws keeping the forearm together.

Yeah; both the wings and the sword is made from 'safety rubber' - I wish they had come up with a better compromise, though. The hilt of the sword could have been hard plastic, for instance. Ah... c'est la vie.

As for the bent wing tips - it seems to be more than gravity. It's almost as if they were resting to hard against the side of their packaging, but I checked on the second VP - his wings were pretty clear of their cardboard confines. Maybe there was a pile of VP wings sitting funny at the factory? Who knows.

Anyway, I got my markers in the mail today. ^_^ Supposedly superfine, although they are still too wide for my liking. (To be fair, I'm used to using Rotering technical pens - the kind that have tips of .25 mm and less.) Went straight to work on VP! ^_^

Ugh, what a mess! I love the idea of using markers, but it's pretty clear I should've used a brush and metallic paints - I've got much more control with a brush than these things! (I think it's the consistancy of the metallic ink; it seems much more fluid than anything I've seen before.) Argh, I've ruined my VP!

So on that note... as I've only got as far as a forearm, his sword and his key - if anyone needs a VP to bash, let me know... *smacks forehead* unless there's a way to easily get this stuff off, of course.

Outside of that, I still like the idea of having a much more detailed Vector Prime - I just think next time I try to do this, it's going to have to be with a couple of pots of Citidel paint and a fine detail brush. ^____^

If you need to reshape the wings it's an easy fix! You can either take the wings off or be careful with the body. Stick them under tap water that is as hot as you can stand it until they soften considerably then take them out of the water and turn the tap so the water is as cold as it gets and then hold the wings in the moddified position and stick them under the cold water till they are hard again! (as hard as they get!)

I learned that trick from McFarlane.com because most of their figs are a slightly harder version of the same plastic. Also if you get a joint that sticks so bad it will break trying to turn it (ie the hands on several spawn figs) stick them in the freezer for a few minutes and then pull it out and move the joint!