The Energon Pub

I got my Masterpiece Rodimus Prime today and I've come up with a few ideas to make him better. A lot of you will not dare to make these changes as it involves permanent changes and cutting and slicing and mutilating. For those unafraid of a little slice n dice the modifications are actually very slight.

Disclaimer:
These are my suggestions for things to do. Attempt these modifications at your own risk. I accept no responsibility for damage to your figure.

His backpack is rather annoying. It keeps popping off. You try and push that grey lock into place and all you can achieve is this:



when what you need is this:


(notice the lack of gaping hole under the grey piece)

The problem is twofold but easy to fix if you don't mind slicing and dremeling.

First Cause:



The rear of the car (where the thrusters are) is pushing down on the pegs that the forearms should clip onto in car mode, between the arms and feet in car mode.

Solution:



Using a modeling scalpel trim away part of the angled edge. Take care not to damage the tab that slots into the arm hole (to the right of the green circle, above).

If this hasn't improved the staying power of the backpack then continue:

Second Cause:



The slot (1) is at the wrong angle for the pegs (2).

Solution:



Using a dremel enlarge the channel in the outside corners on the edge nearest the head, furthest from the tail fins. The adjustments here need to be small because cutting out too much will reduce the friction needed to hold the grey piece in place. The problem with making this adjustment is that dremels are round but the pegs are rectangular. If only I had a square dremel! You may think it would be easier to trim away the pegs instead but they're already small enough. Trimming them would only weaken them.

While not a miracle cure it has certainly improved the backpack on mine a lot and it doesn't pop off anywhere near as much.

I hope these instructions are clear enough for you to follow. If you are interested I can post another mod tomorrow that will improve Hot Rod's shoulder articulation so he can do things like this:



but only if you ask nicely!

Nice job, but I'm one of the ones too chicken s**t to attempt something like that to a $200 figure! I do like how your backpack tab goes nice and flush, though.

Kibble wrote:Nice job, but I'm one of the ones too chicken s**t to attempt something like that to a $200 figure! I do like how your backpack tab goes nice and flush, though.

I was just about to say the exact same thing.

well... I'd like to know

Trittbrettfahrer wrote:well... I'd like to know

You'd like to know what? Are you asking for the shoulder mod?

I have done some hair-raising mods to some of my figures to make them better. All successes so far. Once I get my MP Rod I will definitely come back to this. Thanks for the guide.

Rodimus Prime wrote:I have done some hair-raising mods to some of my figures to make them better. All successes so far. Once I get my MP Rod I will definitely come back to this. Thanks for the guide.

Please let me know how it goes!

Mykltron wrote:

Trittbrettfahrer wrote:well... I'd like to know

You'd like to know what? Are you asking for the shoulder mod?

yes, exactly.
The posability is cool, and it doesn't look like you have to saw off half the shoulder for it. In fact, it looks like it was meant to be this way.

Pretty pretty please?

Trittbrettfahrer wrote:

Mykltron wrote:

Trittbrettfahrer wrote:well... I'd like to know

You'd like to know what? Are you asking for the shoulder mod?

yes, exactly.
The posability is cool, and it doesn't look like you have to saw off half the shoulder for it. In fact, it looks like it was meant to be this way.

Pretty pretty please?

Since you asked so nicely, I shall tell you! Please let me know if you try it and if it's successful.

BTW, it seems as though you signed up purely to ask how to do it, is that true?

Disclaimer:
These are my suggestions for things to do. Attempt these modifications at your own risk. I accept no responsibility for damage to your figure.

When I saw pics of MP-09 I thought they'd designed it so he could shrug his shoulders but they've actually molded in a tiny piece to stop it and I can't imagine why. Fixing it is easier and quicker than fixing the backpack if you have a dremel. If you don't have a dremel then either buy one or use a modeling scalpel heated in a flame so it cuts better.

Step One:
There is a ring of orange plastic around the swivel joint of the black shoulder part, its job is to hold the black part in place. This ring has a knob sticking out the side which stops the black shoulder part rising. You can see it in the pic below:



Trim away the plastic knob in circle 2 (below) leaving the orange ring intact.



Step Two:
Trim away the yellow plastic in circle 1 (above) to make room for the top of the black shoulder joint. It's messy in this pic cos I hadn't tidied it up when I took this photo. You can use a scalpel to trim away the excess plastic.

After fixing the backpack-popping-off issue and the poor shoulder articulation I think he's a fantastic figure and I can hardly stop myself from playing with him!

Mykltron wrote:

Trittbrettfahrer wrote:

Mykltron wrote:

Trittbrettfahrer wrote:well... I'd like to know

You'd like to know what? Are you asking for the shoulder mod?

yes, exactly.
The posability is cool, and it doesn't look like you have to saw off half the shoulder for it. In fact, it looks like it was meant to be this way.

Pretty pretty please?

Since you asked so nicely, I shall tell you! Please let me know if you try it and if it's successful.

BTW, it seems as though you signed up purely to ask how to do it, is that true?

Disclaimer:
These are my suggestions for things to do. Attempt these modifications at your own risk. I accept no responsibility for damage to your figure.

When I saw pics of MP-09 I thought they'd designed it so he could shrug his shoulders but they've actually molded in a tiny piece to stop it and I can't imagine why. Fixing it is easier and quicker than fixing the backpack if you have a dremel. If you don't have a dremel then either buy one or use a modeling scalpel heated in a flame so it cuts better.

Step One:
There is a ring of orange plastic around the swivel joint of the black shoulder part, its job is to hold the black part in place. This ring has a knob sticking out the side which stops the black shoulder part rising. You can see it in the pic below:



Trim away the plastic knob in circle 2 (below) leaving the orange ring intact.



