The Energon Pub

News Credits: 8 · by **Jin Saotome** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:52 pm

Drumroll if you will! After what, weeks, a month maybe, my Leader Class Prime is finally finished. I had one hell of a time opening him up because I was determined to swap the yellow LED eyes out for a blue one. Turns out there was this metal pin that was covered in plastic keeping him together. Once that was tapped out, Prime opened up like an middle-aged-rock star on a psychiatrist's couch. I created his sword from the clear orange plastic of a 22 bullet ammo case. This stuff is STRONG, took me a while to dremel it out, I think it’s solid acrylic. Click Prime's link for the info on how it attaches and such tho! Optimus Prime

Now for Starscream! A pilot of an F-22 Raptor emailed me and asked if I would consider making SS look like a real Raptor as they’re gray, not tan. Low and behold the gray paint job makes him look WAY cooler IMO. I hate missile fingers so I ended up making removable, fully poseable arms this time around. Did you know a Xevoz balljoint will fit up into SS’s empty shoulder socket perfectly? Now you can swap his arms out easily with anything using those! Check SS’ link for the complete write up of what I made the arms from and more! Starscream

by **Susinko** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:00 am

That is so cool looking! Why in the world did Hasbro give Leader Class Prime YELLOW eyes? Those two look real good!

by **Thenedain** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:02 am

I love the grey Starscream! Looks much, much better now. I'd kind of like to see that tone of grey used with a G1-ish style paint deco. Could be pretty nifty looking.

That clear acrylic used on bullet cases is pretty strong stuff. I know someone who tried using some for clear shielding on a custom GW Rhino build he was doing. Spent nearly a day trying to cut the damned stuff out. Looks great, though, and well worth the extra effort.

by **Bumblebee-otch** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:22 am

how do you change the LED in the head? just pop it out like a christmas tree light or what?

News Credits: 75 · by **Devastator** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:24 am

As always, your work is very impressive Jin. Starscream looks a lot better now. I guess Starscream having removable arms isn't so bad as it allows his jet mode to look so much better.

News Credits: 972 · by **i_amtrunks** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:41 am

Loving the Optimus with Blue eyes. Yellow just does not suit the big guy.

And seriously, you could paint that Movie Starscream Day Glow Green and Pink and it would look better than the tan colour Hasbro painted him.

News Credits: 8 · by **Jin Saotome** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:16 am

Thanks everyone for the great replies! I did a double-take at Starscream after I finished him, I think he's my new favorite figure.

The LED in his head is crappily solderd to tiny wires whose tubing catches fire the moment you try to unsolder it. Takes a bit of fingerwork and some helping-hands gator clips but you can swap the lights if you're careful. I WISH they clipped in and out... bring that up at the next Hasbro discussion!

News Credits: 4 · by **GrimSqueaker** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:30 am

-insert generic praise response to Jins work post-

by **Kingplay** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:57 am

Nice work yet again Jin! :grin:

News Credits: 2 · by **Justicity** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:15 am

GrimSqueaker wrote:-insert generic praise response to Jins work post-

XD

Totally agreed. Yet again some wonderful work Jin. If Hasbro made SS more like that I'd say screw the odd & ugly transformation & actually buy it.

News Credits: 668 · by **Autobot032** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:58 am

Nicely done Jin. It's nothing you haven't heard a million times over already, but it bears repeating.

Especially Prime. Wow.

News Credits: 1 · by **spiritofcat** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:14 am

Very Nice!
You said it seemed like Prime was glued together until you found that hidden pin, is it usually the case that TFs aren't glued together but just have some secret pin or screw holding them together?

by **Starscream227** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:00 am

That starscream is now pure military love.

by **TK-225** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:06 am

Jin, I was just checkin' your website. I'm very impressed man. Makes me wanna go back to building models! Very great work man. :grin:

by **Deceptiwho?** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:53 am

*bows down* :APPLAUSE:

News Credits: 8 · by **Jin Saotome** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:35 pm

spiritofcat wrote:Very Nice!
You said it seemed like Prime was glued together until you found that hidden pin, is it usually the case that TFs aren't glued together but just have some secret pin or screw holding them together?

Normally yes, no glue. Tho I did fine that SS's upper shoulders were glued together with a screw so I had to gently crack them open to remove the gunpods. That was the only case I found with glue however.

Like Xeltecon on Facebook · by **Xeltecon** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:06 pm

that is absolutely incredible work Jin! I love all the fine details on him, especially the head. The sword is killer!

by **Uniprimus** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:07 pm

*Bow*

Once again, you amaze me Jin. REALLY great job. I hope you aren't still ticked at me.

Again, VERY nice job. This is some of you best work, especially the Starscream hands. :grin:

News Credits: 198 · by **DevastaTTor** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:43 am

Very, very nice. Wow!

by **Ironhider** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:56 pm

Dude I've been looking at your customs and there freaken awesome. You do an incredable job on all of your figs. Starscream is awesome and prime is cool too. You even inspired me to do a repaint of movie scout strong arm