REDLINE: I’ve known Napjr for a long time now. I first signed up to this board after months of lurking back in 2004, and I’ve at least been familiar with his posting all the way back to that time. Napjr is a former moderator for TFW2005, and has been active here longer than I’ve been around. He also was an early member of the now defunct Transtopia, beating me out by a few months at that site. Obviously, as a staff member of TFW2005, Napjr was posting his customs work here in the Radicons, even though at the time it was just a simple forum, and not a full-blown “mini” site like it is today. He was pretty well equally active in both locations back then. Seeing as I was doing the same (save the staff member part) I got quite familiar with his work and posting habits.
During this time, Napjr has not only made a good number of customs (forgetting to post a lot of them!), but he has also shared a lot of information to help others out with their own projects in addition to contributing to the Transformers community as a staff member for one of the largest fan-sites in the world. He’s always been an upstanding and swell guy, too. Back when Hasbro rereleased the 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime as “DVD Prime” (fan-terminology), I snagged one up for customs fodder. I was quite disappointed that he had zero chrome, because I had the original MP-01 figure, and the chrome does amazing wonders for that toy, and I wanted to get chromed parts for my project as well. Napjr hooked me up because he’d chopped one up for fodder of his own, and he didn’t use any of those parts. I’m sure he could’ve put them up for sale and made a decent penny for them, but my only real expense was paying international shipping since he lives in Mexico.
Often-times, his life gets pretty hectic, between family and work, and it has cut into his hobby time. However, even when unable to really make his own projects, he has stayed active in the community by posting in other people’s threads and offering them suggestions, helpful criticisms, and simply sharing his wealth of knowledge and ideas. It is for all of these reasons that we feel that Napjr is more than deserving of our Featured Radicon spotlight for the month of August. Congratulations, bro, it’s been a long time-coming, but you’ve earned it!
Rico. . . Suave. I mean Napjr!
Superquad7: One of the greatest strengths of Radicons is that, even though it’s a large community, I continually hear from others how tight knit we are. While much can be attributed to this, one of the things that I believe is a major factor of this is friendliness. I’ve just been on several boards where the vibe just isn’t quite the same. Why do I share these thoughts when introducing an artist like Napjr? Because I really feel that an artist isn’t just measured by his skill, but also by his character. One such trait I really feel encapsulates Napjr is his friendliness. He’s been around this community longer than I have, and I’ve always remembered him being kind and insightful to others. Over the years, he and I have gotten the chance to chat through the boards and such, and it’s been an absolute pleasure. He’s not only helpful, but it’s really fun to just hang out with Napjr and enjoy the hobby . . . like it’s
meant to be!
Aside from his cool personality, he
is a highly skilled artist. He’s been bashing a long time, and his work has always been an inspiration to the community as well as to me. It doesn’t hurt that we share a common bond through Alt customs, even when many have moved on from them. I remember distinctly how much his Alt King custom inspired me when I was simply thinking of how to do a simple repaint of an Alt in a really cool way.
Napjr has always freely given constructive criticism as well as taking the same from others. He’s very transparent with the obstacles he’s faced with his work, and continually shows us that hard work overcomes them. Napjr has always been humble, but what’s cool is that he’s very enthusiastic about it. I remember several customs (notably his Alt Insecticons) where he’d post and say, “I saw TFmaster’s custom and I just had to make it!” A lot of times artists can become arrogant in their ways and really lose sight of things like this. It’s always been apparent that Napjr loves the hobby first and foremost.
He’s been active in the Transformers community in many different facets. In addition to continually and consistently adding to the customs community, he’s also served as a staff member for our own TFW2005.com! Like many we’ve featured, I really feel that Napjr is not only a model Radicon, but one of the pillars of our hobby and community. I really hope that our article this month will not only educate, but allow you to get to know a good buddy! Always willing to share.
Nemesis Predaking: What can I say about Napjr? He's another in a list of Radicons that have been around well before my time ever started here on TFW2005 and The Radicons.
I must admit I had to do alot of research on Napjr, and the thing that I have found that strikes me with all his customs is the attention to detail he puts in each one. Nothing is too small or overlooked. Alts Soundwave, Bombshell, and Octane being front runners of this to me. He has also done some great detailed Movie customs, (while not my cup of tea) still outstanding bashes, nonetheless.
So, My hat's off to you Napjr. This is well-earned and well-deserved.
Napjr's work area Autobotx23: When I found out who our Featured Radicon of the month would be, the first words that ran across my mind about him were 'well-rounded". Why? Well, because he is. Reviews, repaints, and kit-bashing are all three things he handles equally well, and on an international scale. I can only imagine how much he must pay for international shipping, but he is always up for assisting someone in the world market with product knowledge and product.
