I suck at painting. But I tried my best to give him a rusty/junker/battle worn look.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/8Q7AKFa.jpg)
For structural reasons, I have no choice but to tolerate that gap.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/BMBKlZE.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/oloM8Yx.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/K1fpKQe.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/n2ITQ4r.jpg)
Here it is, compared to an almost perfect condition original:
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/NF4hdDw.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/xOUofbX.jpg)
Here it is, in bot mode, with a "real" head!
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/IAc2Db0.jpg)
It would have looked pretty stupid to give it a "normal human" head. To stay faithful to the retro aesthetics, I used the Beast Machines Skyla vehicle "head". And it work perfectly!
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/rNCwR6W.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/Gx9K7hl.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/FjECCxB.jpg)
Balljoint action for that extra transformation step.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/zGjdvXz.jpg)
Compared to the original:
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/0BteQa3.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/MWQz8Wl.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/zsaa5tU.jpg)
Overall, it could have been better, but I'm still glad I managed somehow to realise the idea.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/KCZNLz4.jpg)
EDIT
I really didn't liked that paint scheme. The "rust" was too intense. So I toned it down with another layer of yellow. The final result is not perfect, but closer to what I had in mind.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/P29eZ66.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/sk5yy3V.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/5DRrSIL.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/8UxgO4l.jpg)