Step Two:
Trim away the yellow plastic in circle 1 (above) to make room for the top of the black shoulder joint. It's messy in this pic cos I hadn't tidied it up when I took this photo. You can use a scalpel to trim away the excess plastic.

After fixing the backpack-popping-off issue and the poor shoulder articulation I think he's a fantastic figure and I can hardly stop myself from playing with him!

Well done trying to fix him and doing such a good job mate. I've not taken the plunge and bought him yet because of all of the quality issues but he looks like such a fantastic figure.
Now that you've shown us some practical solutions I might not wait to get the Hasbro version but I'll wait until Tosy R'Us Japan reduces him to around 10,000 JPN Yen (120 Dollars or so) because I refuse to pay $200 for that crappy Winnebago when I only want the Hot Rod figure.

Jazz-1982 wrote:Well done trying to fix him and doing such a good job mate. I've not taken the plunge and bought him yet because of all of the quality issues but he looks like such a fantastic figure.
Now that you've shown us some practical solutions I might not wait to get the Hasbro version but I'll wait until Tosy R'Us Japan reduces him to around 10,000 JPN Yen (120 Dollars or so) because I refuse to pay $200 for that crappy Winnebago when I only want the Hot Rod figure.

I used to feel the same way about the Winnebago until yesterday when I discovered how to transform the car part without needing to use every fibre of my being to slide the slidey thing on his back. The Winnebago is huge and I've now decided looks pretty cool with the curved front part.

If you buy him and do the mod I'd like to know how it works out.

I'll definitely let you know if I buy him and try your modifications.
Maybe you could share your wisdom on Youtube? There must be a whole load of TF fans who have Rodimus but don't really know much about how to do those kind of fixes and could do with the help (myself included).

Cool. Thanks. Has anyone been successful at putting the black leg guards back on if they pop off?

Also, what's the best way to fix the tab for his chest? - Nail polish, superglue, or something else?

LOST Cybertronian wrote:

Kibble wrote:Nice job, but I'm one of the ones too chicken s**t to attempt something like that to a $200 figure! I do like how your backpack tab goes nice and flush, though.

I was just about to say the exact same thing.

Same here.

Jazz-1982 wrote:I'll definitely let you know if I buy him and try your modifications.
Maybe you could share your wisdom on Youtube? There must be a whole load of TF fans who have Rodimus but don't really know much about how to do those kind of fixes and could do with the help (myself included).

A good idea but it won't be so good if I can't demonstrate the work! As I've fixed my one and only Rod I can't video the changes.

Stormrider wrote:Cool. Thanks. Has anyone been successful at putting the black leg guards back on if they pop off?

Which ones pop off? I haven't had anything come off completely. The front ones open occasionally but surely (Shirley?) you're not talking about them?

Stormrider wrote:Also, what's the best way to fix the tab for his chest? - Nail polish, superglue, or something else?

I haven't done anything to that. I'm putting up more TF shelves today but maybe I'll have a look afterward.

Mykltron wrote:

Jazz-1982 wrote:I'll definitely let you know if I buy him and try your modifications.
Maybe you could share your wisdom on Youtube? There must be a whole load of TF fans who have Rodimus but don't really know much about how to do those kind of fixes and could do with the help (myself included).

A good idea but it won't be so good if I can't demonstrate the work! As I've fixed my one and only Rod I can't video the changes.

Stormrider wrote:Cool. Thanks. Has anyone been successful at putting the black leg guards back on if they pop off?

Which ones pop off? I haven't had anything come off completely. The front ones open occasionally but surely (Shirley?) you're not talking about them?

Stormrider wrote:Also, what's the best way to fix the tab for his chest? - Nail polish, superglue, or something else?

I haven't done anything to that. I'm putting up more TF shelves today but maybe I'll have a look afterward.

The side black shin guards.

Stormrider wrote:The side black shin guards.

You must be referring to the ones on the outside of the leg as the ones on the inside are screwed on and don't move. I haven't had any trouble with that so I can't help, sorry.

Stormrider wrote:Also, what's the best way to fix the tab for his chest? - Nail polish, superglue, or something else?

I've just done the superglue trick and it works. Put the glue on the INSIDE of the fork, where the small nobbly bits are. If you put glue on the outside of the forks it will be too tight in the hole it lives in in alt mode.

Thanks

The gun-not-staying-in-the-hands issue is also easily fixed with superglue. A blob of glue on the top and bottom edges of the tabs fixes it, although you may want to repeat the process for better results.

Is anyone else having trouble with the part between the engine and the cockpit? It's transparent plastic and the orange paint is coming off mine way too easily.

Diem wrote:Is anyone else having trouble with the part between the engine and the cockpit? It's transparent plastic and the orange paint is coming off mine way too easily.

Now that I've looked I see a scratch on a corner. Put some varnish on to stop it getting worse. Floor varnish is hard wearing stuff. Put it on the chrome as well but test if somewhere first to see if it damages the chrome.

Diem wrote:Is anyone else having trouble with the part between the engine and the cockpit? It's transparent plastic and the orange paint is coming off mine way too easily.

I knew that something like that would eventually happen. I love the display of the figure, but it's seems too fragile to transform.

Stormrider wrote:

Diem wrote:Is anyone else having trouble with the part between the engine and the cockpit? It's transparent plastic and the orange paint is coming off mine way too easily.

I knew that something like that would eventually happen. I love the display of the figure, but it's seems too fragile to transform.

Hell no! I've transformed him over and over and over.

Mykltron wrote:

Stormrider wrote:

Diem wrote:Is anyone else having trouble with the part between the engine and the cockpit? It's transparent plastic and the orange paint is coming off mine way too easily.

I knew that something like that would eventually happen. I love the display of the figure, but it's seems too fragile to transform.

Hell no! I've transformed him over and over and over.

Same here.