I guess it shouldn't surprise me. He is "the true Mexican TransFan", and, it’s good to have him and his perspective here in the Radicons forum.
Plowking: Napjr! This is the artist that got me to take a stab at my own version of Alt Soundwave back in the day. There had been others that were done, but Nap's stood out to me. It was crisp, paint work was excellent. I had been a fan of his work from the first day I came across it at Transtopia. Nap showed his skill by making customs of characters, but with a twist to the custom.
The first one that comes to mind for me was his Alt Bombshell. To make his stand out from the crowd, Napjr came up with an alternate transformation sequence for the feet. The work alone was awesome, but alternate foot mod was like the cherry on top of the cake for me. I wanted that custom so bad!
His Alt Bludgeon was another piece that I just absolutely adored. I think what I liked best about it was that he used a real world paint scheme for it, and the helmet was a killer touch. He's done more than Alts, though. Nap has cranked out other cool customs that weren't Alts that I have enjoyed, too. His Movie Starscream with hand mod is another prime example of Nap and his "outside-the-box" thinking.
All in all, Napjr has always impressed me with his work, I hope to see you continue to do more man. Congrats on the honor!
ALPHAMANGUS: Napjr, what can I say other than Alternator Octane! I didn't even know he did it until I researched his previous kit-bashes. That one in particular was inspirational to me, as it sparked my curiosity into what else a car could be turned into. Octane should not be a car, yet he did it! I remember it from a year or two ago and it inspired me to start a new Alternator project myself.
Never boring me with his customs, he impresses me with new and inventive ways of doing things with simple mods. I look towards artists like Napjr for inspiration, as he keeps himself in the hobby and not in the "politics".
I will be looking forward to his Human Alliance Classic Camaro Bumblebee, as I have fallen in love with that line.
Keep up the good work, and great attitude!
I bet you didn't know he could do THAT, now did you? The Interview R: Tell us a little about yourself.
N: Hmmm, well, before anything else, I must thank you guys for giving me this honor! i love reading each month the featured Radicon and never though i would be honored to be featured here. My real name is Napoleon Gomez Luna Leyva and my nick is simply NapJR, since I share my name with my dad. Im 24, currently living at Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, single, finished Medical School last year and currently working, I want to be a plastic surgeon in the future.
R: What got you into the art of kit--bashing? Why do you like kitbashing? How long have you been into kit-bashing?
N: I guess the idea of fixing broken toys or things always fascinated me, specially being so hard to get spare pieces in my country at decent pieces, sometimes is easier to just make a new joint from scratch than hunt down the part. My mom always tells an history that I was playing with a hot-wheel´s car at the age of 2, but i put it inside a VCR… since I couldn’t take it out, I asked for a screwdriver, removed the screws, took out the car, reassembled the thing and watched a movie! (Most likely Voltes V or Kottetsu Jeeg!).
I’m not sure if it’s true or not, but I remember cleaning the insides of other VCRs with q-tips and alcohol before the age of eight…
Either way, some of my oldest customs were made around 2000 or so, with primitive tools…
R: How did you get to your level of customizing? Did you have any formal training and/or previous experience in your background? What have been some useful resources for your artwork that you suspect others are unaware of?
N: Continuous training i guess, also screwing up lots of stuff of course! Working on different stuff at a time and mainly, browsing the forums, websites and tutorials depending of the project. Internet is a great place to get references and more if you know how to search and/or ask.
Also, if I see a cool pic (either official product, artwork, kit-bash or repaint), i try to save a copy for further reference, because you never know when it can come handy!
Nap with his posse 
Nap and his Graduation Certificate. Way to go! R: What are some of your short-term goals as a kit-basher? What is your ultimate goal as a kit-basher?
N: short-term? Well finish my current projects! And my ultimate? Finish many WIPs I have laying around for a couple of months/years! Sadly i have a short attention span… and my job doesn’t help at all since I have limited time nowadays.
Also, making my own furniture and working with wood and metal had always fascinated me, but since i don’t have the space nor money to buy the correct tools, that has to wait for a couple of years at least… stuff is not cheap in my country you know…
R: Do you have a dream project, and if so, what is it?
N: I can’t think of any at the moment, but i guess I would love to make a 1:1 scale Binal Tech Grimlock out of Mustang pieces =D
Making Classics versions of most the
G1 combiners could be another one… or at least easier than the Grimlock =p
R: What other hobbies do you have, if any?
