The Energon Pub

by **Ramrider** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:30 pm

Thanks, but I'm not really doing anything that complicated yet. I think the trickiest part was actually casting the arms, but I think I've finally come up with a technique of mouldmaking that seems to work.
The scratchbuilt head, though, is going to be a bit harder. I'm trying to come up with a way to retract it while still giving it the articulation I want, and with the chest space available, it's not easy. I'll get it, though...

I've finally got that left arm sorted. It's only wedged in at the moment, rather than glued, but once I've filled in the air bubbles and cleaned it up, it'll work a treat. Here's some shots to compare it to the original arm, and to give an idea of how much more articulation there is now.
And unlike previous articulated versions of the fig, this one still transforms... :wink:

And one of the real bonuses now is that he can actually hold a gun!

by **Ramrider** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:41 pm

Quick picless update. I've finally got round to casting the right arm for this lad, and it's come out even better than the left - I didn't get a single air bubble! I've already trimmed it and fit it to the arm, I just need to wait a few days for it to set up properly so it's nice and solid.

I've also scrapped the scratchbuilt head I was working on and gone for a cast for that, too. I've made a mould of Cyb Hot Shot's head, and the cast's come out really well. Again, once it's properly set (which I hope won't be too long, since I'm itching to get it finished), I'll install the neck joint (actually the wrist from Alt Sideswipe) and make the mods I need to the face.
Meanwhile, I can work on the z-joint I'm developing to let me fold the head into the chest...

by **ptitvite** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:57 am

Hey that's nice!! Do you keep the headmaster function or are you planning to make him a non-removable head? IMO, the original is too big like SD size?

by **Ramrider** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:47 am

No Headmasters for him (although I'm suddenly considering the possibility of Targetmasters). He's gonna be an entirely different character when I'm through with him. Like I said, I've cast a copy of Cyb Hot Shot's head, and I'm modding that to fold (as far as I can) into the canopy. He's also getting a balljoint neck which is serving both as articulation and as a transformation pivot.

by **Ramrider** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:00 pm

Coming along quite nicely; I've fitted the head now. Still need to make some aesthetic mods, but it works. The head now rotates 180 degrees and folds down into the chest for bike mode - it doesn't go all the way in, partially because it won't fit and partially because if it did I wouldn't be able to get it back out. But it makes it inconspicuous enough for the sake of the disguise - no exposed chins like Energon Ironhide!

Pics probably tomorrow.

<edit> Changed my mind. Here we go...

Bike mode - it looks from this photo like the head sticks up quite a lot, but I actually think it looks okay in person. Plus the finished head design should help it blend in with the canopy. And yes, it does have light piping... :wink:

Robot mode:

..and showing how the head retracts...

</edit>

by **keeblezak** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:17 am

i would comment on the mechanism, but hotshot looks so evil and completely non hotshot-ty

by **Ramrider** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:31 am

He does at the moment, doesn't he? Well, I haven't finished with the head yet, and besides which it isn't actually going to be Hot Shot... I just cast his head because I figured it would work well for my purposes...

by **Ninjagazz** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 7:23 am

Wow vast improvment! I always liked the look of that fig but didnt buy it because I read a reveiw saying the articulation was sucky, this was before I learned about kitbashing and that we didnt have to accept the figs as they came.

Forgive me If youv'e already said this but who is this gonna be? or is it a surprise? if so say no more.

by **Ramrider** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:17 pm

Glad you like!

Yeah, the articulation was sucky beyond belief; the shoulders and hips are okay, but aside from that the only thing you've got is the rotating elbows, and that's only so he can transform. Kitbashing is a wondrous thing... Thing is, with the exception of the head, I haven't had to add a great deal to the fig to improve the articulation, it's all been about removing stuff.

I'm keeping his identity under wraps for now, although it shouldn't be long before it's pretty clear...

by **Ninjagazz** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:04 am

What happened to this bash? I was interested to see how it would turn and just who it would be, is Ramrider still about? Haven't been about much since the merger got confused and lost the forum for a while (stupid I know)