The Energon Pub

happy new year everyone. not quite sure what happened to some of my posts and updates. Because my wheeljack's thread was disrupted and several posts went missing, I'll just update it when I'm finally done with him.
for now, I've started working on Wheeljack's partner in death from the superior transformers movie. due to a handful of requests, I'm trying to keep step by step photos of this one. I'll post all of those when this guy's complete.
here are a couple of images of a brainstorm* collage and a little teaser of what he's looking like so far.
thanks for lookin'
right click on each image and select "view image" to see the whole thing.


*not the headmaster

update 1/03/08


update 1/04/08



update 1/06/08



update 1/08/08

Neato, this looks like it should be good!

Some say there is no begining, others say Spike has no mustache.

To these things I say, here are both.

I look forward to this projects evolution.

It looks promising, looks like I'll be visiting this thread to check on the progress.

Looks promising, and you did great in getting the correct car.

a quick update at the end of the first post.
cheers guys and thanks for checkin this out.

Repair Bay wrote:Neato, this looks like it should be good!

I hope so Repair Bay. thanks

Liege Evilmus wrote:Some say there is no begining, others say Spike has no mustache.
To these things I say, here are both.
I look forward to this projects evolution.

you noticed the stache! I was hoping for a comment on that.

olokin wrote:It looks promising, looks like I'll be visiting this thread to check on the progress.

Thanks olokin, I'll try to keep this one moving along.

Sherade wrote:Looks promising, and you did great in getting the correct car.

I got lucky, I found a 3 car model set that had this car and a Porsche 935 Turbo. some know that vehicle as jazz

thanks for looking guys.

Is the head a custom sculpt?

another quick update above...

olokin wrote:Is the head a custom sculpt?

the face is cast from classics jetfire with some basic modifications. I've been photographing this step by step. I'll put them all together and post a link when it's done.
thanks olokin

It looks really good so far. Excellent job on the head sculpt, and getting the correct type of car even.

If I were to point out any constructive comments, I'd suggest maybe making those legs a little sturdier. Right now they still look pretty flimsy (unless the feet fold in, then its okay)

Already looking better than I thought it would. Great to see this step by step.

Im still perplexed as to how you do these things....is it as simple as i said over on the other board? This is gonna be awesome though, even if i dont really remember the character. Yours so good at this why dont you do one of Prime? Use the classics voyager base and get a scale model of a freightliner flat nose semi as a model? Im sure youd be able to pull it off and it would look awesome i bet. Like a mini MP Prime but with better details.

(also glad to see you still posting here. So many ungrateful asses have abandoned this place due to a few bugs.)

underwear ninja wrote:It looks really good so far. Excellent job on the head sculpt, and getting the correct type of car even.
If I were to point out any constructive comments, I'd suggest maybe making those legs a little sturdier. Right now they still look pretty flimsy (unless the feet fold in, then its okay)

Constructive comments are always welcome. the legs do need a little beef. they'll get a wall on the inner leg which will assist with the illusion of bulk. thanks!

Repair Bay wrote:Already looking better than I thought it would. Great to see this step by step.

Thanks Repair Bay. Any relations to Michael?

Sonray wrote:Im still perplexed as to how you do these things....is it as simple as i said over on the other board? This is gonna be awesome though, even if i dont really remember the character. Yours so good at this why dont you do one of Prime? Use the classics voyager base and get a scale model of a freightliner flat nose semi as a model? Im sure youd be able to pull it off and it would look awesome i bet. Like a mini MP Prime but with better details.

(also glad to see you still posting here. So many ungrateful asses have abandoned this place due to a few bugs.)