N: Transformers, both collecting, kit-bashing and reading about them, but other than that, I guess Videogames, I also collect Super Robot figures, specially from Go Nagai series, like Mazinger & Getter Robo to name a few (Shin Mazinger Z Hen is amazing! Go watch it now!)
R: Do you have any advice for up-and-coming kit-bashers?
N: Yeah, practice with your cameras! It’s frustrating to hear about a great custom only to see bad pictures, out of zoom, blurry, darkened areas, etc. You don’t need an expensive camera to take decent pics. Years ago, my first digital camera was an off brand cam pen web cam, or something like that, resolution of like 640x480 pixels, it was so basic that only had one button to take the pic and then I had to connect via USB or something. Obviously, no flash either, so the best pics I took were Outside, with just sunlight, and those pics usually looked very good (look at the earlier Star Saber pic next to Optimus to see what I mean). Current mid range cell phones also comes with good camera´s and even flash so it’s another option. Don’t forget to read the Radicons tutorial for this!
Also, keep practicing, preferably with KOs or broken figures, that way if you screw up… it won’t matter anyway! I learned this the hard way though… Oh yes, for testing paint or match colors, THE INSIDES of a disassembled figure always will be great, because if it’s not what you had in mind, it won’t be noticeable at all.
Finally, keep a parts box! You never know when anything can become useful in the future.
It looks like this Dremel tool has seen better days. . . . 
What the heck? 
I KNOW you didn't see THAT coming. . . . R: What is your inspiration for your projects? What influences your character choices?
N: Honestly, many of my stuff is inspired from other kitbashers, as people say, Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but this is because when I see a custom that I would love to have in my collection (since I don’t sell my bashes, at least not for now) and I know I can either do it or even improve it, I try to replicate the key points but with my own twist to it. Better examples of this would be RiD Menasor inspired by TFMaster and Ptitvite Devastator. I like to make
G1 homages the most, but also i love realism and detail more than show accuracy, especially if the alt mode is based on a real thing (like Alternators or the movie toys). When the alt mode is a mash up of things (like most classics figures), i try to find how certain details would be in real life.
R: Who are some of your favorite kitbashers and inspirations?
N: TFMaster was my main inspiration over the years until he passed away… I had the pleasure to talk with him a few times over AIM, but those were always brief thanks to my medical activities. Once Transtopia opened, we used to talk there via the boards, PMs and emails… he even sent me a few WIP pics, time before showing anyone else! I still feel sad that Bill is not longer with us… Currently there´s so many great kitbashers that I can’t think of any in particular! Although I always love seeing Wheeljack & Lobo´s WIP threads, encline and frenzy_rumble are great also… hmmm Sculpt-bot, dak, Wikkid, Anemis, Crefigz and Jin Saotome, fellow Radicons staffers, like REDLINE, Superquad7, Plowking, just to name a few… Oh yeah and Don Figueroa with his Macromasters! There´s just so many great talents on the interwebs that it would be easier to just cut and paste the artist index from Radicons
R: What figure has been your favorite to work on so far? Why?
N: The Alternators Mustang mold, I simply LOVE that car! And now that i have one as my ride, I’m currently making a Windcharger style repaint of Grimlock, with custom rims and details… Expect a WIP thread on the site in a few weeks.
R: How long does it typically take you to complete a project from start to finish?
N: It varies from project to project, I can finish a minor project in hours or days (like a week usually), but others can take even longer, like my RiD Menasor (now Classics), I started that on January 2004 inspired from TFMaster original and over the years, I’ve changed several things or improved others (Most noticeable on Dragstrip, thank goodness for the Mirage mold! Look at the two early attempts!)
There are other projects that can take more time than planned… because as i said before, finding parts is not easy most of the time in Mexico. When Ptitvite showed his Devastator, i decided to make my own version, but had to wait at least 7 months just to gather the minimum pieces (and recycling other unfinished projects, like Star Saber for the body & some Energon limbs i had from an unfinished Defensor). Most of the time I tend to get auction lots from the US to try to get more things cheaper, but sadly, they are usually incomplete…
Looks to me like Bashmaster still hasn't actually mastered bashing, as he hasn't even completed himself! R: Which TF is your favorite and why? Favorite TF character? Favorite series? Favorite toy (non-custom)?[Answers do not need be the same for each question]
N: MP Convoy is one of my favorites, BT Grimlock comes second I guess, but I have LOTs of favorite to even name all! Of course some of my kit-bashes ranks above official stuff… (I’m looking at you Bludgeon & Soundwave!)… Oh yeah, Bendy Prime from Armada is AMAZING! Classics Seekers…. Argh! Too many to choice!
