The Energon Pub

by **Flashback77** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:45 pm

This really is outstanding. I believe this work raises the bar for customizing. I like the existing Alt Mirage but I've always wanted Alternators to look like this. Fantastic work.

by **swampmojo** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:56 pm

my god!!! that is soooo awesome. man i wish i could do that stuff.

by **TM JAF** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:31 am

I'm auctioning off my 2nd MP Mirage prototype this week if anyone's interested.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=012&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=220079497937&rd=1&rd=1

I'm almost done with the final version. Mostly, just tweaks and small enhancements have been achieved like the wheels being more accurate and the fit being tighter. But it's coming along.

by **piranacon** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 4:35 pm

with the gaps int heplastic i woudlnt pay more then $50,000 for that lol, oh i love those so much, i wanna give the jazz a go after the follow along, any chance of another follow alogn for htis guy

by **jimsloth** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:52 pm

so why does this version say Gitanes instead of Citanes? It is on my watch list though.

by **Ramrider** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:47 am

If memory serves, Gitanes is the actual name of the sponsor company. I'm not sure if G1 Mirage said Citanes because of an error or copyright issues.

by **TM Dark_Lord_Prime** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:39 am

That is absolutely fantastic. WTG!

And if memory serves, G1 Mirage said "Citanes" to avoid "copyright infringement" and/or licensing issues with the owners of Gitanes.

by **TM JAF** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:22 am

I thought Gitanes was a tobacco company. I read somewhere that this was another reason for the change.

I used the actual Tamiya kit decals for this one because they are much clearer than the white custom "Citanes" decals I made for the last one.

by **Broadblasts short shorts** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:16 pm

They had to turn the G of Gitanes into a C because they weren't allowed to release toys that 'promoted' smoking. They also used this method to turn the Marlboro on the diaclone Wheeljack into 'Marlboor'

by **Greyryder** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:43 pm

Takara altered most of the major sponsors on the Diaclones based on race cars. They did the same thing with Alitalia on Wheeljack. I doubt that there were any laws against toys that promoted air lines.

by **TM Computron** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:13 am

I love your work, but Alternators or Binaltechs are actual cars. Mirage is not.
Why did you use a 20 years old F1 racer instead of a 2004,2005 or 2006 model of a Formula 1 racer? It looks brilliant, but somehow just a larger version of the G1 toy.
You could have used a 2005 version of the Williams-BMW having almost the right colors like this:

by **Greyryder** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:23 am

He probably chose that car, because he was building a Masterpiece figure, not an Alternator.

by **TM Computron** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:13 am

He probably chose that car, because he was building a Masterpiece figure, not an Alternator.

...but in Alternators size....In my eyes MP figures are bigger, but anyway it look's fine!

by **TM JAF** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:38 am

Computron wrote:
He probably chose that car, because he was building a Masterpiece figure, not an Alternator.

...but in Alternators size....In my eyes MP figures are bigger, but anyway it look's fine!

Greyryder is absolutely right. Remember, so far all MP figures just larger, more detailed , and more accurate looking versions of their G1 counterparts. New or updated vehicles/alt modes are never part of the MP design goal. That goal is to make both the alt mode as real-world accurate as possible while remaining true to the G1 cartoon and toy line character.

This bot is scaled properly to MP Prime (which is my benchmark incedentally). Scale in the MP line ranges from 1/35-ish for Starscream to 1/20-ish for Prime to something like 1/0.9 for Megatron. So MP figures are both much larger AND smaller scales than Alts/BT's 1/24.

~fin

by **TENIME_art** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:51 am

Can we see a comparison pic of Mirage & Optimus next to each other in car mode?

by **Auto Bot** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:51 am

Very nice!

Why not sculpt his car into modern F1 car instead?

by **olokin** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:53 am

Seems too small to be Masterpiece size, but the work would make da Vinci jealous. Nice work.

by **Auto Bot** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:20 pm

The finished product is impressive. I like the head sculpt. Looks more serious than the cartoon version.

by **menefret** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:25 am

All I can say is WOW! Mirage was my favorite TF when I was little and I never thought about something like that. If you build another let me know. I also agree with the other poster... You should work for Hasbro.