The Energon Pub

MetalSamamon wrote:I thought that maybe instead of Delphinia being one figure, it could be 2 powerlinx sisters! I just loved the idea when I came up with it, and I thought it would be an interesting change (there have never been powerlinking sisters before!).

I did some work already, and made it so Tow-Line could become a lower-half Powerlinx robot, and have a new vehicle mode (I plan on painting windows on the legs).

But now I'm not so sure if you would like a new Delphinia like this. Perhaps this should be a 100% new figure with no ties to Delphinia, but still be sisters.

So now I want to know what you think: Should these two be new figures for Transtopia, or should they be Delphie and Enia for the new Delphinia?

I like the sisters idea, just one little suggestion, if you look at our character list you'll notice we are getting too many Reformers bots, how about making these sisters members of the Machine instead?, you can use the Delphi and Enia names of course, as they haven't yet been incorporated into the storyline.

Iskander wrote:I like the sisters idea, just one little suggestion, if you look at our character list you'll notice we are getting too many Reformers bots, how about making these sisters members of the Machine instead?, you can use the Delphi and Enia names of course, as they haven't yet been incorporated into the storyline.

Wow! I think I really hit the jackpot this time! That's exactly what I was going to suggest, Iskander! Wow! And I finally made a figure that everybody likes! WOW!

So, I'm going to remove the old Delphinia pics, and revise her bio so that she's a Machine spy, and is the combined form of Delphie and Enia.

Devastator wrote:I love the way you transformed Tow-Line into pants mode. I'm gonna have to try doing that to him and combine him with other figures.

Yeah, I was actually quite proud of that myself to be honest. I always thought that powerlinking a robot with Tow-Line's rover made the bot look handicapped. You have to both shave a lot off of the head, shoulders, waist, and the legs; and remove the front grill of Tow-Line's waist so his legs can stand up straight.

If you look closely, you'll notice that Tow-Line's separate mode has the "gun toes" tucked in, and the Powerlinx version has them out (To make it a legitimate Powerlink).

I know that this toy still needs a lot of work to make them sisters, but now that I got some great feedback, I'll get started right away.

Thanks,

P.S. Iskander, I think that these two will be part of Wave 2 (seeing how they might not be finished in time for Wave 1), and packaged in a Ultra-sized 2-Pack. What do you think?

MetalSamamon wrote:

Iskander wrote:I like the sisters idea, just one little suggestion, if you look at our character list you'll notice we are getting too many Reformers bots, how about making these sisters members of the Machine instead?, you can use the Delphi and Enia names of course, as they haven't yet been incorporated into the storyline.

Wow! I think I really hit the jackpot this time! That's exactly what I was going to suggest, Iskander! Wow! And I finally made a figure that everybody likes! WOW!

So, I'm going to remove the old Delphinia pics, and revise her bio so that she's a Machine spy, and is the combined form of Delphie and Enia.

Devastator wrote:I love the way you transformed Tow-Line into pants mode. I'm gonna have to try doing that to him and combine him with other figures.

Yeah, I was actually quite proud of that myself to be honest. I always thought that powerlinking a robot with Tow-Line's rover made the bot look handicapped. You have to both shave a lot off of the head, shoulders, waist, and the legs; and remove the front grill of Tow-Line's waist so his legs can stand up straight.

If you look closely, you'll notice that Tow-Line's separate mode has the "gun toes" tucked in, and the Powerlinx version has them out (To make it a legitimate Powerlink).

I know that this toy still needs a lot of work to make them sisters, but now that I got some great feedback, I'll get started right away.

Thanks,

P.S. Iskander, I think that these two will be part of Wave 2 (seeing how they might not be finished in time for Wave 1), and packaged in a Ultra-sized 2-Pack. What do you think?

See MS, at first you don't suceed you always have other options. Sorry I was such a stickly but if it was your site I'm sure you would have had certain exspectations for it as well.

Again, it wasn't personal, just buisness.

If you would like any personal advice please feel free to either put it in the Ask Forum or just PM me and I'll do my best to help.

TFM

Great! I think I finally understand the importance and meaning of true kitbashing. It just feels better and looks cooler if you use actual TF's for your figures, not other non-TF figures.

Glad you approve of my new choices, TFMaster. And I know it wasn't personal, I just wish you would have told me sooner, not when I had the figure finished. That's all, no hard feelings, O.K.?

And I will contact you if I need any help with my figure(s). Thanks.

cool ideas with the sisters there MS.
What are your plans with the toys themselves ?

Hi,

I'm not quite sure yet. I was planning on making some sketches to see what would work out best for their female parts. Also, I was going to see what else I could cook up for them (Einia needs a spark chamber, and Delphie needs a rotating cannon). So, I have a lot of work to do, but nothing solid yet. Thanks, and if anybody has any suggestions, please feel free to tell me either as a reply or an e-mail.

Iskander wrote:cool ideas with the sisters there MS.
What are your plans with the toys themselves ?

Well, I made some quick sketches and here they are below. They have before and after pics, so you can understand the
changes better. Tell me what you think of the changes, and please give me advice if you have any.

*Note: I used Paint Shop Pro to rewrite the notes and changes I had on sketches since my handwriting is terrible. Also,
they are kind of big to show detail (and I couldn't figure out how to size them with BBCode). Sorry.