Favorite character… hmmm so many to name one, my top 4 are Optimus, Megatron, Starscream & Grimlock
As far series, while
G1 is pivotal to pretty much every transfan and I love it the most, I gotta say that I enjoyed Beast Wars A LOT, Car Robots was amazing to watch every week while downloading on my first 56kbps modem (TFW2005 FTW!), but the story is pretty basic… the AEC trilogy is pretty meh! Although Galaxy Force was very enjoyable… and Animated… Rocks! I’m still not too fond of most of the toys since I prefer more realistic approaches, but the show was great.
R: What was your first customs project that you worked on? Any memorable stories to share?
N: I remember more than 15 years ago, I made a pseudo combiner with off brand Micromaster type of robots and plumber´s epoxy, lasted just a few hours but it was fun!. Years later, I came across the Alterations Section of the Lukis Bros website (
Unicron.com) and fell in love with their customs, fixes and repaints! I then decided that I could make some similar repaints with stuff I had laying around, like the Fox Kids repainted Rhinox & Waspinator (first versions), so I bought some paint (apparently enamels), and started working. The figures came out decent, but I never thought I had to sand joints and pegs to prevent paint chipping and problems transforming… Rhinox got his “ears” sanded and Waspinator got a new head sculpted from scratch (with just epoxy, hands and a cutter) as well a new open hand. Later I bought acrylic paint and repainted a handful Beast Wars KOs, with blacks & gold, with some red or silver for extra detailing… using nail polish to clear coat them
Some people might remember a
G2 Megatron i made with added articulation and a better paintjob (which as far I know, was the first attempt doing that with this mold), using KO parts from a RiD Megatron and thin sheets of styrene. Sadly, the figure eventually broke… but I always liked him. Around the same time i started to work with other figures, like a full sized Optimal Optimus KO that i repainted with a Black Convoy scheme (way before Nemesis Prime existed). By testing painting techniques i learned how to black wash and the end results were very good!
Even though i don’t sell my customs, I remember a time I did some repaint commissions (there was a
G1 Alternator Smokescreen and a Silverstreak, I can’t remember who paid me for these). All i asked was the buyer to send me the figures, pay for the paints and materials and some fee for my work, and oh boy! i ran into a couple of problems with that Smokescreen! Mainly with the paint I chose, but if I recall correctly, everything was fixed and went smoothly after that, I think the commissioner really liked the figures J
R: What are your favorite movies//TV shows?
N: Hmmm hard question, I could mention E.R. & House MD, I like Supernatural, The Big Bang Theory. Myth-busters are great! And sometimes gives me ideas… Lots of anime too
As for movies, Horror in particular are my favorites, especially old school ones, like the Nightmare on Elm Street series (I love part I and New Nightmare), Friday the 13th, etc.
R: What do you consider your strengths as a kitbasher are? Weaknesses?
N: Sometimes I can work nonstop until a project is done, however thanks to my short attention span and hyperactivity, sometimes I simply rush things… and screw up... A lot. Also sometimes I keep re-working something o remake it until I feel is good, but also thanks to that I screw up again (like sanding a re-sculpted head, just to notice one side is shorter than the other).
Detritus only wishes he would've looked this cool. R: How would you describe your work environment? (For example, do you like to have certain music going while making customs or do you have certain things set up that immediately inspire you?)
N: I work on my room, since I don’t have any space dedicated exclusively to my kit-bashes, so I like to hear the TV (since I basically have a tuner on my PC) or hear music depending of the mood. Thanks to this, if I need to check any kind of reference, I have the internet at hand,
R: What are your favorite things about the process of making a custom? Pet peeves?
N: I guess one of my favorites is that I can do a lot of background research for any particular element of a custom and if an idea pops up for something (for example, adding an arm of one figure to another), if I don’t have them at hand, I ask on the boards if someone can take a comparison pic… although I don’t get replies sometimes… Also I hate when I get a good idea and I own the elements but they are stored away!
R: What are things you look for as “cool” in a toy? Describe what you like/dislike in certain Transformer toys.
N: Transformation design, articulation and detailing, I also like a real life alt mode or a practical mode for your everyday use (I love my white Sound Label Soundwave! And can’t wait for the new Ravage USB)
R: What do your non-TransFan friends say about your work?
