The Energon Pub

So, after years of wondering when I'd get around to it, I finally decided to add some detail to BH voyager Optimus Prime.

If you weren't familiar, his Hasbro release doesn't really match up with the character model. Even the box art doesn't match the toy! Obviously there are 3D renders of the toy on the box but still.

Checked the box for a little inspiration..


And now I'm here.





So, I used some wire snips to get the spikes off of the bumper and chest and then used an Xacto and some model sand paper to smooth out the chest area.

Used black electrical tape on the front windows.

Used a red Sharpie to touch up the chest area after snipping.

And then I used Testors acrylic model paints with a brush. Lots of areas don't look as great as I'd hoped. Metallic silver on the knee caps, fists, wheels, wrist guards, cheeks, ears, pelvis.

Flat black on the inner leg tires, inner knee cap and shin guards, and side truck windows.

I need to figure out how to make the eyes blue and then maybe add some black to his forearms. I think some copper or gold may be needed somewhere.. I'll have to check renders again.

So, after tightening things up with floor polish, not a bad few hours of winging it!

Decided to add some additional paint to another favorite bot. I was going through pictures and said "You know, I thought there were versions of this guy with more paint. He's one of my favorite Transformer figures, I wonder what he should look like.." So I did some searching. Remembered they did a Platinum version of this guy a few years ago. Alt mode is where the biggest differences are. I'm not finished yet!

Snapped a picture yesterday with another favorite Transformer figure.


AoE deluxe just looks so plain. You can see the detail for an Autobot logo that isn't there, and side sills that should probably be painted. Also, fairly certain he didn't have black wheels.

I was right, he didn't.


That's a snazzy car. AoE deluxe deserves better.

So here he is, slightly upgraded, and with another favorite of mine, Movie Premium deluxe Bumblebee.



So there's still a little work to do. Taillamps, trunk decklid, wheels, fill in some more black on the rear diffuser and add some silver highlights.

Also in bot mode some things need to be done. I did the arms. Feets and ab details to come.


And striking a pose!

Another day, another round of updates on AoE deluxe Concept Camaro Bumblebee.

Last night I was able to add some additional gloss black to the rear diffuser and the exhaust area. I was also able to get the main solid stripe on the trunk decklid, but I messed up on my first attempt at the pinstriping surrounding that main stripe. I'll revisit that another time. A few other areas that needed additional black on the rocker panels (mainly out of direct line of sight) were added, and even the "windows" between the B and C pillars. You'll see in the pictures, but the front of the car painted by the factory is CRAZY messy compared to my relatively minor slip ups.

I wanted to get the wheels into a nice gunmetal color, and I think I was able to achieve that. I mixed gloss silver with a few drops of gloss black and then I used that on the wheels, the exhaust tips (so subtle!), the "throwing stars", his toes, the struts on his abs, and then light brushed random areas on the forearms, thighs, shins, feet, and shoulders. Overall, I'm pleased!!

I was also able to use gloss red on the taillamps, and I think they really pop. Steady hands and a nice sharp brush worked out well!

There are some areas that could be cleaned up, and I may be able to accomplish that by using a plastic spudger to scrape away excess. The only other thing that really needs to be changed is the Autobot stickers, as they are comically large. I may try the super ultra small decals that are for the TR Titan Masters from Reprolabels, if I do, I'll update later! They are nice, like a little medallion, almost like the factory emblem.

Well, until I figure out how to pinstripe around the main stripe on the decklid, and figure out the proper mix of blue metallic for the chest, I think I'm good to go.

So it's time for a round of "One of these things is not like the other!!"
Alt mode compared to the original on the card back.


Bot mode compared to the original on the card back.


I definitely like painted up Bumblebee better!!

So, out of frustration with the sword labels for Drift, I decided to paint up his spark sword. Nothing crazy, just a touch up really. Testors acrylic metallic silver on the blade and guard, Testors acrylic metallic gold on the internal guard/jewel housing and the detail that runs from the guard on the blade, and then Testors acrylic gloss blue on the spark jewel thingy. Not too bad. Grip is factory bare plastic.

This weekend, I found a bot I've been hoping to find, at a price I couldn't imagine!! It was the only one I saw in 3 boxes too. TLK deluxe wave 3 Bumblebee!! Here he is next to SS Lockdown.


In playing with him, I found a LOT of little areas that are tabs/slots for securing transformation. He's really intricate. When everything lines up, he's brilliant!!

