Cybertron.
Yeah, there's the Primus/ Cybertron version from "Transformers Cybertron", but what I wanted was the image that I first saw in my youth...
...this:
(image courtesy of OptimusTimelord, TFW2005)
Now, I know the differing debates and problems intrinsic with this version, so I'm going to address them as well as to lay out my methodology for handling them.
1) Scale: In the Marvel comics, Cybertron is described as "Saturn-sized", while the cartoons show it with buildings that are either HUGE, or would make Cybertron smaller than the moon. Other continuities show it in differing scales and whatnot, as well as the movie version, when coming through the space bridge in DoTM, was massive compared to Earth.
How to handle it: First off, with the size of the Transformers themselves, as well as the scale of their war, I'm tending towards a planet larger than Earth. probably not Saturn-sized, but a fair bit bigger. As for the features seen from space in the pic, I will have those, but I'm considering the buildings to have been exaggerated for effect. I'm probably either going to scale them down a bit, and/or render them as city-states of their own on a massive scale.
2) Detailing: as mentioned, the buildings on the surface seem out of scale for such a large planet (if one goes with the Marvel comic's size claim). Later versions in the G1 cartoon are somewhat different, and do not seem to hold a consistent basis for landmarks. Additionally, the other side of the planet is not shown (to my recollection), further inhibiting the detailing.
How to handle it: As I mentioned earlier, I plan on down-scaling the buildings a bit, as well as showing them more as city-states of themselves. Handled subltely, no perceivable difference that would throw off the model will be noticeable. As for the opposite side of the planet, extrapolating from what we see, one more large metal "plate" would probably be present. Designing that to match the other "plains" and surrounding it with "city sections" as per the rest of the model would suffice to fill in the rest of the piece.
3) Surface: In G1, Cybertron has a silver, metallic surface. This silver seems almost grey at times, like an aluminum that has partially oxidized. In other versions, the surface looks medium to dark grey, and even within G1, the surface looks different colors at different times.
How to handle it: Once I finish the construction, the inner chasms will be painted almost black, working up to medium silver near the surface, in order to do "forced shading' and give the planet some scale. The city sections will be done in silver, the given a "wash" of black to pick out detail. Then, a drybrushing of light silver for highlights with some colors for lights. The "metal plains" will be aluminum foil attached via contact cement (dull side up), then burnished down for a smooth look. Panel lines will be put in with an xacto knife, then a wash of black to accentuate them.
Okay, enough talk. Now to show what I've done so far-
This is what I started with: a plastic light globe that was busted:
I began marking off features, and cutting out the sections I would need:
What I got from the globe:
A wooden ball from Hobby Lobby serves as the core of the model; I used a piece of sprue, glued in place, to place the ball at the center of the model:
I measured from all sides to ensure it was centrally placed:
I began gluing in more sprue rods to secure the core to the outer surface:
More rods in place:
Once enough supports were in place to keep the model secure, I began to fill in the sides of the chasms with cardboard. This also serves to further support the surface, and keep the outer "shell" from distorting or breaking:
The masking tape being used in the construction looks bad now; once the model is filled in and secured entirely, the tape will be burnished down (as it was on the Ark model) to a consistent smoothness. After this, the city sections will be built out of sprue laid in on end from the core outward and secured with contact cement.
Now, a progression to its' current state:
BTW: the G1 Ark I'm working on ( a preview of the topic to be posted soon!):
And where I am now:
Stay tuned folks...
