[I've got several WIP's going on right now that are a combination of commissions, potential eBay listings, and pet projects. The Monsterbots are one of them and I've filed them as a personal endeavor.]

Note: Each Monsterbot has its own detailed WIP post below. The first post will contain all of the most recent updates.

Update for Repugnus (9-12-11):
I haven't had a whole lot of time to work on customs for the past 10 days or so because of some important errands I've been needing to run on top of my full-time job. However, I did have time to put together a mock-up for the chest. It's being held up by sticky tack. I may make some modifications to it, but this is pretty much the gist of it.

 

[Grotusque Placeholder]

The first one that I'm working on is Grotusque and I suppose you could call him the headliner of this project. He won't be dead-on G1, but he'll be pretty close. I guess you could say that he fits the Classics aesthetic in that he's an updated version of his G1 self. There are noticeable differences, such as the beast mode head and wings. Grotusque was such a hodge-podge of different beasts that I don't think my slight deviance will present much of an issue. Anyway, I've made some arguably curious decisions regarding this project that I've detailed below.

A few weeks ago, I was at my local TRU and noticed all of these new Lego Hero Factory sets. TRU had a BOGO50% sale going on at the time and I decided to take advantage of said deal. One of the sets I bought is Fangs, some sort of cat-based monster. Anyway, I was looking through all of the parts and noticed that many of them would lend themselves nicely to an updated (and slightly re-imagined) Grotusque.

Strangely, I had a good condition G1 Skullcruncher that I had been trying to get rid of for almost 2 years. No one wanted it. I told myself that it someone didn't buy or trade for it, that I'd eventually make use of it for a custom. And here we are.

This is perhaps the final part of the Grotusque "epiphany" and it occurred this past Wednesday at another trip to TRU. I had a 20% off coupon and ended up using it on a DOTM Laserbeak. I loved the wings and the guns, thinking they'd fit in nicely with the theme.

 

[Doublecross Placeholder]

Well, I think I found a good source for Doublecross hands: Lego Ninjago 2260 Ice Dragon Attack Review - YouTube

This comes from the Ninjago Ice Dragon Attack set (shameless plug: I have the minifigs for sale). I ended up buying two.

 

[Repugnus Placeholder]

Started work on Repugnus. He's a combination of Lego/Ben 10, Hero Factory, Bionicle, and Lego Knights. I'll be giving him proper mech hands, a bot mode head, and will fill in some of the obvious Lego details to give it a more Transformers-like appearance. I think this is more or less what I'll be working with. He's sort of a combination of his old G1 self and the BW Fuzor Buzzclaw repaint from the original Universe line. In the last pic, you see a clearer shot of the beast mode head. He's going to have the large side mandibles a la the G1 design, but he's also going to have smaller mandibles. These were inspired somewhat by the mandibles on DOTM Shockwave's CGI model. He also has two pairs of arms, one with mantis-like claws and the other with more traditional hands (the ones pictured are placeholders). Repugnus will have a somewhat simplistic transformation scheme. And to give you a sense of scale, he's a little taller than 2.0 Onslaught, which makes him quite the imposing bugformer.

Update for Repugnus (8-27-11):
Started working on the bot mode feet, which can be flipped around since they're attached to the beast mode feet and the entire assembly is on a balljoint. His stability was also improved because he was falling over a lot, so the differing feet will also work as heels (see the comparison pic below). The newer pics also do a better job of showcasing the beast mode form, which is very simple in nature (the bot mode arms fold back into each other and form a backpack). I'm still working on both the heads and how they'll attach as well as how they'll work as part of the overall scheme. I must admit that this is a fairly ghetto approach for a transformation, but it works for me. Still finding suitable parts to make him appear a little more robotic, so that he's effectively a hybrid of the two styles

p.s. I also attached some pictures with Kup and Stormcloud to give you a sense of the scale. He'll tower over most ultras. I'd say he'll be as tall as an MP seeker or Grimlock when it's all said and done.

Update for Repugnus (8-28-11):
I made some more progress this weekend. I was going to post some pictures from lastnight, but it was very late and the power went out for a couple of hours due to the storm.

Anyway, here's what I worked on since my last update:

• Tinkered with some of the transformation. Although simplistic, it's also very customizable (if that makes sense). You can see the alternate transformation to the legs to give him more of an insect look. There's also the more traditional humanoid look...
• The beast mode head has been fixed to the rest of the body. You can see the type of balljoint assembly that it's on as well as the newly articulated mandibles (my apologies for the bad quality pics). The bot mode head obviously comes from an RID Ultra Magnus.
• Lastly, I started beefing up the torso area. The chest panels come from an RID Prime, while the silver shield comes from a Roadbot figure.
• I'm making it so that Repugnus will actually have 3 pairs of arms (2 beast, 1 robot). The bot mode arms come from a KO Armada Megatron (the gun is also from the same figure).

Update for Repugnus (8-29-11):
Repugnus can have both pairs of beast arms simultaneously deployed. Added a size comparison photo with MP Grimlock.

Update for Repugnus (9-5-11):
I've been messing with some new arms from a Gens. Skullgrin. I think these work better as they're not as bulky and aesthetically jarring as the previous pair. I just need to do something about the tank treads. I also decided to go with a different gun, which comes from a G1 Pretender Starscream and fits nicely inside Skullgrin's poseable hands.

Update for Repugnus (9-12-11):
I haven't had a whole lot of time to work on customs for the past 10 days or so because of some important errands I've been needing to run on top of my full-time job. However, I did have time to put together a mock-up for the chest. It's being held up by sticky tack. I may make some modifications to it, but this is pretty much the gist of it.

 

[Misc. Placeholder]

Reference artwork.

 

LOVE where this is going already....

 

This will be cool

 

Interesting

 

Needz lightbarz!  

This is rockin' right along, bud  

 

Thanks! I need to snap photos of my latest progress. I gave him the legs from an Energon Prowl junker I had lying around from a previous custom project. Unfortunately, there's now a gap between the legs in beast mode, so I'll have to fill that in.

I picked up some more Hero Factory and Ben 10 sets. I love the possibilities here.

 

New photos have been uploaded.

 

looking promising already!!!

good eye,the skullcruncher legs have almost the exact same details/mouldings as g1 grotusque!!! 

 

Love this idea/thread! I have 2 Grotusques sitting in my project box waiting for me to have at them! I may have some spare parts leftover if you feel you may need some.

 

looking awesome E!!

i almost bought your skullbruncher from you a couple of times, i'm glad i didn't now. gonna see some awesome stuff in this thread!

 

Thanks!

I also think that I found a terrific source for Doublecross heads/hands:

Are there any recommendations for hinges that I can put on the inside of the both legs. This is in regards to the filler I want to put in for the gap between the legs. Ideally, I want panels that can fold in and out between modes.

 

I was looking at that head for Grotusque myself.....I like where there is going, can't wait till you are done.

 

looking good so far. these guys are a team I want to tackle into a custom ...one day.

 

Thanks. It means a lot coming from you.

 

Update on Doublecross.

 

Repugnus! GO-GO-GO!