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64: Bumblebee (Core class, DOTM)

- Robot Mode -

Much like Laserbeak, core Bumblebee was a fun challenge to miniaturize my paint work from the larger Studio Series deluxe Bumblebee! Looking through movie screenshots again, I also found some ways I could improve my paint work from that Laserbeak. Starting with a gunmetal base and new yellow details, I reworked my paint apps on the shoulders and legs to be more screen accurate, particularly with the copper and gold accents. I picked out the Camaro side vents on the thighs, and had a lot of fun painting the battle mask head! I really enjoy painting the eyes peeking through the mask, which is something I started all the way back at my SS-49 repaint!








- Alt mode -

In alt mode, my first task was to remove the excess paint from the stripes on the hood. Using IPA, I scrubbed the paint from the front and sides of the stripes to get them to a screen accurate size. I then added the paint details like I did for Laserbeak, painting the tires, lights and trim on the side of the vehicle. One new thing I added for this Bee that I haven't done before is the orange lights in the grill! They're often not super noticable but I thought it'd be cool to paint them for this figure.







Paint used:

Testor's enamels:

- Gloss yellow
- Gloss red
- Gloss tangerine
- Flat gunmetal

Acrylics:

- Craftsmart Gunmetal
- Decoart gloss shimmering silver
- Decoart emperor gold
- Decoart gloss yellow & orange (mixed for yellow color)
- Decoart flat black
- Folkart metallic blue sapphire + Anita's craft paint metallic turquoise (mixed for repainted eyes)
- Folkart gloss black

Today's update is for Barricade, in addition to reworked paint and some added number decals, he's joined by Frenzy! You can check them both out back on page 1.

65: SS-GE01 Bumblebee (WFC)

While the Bayverse is by far my favorite part of Transformers, I really enjoy the Cybertron games too! I had WFC Autobots on my DS back in the day and played it a ton, and eventually got to play Fall of Cybertron on the Xbox 360. I'm not sure how many figures from this line I'll be picking up, but I had to get Bee!

- Robot Mode -

Working with WFC Bee is a little different from most of my customs since there wasn't as much greebling and detail as the designs I'm more used to. There was still a lot of satisying details I got to add though, such as the red striping on the wheels and the gunmetal sections on the legs!

I also removed the black paint on the front section, since this section is yellow on the game model. One neat detail I'm really happy I picked out is the little bit of one of the alt mode flaps that sticks out under the chest, I painted it in gunmetal with some red bits to make it look like Bee's lower abdomen! I think it helps the figure's proportions a little bit, too.

You'll notice that I covered up the original red lines on the "headlight" sections with black, this was done intentionally as these stripes are details that are present in robot mode on the video game model, but not in vehicle mode. I liked the look without the red stripes in alt mode more than the look of robot mode with them, so I omitted that detailing.

The weapons saw the same detailing as bot mode with a gunmetal base, yellow sections, red energon markings, and weathering. The sword was trickier, and after at least 3 different attempts, I found a shade of pink with a paler central glow that I liked.

The bots in War for Cybertron are all fairly weathered, so I made sure to pick that out with Bee, using model wash and dry brushing to simulate that worn and damaged appearance.








- Alt mode -

In alt mode, my chief concern was the rear window, which is unpainted on the original figure. I painted the area in black, then added the thin red striping. For the Autobot logo, I initially used a sticker I got from a ShowZ order, but the symbol didn't show up very well on the dark background. I ended up painting over the sticker, which actually went much more smoothly than I thought it would! Definitely wasier than the Decepticon logo I painted on Mixmaster a while ago.

Besides the back window, I repainted the outer sections of the wheels (from the red bands outwards), removed the aforementioned black paint on the front, and made sure there wasn't any exposed yellow plastic on the side window sections. Weathering concluded my work on this mode!