But, much like AoE Bumblebee, something was missing. Something called paint. I decided to start with alt mode to find some missing areas.

Here's what the alt mode should look like.



So, here's what mine looks like now.



And here was bot mode before (with alt mode black highlights on the inner calf, outer thighs, chest)


And here's after.



All free hand, and proves that I need some sharper fine detail brushes!! Overall, pretty nice I think. Trying to clean up some of the non-sharp edges now and finding that the factory paint isn't the best either

Very nice repaint. I forgot the feet were totally grey cos I painted mine when I got him last year (and I used some apoxie to fill in the gaps on the inner parts of the feet). Your one looks great.

Your AoE Bee looks darn nice too.

Carnivius_Prime wrote:Very nice repaint. I forgot the feet were totally grey cos I painted mine when I got him last year (and I used some apoxie to fill in the gaps on the inner parts of the feet). Your one looks great.

Thanks!! I saw Sculpy brand stuff the other day at the store and was like "oh, that's Sculpy that people talk about in customizing!" Didn't buy any though, I don't think I'm there yet

I have AoE deluxe Bumblebee and TLK deluxe Bumblebee with me today. I'm very happy with both, and you really don't notice any paint issues when you're zooming them around or transforming them, it's when you get a camera up close that you really notice (blown up in size on my computer screens ).

How much was he Cram?

william-james88 wrote:How much was he Cram?

$4.99USD + tax!

itscramtastic wrote:

william-james88 wrote:How much was he Cram?

$4.99USD + tax!

Nice!

william-james88 wrote:

Scramjet wrote:

william-james88 wrote:How much was he Cram?

$4.99USD + tax!

Nice!

Heck yeah!! Price breakdown was this:
TR Trypticon: $49.99
TR leader: $19.99
TR voyager: $12.99
TR deluxe: $7.99
TLK deluxe: $4.99

I may be going back to get Drift..AND THEN PAINT HIM UP TOO!!

itscramtastic wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

itscramtastic wrote:

william-james88 wrote:How much was he Cram?

$4.99USD + tax!

Nice!

Heck yeah!! Price breakdown was this:
TR Trypticon: $49.99
TR leader: $19.99
TR voyager: $12.99
TR deluxe: $7.99
TLK deluxe: $4.99

I may be going back to get Drift..AND THEN PAINT HIM UP TOO!!

Oh man, I wish I found those at that price. But then again the US is getting those deals now due to their biggest toy retailer going bankrupt. So short term happiness with a long term loss of competition and shopping option, meaning that every other toy here on will have to be bought on the spot at full price in fear of them never being found again.

william-james88 wrote:Oh man, I wish I found those at that price. But then again the US is getting those deals now due to their biggest toy retailer going bankrupt. So short term happiness with a long term loss of competition and shopping option, meaning that every other toy here on will have to be bought on the spot at full price in fear of them never being found again.

Yeah, that was pretty good pricing. As for bots they had..
Trypticon, Overlord, Blitzwing, Octone, Krok, Twinferno, Triggerhappy, Quake was all they had for TR. Hot Rod, Steelbane, Drift, Crosshairs, and the one Bumblebee I saw.

And that whatever Squeeks, didn't check the price. I think that was all. Hot Rod was $9.99 though..for some reason..

Great job Cram! Looks really sharp in the photos.
Nice detailing on the feet!
Again, really good results for hand painting.

A note: Sculpy is a great sculpting compound for making new or custom pieces. I use it a lot for sculpting things that aren't TF custom related. But, it wouldn't be a good for filling holes in toys. It has to be baked in the oven to harden, and I don't think Bee would hold up to 20 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees.
You would have to use a self drying epoxy like Carnivius P mentioned.

So, this past weekend I was able to pick up TLK deluxe Crosshairs and Drift for $4.99 a piece like TLK wave 3 deluxe Bumblebee the week before. Difference being, these were the LAST TWO TLK deluxe bots they had in the store that weren't Hot Rod I got lucky. And I'm glad I did.

Crosshairs was too green. Drift was too red. Both needed more black and some silver thrown in for effect. Crosshairs even got some gold and red and a tiny spot of blue, as well as gunmetal.

So here they were.



And here they are now!



Even highlighted some areas in Crosshairs' duster jacket.


Alt modes before.


And after. I definitely need a few touch ups on this guy when you see them up close in a picture on a large monitor There's a lot of added black and red highlights that weren't there originally. Very tiny areas to paint!



Crosshairs didn't need much, just some black fill on the front fender vents and rear quarter vents.