Looking really really good! (first time my a$$ Laughing ) I would love to know how you managed to separate the metal chassis so evenly!
Attaching the metal to the plastic has me a little worried too - but im pretty confident that if you roughen up the surface of the metal with a file or similar, it should help the adhesive bond to it - i'm using a two part araldite adhesive, but i've also been recommended 'liquid nails', although i'd test it before use - dont know what it might do to the plastic...2 things that have me worried are cutting the model and attaching metal to plastic.
cutting through metal as opposed to plastic turned out a little ambitious for me
It must be a Binaltech, because the car is a Die Cast and not of Plastic.
Captain Crooks wrote:Menbailee wrotecutting through metal as opposed to plastic turned out a little ambitious for me
I must admit, I found the cutting a bit trickier than what i expected, and also, i must confess, I got my jeweller friend to help me make the two major straight cuts - the one down the front to separate the 'shoes', and the one across the top of the roof - the other cuts could be cleaned up with a file if i went a bit wonky, but those two cuts had to be dead straight so as not to look bad, and he has a LOT more experience than I do in cutting. He still just used the saw though....clever fella....
Sturmvogel Prime wroteIt must be a Binaltech, because the car is a Die Cast and not of Plastic.
Are the plastic one not called 'Binaltech' too? Both kinds are pretty rare and expensive here in Australia, but I only get the metal ones because they look better and you can buy them off ebay for about the same price as the plastic ones in store (not including postage, but they still work out cheaper than buying them in the shops...).
Looks very good so far, are you planning on painting it or are you going to leave it as is? it looks as though its already a metallic goldish color
As far as the car hood, I would split it in half and attach hinges to the front (a reverse hinged hood), and attach the halves to his feet. IMO, it would look better in robot mode and more true to the original.
Captain Crooks wrote:Tramp wrote:As far as the car hood, I would split it in half and attach hinges to the front (a reverse hinged hood), and attach the halves to his feet. IMO, it would look better in robot mode and more true to the original.
You are quite right in that it would be true to the original design - and this was one of the first major choices i had to make, design-wise. I want to retain as much of the G1 look as i can, whilst ALSO making sure it has all the little perks of an Alternator - like having an opening bonnet, engine detail etc. If the bonnet were hinged as you suggest (a good idea, mind you, in terms of how the overall transformation works), I wouldnt be able to display the engine etc, and this is an important aspect for me.
I'm going to stick with the current plan for now, because the way the legs mount now, the bonnet would have to stick straight up, and would obscure the legs up to the knee joint. It might be just me, but i dont think that would look too great in terms of colour distribution (unless the bonnet were black, or maybe one of those carbon racing ones, heh - turbo-charged Bumbles anyone...?).
Maybe afterwards, i'll reconsider the design for a second project - I was thinking about maybe doing a 'Cliffjumper' version as a Cabriolet (convertible)....
Thankyou for your advice Tramp!
Actually, you would stiul be able too, the hod would just open up in reversewith the hnge in front. There are cars in existance with that kind of set-up, and you can still display the engine.In fact, that kind of hinge set-up allows the hood to open up a full 90 degrees, allowing for more clearance. Secondly, it doesn's require figuring out how to rotate the hood behind him without rotating the entire lower torso. The new Classics Bumblebee uses the same type of hood set-up.
that kind of hinge set-up allows the hood to open up a full 90 degrees, allowing for more clearance
the forward hinged hood is a fairly simple and common modification with tuners
Well, as I said, it wouldn't interfere with removing the engine at all. In fact, it would make it easier to remove. Not only that, but it would not expose the lower legs at all. In fact, it would hide the lower legs entirely. Another advantage.
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