The Energon Pub

I've been working on a diving helmet and tentacles and possibly a trident for the upcoming Botcon Octopunch (or at least the 2010 Seaspray mold) and this is what I have so far. It's only a mockup to work out all the kinks and make sure the measurements are right but the final products will hopefully be available through Shapeways in time for Botcon. This is actually the third version of the helmet, the first looked a little too Juggernaut and the second was too football shaped. The helmet fits the back of the neck perfectly; Seaspray's strange collar is not a problem. I'm hoping to get it rendered this week so I can focus on the tentacles before banging out the trident last.

Tell me what you think so far!



Excuse the quick purple paint job. I'm thinking of putting a ring on the top of the helmet to connect a chain to. These suits always had some sort of tether and another ring would go on the butt of the trident so you could attach them if you wanted to.

Looks really good so far! Will the parts all be removable?

breastforce wrote:Looks really good so far! Will the parts all be removable?

Yes, the tentacles will attach to the C-clip bars on Seaspray's shoulders and the helmet will have a simple grip ridge in the back.

V. nice use of those Lego tentacles. looking good so far, I can't wait to see how this turns out!

looking good indeed. I think it'll look food with a chain on the helmet. Not sure about one on the trident, unless you make the trident also an anchor...? I don't know if hovercraft use anchors mind you, but they don't often change into robots either.

He already looks like Octopunch! Maybe you could sell these as add-ons? That would be cool.

Personally, I find the tentacles to be a bit undersized for the scale fo the figure. Could just be me though. Also, the helmte to me seems to be a bit lacking in detail for the size it is.

GIJOE di aa dive helmet, I wonder if that would fit?

This is just a mock up for measurements and to make sure everything would work out. It will be made available on Shapeways and should be ready to go before Botcon. The tentacles are just Lego placeholders. I'll be working on them next. I'd really like to make them articulated if possible but I'm not sure if I could make it work in time for the con.

craggy wrote:Not sure about one on the trident, unless you make the trident also an anchor...?

That was one idea I was working on but but a stylized one. Nothing to complex but the trident may not work out but I'm going to try it. Hovercrafts are equipped with anchors but not usually the classic ship kind we all think of.

Not too shabby! I'm 100% behind this project. So far so good.

Although i know your just sizing stuff up but the tentacles i think could use a little modernization with this custom your doing. I suggest using the clips that attach those tentacles too the arms but make a nice big and poseable set of tentacles that aren't so static as the ones you have there or the G1 figures.

Make em a bit wild and menacing.

The helmet looks good as well.

Good luck man. I'm excited to see your progress with this fella.

monstergrotusque wrote:Not too shabby! I'm 100% behind this project. So far so good.

Although i know your just sizing stuff up but the tentacles i think could use a little modernization with this custom your doing. I suggest using the clips that attach those tentacles too the arms but make a nice big and poseable set of tentacles that aren't so static as the ones you have there or the G1 figures.

Make em a bit wild and menacing.

The helmet looks good as well.

Good luck man. I'm excited to see your progress with this fella.

Those are only Lego tentacles from a $3 set and are only there to illustrate the idea. I've decided to have the two tentacles per arm on a shared base. The base would snap on to the c clips on the front and follow the surface around to the side. The front tentacle would have to go up while the rear one would go down just so the arm is still usable. I've got an idea for two points of articulation each but since these would have to be assembled by the person ordering it, I'm not sure if a pin or a ball joint would be better. Neither one would be designed to be taken apart after assembly but they will still be removable from the arm as a whole unit. That's not something I can mock up so easily.

So which on seems like the better idea: ball in socket or a snapping in pin?

With such an application, i would think ball joints would be the clear choice. Tentacles are meant to be hyper poseable in my opinion.

I like the idea of a clip on base piece with ball joints on top. Good thinkin.