N: They think I’m crazy… but for other reasons, they like the detail and care i put on them, but they are usually more amazed for the fact that robots can transform into things… yeah, TFs isn’t as big as i wish it was on here…
They also love my custom key chains. Years ago, I saw some KO Spychangers with a custom key ring on the grill (similar to the Minibot key chains), and with the Cybertron legends just released, I decided to make some by just adding one of each. On one of the article the pics you should see Starscream (which I used until I lost an arm…), currently I’m using Spyshot from the 2007 line, but I carried also a Spychanger Scourge and a Legends Cybertron Prime
R: How has the new movie affected your customs?
N: I’ve tried newer ways to bring out details for the robot modes and try to make alt modes as accurate as possible. The style is very intricate and hard to work… but even so, fun to try! Last year I started an Alternator sized Barricade, since I got a hold of a bunch of Alt Wheeljack KOs, then I mixed pieces with the deluxe Saleen and worked on him from time to time, but with the upcoming Human Alliance mold, i lost interest…
R: What artwork do you do outside of Transformers customs?
N: I barely do anything else other than customs, I’ve draw a few things over the years, but nothing really good… I did some
TF Music Videos years ago if that counts.
While browsing some old CDs, I found two drawings I did several years ago
Also I sculpted a full Freddy Krueger bust like 2 years ago, because I wanted to make a latex mask and eventually, a full costume, it came out just perfect! Sadly I run into several problems making the mold and… well… it just sits on the garage…
PLEASE; gimme some skin! R: What do you want people to most remember you for and why?
N: That I was a nice person, that loved his family and friends. On the kitbashing side, I just hope my work inspires others to make their own customs or repaints
R: What toys besides TFs do you enjoy and why?
N: Super Robots and Japanese Mecha in general, like I said before I love most Go Nagai works, Mazinger, Getter, Jeeg, etc. Gainax shows are really good also. For these kind of things, I love to get some Soul of Chogokin figures, quality and designs are extremely well done
Another excellent line i collect are the little Revoltech, these things are great!
R: Boxers or briefs?
N: Neither! Viva la Nakedness! But having to choose, Boxers
R: What trends do you see in your own work and what do others tend to say about your customs?
N: The main trend on my customs is adding my own blood on each of them... no, really… but accidentally of course! Most of the time, while working with the cutter, screwdriver, soldering iron or even scissors, I tend to cut, pinch or even burn… like most kitbashers… I think… Other than that, most people seems to like my work, sadly thanks to my sporadic board absence, people lose track of my progress on some projects…
R: How has making Transformers customs impacted your life uniquely? 
New Alternators? Oh slag!
N: I´ve made several friends, learned how to make different things out of nothing and build things to make my life easier. On the collecting aspect, I’ve got over 900 figures on the house, most of them stored away for space & dust issues, but some people thinks its impressive. I have been collecting pretty much since I was 5 or 6 years old.
Also, I guess I have learned how the Hasbro team works and how much work can go into a toy, of course, resources and costs aside, they do an amazing job of engineering and sculpting.
I love sharing my work with others and meeting nice people, although I’m not exactly very talkative, but I love to help when someone asks. I try to always improve my work in all aspects, from start to presentation, so I try to not post stuff just for the sake of posting (case in mind, my
ROTF Prime, although I’m still waiting for new hands to finish him…), specially when there´s dozens of similar customs.
REDLINE: Do you think you will ever revisit your now-abandoned idea for making a Star Saber by using Armada Unicron for the base? I really would’ve liked to have seen that bear fruit, what you had accomplished was truly remarkable!
N: Yeah I know, but since that was one my earlier works, I over did several things… I exaggerated my use of epoxy so it was extremely HEAVY… styrene is not exactly easy to get a hold of in my city (Although I just found a new supplier with 1x1.50mt sheets of different widths), so in the future I might try to revisit it… Saber is still there anyway, legs unfinished. The V-Jet body was salvaged to make my current Devastator (since the cheapest Unicron body I can usually get, either locally or via eBay, ends about $30 USD or more thanks to shipping…)
REDLINE: A while back, you hooked me up with all the chromed parts from a 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime for me to use for a project (YES it’s still on my list to do! Hehe), which you happened to have lying around because you’d chopped up one for a project. If I remember correctly, you were making a Powermaster Optimus Prime, heavily based off of TFmaster’s original. What happened to this? Did you finish it? I’m sure everyone would love to see it if you did!
