Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

[Skritz]

I think a better idea for Nominus Prime would be Studio Series Thundercracker. I mean he is just blue Nitro with a new head right? And speeking of Thundercracker i still need to post my latest custom; Combiner wars (deluxe class) Thundercracker. I have an idea to do a maching (deluxe) Skywarp, but to make him i would need a CW Airraid, a CW Skydive, a CW (G2)Airraid, a PotP Dreadwind and a 2014 Armada Starscream.

Since you seem to know your stuff with this: do you have a PotP Darkwing and if so, does his head function exactly like the previous aerialbots? Only use of this mold I got are the Liokaiser version (Hellbat and Guyhawk) and Dreadwind. Plus I'm still new to the whole customizing thing (my efforts so far are too crude and shameful to show) but I've been seriously considering making some deluxe seekers to go with Starscream. So do all Aeribots-type share similar head engineering?

[Hotconvoy]

I think a better idea for Nominus Prime would be Studio Series Thundercracker. I mean he is just blue Nitro with a new head right? And speeking of Thundercracker i still need to post my latest custom; Combiner wars (deluxe class) Thundercracker. I have an idea to do a maching (deluxe) Skywarp, but to make him i would need a CW Airraid, a CW Skydive, a CW (G2)Airraid, a PotP Dreadwind and a 2014 Armada Starscream.

Since you seem to know your stuff with this: do you have a PotP Darkwing and if so, does his head function exactly like the previous aerialbots? Only use of this mold I got are the Liokaiser version (Hellbat and Guyhawk) and Dreadwind. Plus I'm still new to the whole customizing thing (my efforts so far are too crude and shameful to show) but I've been seriously considering making some deluxe seekers to go with Starscream. So do all Aeribots-type share similar head engineering?

So they all have the same balljoint on combiner peg except Darkwing. I don't have him yet however from what i have seen the balljoint for his head is on a hinge so he and Dreadwind can combine into the "Dreadwing Jet." Also the cockpit can now fold all the way around so the nosecone is pointing down . And just a tip best way to make them not slopy is to just not mess with the paint work

[Skritz]

I think a better idea for Nominus Prime would be Studio Series Thundercracker. I mean he is just blue Nitro with a new head right? And speeking of Thundercracker i still need to post my latest custom; Combiner wars (deluxe class) Thundercracker. I have an idea to do a maching (deluxe) Skywarp, but to make him i would need a CW Airraid, a CW Skydive, a CW (G2)Airraid, a PotP Dreadwind and a 2014 Armada Starscream.

Since you seem to know your stuff with this: do you have a PotP Darkwing and if so, does his head function exactly like the previous aerialbots? Only use of this mold I got are the Liokaiser version (Hellbat and Guyhawk) and Dreadwind. Plus I'm still new to the whole customizing thing (my efforts so far are too crude and shameful to show) but I've been seriously considering making some deluxe seekers to go with Starscream. So do all Aeribots-type share similar head engineering?

So they all have the same balljoint on combiner peg except Darkwing. I don't have him yet however from what i have seen the balljoint for his head is on a hinge so he and Dreadwind can combine into the "Dreadwing Jet." Also the cockpit can now fold all the way around so the nosecone is pointing down . And just a tip best way to make them not slopy is to just not mess with the paint work

Guess I'll stay away from Blackwing, then, if he's not compatible with those Shapways seekers head. I've been slowy looking at various seeker parts for the CW Aerialbots trying to see how many variations could make while still keeping either a classic seeker head or a conehead. Really, it would come down to what wings one replace the originals ones with or not but I'm fairly certain that with enough money and dedication, someone could do nearly the entire seekers lineup with enough time, patience and willingness to blow money on the stuff.

Will I do it? Obviously not. Well, at least maybe not the full seeker lineup but I am tempted to at least get a Thundercracker, Skywarp and a Coneheads trio. Which I'm aware is more than the mandatory four limbs to attach to Starscream but it's just not the seekers without these two trios.