Paint used:

Testor's enamels:


- Gloss red
- Gloss tangerine

Acrylics:

- Craftsmart Gunmetal
- Craftsmart gloss red + Decoart gloss white (mixed for pink color on sword)
- Decoart gloss shimmering silver
- Decoart metallic copper
- Decoart gloss yellow + orange (mixed with a small amount of black for yellow color)
- Decoart gloss white + black (mixed for gray color)
- Folkart metallic blue sapphire + Anita's craft paint metallic turquoise (mixed for repainted eyes)
- Folkart gloss black

At about 10:30 last night, this page reached an enormous milestone - 1 million views!

When I set out to make this page, I had no idea we'd reach that many views. I had finished my first few projects and figured that putting them all together like this would be better than spamming the customs forum with all of them individually. I think I made the right call there!

Thank you all so much for continuing to check back on this page even after all these years! It really means a lot to me and helps me continue to keep painting!

We've got a few things to celebrate, the first of which is the group shot - every Studio Series custom I've done all together! I underestimated the undertaking this would be - it took several hours to set up and put away xD







I'd also like to hold a poll, this time for what I repaint my extra DOTM Bumblebee into! I've repainted an extra SS-49 into Cliffjumper, an SS-74 into Stealth Bumblebee, and now you'll get to decide the next one!

Here's the link: Here's the link! Please remember to only vote once:

https://forms.gle/hvz6WkxULsJ5iMee7



A huge thank you again to everyone reading this and checking out the page!

Got a couple gallery updates for you, this time for Ironhide and ROTF Starscream! You can find Ironhide on page 1 and Starscream on page 5.

66: SS-33 Bonecrusher

UPDATE: With my new decal-making abilities, I added Bonecrusher's Decepticon logo in robot mode and his Bonecrusher emblems in vehicle mode!

- Robot Mode -

Bonecrusher is a project that I put off doing for a long time because I wasn't sure how to tackle it. Bonecrusher is a little different from most of the other designs from the movies in that he doesn't have as much color breakup and different color details in robot mode, at least not at first glance. My first step was to block off as many sections as I could with different shades of gunmetal, and a few silver accents throughout. My solution to the detail problem was to use model wash in controlled amounts to pick out the detail, while not making him look too weathered.








- Alt mode -

Starting with the new tan base coat, I repainted the windows in gloss black and the tires in flat gunmetal. Using MPM Bonecrusher as a basis, I picked out the lights and small details (I used pictures of actual Buffalo MPVs as well, which is where I found the copper exhaust pipe detail). After painting the trench area behind the rear door in gunmetal and the forks in silver, alt mode was complete!








Paint used:

Testor's enamels:

= Gloss black
- Gloss red
- Gloss tangerine
- Flat gunmetal

Acrylics:

- Craftsmart Gunmetal
- Decoart gloss shimmering silver
- Decoart metallic copper
- Decoart flat white + flat black + gloss yellow + flat brown (mixed for tan color touch-ups)

67: SS-96 NEST Ratchet (Rescue Ratchet repaint)


- Robot Mode -

Starting this repaint off, I have to admit I'm generally not a fan of most G1 decos on movie bots. I wanted to see with this repaint if I could adapt the G1 color pallette in a way that complements the movie design more. I used white, red, and various gunmetals for more color breakup, and while I did use the ROTF video game skin as a basis (which I'll talk about more in alt mode), I really wanted to see what I could add. I pulled some details from my NEST Ratchet repaint with the EKG markings on the legs, and tried to add some more variety with metallic blue and copper!








- Alt mode -

While robot mode was largely improvisational, my work in alt mode was heavily inspired by the Rescue Ratchet skin in the ROTF console game, which in turn was based on the 2007 toyline's Rescue Ratchet repaint. I started with the white spray paint base, added gunmetal trim, and then painted the red sections, trying my best to get the lines straight and symmetrical. I detailed with gunmetal and silver, and adapted the white line on the side to be a more accurate ECG shape with a P wave. With some metallic blue accents, alt mode was complete!