N: Actually, I started that project before TFM, but it was very different, basically I mixed parts of a God Ginrai reissue with 20th Prime, articulated the cab, the trailer and started working on God Bomber. Super Ginrai is pretty much done, but just like my Star Saber, I over used epoxy on him. God Bomber has been sitting for years on the shelf… the gauntlets only need some nice hands and a good way to transform him, I’m thinking Primus hands could work… but gotta do some tests
I based another Powermaster Optimus from TFMaster however, there´s a deluxe sized KO of God Ginrai and TFM started one, but never finished it, When I saw the pics I noticed I had all the pieces he used (in other words, the same KOs), so I made my own, currently finished at about 80% before painting, the problem was that when I started, I went out of the city for a full year to do my social service, so he was put on hold for a lot longer that I expected…
Kickback has finally decided to take his disguise seriously. REDLINE: I’m a huge fan of your Alternators customs, particularly your Octane, followed closely by your Insecticons. In your Bombshell gallery, there is one photograph of him standing with an Alternators Kickback. Where is this awesome dude? No thread or gallery entry for him? Hook us up! He looks amazing from what I can see
N: Again, that Kickback was based on an idea from TFMaster, although I think he never finished his custom… anyway, the figure is pretty much done, but the repro Swindle head I used is crap! And without the proper funds to make a better mold or buy a repro, he sat there on the shelf… Thankfully, right now I made a new mold and I’m testing a new kind of resin that could help me greatly to make great repros! Wish me luck with this and expect a gallery soon if it works =D
Someday, once I get a Binal Tech Ravage and a spare Tracks, I’m gonna do a Shrapnel and complete my trio of Insecticons. Problem is, neither is cheap nowadays…
Nemesis Predaking: With your Alt Soundwave custom, did you plan on putting in the little G1 nods into the project from the start? Or did they just kind of fall into place?
N: Hehe I can’t remember… but I think once I started working on him, I got ideas from here and there and ended making Laserbeak fully transformable
Nemesis Predaking: I saw a few of your Alts based off obscure characters. Where did you find the inspiration for the likes of Octane & Misfire?
N: In the case of my Alts made from the A&L KOs, once I have the item in hand, I look on
tfu.info for characters with similar colors and/or details and I work from there. The head can always be either switched or re-sculpted, so I look more for the overall design and alt mode and what can be painted to resemble anything.
Superquad7: Needless to say, you have been kitbashing for quite a while and been very active on the boards of TFW2005.com, Radicons, and Transtopia. Could you share with us some of your fondest memories particular to posting and sharing your work on each of these boards as well? Also, could you share with us the reason(s) that you post your work as well as participate on the boards? What are some of the things you have seen from each of these three places that continually keep you interested in, not only kitbashing, but enjoying Transformers as a hobby?
N: Like I said, I love to share my stuff and get feedback for it. Also, being one of the few Mexicans making customs and making the rest of the world notice us, just feels good. How many Mexicans do you know on the international boards? At least on 2005 I have never counted more than 5 at a time… it makes me feel sad but I noticed most Mexicans try to avoid posting in English for different reasons (the language barrier being the most evident)
I became a 2005 member on November 2000 I think (like most of us, when I read about the Car Robots episode downloads), and since then I have seen several kit-bash sites going live or vanish in the depths of the internet… What I like of the current incarnation of Radicons is the continuous posting and feedback every day, something I never saw on other sites (maybe at the start, but eventually they started to get slower and posting decreased…)
My English is far from perfect, but thanks to the different boards, I can practice every day and not pay for English schools!
As far as memories, I remember the first Transtopia contest, build Bashmaster! The site mascot (we should adopt him don’t you think?), I made my own version but like most of the things at the time, I over used epoxy and became a mess… A broken industrial rotary tool was used as a base for him, with Alternator Mustang legs, Viper feet,
G1 Onslaught arm and
BW Neo Longrack for the other… Head was a modified RiD Landfill head. Floppiness aside, it was fun to work on him! Even though he died weeks later… can’t remember what happened exactly, but it’s gone.
The first known Masterpiece Powermaster Prime! Superquad7: Along the same line, you are a “veteran” member at TFW2005.com. Could you explain to the readers just exactly what that means and how this has impacted your interests as both a fan and an artist?
N: Yeah a veteran… almost 10 years browsing and posting. It makes me feel important to be part of the best
TF site of the interwebs, I’ve made great friends over here. There was a time when I was a mod of the original ToyArk (I miss Choppaface =( ), I was banned once from GD once by Shin-Gouki (thanks to some dirty pics I posted hehe). I was here after all the Transfandom drama and decided to stick with the better site. I used to read on the Mod forum several years ago thanks to a loophole on the forum listings code (that was priceless!) Although I never saw anything worthwhile, since it was more calm than the current Fuzzy World
Thanks to my life as a 2005er, my collection has grown, I have been able to get several items that otherwise, I would never have gotten. I have made several trades without problems (Feedback forum FTW!) and got pieces for my kit-bashes for excellent prices.