[Hotconvoy]

I think a better idea for Nominus Prime would be Studio Series Thundercracker. I mean he is just blue Nitro with a new head right? And speeking of Thundercracker i still need to post my latest custom; Combiner wars (deluxe class) Thundercracker. I have an idea to do a maching (deluxe) Skywarp, but to make him i would need a CW Airraid, a CW Skydive, a CW (G2)Airraid, a PotP Dreadwind and a 2014 Armada Starscream.

Since you seem to know your stuff with this: do you have a PotP Darkwing and if so, does his head function exactly like the previous aerialbots? Only use of this mold I got are the Liokaiser version (Hellbat and Guyhawk) and Dreadwind. Plus I'm still new to the whole customizing thing (my efforts so far are too crude and shameful to show) but I've been seriously considering making some deluxe seekers to go with Starscream. So do all Aeribots-type share similar head engineering?

So they all have the same balljoint on combiner peg except Darkwing. I don't have him yet however from what i have seen the balljoint for his head is on a hinge so he and Dreadwind can combine into the "Dreadwing Jet." Also the cockpit can now fold all the way around so the nosecone is pointing down . And just a tip best way to make them not slopy is to just not mess with the paint work

Guess I'll stay away from Blackwing, then, if he's not compatible with those Shapways seekers head. I've been slowy looking at various seeker parts for the CW Aerialbots trying to see how many variations could make while still keeping either a classic seeker head or a conehead. Really, it would come down to what wings one replace the originals ones with or not but I'm fairly certain that with enough money and dedication, someone could do nearly the entire seekers lineup with enough time, patience and willingness to blow money on the stuff.

Will I do it? Obviously not. Well, at least maybe not the full seeker lineup but I am tempted to at least get a Thundercracker, Skywarp and a Coneheads trio. Which I'm aware is more than the mandatory four limbs to attach to Starscream but it's just not the seekers without these two trios.

For Thundercracker i just combined the CW (G2) Airraid and Skydive with the 2014 Armada Starscream head and CW Skydive nosecone and (have yet to) tailfins plus TR Highbrow's guns

[-Kanrabat-]

I think a better idea for Nominus Prime would be Studio Series Thundercracker. I mean he is just blue Nitro with a new head right? And speeking of Thundercracker i still need to post my latest custom; Combiner wars (deluxe class) Thundercracker. I have an idea to do a maching (deluxe) Skywarp, but to make him i would need a CW Airraid, a CW Skydive, a CW (G2)Airraid, a PotP Dreadwind and a 2014 Armada Starscream.

I made MANY Combiner Wars customs and one thing I noticed is you can parts-swap and mod all you want, as long that you don't touch the torso and legs. The arms and all other panels can be modded to your heart content and it won't affect either the transformation or the combined mode. Just check out the link to the Postapocalocons below. Especially the spaceship part. Hoping the pîcs still work.

Just to point out that you do need a CW limb body as a base, but you can use pretty much what you want for the other parts.

[Skritz]

It's just such a shame the aerialbots mold has such a huge after market price because I could really use more seekers. I mean, I could use Dreadwind as a base for these guys but it just would not quite be the same or quite right. And unfortunately, the most fitting Aerialbot mold (Air Raid, with his square blocks on his torso) is the least common of the bunch.

[Hotconvoy]

It's just such a shame the aerialbots mold has such a huge after market price because I could really use more seekers. I mean, I could use Dreadwind as a base for these guys but it just would not quite be the same or quite right. And unfortunately, the most fitting Aerialbot mold (Air Raid, with his square blocks on his torso) is the least common of the bunch.

Tell me about it.

[-Kanrabat-]

It's just such a shame the aerialbots mold has such a huge after market price because I could really use more seekers. I mean, I could use Dreadwind as a base for these guys but it just would not quite be the same or quite right. And unfortunately, the most fitting Aerialbot mold (Air Raid, with his square blocks on his torso) is the least common of the bunch.

Tell me about it.

Care about that only if you want to make a "G1" style seeker.
But with the right tools and a good ammout of scrap jetformers, ANY CW deluxe can become a seeker. Yes, even the cars. You just have to mind the torso and the legs. All other parts are free game.

