New Project, Need Input

Okay, I am asking for some help from the forums on an idea I have for some custom figures. I am currently taking care of an ill family member and need something to keep my mind busy. I know that someone has probably done this before but I want to give it a shot. I have never posted anything custom on here before because the things I’ve done are not TF related. I was inspired by the 2006 BotCon set featuring the Maximals and what I want to do is make movieverse Beast Wars. This idea is still in its infancy so please bear with me and know it will take a long period of time. My plan is to make all of the characters on this list just not all at once. The plan is three phases. What I need help with is selecting the figures for their “transformation”. I plan to leave their bodies mostly intact with new paint applications. I will re-sculpt the heads to make them as show accurate as I can. With the weapons I’m not too sure if they will integrate or if I’ll follow Hasbro’s example with the DOTM mechtech idea. I have included my thoughts so far and only ask that any suggestions be somewhat cost effective as I will need to purchase all of these figures first, so please no super rare or import figure suggestions. Feel free to post any suggestions as a reply, PM or you can email me directly, just PM for my address. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any input you have. If I missed any characters I would love to hear your suggestions as well. I will bump this thread occasionally to make sure I have the best possible feedback.
MAXIMALS
PHASE 1
Optimus Primal (Black and silver gorilla. Will go with an OP just not sure from which movie)
Rhinox
Rattrap (The rat non wheeled version)
Dinobot (Tan raptor look)
Cheetor (Original cheetah look)
PHASE 2
Tigatron (Probably should be same figure as Cheetor)
Airrazor (Just not Arcee, I still want her as a Flyer. If I have to I'll put breasts on a robot, lol.)
PHASE 3
Silverbolt
Depthcharge
PREDACONS
PHASE 1
Megatron (My favorite look for him, the Barney look)
Waspinator
Tarantulas (Original purple spider)
Terrorsaur
Scorponok (He will get claws)
PHASE 2
Inferno
Blackarachnia (I hated her as a TM, keeping her the black and gold black widow)
PHASE 3
Quickstrike
Rampage
-Tony
MAXIMALS
PHASE 1
Optimus Primal (Black and silver gorilla. Will go with an OP just not sure from which movie)
Rhinox
Rattrap (The rat non wheeled version)
Dinobot (Tan raptor look)
Cheetor (Original cheetah look)
PHASE 2
Tigatron (Probably should be same figure as Cheetor)
Airrazor (Just not Arcee, I still want her as a Flyer. If I have to I'll put breasts on a robot, lol.)
PHASE 3
Silverbolt
Depthcharge
PREDACONS
PHASE 1
Megatron (My favorite look for him, the Barney look)
Waspinator
Tarantulas (Original purple spider)
Terrorsaur
Scorponok (He will get claws)
PHASE 2
Inferno
Blackarachnia (I hated her as a TM, keeping her the black and gold black widow)
PHASE 3
Quickstrike
Rampage
-Tony