The Energon Pub

Back again with another Transformers custom and this time from my own personal collection. Here's Decepticon Bludgeon part tank, part robot, all undead Samurai warrior! He was created from a Titans Return Hardhead, Silver Samurai Wolvie movie helmet/shoulder pads, 200X Skeletor face, Impactor/Brawl cannon parts and Windblade's sword. I remember seeing a comic pack-in for some overseas figure that featured Bludgeon using this body/sword combo but apparently the figure was never produced. Bludgeon was primered using Bulldog Adhesion promoter, hand painted, weathered/detailed and sealed with Mr Hobby Premium Flat sealer.

Want more pics? Head to his page here and check them out!

Well, it has nice paintwork. The edges of the paldrons look messy, though, and it's not remotely clear where his head goes (if anywhere). I also don't know if you can really call this Titans Return style, since A. aside from the head coming off you seem to have done away with the Titan Master gimmick and B. it's designed to look like Bludgeon's shell rather than his inner robot, which is against precedent for Pretenders in TR.

Would you perchance be thinking of the Magna Convoy comic?

It seems to be the closest match for your description, although I can see a big difference between that and your figure: That comic's Hardhead-based Bludgeon is colored mainly like Bludgeon's inner robot.

I think this is a top-notch custom, even if it's not the aesthetic I'd personally go for. The attention to detail (and patience demonstrated, given that you hand painted everything) continues to wow me - your work and guides on the angelfire site helped me build enough confidence to start customizing my own transformers! Thank you for listing the materials used to prime and seal the figure, too. Even though I'm still an amateur that info will make a world of difference for my work. I hope the auction goes well for you!

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Well, it has nice paintwork. The edges of the paldrons look messy, though, and it's not remotely clear where his head goes (if anywhere).

I think the edges of the pauldrons are supposed to be cloth. They were from a non-robotic figure from what I can gather.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote: I also don't know if you can really call this Titans Return style, since A. aside from the head coming off you seem to have done away with the Titan Master gimmick and B. it's designed to look like Bludgeon's shell rather than his inner robot, which is against precedent for Pretenders in TR.
Would you perchance be thinking of the Magna Convoy comic?
It seems to be the closest match for your description, although I can see a big difference between that and your figure: That comic's Hardhead-based Bludgeon is colored mainly like Bludgeon's inner robot.

I'm almost positive Titans Return style means it was made from a TR mold, rather than following what TR Metalhawk did
Also, not to be a nitpicker, but the comic Bludgeon IS colored like the outer shell. The lighting may be distorting the colors somewhat, but his body is clearly yellow and maroon. His Titan Master kibble and the small tank next to him, however, are green like the G1 inner robot. I personally prefer how e-hobby did Bludgeon's head, but this custom is a lot closer to that design than you may think

The comic Bludgeon looks more yellow-green than the yellow-orange of the shell, and his legs aren't maroon. The only maroon is on his head and his forearms.

I'd still dispute using "Titans Return style" on grounds of apparently having ditched the Titan Master gimmick. I wouldn't call SELECTS Super Megatron a Titans Return style figure either. Also, I still wonder what does happen to the head.

And I see what you mean about the paldrons now. When he said they came from a Wolverine movie Silver Samurai, my thoughts went to the robotic-looking Silver Samurai seen in The Wolverine, not... whatever "Sword Slash Silver Samurai" represents.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Well, it has nice paintwork. The edges of the paldrons look messy, though, and it's not remotely clear where his head goes (if anywhere). I also don't know if you can really call this Titans Return style, since A. aside from the head coming off you seem to have done away with the Titan Master gimmick and B. it's designed to look like Bludgeon's shell rather than his inner robot, which is against precedent for Pretenders in TR.

Would you perchance be thinking of the Magna Convoy comic?

It seems to be the closest match for your description, although I can see a big difference between that and your figure: That comic's Hardhead-based Bludgeon is colored mainly like Bludgeon's inner robot.

Correct, the pauldrons have fur around them and I even left the ponytail on Bludgeon's helmet! I just like hair/fur theme of Samurai armor and even wanted to give him a cloak of some type, tho I couldn't find a good fabric this time.

That's the comic! I couldn't find it and didn't remember what colors it showed him, just that someone pointed out he had Windblade's sword and was made from a TR Hardhead. Bludgeon's head stores under the gun in the back. Originally I had Skeletor's face cut off and attached on to the back of the actual Bludgeon mini-pretender figure but couldn't fit it inside any sort of helmet. I tried Shredder helmets, gashapon ones (too big) and even pieced together styrene before I said forget it, he just needs a head.

Looking at the comic panels you posted, yikes, I dodged a bullet by NOT copying that look exactly. He doesn't even have a helmet! It's just some kinda skull face? And the tank would have been one color except for the front tracks side panels. That's a poor design and needed some love!

I love this! Custom Bludgeon figures tend to be a little polarizing (should he be the yellow outer skeleton guy or the green inner tank guy? Should the skeleton turn into the tank? Why is he called "Bludgeon" if his weapon is a sword? etc, etc.) in my experience, but this oozes awesome. I'm a big fan of your work, and this piece is no exception.

Glarryg

Well, originally he was just called Bludgeon because it was a vicious-sounding name; the toy only had guns for weaponry. The katana was a comic artist's invention, just like Octopunch's trident and Stranglehold's mace.

@Jin Saotome He has a helmet of sorts in the comic, it's the "helmet" part of the face. The face itself is TR Getaway's (I guess since the "helmet" part of that one comes closest to having a samurai helmet crest) with holes drawn into the mouthplate to make it look more skull-like.

In fairness to the comic's color scheme, if as Latebrus-K suspects it's based on the outer shell and the seeming yellow-green is actually yellow and orange being tinged green by lighting, then there's a reason for only having maroon on the head and gauntlets:


As far as finding the comic goes, I just checked Bludgeon's page on TFWiki

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Well, originally he was just called Bludgeon because it was a vicious-sounding name; the toy only had guns for weaponry. The katana was a comic artist's invention, just like Octopunch's trident and Stranglehold's mace.

@Jin Saotome He has a helmet of sorts in the comic, it's the "helmet" part of the face. The face itself is TR Getaway's (I guess since the "helmet" part of that one comes closest to having a samurai helmet crest) with holes drawn into the mouthplate to make it look more skull-like.

In fairness to the comic's color scheme, if as Latebrus-K suspects it's based on the outer shell and the seeming yellow-green is actually yellow and orange being tinged green by lighting, then there's a reason for only having maroon on the head and gauntlets:


As far as finding the comic goes, I just checked Bludgeon's page on TFWiki

Then I know what my next project is, a 6" ML style non-transforming Bludgeon with a tank turret shield!

I feel like this is worth mentioning. But this Bludgeon was also seen in the cardgame with a much better paint scheme. And yeah, I much prefer yours. Also, I'm the one who bought it so.... yeah. Definitely better.

Overall, seems modern generations Bludgeon will be depicted in media as a Hardhead repaint. At least for now.