Paint used:

Testor's enamels:

= Gloss black
- Gloss red
- Gloss tangerine
- Flat gunmetal

Acrylics:

- Craftsmart Gunmetal
- Decoart gloss shimmering silver
- Decoart gloss white
- Decoart metallic copper
- Decoart flat white + flat black + gloss yellow + flat brown (mixed for tan color touch-ups)
- Folkart metallic blue

Other:

- Rustoleum gloss white spray paint

Just released an update to an older project, Blackout! He has new hands from an extra Grindor and a reworked robot mode! Scorponok was updated as well, check them both out back on page 1!

68: SS-12 Brawl

Brawl is another one of those projects that I put off for a very long time just because I didn't know how to tackle it. I finally decided to buckle down and find all the resources I could, and I'm so happy with the results!

- Robot Mode -

The first challenge with robot mode was finding the right shade of green. It's very difficult to tell his shade of green in the movie, so I had to use what screenshots I could with some outside sources. My favorite deco on a Brawl figure is APS-02 (the Takara repaint of 07 leader Brawl released around the time of DOTM), so I decided to use that as my primary influence, with what I could tell from the movie model and the video game model to fill the cracks. I found a darker shade of olive drab I really liked, and then moved onto gunmetal paint for the mechanical sections with silver and dark gunmetal accents. While Brawl's camo pattern is not present in robot mode (as far as I can tell), I used the darker green to pick out certain parts and details to add more visual interest across robot mode.

The gold/copper paint was another big issue. APS-02 uses copper paint to pick out those sections, while the video game model uses gold, and it's hard to tell in the movie (one screenshot even seems to suggest those sections could be a paler green rather than gold/copper). Ultimately, I mashed these together into something I thought looked good and reasonably reflected what we see on screen. I mixed gold and copper together, then added silver to make it slightly paler. I'm satisfied with how it panned out!

The surface detailing on the treads is something I was able to pick out from the movie model, so I made sure to add it! There's actually three levels, with the darkest section in the middle and a slightly lighter version on the outside, with the lighter brown between.

In one last bit of modding, I used an x-acto knife and paint to give him the blast mark on his forehead!








- Alt mode -

Similar to robot mode, I used APS-02 Brawl as the primary inspiration for my paint work. I used movie screenshots as much as I could, but they don't yield a great look at the specific camo patterning of the tank. Starting with the olive drab base, I painted the darker camo spots by mixing green, gray, and black for the darker shade of green. I then repainted the treads, and added the tread surface detailing you can see more clearly in robot mode. I picked out some (but not all) of the rivets in silver, as well as some of the other small pieces on the tank.

One last bit of modding completed this mode, where I made the missing double-barrel machine gun on top of the turret out of extra model sprue pieces I had lying around!








Paint used:

Testor's enamels:

- Gloss red
- Gloss tangerine
- Flat gunmetal

Acrylics:

- Craftsmart Gunmetal
- Decoart gloss shimmering silver
- Decoart metallic copper + silver + gold mixed
- Decoart metallic gold
- Decoart lush green + gray + flat black mied for darker green color
- Decoart flat brown

Other:

- Rustoleum olive drab green spray paint

Got another update for you, this one is DOTM Shockwave, Wheelie, Brains, and the NEST Soldier back on page 2!

Got a new gallery for Heli Drift, you can find him back on page 5!

Got an update for you all!

First up, I have 2 all new projects that are very nearly complete, those being Cogman and DOTM Jolt! They'll be uploaded soon!

Next, we have a pretty big gallery update back on page 2, with updates for Stinger, ROTF Bumblebee, and DOTM Sam Witwicky!

69: SS-75 Jolt (Dark of the Moon repaint)



- Robot Mode -

While my paint work in alt mode is a pretty faithful recreation of the original DOTM deluxe, in robot mode I wanted to add more to the design while still keeping the same base ideas. I used gunmetal and light blue on the feet and arms to reference the placement on the original, as well as recreating the blue details from the windshield that end up on the thighs. I added a lot more gunmetal to carry over the detailing from alt mode, and added copper details throughout. Some red and gold details completed my paint work on the main figure!

