Originally inspired by Jin's Soundwave, and heavily based on this piece of Don concept artwork:



View the WIP thread here: http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons-customs/398528-wip-dons-classics-soundwave.html
I ended up changing alot of the design elements, both based on personal aesthetic choices, and some for structural integrity.

I approached this build with wanting a solid "toy" feel, and not a model kit or something I'd have to be careful with. So all nearly all the transformation and articulation joints are reused from the Transformers that went into him. I used screws and metal pins to hold the toy together, and add new joints like his waist and roof hinges. I used styrene only to add cosmetic details, or on non-load bearing joints like, again, the roof hinges.

Paints used were Model Master Arctic Blue Metallic and Silver, a custom metallic black, and Tamiya Clear Red and Clear Yellow. Bare Metal Foil was used on the head and tail lights.

Vehicle mode:






Transformation:
Unpeg the front end. Rotate tires around and swing arms out. Remove weapons, rotate forearms, rotate door panels and slide panels in.




Open roof, and swing open to the sides. Swing waist and legs up/forward and peg waist into roof.



Fold front part of roof/windshield up, then snap halves back together. Rotate the lower waist, separate legs and fold down feet.



Lift bumper section, rotate around, then flip back robot head and neck panel.



Robot mode in next post!

 

You are a god among men. Tooooooo awesome.

 

impressed!

 

I want one of these like yesterday

 

holy cow
this is beyond... i dont know, the natural standars, this is one is like the alternity line, a deluxe sized masterpieces
XD

 

Robot Mode:








"Laserbeak, eject!"



Ok, so yeah, I guess his taillight is his new eject button  Anyway, Laserbeak is entirely scratchbuilt from styrene. He transforms into nothing really, just folds up to fit into Soundwave's chest, because really, thats all I need  



His transformation is simple: Flip the head/neck out, fold down the feet, swing the wings open, and slide the swing arm in.


Laserbeak has a (limited) ball jointed head, his neck can move up and down, and his wings rotate on the transformation joint.







The whole team:


Soundwave Heavy Assault mode  

 

That is awesome! Truly a masterpiece in it's own right!

And very original too. A nice change from the Perceptor repaint.

 

Phew, and finally, some comparisons:

Same vehicle mode


Crazy different robot modes!


With the other modern Soundwaves:





And thats it. Thanks for looking everyone!

 

don sure is craying of happines right now
actually, why dont you show him this? he has a deviantart account

 

Masterful engineering. I wish I could recreate my ideas like that.

 

Frickin' ASTOUNDING!!!

Hasbro, get with the program already!!!  

zmog

 

That's absolutely amazing. Seriously, the fact that you could come up with that idea and execute it so flawlessly is amazing. Aside from the vehicle mode, you can't even tell that the base figure was. I didn't even like Don's designs when I first saw it, but I'm definitely a fan of that figure.

 

You should be proud of yourself  
This is definitely a well-executed piece; it looks official! I too think you should show Don your custom.

 

I never cared for the design myself, but Jarrod's ridiculous skill has won me over. This is an incredible build! I wish Hasbro would pay you a million dollars and mass produce your Soundwave so that we all could own him.  

- Alty

 

hotness

pure total hotness!!!!!!!!!!!

 

that's AMAZING! a must have for any soundwave collector. definite want on my part.

 

amazing work! was already sold and then I saw Laserbeak! One of the most spectacular customs I've ever seen.

The best bit. You've engineered a fun tranformation for him. First time I've ever seen someone match HasTak on that.

 

its been awhile since something amaze me so much, just earlier today i was browsing this thread and things to my self that this will be another masterpiece .
and i was correct


man your skills are far beyond mortal....

 

amazing work

 

totally awesome