[Skritz]

It's just such a shame the aerialbots mold has such a huge after market price because I could really use more seekers. I mean, I could use Dreadwind as a base for these guys but it just would not quite be the same or quite right. And unfortunately, the most fitting Aerialbot mold (Air Raid, with his square blocks on his torso) is the least common of the bunch.

Tell me about it.

Care about that only if you want to make a "G1" style seeker.
But with the right tools and a good ammout of scrap jetformers, ANY CW deluxe can become a seeker. Yes, even the cars. You just have to mind the torso and the legs. All other parts are free game.

Unfortunately I don't really have the skills for it, relying on paint and 3d printed parts. At this point I'm even considering grabbing some shelf-warming Starscreams (I don't hate the mold as much as other people do) and give it a Thundercracker and Skywarp paintjob. While this will leave Starscream without seeker limbs it will complete the Seekers trinity, which my collectivization badly need right now. I'm waaay too late to even try to get some Classic Seekers mold and if I don't do it now I'll have to wait and hope the next Generations line has a decent deluxe or voyager Seeker mold to buy in bulk.

[-Kanrabat-]

Unfortunately I don't really have the skills for it, relying on paint and 3d printed parts. At this point I'm even considering grabbing some shelf-warming Starscreams (I don't hate the mold as much as other people do) and give it a Thundercracker and Skywarp paintjob. While this will leave Starscream without seeker limbs it will complete the Seekers trinity, which my collectivization badly need right now. I'm waaay too late to even try to get some Classic Seekers mold and if I don't do it now I'll have to wait and hope the next Generations line has a decent deluxe or voyager Seeker mold to buy in bulk.

About skills, PRACTICE! It's the universal rule. Having a big inventory of various scrap help. Hunting down flea markets and classifieds is the best way to go. So many scrapformers I got from 50 cents to a few bucks apiece.

Then, all you have to do is to figure out what part should go where. If you are good with Legos, you already have that skill. Sometime, just a few mods can do wonder. Just replacing limbs can change the whole vehicle mode!

Here's the essencial toolbox you need:

-- An electric drill with a whole set of bits.
-- Various tiny mechanical bolts and nuts.
-- Krazy-Glue
-- Goopy glue that can fill in empty space and become hard
-- Metal saw
-- Exacto knife
-- Filers
-- Clamps and wrenches
-- A set of precision screwdrivers
-- A Dremmel set (expensive, but oh so useful)

Now all you have to do is to have the will and the patience to experiment. Take a few scrap bots and mercilessly mash them together to make some TRANSFORMABLE abomination. Do one more, and one more. You'll notice soon enough what work and what won't. After a few "cybertronian junkions" you'll make you will have more skills and confidence to try some more "serious" customs.

Enter my LAB in my signature below and take a look at the few customs with working images. You'll see what I mean.

Come, and joint the DARK SIDE!

[Skritz]

Yes, I'm rather short on tools which is why my attempts so far are/will be limited at repainting Titans Return figures and making good use of their head-swapping gimmick for personalization.

Also, random and silly idea: there is a Combiner Wars Computron. There is a Power of the Primes Grimlock. Now I kinda want to imagine a Grimlock repainted to match his creations (at least within the context of the G1 Cartoon) and meant to form the central component of Computron.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

An idea I've acted upon is painting G1 Drag Strip's outside cockpit wall (on both left and right sides) black to complete his deco.

I also have some simple mod/accessory ideas for the PotP Dinobots:
* Adding ports to Swoop specifically designed for the G1 figure's launchers, to give a more solid place to attach them
* Adding Swoop's wing cannons
* Quasi-long 5mm pegs with 3mm pegholes in their tops, to let "Slug" use the G1 Slag toy's sword and gun
* An adaptor mount for attaching the G1 Slag toy's launcher to the PotP figure.

On the repaint front, it occurred to me the other day that TR Fangry could be repainted into a passable Wingthing. (And from there that the separate-sale Titan Masters are a blend of Headmaster, Targetmaster Partner, and Action Master Partner. But that's an observation, not a repaint idea)

Here's one for Diaclone fans: repainting TR Kickback into Waruder Battas V2, to give the reboot Diaclone good guys someone to fight (The reboot Diaclone line is even worse about that than the original.. The original at least actually had some Waruder toys!). If you wanted to be fancy about it, you could cast red versions of his wings and cockpit hatch.
You could do the same sort of thing with the Generations versions of Shrapnel and Bombshell too, of course, but fully Diaclonizing them would require more than recoloring since you'd have to modify them for cockpits.