It may be a bit early to ask but what are you thinking the material you would use for them (tentacles)? Are you thinking of a hard plastic static sculpt or bendy?

monstergrotusque wrote:With such an application, i would think ball joints would be the clear choice. Tentacles are meant to be hyper poseable in my opinion.

I like the idea of a clip on base piece with ball joints on top. Good thinkin.

It may be a bit early to ask but what are you thinking the material you would use for them (tentacles)? Are you thinking of a hard plastic static sculpt or bendy?

I'm going to test them in various materials when I can get them rendered and back from Shapeways. I'm actually thinking of ball joints at the base and two of the pin style hinges per tentacle. They'd be about as long and articulated as an average index finger.

I agree that ball-joints on the tentacles are the way to go. I know it's still early days yet, but any idea of a rough ballpark figure for cost? I'd be quite tempted to buy a version of this mold (probably not Ducktopunch) just for this cool add-on set, as I'm a sucker for some Mayhems.

craggy wrote:I agree that ball-joints on the tentacles are the way to go. I know it's still early days yet, but any idea of a rough ballpark figure for cost? I'd be quite tempted to buy a version of this mold (probably not Ducktopunch) just for this cool add-on set, as I'm a sucker for some Mayhems.

From what I understand about Shapeways, the send them the design and they tell you how much it would cost to make it then you put on a percentage for profit. Now I am planning to have it all available separately and in bundles with all 3 pieces and just the helmet and the tentacles. When I know how much it'll come to I will post it.

Here's another possible idea for those tentacles. I'm just throwin it out there for a possible piece of inspiration in the creative process.

Dude, I'm loving this set. I see what you are going for and it is an upgrade that should have been included with Ducktopunch. Having utilized shapeways for about a year now, I've learned a few things regarding the production of 3d prints. If you would like some suggestions on how you can produce these in limited numbers for a lot less than 3d prints, PM me.

Great work man, I'll buy one!

Now that I actually have an Octopunch in hand for color matching and all of the rendering is done, I hope to have the first set in hand in about 2 weeks! Pics will be up then and (barring any unforeseen design flaws) ordering and production will begin!

The waiting is killing me!

BeastProwl wrote:The waiting is killing me!

I too am waiting with anticipation.

*Dink Dink* Hello? Is this still a thing?

BeastProwl wrote:*Dink Dink* Hello? Is this still a thing?

Very much so. I'm having some issues with Shapeways. Their price estimate is $345 in WSF so if anyone is will to pay that, it's ready to go. Even striping it down to only one of each piece it's $115, which doesn't make sense mathematically. That's more then 5 times the it should be for materials by volume so I have a friend looking over the whole thing for me.

And I check this thread almost daily to make sure I can answer any questions.

Mkall wrote:

BeastProwl wrote:The waiting is killing me!

I too am waiting with anticipation.

How do you think I feel? I've been working on this since January! I taught myself rendering for this!

Would anyone be interested in pics of the renders? Just to see what the complete kit will entail?

I'm interested!
And shocked at the price. I hope that thats a mistake!

BeastProwl wrote:I'm interested!
And shocked at the price. I hope that thats a mistake!

It is. I should get it at x5 size for that price. That's why I have someone with both rendering and Shapeways experience (but no interest in Transformers) taking a look at it. She's gotten thing far larger and more complex for a LOT less than that.

I'll put up some of the render shots tomorrow. Not all though. I want to save a few things for solid copy reveals.

Sounds good! I am really interested in this. I cant paint worth a damn, but I'm still interested in how it will come out.

First off, the helmet:



The porthole was going to open at one point but the hinge would have been too small for Shapeways tolerances to guarantee everybody's would fit perfectly and that it would stay closed. It also had ladder rungs on the sides like a diving bell but again, size restraints and the ones on the shoulders will be covered anyway so they just didn't look right anymore. I know it looks a little... angular but it will still come out as round as Shapeways can make it.

That's all for right now. I hope you guys like it!