For my 3rd TF custom project, I decided to tackle CW Magnus' ankles, which were really killing it for me on a bot I otherwise really like. Mostly because I really need to cut back on spending and didn't want to spring for an upgrade kit just to get some ankle pivot on the guy. I'm too pooped to do a whole description of the process right now, but here are some pics of the results... Magnus is waaaay more fun to pose now, and the mod doesn't affect transformation or his existing articulation one bit. The ankle joint is also not loose or floppy at all (actually, maybe a bit too tight right now!), so once he's posed, he's locked in pretty good. Enjoy! =)
Worth the effort I'm sure! It looks like he's taken out the pin nearest the foot and replaced it with a ball joint. If never done it but I think a soldering iron is needed for that type of pin.
Okay, basic instructions for this are: Tools needed (pics will be added of everything I used later): Dremel (w/ assorted bits: drill bit, ball grinder, sanding bit, etc) Soldering Iron for removing pins Hobby Base style ball joints ( I think I used a 5 or 6 mm ball) Super glue or other strong adhesive for plastics Hobby saw or other appropriate cutting tool (I use an X-acto saw) Steps: Remove the entire foot and hinge assembly by heating the pins with the soldering iron... ... then remove the hinge from the foot, again by heating the pin with the soldering iron. Next, use a saw to cut off the nub that extends from the hinge and goes into the foot. Then drill and dremel the hinge (on the side that joins with the foot obviously =) so that it JUST accepts the ball joint. If you've never done this type of mod before, be very careful and test fit the ball frequently. You'll need to root out the inside of the socket with the dremel ball bit so that when you press the ball joint in, the socket is tight enough to hold the ball in place, but still allows for the ball to move around and rotate freely enough. Precision, precision, precision... =) Finally, drill into the foot (inside the opening where the original hinge pin gets pressed into) to accept the ball joint fairly snuggly. It helps to drill it in a way so that when the ball joint is inserted, it is angled slightly upward to allow for more clearance for the hinge. I also used my dremel sanding bit to create a small recess for additional clearance for the hinge. It is helpful to round the end of the hinge off so that it pivots a little smoother. Once all that is done, press the newly ball jointed foot into the hinge, pin the top of the hinge back into Magnus' leg, and get yo pivot on... Easy peezy! j/k it took me about a day of staring at Magnus and running the approach to this through my head before starting on it. Thankfully, the plastic they used on the white hinge piece is INCREDIBLY durable, which is exactly what is needed for a secure ball joint socket. Have at it, modders! =)
Now what I'd like to see, is a shapewayer.. take your mod, and make new parts to replace what you've done here.. a ball socket that gets pinned into the original pinning, and a replacement white ankle hinge... im just too afraid to go at a figure that took me too long to find to just chop away at!
Haha, yeah, it's definitely not a beginner mod. I've been modding and customizing for a few years now, so I'm pretty confident taking all my toys and figures apart and working on them. Working on TF's, I try to approach things so that if an idea doesn't work out, I can return the bot to it's original functionality if necessary. This approach to ankle articulation more or less keeps the feet and hinge intact enough to put it back together to it's original construction, since I wasn't sure how well it'd work out.
Love that your ankle tilt mod Has that minimalistic mod look to it. Those are my fave mods since they look stock until you pick it up and start posing them.
Who can we contact to design something like this on shapeways? Now tha PM Prime is out, this mod is needed even more!