[Hotconvoy]

So... i have an idea for a custom, but i need to know if the Universe Ratchet's head will work on Combiner Wars First Aid without modding. Thankful for any help i can get

[-Kanrabat-]

So... i have an idea for a custom, but i need to know if the Universe Ratchet's head will work on Combiner Wars First Aid without modding. Thankful for any help i can get

I don't have Universe Ratchet nor Ironhide in hand anymore. However, I modded a TONS of CW deluxes. I can tell you that the head must be of a specific size to be able to work with the combiner port. Except for some cars. The suv/pick-up mold have the head on the combiner port so the head must be tiny enough. Often I had to "trim down" the head in order for it to work. Then, there's the balljoint. The CW head ball joint are all the same size so you can head-swap between the CW deluxes without problems. Don't get your hopes up for the Universe Ratchet connector though. The ball joint could be different or it may even be a mushroom peg. If you want to make a CW Ratchet using CW First Aid, prepare yourself for some severe modding. Forget it if Ratchet's head is too big because trimming it down will give you a misshaped head. However, if the size is good but the conector is wrong, just a bit of creativity will be enough to work around the issue.

Also, any serious modders should consider a DREMEL TOOL SET. This thing is a KEY TOOL for any customisers. I transformed big balljoints into mushroom pegs, I reduced the balljoint sizes, I can cut, trim down, grind, all that stuff. A must.

[Hotconvoy]

Thanks, but i need to know about the head conection ball joint or mushroom joint and what size it is. I have a dremel somewhere i just don't know where . Again thanks

[-Kanrabat-]

Thanks, but i need to know about the head conection ball joint or mushroom joint and what size it is. I have a dremel somewhere i just don't know where . Again thanks

You absolutely want to know because you are stuck buying the thing on Ebay? I can understand not wanting to burn money, especially on shipping.

Also, dig up that Dremel. It's pretty much essencial.

[Hotconvoy]

Thanks, but i need to know about the head conection ball joint or mushroom joint and what size it is. I have a dremel somewhere i just don't know where . Again thanks

You absolutely want to know because you are stuck buying the thing on Ebay? I can understand not wanting to burn money, especially on shipping.

Also, dig up that Dremel. It's pretty much essencial.

Yes, i hate evilbay . And i'll try to find it, i bet it'll help a lot

[Skritz]

I really need a dremel if I want to do things more intensive than repainting Titans Return figures and sticking Prime Masters on as heads.

By the way, since we are getting Octopunch and Bludgeon as two extra Decepticon Pretenders and I'm already doing bodies for Skullgrin, Submarauder and Bomb-Burst any idea for a good body for these guys? I'd rather avoid reusing an existing one, but I already used Hardhead/Quake for Skullgrin but there is no other tank mold to use for Bludgeon. There is also no crab for Octopunch so I'm tempted to go with Scourge's hovercraft mode. Thoughts?

[-Kanrabat-]

I really need a dremel if I want to do things more intensive than repainting Titans Return figures and sticking Prime Masters on as heads.

By the way, since we are getting Octopunch and Bludgeon as two extra Decepticon Pretenders and I'm already doing bodies for Skullgrin, Submarauder and Bomb-Burst any idea for a good body for these guys? I'd rather avoid reusing an existing one, but I already used Hardhead/Quake for Skullgrin but there is no other tank mold to use for Bludgeon. There is also no crab for Octopunch so I'm tempted to go with Scourge's hovercraft mode. Thoughts?

What do you mean, "making bodies"? Those are not heads.

[Skritz]

I really need a dremel if I want to do things more intensive than repainting Titans Return figures and sticking Prime Masters on as heads.

