Featured Radicons - TFW2005.com http://www.tfw2005.com/boards Check out interviews and images of the top Transformers Artists and Customizers! en Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:57:26 GMT vBulletin 1 http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/images/blue/misc/rss.jpg Featured Radicons - TFW2005.com http://www.tfw2005.com/boards <![CDATA[Novermber 2009's Featured Radicon is . . . vector]]> http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/featured-radicons/278658-novermber-2009s-featured-radicon-vector.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:31:35 GMT Image:...

Kevin McBride, aka vector

autobotx23: [He was] one of the nicest guys I'd ever want to meet, in my short time of getting to know him.

Customizing is an odd hobby, to say the least. I came into it with an artistic painting background, and still I find myself learning new things everyday. When you first start out, there are so many questions that you want answered, whether they [are] big or small. What kind of painters tape should I use? Is label paper the better way over waterslide? How can I touch up details when I used spray paint instead of traditional brush paint? They can go on forever.

These were just a few questions that I asked vector while he was with us, and all I ever received was encouraging responses. Nowadays, before I send a quick short response that sends someone to the tutorials or a sticky thread, I think about how vector handed my questions, and I take the time out to answer them. Because that personal touch, that little but of time to assist can mean the world of difference.

In the month of November, we all take time out to remember him and his contribution to the Radicon family. [vector is] always missed, but never forgotten.



We're proud to have had you as a Radicon!


REDLINE - My first experience with vector was much the same as anyone else who ever browsed the Radicons forums: his gorgeous Alternators Magnus customs. Sadly, he didn’t get to be an active member of the community for very long, but his impact isn’t going to be nearly so short. Vector was really just getting started into customizing. He made the Magnus, and was quickly swarmed with requests for commissions of this same custom. He did get to make a few other customs, including a variation of the Magnus custom. The thing about Vector wasn’t merely his outstanding skill at painting, but his personality.

Vector was a really nice, up-standing guy; quick to offer feedback; open to suggestions; and (even though he was only around for a little over a year) everyone who was an active member of the Radicon community remembers him. It says quite a bit about a man when he can be so easily remembered, even though he wasn’t around those who [customize and kitbash] for very long. Obviously, the strongest impact left upon us by vector was his sudden passing in January of 2007. TFW2005.com held a Radicons customs contest, with the goal being in remembrance and the honoring of vector. The response was quite strong, and I’d say a smashing success. It still hurts to know we lost someone at such a young age, and even more so someone who left behind a wife and young child.

I’d like for this month’s feature, done the month of vector’s Birthday, to be a chance for everyone to reflect back on their memories of Vector; his impact on a personal level, and remember all the happy things we have of the man. I’d like to give personal thanks to Vector’s twin brother for helping out with this article!



vector: thanks for all of the fond memories!


Superquad7:After I was into making Alternators/Binaltech customs for a little while, I started making some really good friends that were doing the same types of things. Once Radicons started hopping and I got more and more into posting, I met vector. We really connected quickly because the only customs we were both into were the Alts/BTs because of the scaling. vector and I started talking on and off the board, as I’ve done with many friends, and we continued to become better friends. We’d often share just teasers with each other with what we were working on, bouncing off of each other’s excitement. It got to the point to where we were calling each other at least once a week to just talk about customs and such.

One of our favorite characters (and ultimately his all-time favorite) ended up being Ultra Magnus. While I’m pretty much a fan of each character in one way or another, a lot of people have that one character they’re nuts about. For vector, it was Ultra Magnus. At one point, we started bouncing off fanfic stories of Ultra Magnus off each other, and ended up writing a little bit of our ideas down. We started doing it just for kicks. He started a story, then he’d email me what he had, and I’d add to it to send back. Especially now where much of the customs world is making a piece to sell, it’s the things like this are what always made this hobby fun for me. vector helped remind me that making customs was more than the processes or the tools; it’s about having fun.




"I'm glad you agree that Ultra Magnus is AWESOME!"


We had even hoped to meet up one day, despite us living on the opposite sides of the country. I often spoke of my involvement with CybCon, and the friends I’d made through my involvement there. He was really getting excited about actually going, despite the fact I could go that year. It was neat to always hear about how excited he was about just the possibility and sharing the hobby with me.

As many know, he really struck gold with his Alternators Ultra Magnus. It was his favorite character, and the concept seemed so likely, that we’d often talked about how Hasbro/Takara would eventually do it. Many people loved his custom, and before he knew it, he had so many commission requests for it that that’s pretty much what he ended up doing for the bulk of his customs work. It was the first time that I’d ever seen a custom become such a hit based on the concept alone. One of his last commissions (it was the very last one that he finished up, to my knowledge) is the Alternators Ultra Magnus that he made for me. To date, it’s still one of my favorite Transformers ever.

I still remember the night I got bad news of vector. My good friend sodawilly gave me a call when I happened to be rearranging my Alts/BTs because I had just completed a new custom. sodawilly and I talk frequently, so it wasn’t odd of him to call me. When he told me of the news, I was simply floored. The shock came because vector had really been working to improve his health after some problems. During those last few months, and made a lot of great progress. vector had spoken to me about how happy he became after he lost a few pounds and started walking some. Things still seem so surreal.
In response, Radicons wanted to honor one of our own. We launched our first “official” contest, in his honor. The customs poured in, ranging from several different versions of Ultra Magnus from all lines. As I looked at each piece, I just knew he would have been so happy to have seen each one. Much like it, the feature this month is chosen to honor vector, his work, and ultimately, his life. He was chosen for November’s Featured Radicon of the Month specifically because his date of birth is this month (November 2, 1971). Congratulations buddy. I really miss you.

The Radicons Staff would like to give a special “thank you” to nemesisconvoy, vector’s twin brother, for his help with this article!


vector’s threads:

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...ch-magnus.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...-touchups.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...rm-my-way.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...rt-attack.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...er-needed.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...icade-mod.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...matic-mod.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...r-repaint.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...tarscream.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...mus-visor.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...matic-mod.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...-ironhide.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...ck-pt-2-a.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...love-mine.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...did-again.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...ng-around.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...s-updated.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...-finished.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...ion-chase.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...w-repaint.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...hats-come.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...tor-prime.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...roadblast.html
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...lternator.html


vector’s Galleries:

Longarm Enhanced - Transformers Movie Customs - TFW2005.COM

Starscream - Masterpiece Customs - TFW2005.COM

Arcee (vector) - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM

Magnus (V) - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM

Freeway - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM

Ultra Magnus (V) - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM

Tailgate (vector) - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM

The Radicons Staff encourage any and all of you to share your fond memories of our friend, vector, by posting a reply!
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]]> Featured Radicons Superquad7 http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/featured-radicons/278658-novermber-2009s-featured-radicon-vector.html