As an artist, I have improved my overall techniques and learned several methods and tricks to get the job done. Also, there´s nothing like hearing something like “Why I didn’t think of that?” or “Thanks! That improves my figure!”
Superquad7: As someone who has been involved in the fandom for quite some time, what are some trends you’ve seen over the years and what trends do you see now? How do you think and feel about these? Do these impact your work? If so, explain.
N: I think the main trends depends of what the current line is and the availability of figures, for example, years ago Alternators repaints and kit-bashes was a big trend, but nowadays is the
ROTF line.
Other trends can start quite of nowhere, for example, there were many different takes on a Devastator update (from articulating the
G1 to making new ones) but until Ptitvite came out with his configuration, the community grew even larger! And everyone tried to replicate such a finish job with different results.
In my humble opinion, this could be a double edged sword, since you can see a concept improved upon each take made by different people, but at the same time you end seeing the forums full of similar figures over and over.
Superquad7: As we’ve said, you’re certainly not new to using a message board as an extension of your hobby. Since posting on a message board where many may interact can certainly be daunting at times, do you have any advice to kitbashers looking to “post well” and have a good experience enjoying a hobby this way?
N: For English speakers, try to post with good grammar and if possible, try to post as much information as possible about your project. I’ve seen lots of excellent kit-bashes with neat ideas that end being kept in secret because the poster doesn’t want to share their method… or simply doesn’t know how to describe what they did. In that case, camera is your friend!
Also, if you can give advice to someone asking for help, try to do it, we are a big community and we need to help us each other once in a while
For international members, don’t be afraid to post, if you don’t know the meaning of a word or a phrase, search the internet for a correct translation! Just keep posting and practice your English. There are many kit-bashers around the world with great customs.
Napjr got Getter done Autobotx23: Do you find it difficult to ship things across the world? How do you handle the red tape and bureaucracy?
N: The main problem ends being the price of stuff, i usually shop with BBTS thanks to the pile of loot service, for Japanese stuff I use F2F so it ends cheaper since its shipped directly to me.
As I’ve told my fellow Mexican transfans, I’ve been buying online for almost 10 years, and i have never been screwed even once, but mainly because I tend to investigate properly any seller/store feedback before giving out info or money, also I try to buy more than 5 figures at once to split the shipping cost per each item so ends being cheaper. Customs taxes in my country are more a thing of luck more than anything, I rarely get called by them, but if I do, the price tends to be around 60% of the declared value… Once I ordered Superlink Nightscream from HLJ, I think I paid like $30usd shipped, got caught by customs and had to pay $50usd to get it released… damn!
Autobotx23: Is there a huge difference between international product and the products we see released here in the states?
N: Nah, what we get here is pretty much the same stuff you get in the States, although we never get the full toy line at all, later waves ends being discarded (although from time to time, we some stuff you never get, but nothing real cool, like the unreleased Turn Arounds). The 2007 movie gave
TF a spectacular push in my country! There were literally hundreds of toys last December! We even got the Walmart exclusive movie deluxes (the first Walmart exclusives EVER released in my country), as well other few later (even Target exclusives!), but mainly because the
TF demand was great!
Sometimes, we used to get some stuff before the states (but after waiting a year and half to get the main line released here… like Energon Sharkticon & Slugslinger), mainly for the factory production times … Since Cybertron, we started to get the toy line around the same time the US get theirs
Autobotx23: You’re obviously a big Alternator fan. How did you get into that product line?
N: I remember when the first images surfaced, MP Convoy & Binal Tech Smokescreen, it was such a joy to see them! At the time, I was on a normal school day, we had 2 free hours between classes and I went with some friends to a nearly plaza to play Half Life… before starting the game, I checked 2005 and saw those pictures… I nearly had an orgasm! I wanted to scream out of joy! But only my jaw dropped
My first figures were BT Lambor and MP Prime, and since then, started to collect the line. Eventually got some loose samples of some models (Smokescreen mostly) and after seeing early repaints of those, i decided to make my own, when I could get figures for cheap of course.
Sadly Alternators were ignored by Hasbro Mexico (and Latin America for that matter), only Sideswipe, Hound & Silverstreak were released in my country, with rumors of Dead End and a “yellow” Tracks (which sadly I started on the internet, thanks to a fake sighting of a fellow mexican transfan). Thanks to this, all my repaints of Hasbro figures came from the US and getting spare parts is near to impossible in my country
Curiously enough, years ago, the A&L KOs were released at large quantities on a store called “Chedraui”, thankfully I noticed them when they went on sale and i got quite a few for less than $10 a piece =D. Last month, new KOs were released on the same stores (just in time for the
ROTF release), but being priced at $30, I hope they end in sale in a few weeks =)
Napjr's keychains - apparently he enjoys hauling around deformed TFs! Autobotx23: I've always been curious with what kind of paint you use. Are you a hand brush artist like our Superquad7?