By the way, since we are getting Octopunch and Bludgeon as two extra Decepticon Pretenders and I'm already doing bodies for Skullgrin, Submarauder and Bomb-Burst any idea for a good body for these guys? I'd rather avoid reusing an existing one, but I already used Hardhead/Quake for Skullgrin but there is no other tank mold to use for Bludgeon. There is also no crab for Octopunch so I'm tempted to go with Scourge's hovercraft mode. Thoughts?

What do you mean, "making bodies"? Those are not heads.

Eh, giving them repainted+green stuff bodies of Titans Return figures. Yeah, they're not 'heads' but the Prime Masters works as heads. So I guess I'm doing 'pretenders in reverse' or 'pretender headmasters' now. Or are you being technical because technically the inner robot is Liege Maximo, not Skullgrin?

[-Kanrabat-]

I really need a dremel if I want to do things more intensive than repainting Titans Return figures and sticking Prime Masters on as heads.

By the way, since we are getting Octopunch and Bludgeon as two extra Decepticon Pretenders and I'm already doing bodies for Skullgrin, Submarauder and Bomb-Burst any idea for a good body for these guys? I'd rather avoid reusing an existing one, but I already used Hardhead/Quake for Skullgrin but there is no other tank mold to use for Bludgeon. There is also no crab for Octopunch so I'm tempted to go with Scourge's hovercraft mode. Thoughts?

What do you mean, "making bodies"? Those are not heads.

Eh, giving them repainted+green stuff bodies of Titans Return figures. Yeah, they're not 'heads' but the Prime Masters works as heads. So I guess I'm doing 'pretenders in reverse' or 'pretender headmasters' now. Or are you being technical because technically the inner robot is Liege Maximo, not Skullgrin?

Uh... Because they are not heads.



They would be good to make nameless drones, but not as characters.

However (this is the mad scientist speaking) if you would make bodies that the shell of the prime master could fit into like a power suit, now THAT would be something.

Here, I digibashed what I mean:



Just find a TF with a big chest that could be hollowed out and you may have something interesting.
I have so much scrap on hand, I may try that myself!

[Skritz]

I might actually settle for repainting the Titan Master which came with the body and giving them new faces (Shapeways already has Wave 1), keeping the Prime Masters as separate characters. And then displaying these 'proper' robot modes alongside the Decoy Armor/Pretender shell since regular Titan Master fit just fine inside Decoy Armors.

That way I'd have a little Pretender Shell guy and a bigger robot mode, with colors matching the 'inner robot' of the old Pretender toys.

[-Kanrabat-]

Shapeway, eh?
They are WAY too expensive for my tastes, but it's a way for doing things.
Still, I REALLY love my power suit idea. I may just do this. Maybe not with the Prime Masters, but some other minicons.

[Skritz]

Shapeway, eh?
They are WAY too expensive for my tastes, but it's a way for doing things.
Still, I REALLY love my power suit idea. I may just do this. Maybe not with the Prime Masters, but some other minicons.

It's why originally I had settled for 'dumbass insignia faces' (which I don't mind as much as people). I'm no veteran customizer like you, but once I get to properly paint the stuff and finish at least Skullgrin, I swear it will look better than it sound on paper! Unfortunately, my house is horribly cramped right now.

As for the power suit idea, would you go for an original character or are you trying to find a character which suit (heh!) the idea?

[-Kanrabat-]

Shapeway, eh?
They are WAY too expensive for my tastes, but it's a way for doing things.
Still, I REALLY love my power suit idea. I may just do this. Maybe not with the Prime Masters, but some other minicons.

It's why originally I had settled for 'dumbass insignia faces' (which I don't mind as much as people). I'm no veteran customizer like you, but once I get to properly paint the stuff and finish at least Skullgrin, I swear it will look better than it sound on paper! Unfortunately, my house is horribly cramped right now.

As for the power suit idea, would you go for an original character or are you trying to find a character which suit (heh!) the idea?

I'm mostly into "frankensteinesque" OCs. Also, I suck-ass at painting. I can make some crazy stuff that work and are transformable, but when it come to painting, I just use paint cans and stuff. This is an area I need more practice on.

Also, click on the link in my sig and enter my lab. Check out the threads where the images are still working to see that creating crazy OCs have no longer any secrets for me!