The Energon Pub

I've finally started on my next project, which is a step up in difficulty from the ones I've done in the past. I'm taking a Cybertron Thundercracker and I'm turning it into Dirge. Here's what's up. Firstly, I wanted something to help single him out, as his original character was also unique from the other seekers. I've decided that a neat way to do this, while keeping with the realism of the alt mode is to go with a cutting edge new technology in camoflauge, and use a real life desert camo scheme in place of his brown uniquely shaped wings.

HERE IS THE NEW TYPE OF CAMO TECHNIQUE: DIGITAL CAMO







HERE IS THE REALISTIC CAMOFLAUGE SCHEME:








Now, I've got a few decisions to make that I have yet to be successful with, and so I'm asking you guys for your feedback/input on these!

Firstly, I'm having a hard time in choosing between Dirge's Anime colors and his Toy colors.


DIRGE'S ANIME COLORS:







DIRGE'S TOY COLORS:







OK, now that you've had a good look at things, I offer up two digibashes: Cybertron Thundercracker done up in Anime colors in one, and Toy colors in the other. He DOESN'T have to be all of one or all of the other, things COULD be mixed-and-matched if it looks right. The points of difference are as follows:


A)the head

B)the cockpit

C)the thighs

D)the shoulder's aps



HERE IS A DIGIBASH OF TOY COLORS:







HERE IS A DIGIBASH OF ANIME COLORS:







One more thing of note, before you get to typing: I painted the missles white w/ red tips for two reasons: 1)war shots are painted white, and 2)I thought this would be a nice way to homage the original toy's white and red stripes on the wings without sacrificing any realism (minus the tips of course).

If you guys could offer up what you think about which head/chest/thighs/shoulders you prefer (or a combination thereof!), or any other suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate them. I have already fully disassembled an extra Cybertron Thundercracker, and I've got all the paints and supplies allllll ready to go!


-Andy


EDIT: I almost forgot! I've not yet figured out what to do for his decepticon logos yet either should I do the three (each main wing and nosecone) like the original, or the one that's already on the gunhand, or what???

personally i would like a mix of the two... head of anime on toy paint scheme...

I agrea. Toy body with anime head. I like this concept. Looks like some of the Hornet trainers I worked around at Oceana.

I can't wait for this one!
Make sure i get progress pics
OK then comments, tips.

ref digi images:
Love that brown
Hate the blue
Blue canopy looks better
2nd head is the better but still a little off, can you make the inner face a little blacker?
2nd legs are better with the less blue ( I understand the digi's were of 2 different styles but IMO this mould makes us think a little out of the box )

Thanks it for now, all IMO and tips not bashing you know that you asked me to do it

edit: **** the more i look at that the more i want to do it too.
Not as Dirge but as a brown Jet without any of the blue in there.....

I prefer your digibash of the toy colors, but I would include the black thighs from the 2nd bash. It helps to visually relieve the overly long legs on that mold.

thanks. I think you're right.


nobody has said anything yet about the paint aps on the shoulder pieces? red or gold...


ok, here's the body, with both heads... I also used each shoulder color so you can see them with the body to help ya see what they each look like

red shoulders... i personally dont like the all black thighs... but do what ya like!

I think the black head (possibly even with the all-black face, or a darker silver). The shoulders I'm not sure about; to be honest I think both work equally well.

gawd6sic6 wrote:red shoulders... i personally dont like the all black thighs... but do what ya like!

what were you thinking? those red and silver aps from the toy version over the black?



an all black head would certainly be toy accurate *L* I think it would be a little monotonous though...

I prefer the first one's face. I don't like the black face.

i like the toy digibash legs.. the all blue with the red and silver ...

thas wha im thinkin yo!

Hm, tough choice.

I think I prefer the Anime version, but I do feel that having the upper legs completely black is a bit too much. Maybe you can paint those little squares on his upper legs red to silver (like the G1 toy had and as you?ve depicted for the toy color scheme).

For the face I?d use the silver. Looks better IMO.

Prefer the blue canopy, but it should be a darker blue to match the blue of his arms.

Like the red triangles on the shoulders, because if you look at him from the front, you have the red tips on the missiles going up and reaching their zenith with the shoulders.



But what I?d really want to see on your Dirge is that digital camo

I wasn't sure if I wanted to post these now, or when I was completely finished, but I'm pretty darned far along now. my next step is to future floor polish everything, add the paint aps to the face, form the arms and legs back together, and then I'll be down to doing the camo scheme and the missiles, unless I decide to go ahead and add some sort of paint ap to the thighs.


















The blue is a dead ringer for the original Dirge, score!



this color looks JUST like sand:




REMOVED the masking tape:





REMOVED the masking tape:





I found a 1:100 Super Hornet model kit today for $2.98... those stupid rubber missiles are trash now!





I got the canopy painted with superthinned black paint, and yes, its still quite see-through





Andy

WOW I can't wait to se that thing assembled

this is going to be awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And no rubber missiles

niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice

Sideways wrote:WOW I can't wait to se that thing assembled

well, it won't be long now I clearcoated everything tonight, so tomorrow I'll be reassembling him. he'll still need his camo and need to get the missiles glued on, but you'll be able to better see where I'm going! I'll have a coupla shots to show of course

well, I had a few minor set-backs, so I didn't get to fully reassemble the guy, but honestly, I was probably being too hasty anyway. I got the missles from the model get trimmed down to fit (cut off the tabs) and applied to the wings, reassembled most of the rest of him, and did various touch-ups. I hope to touch-up around where I glued on the missiles tomorrow, and finish reassembly tomorrow. After I get the flat clearcoat applied (thin, its already got future on it) on the head then I will paint metallic gold to the eyes so they stay shiny. then the hard part: the camoflauge!












-Andy

Looking good! Now hurry the hell up!

LOL, Yeah what he said!!!

please bear with me on the camo painting, Its going to push my abilities the farthest I've ever done!


I finished reassembling him today. I went ahead and dull-coated the head (over the future) so that tomorrow I can paint his eyes metallic gold and they'll keep their shine. I'll just put a dab of future over them alone after they've dried. For all intents and purposes, I only have to do the camo pattern now, which of course will be slow and tedious. but for now, he's the jetmode sans-camo:




















-Andy

Looks good, so far. Personally I think your crazy for trying that camo scheme. Good luck with it.

Wow - that looks fantastic. Lovely clean job.

But I can't wait to see how you tackle that weird-sheet camo. Be sure to keep us posted with WiPs so we can see how you do it..!

Actually for a digital cameo image you could try getting some kind of make shift stencil, like a window screen or something like that, block off the parts you don't want to be a certain color, spray it, let dry, then move to the other colors kinda like how you would do a screen printing.

Should simulate the pattern fairly well I'd think.

Greyryder wrote:Looks good, so far. Personally I think your crazy for trying that camo scheme. Good luck with it.

I know, I think I am too! I put a generous coating of future floor over everything... so if I screw up any while working on the camo, I should be able to clean it off and fix it... I hope.