The whipe were fist bent into shape using a hair dryer and cold water, then painted with the same light blue from the main figure. The blades now reflect the new deco with silver, gunmetal, and copper detailing, as well as a blade edge of orange to resemble Optimus Prime's energon swords!

I did a small amount of modding as well, adding some plastic parts to the head sculpt to better resemble his concept art head that the original DOTM deluxe had!








- Alt mode -

For alt mode, I started with a silver spray paint base, and then used Testor's flat gunmetal to paint in the black sections from the original figure. I used red for the tail lights, and gloss black for the center of the lights. I went back and forth on how to paint the headlights, going between gloss black and metallic blue, before deciding on gloss white! The last details to add were the metallic blue details from the original figure, which were added on the front windshield and the side window/door areas!








Paint used:

Testor's enamels:

- Gloss red
- Gloss tangerine
- Flat gunmetal
- Extreme lacquer silver (spray)

Acrylics:

- Craftsmart Gunmetal
- Decoart gloss shimmering silver
- Decoart metallic copper
- Decoart metallic gold
- Folkart metallic blue sapphire + Anita's craft paint metallic turquoise (mixed for blue color)

With 2023 at a close, here's a look at every project I completed or updated this year!

It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think I'd have to go with DOTM Optimus Prime. That project was several years in the making!

70: SS-39 Cogman


- Robot Mode -

Looking at Cogman's robot mode, I started with a silver base and added gunmetal in appropriate locations based on movie screenshots. I then moved onto gold detailing, and the central cog assembly on Cogman was given some additional copper and red detailing for screen accuracy. To replicate Cogman's weathered appearance in the film I used model wash all over robot mode, being careful to avoid vehicle mode parts. All that was left to do was some metallic blue paint for Cogman's eyes! I've also included some pictures I got on my trip to the HMS Alliance, featuring my Cogman in locations he appeared on the sub in the movie!









- Alt mode -

I originally hadn't done much for alt mode (since Cogman has one of the nicest painted alt modes in Studio Series), but I forgot that my gloss coat mottles the metallic paint that Hasbro uses, and it ruined that nice original silver. I ended up having to repaint the whole of alt mode, and added some new details like the grill with a gunmetal base and silver for the horizontal lines, and the license plate! For Cogman's headmaster robot mode, I used the same paint as robot mode with a silver base, gold accents, metallic blue eyes, and some model wash to give him that weathered look!







Paint used:

Testor's enamels:

- Gloss red
- Flat gunmetal
- Extreme lacquer silver (spray)

Acrylics:

- Craftsmart Gunmetal
- Decoart gloss shimmering silver
- Decoart metallic copper
- Decoart metallic gold
- Decoart gloss black
- Folkart metallic blue sapphire + Anita's craft paint metallic turquoise (mixed for blue eye paint)

71: Mohawk (Core class)


- Robot Mode -

Mohawk started off with new coat of silver spray paint, that I followed up with gunmetal around some of the joints and the neck! I repainted the eyes with a new brighter red, and picked out the grill in gold. The green details were a mix of two different shades of green to get a more screen accurate color, and applied based on movie screenshots and the render in Sam Smith's screen to toy post. I made sure to add the white details on the left arm and leg, and I used gunmetal to add the chains on the right leg. I finished off this mode with model wash to add to the weathered look he has in the movie!

For modding, I removed some of the plastic between the mohawk spikes and added the spray paint cans to his chest via some sprue pieces!







- Alt mode -







Paint used:

Testor's enamels:

- Gloss red
- Flat gunmetal
- Sublime green (mixed with decoart metallic emerald for green color)

Acrylics:

- Craftsmart Gunmetal
- Decoart gloss shimmering silver
- Decoart metallic copper
- Decoart metallic gold
- Decoart gloss black
- Decoart gloss white

Other:

- Vallejo model wash
- Rustoleum silver spray paint

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Pffft. That's hilarious

The updates to Shockwave et al are simply brilliant, beautiful to see. You've also done an excellent job on Cogman and Mohawk! Your work is simply stellar.

