The Energon Pub

My decepticons can finally retreat...

Made from an Alternator Optimus and a G2 Hero Megatron.

Pretty extensive alteration - didn't just repaint it, but also fixed the ugly leg problem by removing the plastic in front of the knees with a hacksaw and some sweating on my part (trust me - there's no way these things are going to shatter without due provocation!). I also did the simple shoulder mod that lets the bumpers be slightly farther apart.

Had to bore out the post inside the Hero Megatron head so that I could mount it on the Ram (lots of sticky-tack). Repainted the head while I was at. He has his trademark unibrow and the sculpt is surprisingly close to the cartoon model. Also, sacrificing the G2 Megs had the fringe benefit of an easy-to-rig fusion cannon. Had to cut off the bellows, though. It's ok - the tube plugs into the cigarette lighter for power.

Finally, I devised an easy way to emboss the Decepticon insignia on the chest so that it would be there without being immediately visible in the truck mode. I'll tell how I did that later







gallery

Looks like the one I made here:
http://www.tfmaster.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5919&highlight=

Just without the embossed insignia.

I like it.

Yeah, I actually posted in that thread that I got the inspiration for it right then, and would be using the G2 Megatron parts.

I didn't look at the thread with yours once I started, though. Megatron's color scheme transfers to the Ram in a pretty straightforward way. I full well got the idea of using the Ram from you, though. I thought I had made a note of that in my post, but looking back over it, I didn't

Still, yours and mine ended up pretty different - different leg and shoulder mods, as well as the heads.

Now, about that embossed insignia!

First thing you want to do is airbrush whatever part you're painting - you can't do it to stock figures, unfortunately.

Next, you want to do is apply a regular Decepticon insignia sticker, or two if you want a bigger emboss (I only used one).

Next, use a razor to remove the excess white. (Very carefully!)

After that, just airbrush over the sticker again. It's pretty easy overall, and is really useful if you want the faction symbol for the robot mode without having it mess with the appearance of the vehicle.

That is sweet.....I REALLY like this one!

Any chance on pics of the weaponry?

It's nothing fancy. It's just the gun from the tank painted black with some wire wrapped in electrical tape on it.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f303/claywyatt1982/kitbash/megatron/P1090110.jpg

One wire wraps around the elbow, and the other gets tucked into the seat. I'm probably going to re-do them so it can stay mounted more solidly while the arm is being moved, but it works for the moment. There are more pictures of it in the gallery link above.

I got my pack of stickers today, so I added the insignias on the shoulders. The next time I go to Hobby Lobby, I'll look for some clear gloss to spray over it to make the truck nice and shiny, but other than that, he's pretty well complete.

I wish we had a kitbash for idiots guide here. I really like that emboss Idea. So simple, and yet I never thought of it before. *shoots self in the foot*

also you keep saying G2 Megs, is that the green tank version, or like the rid yellow bludgeon version, hero megs?

Oh, yeah - the head is from the smaller G2 Megs that got repainted into Bludgeon.

I got the idea for the sticker embossing after airbrushing over some bubbling acrylic. Same effect, but not as pretty as insignias

Sweet

The embossed insignia idea is just inspired. Nice work!

I also have to say, my favorite part on this guy is the embossed Decepticon insignia.

I also love the add-ons from the G2 Hero Megs (Gun, head). And I think this is a good gray to use. Really nice job.

I've got a bunch of extra Maximal faction sticker left over. Tomorrow, I'll make a step-by-step picture tutorial with different layers of stickers to show what the process looks like and what the different results can be.

You'll all get to meet my practice Alternator, too

Messed around with the Dremel the other day, tinkering with the arm cannon... ended up with a perfectly sized hole for standard pegs. Now I can swap different arm cannons around.

First, good job. That versatility is terrific.

Second, I bust a gut at the sight of Megatron with Starscream's null ray. I think he'd blast his head with his own arm cannon before putting a piece of Screamer into his own body!

haha agreed, good job clay

Menbailee wrote:Second, I bust a gut at the sight of Megatron with Starscream's null ray. I think he'd blast his head with his own arm cannon before putting a piece of Screamer into his own body!

Ha! You're right. I just used the little jet cannon because it was handy. The launcher I think I'm going to use permanently is that blue Robot Master one since I have plenty of those.

Obviously I haven't painted it yet, but I'll get to that soon.