Heavy/Scratch: CW Mirage G1 chest mod

Discussion in 'Radicons Customs' started by seali_me, Nov 24, 2015.

  1. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    He is now complete.

    [​IMG]

    Goals: look more G1
    - replace chest
    - removed the stupid 90's goatee
    - removed silver bit on the head

    [​IMG]

    Can't combine but I didn't buy it with combined mode in mind. :D 

    Still transforms of course.
     

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  2. Unicron9

    Unicron9 Fan and customizer of the TAWYS

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    I wasn't aware goatees were just a stupid 90s trend.
    Just getting the classics Mirage figure seems like a better route than killing the whole reason CW Mirage's chest isn't G1 accurate. It does look more like Mirage though with what ya did.
     
  3. Hotpiece

    Hotpiece Blazechaser

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    Personally I don't like my traditionally non-combining robots combining, so I like what you did here. Good work! I would like to see an alt mode shot if you have one.
     
  4. SMOG

    SMOG Vocabchampion ArgueTitan

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    What do the back side and vehicle mode look like? I'm still trying to figure out just what you did here.

    Nice though. It sucks that Hasbro didn't remold this figure just enough to allow for a more traditional transformation.

    zmog
     
  5. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    Before I add the extra front piece on the toy I'm adjusting the faux chest. Yeah. This one took two CW mirages to make. :D 

    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]

    I also prefer the front car back pack to be removable. I really like the car seat back on the toy.
     

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  6. SMOG

    SMOG Vocabchampion ArgueTitan

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    Ah, okay... so this isn't exactly the "finished complete product". Yeah, the seat is nicer exposed on the back... very G1. It would be way cooler if the car front could flip to the front of the robot... though it is a bit bulky, with those wheels. I was totally confused about where you had hidden the wheels on your mod. :) 

    Instead of axing two Mirages, why not just buy a cheap Dollarama race-car or something? And what are you doing with your spare Mirage now? :) 

    zmog
     
  7. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    Spare Mirage without the car front?

    That's for another project. Depends if Hasbro is going to release deluxe groove mold.

    Btw the faux chest should slide in and out for transformation. Depending how I feel about the chest adjustments but he definitely looks better with the chest out in bot mode.

    [​IMG]
     

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  8. trence5

    trence5 Well-Known Member

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    Good job. can you still transform it?
     
  9. SMOG

    SMOG Vocabchampion ArgueTitan

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    Yeah, the chest looks better extended in bot mode, for sure.

    Should have a picture with the packpack unit, just to show how he looks in "transformable" mode. :) 

    Good comparison pic with the Classics version. He's still a good size.

    zmog
     
  10. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    Done.

    The chest pops in and out with ease so transformation is flush.

    I had to gauge how far I wanted the new chest to extend.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     

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  11. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    [​IMG]

    Done with the head too. Shaved off the stupid goatee and resculpted the jaw.
     

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  12. Hotpiece

    Hotpiece Blazechaser

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    A huge improvement. I don't have the mold or I would do it myself, but have you thought about putting the Classics head on the CW body? In my opinion it is the superior head.
     
  13. megatroptimus

    megatroptimus Untitled

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    Just turn the head and waist around, swap the fists and call it a day. Chest will be a tad bulky, but no toys butchered, still fully transformable and combinable and easily reversible (provided you don't mind dealing with two easily accessible pins).
     
  14. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    You can kitbash the classic's head to fit CW but I never liked that head and worse it's alt mode is atrocious. :) 


    SMOG, I think Pascal wants this. You can also just pop off the arms and call it a day.

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    Tried it and didn't like it. Looks awkward. Yeah, I mean if you don't mind that and actually don't want to kitbash any bot that's fine.

    I think what SMOG wants is something more G1 looking and appetizing to eyes in stock mode.
     
  15. SMOG

    SMOG Vocabchampion ArgueTitan

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    Yeah, I tried that configuration pretty much as soon as I got Dragstrip out of the package, but it's just clunky.

    I don't have any problem with butchering toys if the end result is a better toy... but transformable with no parts-forming is good.

    I think it would have been great if Hasbro had remolded enough parts on that figure to allow for a proper transformation and decent proportions. Maybe a shorter front end of the race car, closer to his G1 version, would have helped?

    zmog
     
  16. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    You know what?

    That short front end makes a HUGE difference in bot mode.

    I was wondering why you first asked about my second copy of CW Mirage. You're giving me ideas now. It might work out too since the standardized CW chest mold is around that shape. NO more faux chest! LOL
     
  17. megatroptimus

    megatroptimus Untitled

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    But that kills again the perfect transformation...
     
  18. SMOG

    SMOG Vocabchampion ArgueTitan

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    You thinking you could cut the cone down so it's much shorter, and then put it back on the joint?

    You'd still have to do the torso-spin though (and swap the arms in that case)... either that or figure out a way to keep the head from getting in the way during transformation.

    Fortunately, I think it will be way easier to get a Sideswipe out of Sunstreaker/Breakdown. :wink: 

    zmog
     
  19. LizardbotHero

    LizardbotHero I am a warrior

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    I would like to see what you did to mod the torso in order to fit the car front end inside. Looks like you cut it at the bottom and just angled it inward using the top screws as the pivot points. I actually like the overall look of CW Mirage more than Classics Mirage. Classics Mirage just looks too anorexic.
     
  20. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    Exactly that. You can also glue the now two side pieces. The two spaces in between bugged me when I initially put the cone. So yeah I chopped off those parts and angled them.

    With the earlier versions of classics TFs, there were two or three ways of homaging the G1 line.

    - directly using, at the time, the base bot and alt mode then apply modern articulation and mostly only that. Seekers and hotrod.
    - modernize the alt mode while trying to keep the bot mode completely G1 or quasi at least. Grimmy and bumblebee.
    - give complete liberty then give them at least the colours. Prime and mirage.
    - maybe a fourth not sure where Megs was trying to do but I suspect it's the latter.

    Classics Mirage unfortunately fell into a category that has become less and less popular. I really like CW alt and bot modes but it also suffers since its in the CW line BUT a lot of peeps including myself and yourself saw it's potential. Yeah, CW is replacing my classics version.


    make the short and fat cone myself and find a way to swivel it around the head which should be easier than separating the wheels from it. I already had an idea for it but didn't want to paint the new part as usual. Hahahaha.