Current Delphinia Figure (w/Delphie as shirt):


Changed Delphinia Figure (w/Delphie as shirt):


Current Delphie Figure (Robot Mode):


Changed Delphie Figure (Robot Mode):


Current Einia Figure (Robot Mode):


Changed Einia Figure (Robot Mode):


Also, I accidentally powerlinked Delphinia together the wrong way last night, and thought that this was a cool,
new way to combine her (it reminds me of G1 Ironhide). Here are before and after pics. Take a look, and tell
me which version is better.

Current Delphinia Figure (w/ Einia in charge):


Current Delphinia Figure (Side View):


Alternate Delphinia Figure (w/ Einia in charge & Delphie backwards):


Alternate Delphinia Figure (Side View):


Thanks,

Also, does anyone know of a material that I could use to make custom pieces out of? I've been using bakable clay, and that really doesn't work that well.

I thought about sheet or strip styrene (which my father and I have made custom superhero model kits out of for years), but that might be a little too advanced for my level of kitbashing (right, TFMaster? ), so I'm out of options. Can anyone tell me what I could use? I really don't know what material will work for what I need to make (I need to make custom clear and soild-colored pieces of varying shapes and sizes).

If anyone at all knows of a material or materials that will work, please let me know. I'm stumped.

Thanks,

I like those WIPs a lot MS, and the multiple combination modes are a good idea too.

As for a transluscent casting material, I really can't help you there. I've made some casting , with the best results coming from FIMO bakable clay, but that's not transluscent.

Take a look at the Help forum, there are a couple of topics about molding and casting there.

I'll get out a color test asap

whoot whoot! badass alert!

thanks.

The mold will pretty much be a minor bash if i ever find the figure. The lower half of the back becomes the shield as shown and i included the face behind the helmet for the "pre-transtopia" possibly.

the action figure itself won't have a removable helmut and I plan on making the wing ornaments fit if you know what i mean.

Not bad! Of course the chest is a bit bulky, but that won't be a problem with the kitbash.

I got some pics of vector prime to see how to draw all the details from Remy's site (thanks again for the link ISK). The bulkyness of the mold is due to the wing assembly. So it's bulky figure or no wings. I decided to go with the wings. Once i actually get the figure in hand I'll see what I can actually trim down but so far I've can't tell yet.

Oh ya the colors. I'll decide for sure when all the color tests ar done but the intent is to be mostly gold with balck trim and maroon. all the highlight areas will be the same color aqua as the sword that comes with vevtor prime. (intentively) also I'm filling in the hole where the minicon hooks up. no minicon.

Ra88. Are you writing the sword as metal or energy based? will help out on the color tests.

Hmmmn...How about painting the center of the blade silver, but leave the edges clear? Could give a nice effect.

And maybe you could keep the Minicon ports, and turn Roots into the leader of the Micron communities? Having only Isk's Microns in the story would be rather odd since there are supposed to be so many.

I'm not so sure about that. I'm leaving the two posts on his arms (how I'm going to attach the shield) and i think that's all I really want on the figure. Eternus is uberbutch to begin with. Giving him a minicon to power him up seems a little ridiculous to me. It'd be like a single minicon taking on omega supreme. sorry I just don't care for the idea myself.

Hmmn...Maybe an armcannon then? Cause you once said that he had hidden weaponry.

That'll be the chest orb cannon and the shield mounted gun will be the vehicle mode gun in the front of the alt form.

Alright, you've got me there. But what are you going to do about the hole in the front of the vehicle mode, where the Minicon goes? Fill it up or leave it be?

I'll be hollowing out the area behind it and then covering it all with a plate in order to make room for the helumt ornemenatation.

Too good Loqi, too good, I want that bot in my shelf now .

I've been thinking about something...Eternus' helmet is made of RiD OP's head, right? Well, what about using that as the normal head (and sand the faceplate to make the mouth yourself). and scratchbuild a new helmet? Or you could TF Master for making a head for you, since he has VP and would know the perfect size for it.

Oh, and work on Deceptor has been rather slow. Haven't got around to painting yet because my parents won't let me paint inside the house, and the weather hasn't been exactly co-operating here.

Wow! I'm again amazed about the progess you're making together!

Nice rendition of 'Emperor' Eternus Loqi.

Maybe you could make the face mask of the helmet swivel, just like a motorcycle, gladiator, medieval knight's helmets.
Or make a construction similar to Superlink Storm Jet/Superion Maximus' head(s), since you're planning to use the chest cavity as a storage for the helmet (wings).
I just thought of it, because the resemblance of the 'Viking helmet' wings is uncanny! (Not that it has anything to do with the head swap mechanism.)

You should've started a week earlier Ra88. The weather was perfect, at the time!;)

How's this. just a little compromise cause I really really really like the way thefirst helmet turned out to begin with. basically it's what Don did with Bumblebee's facemask. The two prongs on the inside of the facepplate will pop into place where optimus's horns used to go.

please excuse the cheapskates-r-us color pencils we have here at work.

Lord_Loqi wrote:How's this. just a little compromise cause I really really really like the way thefirst helmet turned out to begin with. basically it's what Don did with Bumblebee's facemask. The two prongs on the inside of the facepplate will pop into place where optimus's horns used to go.

please excuse the cheapskates-r-us color pencils we have here at work.

Really a nice try, but I was envisioning more of an welder's mask kinda rotation (WWI Jetfire?) involving the complete front part of the helmet, instead of only a movable mouthplate.

And I think your first helmet design kicks arse, too!

Between this 2nd attempt and the 'fixed' 1st model, I'd definately prefer if the 1st is used.