Sonray, some of those ungrateful asses are my friends. I too am taking it a little easy over here until things clear up.

now about your main comment, if you're still curious it's not as simple as replacing the shell. I have detailed photos of almost every step I've taken with this character which I'll post when he's finished. for example here's an image of the legs before the car parts where added.

rod's legs are cut at the knees and replaced with clocker's knees and shins. Now his legs can fold which is what I need the car part to do in transformation. I worry about other stuff as it comes up. Prime? I can't even start thinking about it until I find a model kit that is the right size, model, and price. truck kits get pretty pricey.

thanks for the compliments and confidence guys

Sonray, calm down, the bad men are all gone.

Anyhow, Wheel_Jack, do you intend to make this transform like G1, or are you just going to make it look like it?
Because it seems it's getting there.

Wow theres so much more to this than i thought.

Where do you find spare parts, like the legs and stuff?

another update at the end of the first post folks.

Sherade wrote:...Wheel_Jack, do you intend to make this transform like G1, or are you just going to make it look like it?
Because it seems it's getting there.

hmm. it'll be similar. mainly in the legs. the whole front of the vehicle will fold back which is not like the toy. there's gonna be a little more to this than the original minibot.

Sonray wrote:Wow theres so much more to this than i thought.
Where do you find spare parts, like the legs and stuff?

I would imagine like most kitbashers I too have a work bench full of bits and pieces of transformers and other toys. now if only I could find what I need when I need it.

thanks guys.

At the risk of sounding completely gay ... I love you man!

You've got the touch ...

Wheel_Jack wrote:

Repair Bay wrote:Already looking better than I thought it would. Great to see this step by step.

Thanks Repair Bay. Any relations to Michael?

Haha if only...

quick update up top. reworked the chest.

AlienQuiksilver wrote:You've got the touch ...

you've got the POWER
diggi da diggi da diggi da YEAH! dun dun dah dah dun dun dah dah.....now that's gay!
thanks

Wheel_Jack, you constantly amaze me.
The only better re-sheller is Teletran 1!

I never thought Windcharger could look so good. As always the work you're doing is amazing Wheel_Jack. I especially like the head. I hae some difficulty with head designs even if I'm kitbashing an existing head like you've done.

quick updated shots.




Thanks for looking guys.

Tom_Servo wrote:Wheel_Jack, you constantly amaze me.
The only better re-sheller is Teletran 1!

thanks Servo. that's an awesome compliment. Teletran 1 is definitely in a different league.

Devastator wrote:I never thought Windcharger could look so good. As always the work you're doing is amazing Wheel_Jack. I especially like the head. I hae some difficulty with head designs even if I'm kitbashing an existing head like you've done.

Thanks Devastator. I don't mess with factory heads anymore. I've eft up more than a few. I've been casting them now. this lets you screw up as many times as possible without having to buy a new toy to replace the head. I think making a few quick digibashes helps also.

So what do you two (and who ever else wants to throw in their two cents) think I should do with the hood? do you like the position it's in now? I could add missile launders in the gap and have two missiles sticking out similar to what Tracks has. or my original thought was to have the windshield fold back 90 degrees which would hide the hood and windshield from behind his head. The thing that worries me about that is that he would be so damn back heavy. I suppose I could build something to fold out from the back of his lower legs to stabilize him. I'm just not sure yet. I'm at a sticking point. any thoughts?
cheers guys,
w_j+

Windcharger is looking good! I was wondering what you were going to do with front of that model kit car. Now I know. Now he needs a new paint job.

I think that you should complete folding back thing. If that proves impossible, I think you should use laser laser cannon bazookas, or the Tracks missile option. Good luck. I hope to see this completed soon.

If you could, I'd try to fold it back, but even if you didn't, this would still be an awesome bash! Ole Windy is looking sharp.

hmmm, why am I in fan fiction? I'm not complaining. I know the site is under construction. I actually think it's funny the way stuff is shuffled around until things clear up. Here are the most up to date shots I have of him. I left my autobot symbol decals in the studio so I can't give him his full on gallery just yet. thanks for everyone who checked this out. thanks for the compliments, criticism and suggestions. I'll get his flickr gallery up later.
cheers all.