Thank you! I'm particularly proud of that Galvatron meme xD

Got some exciting stuff coming up next, both in terms of new projects and some new tools!

Today's update is for DOTM Megatron on page 3! I spruced up the weathering and detail work in both modes, and added a new net piece to the front of alt mode. Igor got spruced up too!

In terms of new projects, I have 2 new projects I'm very excited about that will be done pretty soon - one from ROTF and the other from ROTB!

72: SS-35 Jetfire


- Robot Mode -

Every time I work on one of these projects, there's new details I find out about from my research using movie scenes, renders, and any other reference material I can get my eyes on. Jetfire was no exception! I found a lot of awesome details on Jetfire's design, and the really cool part is that the Studio Series figure reflects that exceptionally well. Almost all of the details on Jetfire's design I was able to map onto the figure, which made this a very satisfying project to work on!

Starting with the classic gunmetal/silver/gold detailing, I found lots of red wiring details to add on the legs and in a few other spots. The arms have a whole assortment of colorful wiring (even some purple on the elbows!) that was fun to add, and I detailed the face to look more accurate with a few gold bits here and there, model wash, and silver details. Jetfire also has these yellow symbols on his feet in the film that were hard to get a good look at. I decided to use some of the ROTF cyberglyphs for these details, let me know if you can find which letters they are!

I also wanted to match Jetfire's rusted and weathered appearance in the film, to do this I used my strategy first employed on clunker Bumblebee' stripes: I put flat gray paint on the areas I want to weather and then use a paper towel to remove most, but not all, of the paint. This results in a faded appearance for the paint! I also used some model wash and flat brown paint as rust in certain spots.







- Alt mode -

Alt mode is something that stumped me for a while when deciding how I wanted to paint it. I was able to add some details to the front of alt mode and to the landing gear (I visited a museum with an SR-71 nearby to get the details right!), but besides that I wasn't sure what I could do. I decided to custom fade the paint by adding gray paint and removing most of it, leaving the faded/worn look that matches Jetfire's appearance in the movie!







Paint used:

Testor's enamels:

- Gloss red
- Flat gunmetal


Acrylics:

- Craftsmart Gunmetal
- Decoart gloss shimmering silver
- Decoart metallic copper
- Decoart metallic gold
- Decoart metallic blue
- Decoart gloss yellow
- Decoart gloss black
- Decoart gloss white
- Decoart gloss dark red
- Decoart flat gray
- Decoart flat brown


Other:

- Vallejo model wash
- Rustoleum silver spray paint

73: SS-99 Battletrap


- Robot Mode -

Taking a look at Battletrap, I started with a new shade of orange throughout both modes that I felt matched the CG model a little better! Besides the usual gunmetals and silver/gold, I repainted the head sculpt with new eyes that are brighter than the originals, and I used a new craftsmart red in the wrecking ball!

I 3D printed a gatling gun for him, which is definitely oversized, but my 3D printer is out of commission so I won't be able to make a new one for some time. It still looks cool, though!







- Alt mode -

Alt mode was the more difficult mode for Battletrap due to all the pinstriping he has. There's a silver border not only on the stripes, but also on the sides which presented a challenge due to the variation in sculted detail. I was able to get it after several attempts, though! I also used gunmetal and silver throughout for detailing.








Paint used:

Testor's enamels:

- Gloss tangerine
- Gloss red
- Flat gunmetal


Acrylics:

- Craftsmart Gunmetal
- Craftsmart red
- Decoart gloss shimmering silver
- Decoart metallic gold

This newest update is a set of 2, both using the latest innovation in my customization: Decals!

Now, these things are pretty finnicky. They don't like to adhere very much and they don't work on darkly colored surfaces (as they're done with a standard ink printer), but with some work they look pretty nice!

Check out an updated Ratchet with the link on page 1, and Bonecrusher higher up on this page.