The Energon Pub

[Bradester]

I'm new...so hello!!!

I'm a huge movie buff and LOVE Halloween, so it's a fun combination. The past few projects for Halloween have included an Ectomobile, Mystery Machine, Batman costume, Star Wars costumes and a life size Star Trek shuttlecraft. But this year at the request of many neighbors and figuring something fun to do, my project is to build a 20 foot tall generation 1 Optimus Prime using leftover parts from last year's shuttlecraft; so the primary materials being used are foam, Gorilla Tape, PVC and a few 2x4's.

Is this the right place to share? I started building late last Friday and have his head done, except for the eyes which will hopefully be finished tomorrow. Here is his head as of today:



What do you think?

[compute146]

hi and welcome,
defo right place and this is right up my street,(see my post) awesome work so far, and nice to see you going for the g1 look to, keep up the excellent work
all the best
colin

[Bradester]

Hah thanks! I love the neck detail on yours.

Here is a pic of mine that helps to show the size of Prime's melon. It's made of a plastic garbage can, Gorilla Tape, foam and metal mixing bowls.

I'm 6'1".

[Bradester]

Now with eye goodness!

[compute146]

wow thats big!!! awesome work, and is that the mystery machine i see in the background????? this is just brilliant mate
all the best
colin

[Bradester]

wow thats big!!! awesome work, and is that the mystery machine i see in the background????? this is just brilliant mate
all the best
colin

Thanks...and why yes that is the Mystery Machine! That was my Halloween project 2 years ago. The shuttlecraft took its place in the yard last year, so the Mystery Machine was moved over there to the corner. Now Prime and a projected Megatron will take center yard this year.

[compute146]

BRILLIANT JUST BRILLIANT!!!
ALL THE BEST
COLIN

[Bradester]

Head = done done! Transparent blue eyes were installed to light from inside. The body starts tomorrow! (I think the eyes really complete the look)



and:

[GEEWUN]

Truly truly you are awesome....

[Bradester]

Hah that's a good way to start a Monday, thanks! I AM an awesome wiener! Winner? Hmmmm...either way I'll take it.

It was decided over the weekend that Prime is going to be mounted to a utility pole due to his buffness and weight. I'll try to post so this isnt a total 56k killer.

The pose Im going to try and get close to:


Layout of basic frame parts:


His lower leg and part of thigh:


From hips to shoulder:


And as of yesterday, the front half of his torso with the arm frames in place:


I think I'm going to have to attach his completed skinned and painted upper body to the utility pole, somehow get the pole into the ground without anything breaking, and then attach the legs at the end.

[Axlmus Prime]

This is looking good. I cant wait to see more. Keep up the good work!!

[Bradester]

Thanks! The neighbors are starting to notice and are starting to ask questions!

Front-upper body framing is done!


The spot where his head goes: his actual head is still a bit taller than that.


Im going to work on his arm skins, hands and gun tomorrow:

[compute146]

looking as awesome as ever, so how you doing the gun, ? it will have to be fairly light weight otherwise it will pull prime over?? and what you using for the skin? man i thought i was the only crazy one on these boards lol!!!!
all the best
colin

[Autobahn Prime]

That's just awesome! Just wondering, was 19 feet his actual hight in the show? Just wondering lol. If I had the time/resources, I would totally make a bunch of to scale transformers and set them up in my yard like a war scene. LOLZ, NERDZ UNITE!

[Bradester]

Hah. The middle/core of the gun will be a 6 foot piece of aluminum gutter downspout, with foam and Gorilla Tape around it to create the shape. I figure this will make it as lightweight as possible.

His hands will be wire and foam with the Gorilla Tape so they are poseable.

And his skin will be foam screwed to the wood frame with Fender washers to give the screws more surface area, and the seams will be Gorilla Taped.

Gorilla Tape is great stuff!

[Bradester]

That's just awesome! Just wondering, was 19 feet his actual hight in the show? Just wondering lol. If I had the time/resources, I would totally make a bunch of to scale transformers and set them up in my yard like a war scene. LOLZ, NERDZ UNITE!

I think in the G1 show he is supposed to be 21-23 feet tall. But since his lower leg is his biggest body part and the foam only comes in 8 foot sheets at most, I had to scale him down to match that 8 foot leg size and make him 19 feet instead. But I doubt anyone will miss the less couple feet when they are standing infront of him. I do believe he will be the biggest Halloween Prime built from what my research shows me.

[Predaprince]

Wow! Good luck!

[Bradester]

6' of aluminum downspout and foam cut roughly into the shape of Prime's gun:


Both foam sides installed / screwed / Gorilla Taped to the gutter:


I might have made it a little too big.....



Aluminum paint instead of black so it shows up better at night:


Battle damage and details added:


Gun = done!


The start of Prime's 2 foot long left hand:


Modeled after mine, looks pretty close:


Size comparison. Fingers will be altered more so can be made poseable with wire:


What yall think so far?

[Bradester]

Joints cut:


Wires inserted and then posed:


1st coat of blue paint:


Finished left hand!:




First body part installed! Neighbors spotted already and are acting curious, but havent stopped yet to ask questions.

[GEEWUN]

[Bradester]

Got some more skin installed today:


Arm is coming along:


Chest and stomach:


Grill and trim pieces:


Quick drawing of the paint scheme so you know what you are looking at above:


Im going to re-do the gun to make it rounder and lighter weight. No pics of that yet.

[compute146]

looking really awesome, i can really see it taking shape now, your doing a fantastic job
all the best
colin

[Bradester]

I redid the gun to make it more wind friendly and as close to Prime's design I can do. Hopefully now it looks way more familiar.

Took the old gun apart. Saved the core, top, back and barrel. Installed new round cylinders and filled them with expanding spray foam for sturdiness:


Foam expanded a lot over night!:


Extra trimmed off with my carving knife:


Ready for paint:


1st coat of aluminum:


A little magic with my spray can:


Replacement gun = DONE!:

[GEEWUN]

The New gun equals WIN!!!

[Bradester]

Reference photo so you can see how big that new gun is!:


And looks it's now installed and so far nothing has broke!:



And this is the start of his right hand that will hold the gun, and hopefully be installed tomorrow: