The Energon Pub

This was a commission from a fellow Seibertronian.

He wanted me to take the standard Classics Cliffjumper and get rid of the icky silver tear graphics and re-paint him as well as touch up the robot mode parts with some dry brushing.

So i sanded off the old silver graphics with wet 1600 strength sand paper (as we dont have rubbing alcohol in the UK, and this technique is best for a smooth finish anyway) and smoothed off the rest of the body ready for paint.

I airbrushed the paint on and used a car grade paint called "two-pack" which is very strong and leaves a beautiful finish, this guy feels as smooth as he looks!

As a little free extra for the commissioner i chrome painted the face and wheels. I also chrome painted his eyes and then went over them with some clear blue so the eyes have a similar look to them as the Masterpiece Optimus Prime!

Then i used some silver enamel and drybrushed the silver on as requested and finally i added a few little extra paint apps to the side doors and front grill.

The weapon was supplied by the commissioner so it isn't my creation but i drybrushed the silver onto that as well and now classics CJ looks more bad-ass and G1 accurate now!

NIce one i think this has the look of Cliffjumper now and not just a red BB

very shiney. Out of curiousity, why remove the original paint?

and ps, I like the headlights a lot

frenzy_rumble wrote:very shiney. Out of curiousity, why remove the original paint?

and ps, I like the headlights a lot

Do you mean the silver graphics? The commissioner wanted red all over as he didnt like the graphics of the original figure, and he said having it all in red would make it feel more like G1 Cliffjumper...which it kinda does now i look closer.

I might do one for myself now i think.

I mean, if you ended up painting over the entire figure, why remove paint that you'd end up paintinf over. I am curious because this sounds like the factory paint might end up visable through a new coat, rather than disappear.

frenzy_rumble wrote:I mean, if you ended up painting over the entire figure, why remove paint that you'd end up paintinf over. I am curious because this sounds like the factory paint might end up visable through a new coat, rather than disappear.

I think i get what you are trying to say, if not forgive me.

I removed the silver factory paint because not only would it have been visible through the red i applied (it would have made it shadowy and not as bright and rich as it looks now) but it also would have made the fresh paint look like it had high parts and low parts.

Basically you would have seen the outline of the silver factory graphics under the red, as well as feel it with your fingers. Not only that but the small amount of thinners in the two-pack paint i used probably would have made the silver peel off, thus ruining the fresh paint.

So i just sanded everything down to get the most even finish possible. Since red shows up everything your preparation needs to be perfect because red will show up the smallest mistake or scratch or crack or whatever.

90% of how good paint looks lies withing the prep-work of the surface you are painting onto, as you know.

I'm surprised after Ironhide you even LOOK at the color red. But, this is great, the little touches make a world of difference.

Sherade wrote:I'm surprised after Ironhide you even LOOK at the color red. But, this is great, the little touches make a world of difference.

Unless its acrylic red im fine If i see acrylic red though i start to shake uncontrollably and scream and pee myself.

Glad ya like. (if only the commissioner would now get in touch and give me his opinion on it.)

acrylic red is a joke. BUT - The old lady who live down the street swears by it for painting 'holiday pine cones'

what kind of red do you like to use frenzy_rumble? Do you have a link to any of your kitbashing stuff? It sounds like you've been at it a while?


Great job on CJ, he definitely is shiney ... looks like he's got a fresh coat of wax on him.

frenzy_rumble wrote:acrylic red is a joke. BUT - The old lady who live down the street swears by it for painting 'holiday pine cones'

Amazingly, this is one acrylic I totally HATE. Red just sucks in acrylic. I can't beleive I said that.....

AlienQuiksilver wrote:what kind of red do you like to use frenzy_rumble? Do you have a link to any of your kitbashing stuff? It sounds like you've been at it a while?

Enamels. Only Enamels.

I'll have stuff up by the weekend!sneak peaks in my sig

nice clean paint job and looks fantastic =) will post on me website !!!

Sainte wrote:nice clean paint job and looks fantastic =) will post on me website !!!

Thanks mate!

AlienQuiksilver wrote:what kind of red do you like to use frenzy_rumble? Do you have a link to any of your kitbashing stuff? It sounds like you've been at it a while?


Great job on CJ, he definitely is shiney ... looks like he's got a fresh coat of wax on him.

Then my work here is done! lol. I take pride in my shiny paint, IMO all transformers should be shiny since they are made of metal and all. How many cares do you see driving around with intentional matte paint jobs too?

But wax...hmmm...maybe next time i'll use some car polish and some wax just to give it some extra gloss. It'll be so shiny you'll be able to use the plastic as a mirror!

And Frenzy did i answer your question or did i totally misunderstand what you asked me?

no, you nailed the answer.

I like the red Cliffjumper minus all the silver body decals.

Nice job.

BUt he seemed a bit too "wet".

Awesome job Sonray,I can't wait to see it in person

The weapon looks like Prime's blaster. Is it?

Awesome work! CJ looks much better now.

It's funny how a re-paint job by fans looks way better than what Hasbro or Takara can do. Thats an awesome job!

Auto Bot wrote:The weapon looks like Prime's blaster. Is it?

From either a Robot Masters G1 Convoy or KO of the same I believe.

A tidy repaint but too shiny for my tastes.

Blackstreak wrote:It's funny how a re-paint job by fans looks way better than what Hasbro or Takara can do. Thats an awesome job!

Maybe on purpose. So that we'll have something to fiddle with.

Transformers should be this shiny!

I really like the chrome look you added on the wheels..What paint do you use for that? I'm always looking for a new/better chrome paint.