The Energon Pub

Transformers Prime Deluxe Class AUTOBOT PIPES made mostly from recycled cardboard

Hey guys, what's up? This is Brian here, and I felt the need to share my custom Autobot Pipes figure that I've been working on for the past months now. Just like some previous projects, this is mostly made out of recycled cardboard. 'Why' do you ask? It's easy to come by, cheap, and easy to work with. So enjoy my look into Autobot Pipes.

Description: Pipes is a self-centered, egotistical Autobot who thrives on his sarcastic tone, and wittiness. His main hobby is searching through trash and scrapped parts, looking for items that'll assist in the reconstruction of Cybertron's cities.



His alt mode is based on an earth design described by Bumblebee, but he converts into a modified Cybertronian Semi-Truck. I know the arms and legs are 'obvious' but I really don't mind. This was a hard to construct figure enough, and adding more complexity to it's transformation might actually suffer with the figure in the end with stability.



The back of him may seem unfinished, but I like it this way, though I might return to reconstructing or adding to it. But for the moment, I dig it.



This is a Prime based model, even though Pipes was never seen in the show. Though, for me, he looks good compared to other figures including my custom Transformers Prime Obsidian. In my opinion, they almost feel like enemies.



Transformation was easy to do, but the chest transformation gave me a harder time than you might thing. Still I'm pretty happy with the result of his robot mode. I think it looks like Pipes, it's aesthetics work with the Prime series, and even Generations.



As far as size goes, he's smaller than most Deluxe figures, which is a good thing in this case. I actually wanted him to be small given that he was a mini-bot in Generation 1.



One gimmick included, is that his arms can pop off. Why did I make this a gimmick you ask? Well it's so I can easily come back to modify something if needed.



Another gimmick is the idea of the backpack forming... well, a backpack. You can open it up and inside is multiple tools and accessories.



Accessories include a hand-gun, a wrench, and a knife. I may add other weapons and tools in the future, as he can even fit a whole Kreon inside, so he has plenty of room. And guess what, all accessories use the 5mm port system, so not only can you apply the accessories to other actual Transformers figures, but you can add accessories to Pipes.



Articulation includes legs forward and back, side to side, knee bend, upper arm moves forward and back, side to side, elbow moves side to side, up and down, and head rotates. Unfortunately some of the joints are loose, but to my surprise, it's not as bad as I though.



So there is my custom Autobot Pipes, might not be the best thing in the world, but I'm happy with it. I didn't just want to repaint a Huffer for this guy, (Which I'm not saying repaints are bad, I've done them before) I wanted to make a whole new mold. So thanks for checking this out and please comment below, and check out the link for more details and more pictures, even a tutorial on transformation, thanks for reading.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpzD7-VllDU

That's great! If you wanted to make more durable figures though, use plastic food containers. I often customise figure and build weapons with ice cream tub cuttings.