Minor/Repaint: Human Alliance Bumblebee

Discussion in 'Radicons Customs' started by hthrun, Jun 9, 2011.

  1. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Last edited: Mar 18, 2013
  2. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Collars

    The collars are from a Sea Attack Ravage toy. I cut off the lever on his back that activates his jaw gimmick and sliced it in half. I then hot glued it to some paperclips. I cut the paperclips down to size and bent them into "Z" shapes. (This required some trial and error.) There are pre-existing holes at the base of Bee's head on the back. I pushed the other end of the paperclip pieces into those holes and hot glued them in place.

    The yellow paint marker I used doesn't match Bee's yellow. When I get some Acrylic Paints I'll try mixing a better yellow...

    The attached pics show some close-ups and where the collars go during transformation...
     

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    Last edited: Jun 9, 2011
  3. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Updated collars

    I tried cutting the collars to better resemble the shape of the CGI model. I also cut some stickers from a stock yellow sheet that Reprolabels so generously sent to me. My cutting is crude, but the yellow matches much better than the yellow from my paint marker. It's reflective so it looks really shiny in the pics, but in person it looks much better.

    I also glued some beads in his eyes as I saw OMEGAPRIME1983 do to his BB Bumblebee.
     

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  4. Rumble02

    Rumble02 Radicon of Obliticons

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    This is so much better
     
  5. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Thanks! I like to try and keep improving my TFs little by little. At some point, I'd like to mix a matching yellow and paint those areas, unless someone makes an actual set of stickers that are properly colored and cut...
     
  6. Gatchaman

    Gatchaman Well-Known Member

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    looking good so far! just a thought, depending on how far you're going to take this, you may want to pick up a 2nd HA Bee (they are on clearance @ Ollie's, TJ Maxx and Marshalls stores for $16 or less) not to talk you out of buying the other hand, but you can customize the HA bee left hand into a very good rt hand, plus then you've got extras of everything else.
     
  7. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    I've already got the other hand. I bought a set to use with Optimus Prime, but decided I prefer his hands be static fists. I'm planning to use the other hand in the set for HA Barricade. How fortunate that he and Bee are missing opposite hands :) 

    But I've been keeping my eyes open! I'm sure I wouldn't be able to make a custom hand that looks as good as the real thing. I don't make it into those stores much at all, but if I ever do see a cheap enough HA Bee I'll pick it up :thumbs2: 
     
  8. Gatchaman

    Gatchaman Well-Known Member

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    I'm sure I wouldn't be able to make a custom hand that looks as good as the real thing:thumbs2: [/QUOTE]
    don't sell yourself short, it's actually not that hard. the hardest part is cutting the thumb knuckle at the rt angle so it points in the opposite direction.
    I'm sure you'll do a great job with it whatever direction you take though & bonus, now Barricade gets a new mitt too!
     
  9. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Added Gatchaman's right hand!

    Big thanks for the right hand, Gatchaman!!! The best thing is he can transform with it in, NO MODDING REQUIRED! I also added some detail to his car mode, like the black on his wheels...

    I haven't made stickers for this hand like the other because I'm planning on painting the yellow. I'm going to see if I can mix a good yellow and then replace the stickers with it.

    I tried changing my photography technique. The car pics and one of the bot mode pics used a flash, like all my previous ones. You can tell which ones didn't. Which do you guys think are better?

    I don't think I'm going to try modding his thigh pads. After looking at them some more, I think they look pretty good as is. Next I want to make some adapters so Bee can hold Mech Tech weapons...
     

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  10. Gatchaman

    Gatchaman Well-Known Member

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    this looks great! I like the silver detail on the arm guards, looks nice and even. have you thought of taking a little dark gray and hitting the outline of the simulated brake disc or some of the other molded in details on the seat? the hand looks great on your bee (I know I'm biased). can't wait to see you mix up just the right the yellow and bring all the way home & then share the paint color formula! :thumbs2: 
     
  11. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Thanks! I just might have to at some point. I did a report on Leonardo DaVinci in high school and he never considered any of his paintings finished. Now I'm on the other side of the spectrum as far as talent, of course, but I have the same mentality as Leo when it comes to my TFs. I think there's always something that can be done to improve them...

    I owe it all to you! You really saved me a LOT of time!

    Let's not get our hopes up :)  I've never used a brush on a TF, so I'm probably a long ways from mixing perfect Bee yellow. I'm planning to start off by adding a little bit of orange to my yellow... IF I can get a good color going, I'll be happy to share what I did!
     
  12. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Mech Tech Adapters

    I loved the idea of the HA basics that could transform into weapons for other TFs. But unfortunately, most of the HA toys so far didn't support them. So I made some adapters like I did for RotF leader Optimus Prime for HA Bumblebee and Jazz.

    The first pic shows a close up of the Bee adapters. I used the same kind of Lego Technic piece I used for Optimus. I cut three of the holes and glued them together as shown, with the middle one at a right angle to the outside ones. I also made a thin slice down the middle one so the pegs can fit in better. One of the side pieces I cut away at so it can slide onto the fingers. The other side piece is meant to slide on the thumb. Sometimes, depending on the weapon, the thumb might not go into the hole. It works best to put the adapter on the weapon first and then slide it on.

    I don't have pics of the HA Jazz ones yet. All they consist of are single Lego holes. When his claws are made flat, he can hold the little pieces pretty easily. Once I get pics of him I plan on making a new thread for all the Mech Tech adapters...

    This post also shows some close-ups of the paint job, which is still a work in progress...
     

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  13. Dinodigger97

    Dinodigger97 germinates within you.

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    I like it!!!
     
  14. Gatchaman

    Gatchaman Well-Known Member

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    I like these HT, keep up the good work! It's nice to give the HA guys some options. You're motivating me to finish mine up so I can post it, been a lot longer than I intended since I posted that sneak pic of him.
     
  15. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Thanks guys! Here are a couple pics with a little more paint applied. I painted those yellow areas beneath his armpits, the yellow things on the back of his ankles, and added some more yellow to the bottom of the rear windshield.
    I might yank out his collars. They're more movie accurate, but they're kind of annoying for the toy...
     

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  16. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Chromed vehicle mode

    Just chromed HA Bee's door handles, gas cap, CAMARO signs, and rims using Bare Metal Foil. :eek: 
     

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    Last edited: May 1, 2012
  17. Rodimeister0088

    Rodimeister0088 Prime

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    awesome job man!
     
  18. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Fakebusker83 hands

    Thanks!

    I painted and added Fakebusker83's Shapeways hands. They are AWESOME! Gatchaman's hands are now going to a great cause, my Human Alliance Hound :)  Also, big thanks again to Gatchaman for pointing me to the yellow paint!

    I did a bunch of painting since my last update, too, but I plan to do some more. I just wanted to take a break from this guy to work on some other things...
     

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  19. fakebusker83

    fakebusker83 Radicon

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    Very nice...Glad the hands worked out well for you. I was pleasantly surprised they could take the weight of HA Whirl there.

    The yellow colour matched well too! Looking great man :thumb 
     
  20. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Thanks!
    That pose with Whirl and Backfire is probably a one time thing :)  The hand with Whirl had a tendency to flop over, but I was able to get it just right so the weight pushed against the sides of the hand and it wouldn't roll.
    And as soon as I took off Backfire, Bee flopped over due to the loss of counter weight :)  From now on when he uses those guys he'll have to hold them with both hands...