The Energon Pub

I recently bought a RotF Ravage with the express purpose of giving him more than a 'tuck my legs in and call it an alt-mode' Transformation. I have car model shells laying about, most of which are deluxe size. But now I've run into a problem

I've done kitbashing, and re-shelling, before... But all my previous re-shells had car alt-modes to start with. I used the places where the previous 'shell' attached to attach the new shell and would carefully use my dremel to cut the connection points from the previous shell and put it on the new shell and end up with new alt-modes for toys.

but With Ravage I'm running into trouble. I've got the right shell, he fits in under there just about right, I'll just need to add a joint to his hind legs to tuck them under a bit better, and I'm trying to figure out what to do with his hip guns.

I'm fairly certain I can figure out where to create the attachment points, and I'm sorting out where to cut the shell for the transformation, but what I've run into is that I don't know how to create a way to let the mold click together well after transforming.

I'm not sure that I have any of the toys to create the connection joints, does anyone know how to make them from scratch? I'm thinking maybe seeing if I have some peg/hole pieces or the like around, using those... anyone have any suggestions? This is by far the most extensive mod I've done so far.

I really don't think he fits any form of car mode.

I'd stare at his "alt mode" for a while, and see what the most basic shape is, then find something that shape (whatever it is). Maybe a Star Wars ship of some kind?

Hey, thanks for replying, I was worried that I'd offended everyone asking for some advice

Ummm, actually I removed a millimeter or two (literally) of the stops for the range of the cannons swing motion and lowered his canons a bit so that save for his two largest shoulder spikes he fits perfectly into the shell; sides, bonnet, boot and top, heck even the wheel placement shouldn't get in the way of moving parts (And wheels always cause me problems with the extensive work. Treads are easy, wings usually more so... WHEELS are evil;))

When I didn't get any replies I finally ended up just making a blank 'mold-shell' from heavy construction paper, that way I can rearrange how the pieces need to be cut and folded before doing the final cuts, and I can make several trial shells before the final as well, to check range of motion as the paper is the same thickness as the shell plastic.

I know I probably could make him a spaceship but I liked the idea of him being a car *shrugs* But then again my favorite Binaltech is the 'Jaguar/Ravage' I looked at his 'alt' mode for a long while and finally went with car-mode (and I know it seems silly) as I liked the idea of this Ravage being able to interact with more characters, and spy up close and personal with a bit more ease, leaving Soundwave to watch from the silence of space.

(Never let a kitbasher get bored, we're dangerous ^v^... There's not a single TF I own that hasn't gotten some sort of work done if they're not MIB

I'll have to admit I've never tried re-shelling a figure (which is why re-tooling the xformation of TFTM Jazz & V Prime has me stumped)


That said, looking at Ravage's "alt mode", would it not be possible to flip the hip cannons upside down & have them form the under-side of a rear window? I'd think there'd be enough clearance if you made the window flush with the car roof...

closet_rat wrote:I'll have to admit I've never tried re-shelling a figure (which is why re-tooling the xformation of TFTM Jazz & V Prime has me stumped)


That said, looking at Ravage's "alt mode", would it not be possible to flip the hip cannons upside down & have them form the under-side of a rear window? I'd think there'd be enough clearance if you made the window flush with the car roof...

Hmmm... *tries that* Oh hey!!! Thanks!

For reshelling, I tend to make a cardboard version of the shell and figure out the cuts needed to reshell... it's a method I'm using for this, though it's still giving me a bit of trouble.

To make the cardboard 'practice' shell lay the new shell on cardboard paper and draw an outline of the sides, top, front and back, most cars are rather boxy so this will give you a rough shape.
Now something I found out the hard way is make sure the cardboard shell fits inside the shell-to-be, or at least roughly fits.

I tend to keep the 'stencils' of my shell-rough so I can make several shells to practice the cuts and TF sequence.

As I mentioned before it's worked on my re-shells but a shell on something with no basic form for me to mod is drving me crazy :S

updates?