The Energon Pub

News Credits: 8 · by **Jin Saotome** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:06 pm

These guys were sitting on my desk painted all black since I did that review for Mike Crawford. They were suppose to be my first TF movie repaints but everyone wanted the actual movie figures repainted, I kept pushing them back. Now that I've finished the main line (Yes yes, Leader Prime is coming eventually) I can work on my fun projects like these two, Swinwave, and of course the nearly-completed Transformers painting guide!

First, Protoform Prime. Can you say 'eight different metallics'?

More pics here!------> Protoform Prime

Protoform Starscream. Only six different metallics, but still just as detailed.

More pics here!------> Protoform Starscream

I know these may not be cannon to however they're colored in the comics or the glimpse of proto-Prime you may of seen in the movie but sometimes I need to get creative with my colors and techniques. The blue-to-green chest on Prime has be grinning from ear to ear because it worked. As did the transition from one metal to the next shade.

by **DTM** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:00 am

you painted starscream? Doesn't he have a fragile plastic that allows him to crumble and break easily? Well they both look nice dude. Great job

News Credits: 8 · by **Jin Saotome** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:38 pm

Fragile plastic? Hmmm, no, in fact his plastic is pretty dang tough. I had to use larger clippers to trim down the wrist peg so I'd honestly say it's stronger than Alternator plastic. The black plastic they used for Prime's ball-joints and neck base tho? Holeeeeeee smokes. Invincible. My Dremel just smoked against it and refused to cut the stuff! I had to get out a file and xacto knife. Still it gave me loads of trouble.

by **DTM** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:03 pm

I guess they are tough then :lol:

. Really nice touch to do a G1 reference with the Optimus Head, How much are these for a commission? I would liek one for my collection

News Credits: 2 · by **grimlockprime108** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:29 pm

Da Tran Man wrote:you painted starscream? Doesn't he have a fragile plastic that allows him to crumble and break easily? Well they both look nice dude. Great job

you usually don't see gps(gold plastic syndrome)on newer figs.

by **keeblezak** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:28 am

Da Tran Man wrote:I guess they are tough then . Really nice touch to do a G1 reference with the Optimus Head, How much are these for a commission? I would liek one for my collection

well they do have to survive atmospheric re-entry

by **rhinox555** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:04 pm

Da Tran Man wrote:you painted starscream? Doesn't he have a fragile plastic that allows him to crumble and break easily? Well they both look nice dude. Great job

according to some other forum,that was an "allergic" response to Enamel.

by **DTM** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:18 pm

I see, but whyw would he use Enamel it eats away at the plastic...

by **Greyryder** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 5:48 pm

Some paints will attack plastic, but the effect is usually pretty imediate. I've got some old models around here, that have had enamel paint on them for for over ten years. So far I've seen no evidence of the paint damaging the plastic.

News Credits: 8 · by **Jin Saotome** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:10 am

I know enamel paints eat away at softer PVC plastics, like the ones used to make Marvel Legends arms and legs. But as far as I've had experience with enamels don't melt hard ABS plastic, the kind TFs are made with.

I now know what you mean by the gold plastic crumbling! My Bandai Megaman (rockman) figures, some of them are literally breaking apart with the slightest pressure. Sword man (made of bronze-gold plastic, surprise surprise) was the first to crumble. Then the metallic plastic feet of some other figures. This seems to have to do with the metal in there, they seem to break along the 'swirl marks' in the plastic. My guess would be the metal flakes don't provide a decent surface for te plastic to form too, so it's like having a billion structual flaws in the plastic. I can even get the copper dust on my fingers by rubbing at the broken ends. That means they're definatly detaching from the mix.

by **TM Devastator** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:14 am

My G2 Slingshot started to crumble on me a few years ago. Part of the tail hinge section on his butt came off, and when I tried to glue it part of his arm broke. Then other arm broke once that was fixed, then the other part of the tail hinge broke. I gave up on it for a while then eventually I was able to get him back together, but now he's just a display piece.