N: I use mainly spray paints bought at Walmart or craft stores for basic colors and thanks to that, i always try to disassemble as much as possible the figure and mask other areas
For detailing or customs colors, I use acrylics and hand brushes… and that’s mainly because i have never been able to use my air gun… I guess I should buy a better air compressor or something
Plowking: What is it about a mold that makes you want to take it on as a customs project?
N: it really depends of the mold itself, if it has lots of hidden detail or the official color-scheme is pretty basic or simply bad (Movie 76´Bumblebee and Starscream comes to mind), I try to improve them.
Other times, if I end with a loose sample of any figure that I can’t sell for any reason, I prefer to make it something new out of it and add it to my collection
Plowking: Do you ever see yourself going back and revisiting some old projects? (like redo them or give them an update)
N: Of course! Main problems are time, money and availability of materials… I want to revisit already my Devastator! And it’s not even finished!
ALPHAMAGNUS: If you could pick 1 Radicon to do a collaboration with (not for $) who would it be with, and why? and what would you build?
N: Oh! What a question… Too hard to honestly answer… but I guess I would love to work with Anemis and build my 1:1 Mustang Alternator =p, he really knows how to handle “Big” projects. But for a more, “normal scale project”, I would love to work with Wheeljack, that would be great also, I loved seeing his WIP threads for his masterpiece coneheads… I would love to have his patience! And of course a set of seekers!
"I'll take you all on!" Napjr’s Galleries 
Generation 1 Optimus Prime - Generation 2 Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Final Battle Optimus Prime - Armada Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Dropkick Detailed - Transformers Movie Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Bumblebee Classic Camaro Detailed - Transformers Movie Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Longarm Detailed - Transformers Movie Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Wheeljack - Robots In Disguise Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Scourge - Armada Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Payload Detailed - Transformers Movie Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Bludgeon (NAP) - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Spychanger Scourge And Prime - Robots In Disguise Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Soundwave (NAP) - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Bluestreak (NAP) - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Octane - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Marlboor - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Bombshell (NAP) - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM 
King - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Misfire - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Wildrider (NAP) - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Masterpiece Super Ginrai - Generation 1 Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Articulated Megatron - Generation 2 Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Ramjet Super-Articulated - Armada Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Neoscream - Beast Machines Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Nemesis Primal - Beast Wars Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Starscream (Napjr) - Transformers Movie Customs - TFW2005.COM 
Who needs color when you rock hard? Napjr’s Project Threads Wheeljack was crying so... Alternators Soundwave & Laserbeak My take on ALT Bludgeon A couple of Alternator´s Projects im doing right now RiD Wheeljack & Prime repaint galleries! RiD Menasor Improved WIP Herald of Unicron WIP BT Detritus Alternators Bludgeon, Full Gallery now! MP Star Saber: December 17th! Classics Dragstrip My take on Movie Starscream RiD or Classics Menasor? Remember him? Alternators Octane Alternators Prowl the way it should have been Binaltech Misfire Binaltech Marlboor (Decepticon) My take on Deluxe Dropkick Detailing Payload My take on the Old Camaro BB repaint with an arm mod! Alternators Bombshell - The missing project? How to make a brick cool (Or a real use for A. Smokey legs) Detailed Voyager Movie Prime + Reprolabels Movie Longarm, the real deal! Ford GT Breakdown (With a Twist!) WIP pics Working on a Classics Autobot Classics Smokescreen: Now with less suckage! My Menasor: RiD is now Classics? Hell yeah! Curremt WIP Projects My take on Ptitvite Devastator - Nov 13th update ROTF Sideways new feet Some sort of custom Seekers Henkei! Coneheads retouched... yEaH! Classics Bonecrusher (Its not a Wedge) Binaltech Hummer H3: Trailbreaker & Ironhide Human Alliance Classic Camaro BB (WIP) 
Alternators Octane is pure automotive excellence; who cares if he's a coward? Napjr’s Informational Threads http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...der-prime.html http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...-hand-mod.html http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radico...io-review.html 
Look what I can do! I CAN HAZ ARTIKULASHUN. 
Raise your hand if you wished your G2 Megatron looked like this. *raises hand* 
Utter travesty that this guy never got completed 
cking awesome you are.
