WFC Megatron's Annihilating Appendages (Shapeways)

Discussion in 'Radicons Customs' started by fakebusker83, Oct 10, 2012.

  1. fakebusker83

    fakebusker83 Radicon

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    WFC Megatron's Annihilating Appendages
    Updated March 1, 2013


    This post is updated with photos of the AMAZING custom FrenzyRumble made that I commissioned.
    This project includes other models I have built like the Megablade, Megamace and Atomic Obliterator
    whose details you can find on the other threads. I am not privy to what happened between this site and
    FrenzyRumble but I just want to say that the photos here shows a collaborative effort between both
    of us and I would think it is reasonable enough posting them here.

    Here is his artist's statement:
    "Once in a while, I get inspired by an artist, well...often. One of my favorites is fakebusker aka Ariel Lemon
    (that's his real name, he was named after the little mermaid, just kidding...)

    It was an honor to get this commission from the one and only. It's maxed out with accessories and modification
    parts that HE designed, were printed via Shapeways, then (painstakingly) sanded for hours to get a smooth finish.

    The awesome canon has a working purple LED light in it. It's "push to activate" button is discretely disguised
    onto the canon, and it's batteries and wiring are all within.

    The new forearms are a great addition. Not only do they add pose-ability, but include ball jointed wrists and
    articulated (individual) fingers that easily hold 5mm weaponry. The forearms split (similar to original) but the
    hand pivots around and into the hollow of the tread. There's also an appendage for his left arm, looking like a
    nice shield with spikes. there's also a swing out blade for his left forearm. Lastly included is the Megamace
    melee weapon. phew, is that it?

    I painted him up with some nice details, glow effects, battle damage, wear and tear and some little rust accents
    here and there to help bring this custom to life."


    [​IMG]
    "This is what happens, Prime, when you chose to DEFY ME!"

    Hi guys,

    This is it. This is the moment you all have been waiting for. War for Cybertron Megatron finally
    is able to have a pair of respectable arms that can hold all the artillery he wants, and do a jazzy
    hand dance that only an evil robotic overlord can do.

    [​IMG]
    Atomic Obliterator ordered separately.

    This project started because I was pretty affected that one of my favourite interpretations of
    Megatron has a figure that has a pair of dainty hands that can't hold anything more than a toothpick.
    Back then I had already completed the Megamace, I was working on the Atomic Obliterator, and I (unsurprisingly)
    received questions on how Megatron was supposed to hold these new accessories.
    Yeah, I too have been thinking about this problem a long time.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The process wasn't easy. I had to make these arms easy to install without majorly modifying
    the existing figure, add compatible hands, be game accurate and have them work in alt mode
    as well with minimal partsforming. The stock arms being hard to disassemble aggravated the
    situation, as well as the weird elbow joints. Thankfully I found out the pins in the elbow can be
    easily tapped out, which made designing a replacement limb so much easier.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    This set contains 2 forearms and 1 spiked vambrace. Each forearm has a 5mm peg compatible
    hand on a balljointed wrist, and every finger and thumb is posable. The 2 peg holes on each
    forearm is matched exactly to the Atomic Obliterator and the vambrace, and both accessories
    can be mounted on either side. And oh, the vambrace has a vicious hidden blade that extends
    out for Megatron to stab his foes.

    [​IMG]

    All pieces have a place to go in alt mode too. The forearms split open and the hands fold in to
    form his hoverjets, and the vambrace attaches to the back of the Obliterator for storage.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    At this point I would like to clarify a few points:

    NO, THE ORIGINAL FUSION CANNON WILL NOT WORK ON THESE ARMS
    I may do a cannon peg to 5mm peg adaptor to allow compatibility in the future. We'd see.

    NO, THE VAMBRACE CANNOT BE USED IN ALT MODE WITHOUT THE ATOMIC OBLITERATOR
    Again, I might work out an adaptor to solve that. In the future.

    YES, I LIKE THE GREEN M&Ms




    Assembly

    [​IMG]
    Assemble hands.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    For pin removal, I use a nail and hammer to knock them out. Put the point of the nail on the
    smaller end of the pin and gently tap with the hammer. Do not lose the pins, as you need
    them to attach the new forearms the same way the old ones were attached.


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Assemble forearms. As both forearms are different you have to pay attention to the detailing
    on the pieces. The model is designed such that if you misassemble, the pieces won't sit right.
    But when you do it right you will feel a satisfying 'click'.
    Attach them to the figure with the pins you have salvaged in the previous step.


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Assemble the vambrace and fit it onto the 2 peg holes on either forearm.
    Go eat an M&M.


    Problems/Issues

    The usual problems with White Strong Flexible are applicable here. Expect some joints
    (especially in the hands) to be loose, but it's nothing a few coats of super glue won't fix.

    I was pleasantly surprised to find almost no issues with the test model (besides loose joints as
    stated above) which is rare considering the scale of this project. Nevertheless, should you have
    any problems with the model do feedback to me on this thread!

    [​IMG]

    Conclusion

    Have I already mentioned that WFC Megatron is one of my favourite figures? And how glad I am
    that I'm able to fix its flaws to make it even better? This was a really big project and I'm glad it
    turned out pretty nice; I was able to set several milestones at its completion.

    I was also happy to find out that these hands are the smallest size possible to be made in
    Shapeways and include posability. This may not sound like much, but it is going to affect a lot on
    how future hand projects will be done.

    Feel free to leave comments, critique and gifts of candy at the door. Thanks all!


    [​IMG]

    You can order the appendages here at
    WFC Megatron's Annihilating Appendages on Shapeways.


    [​IMG]

    His trusty Atomic Obliterator is available here at
    Atomic Obliterator on Shapeways.


    [​IMG]

    Also available is just the pair of hands at
    14mm Posable Fists on Shapeways.


    - Ariel

    Flickr is here.

    FrenzyRumble's Flickr gallery is here.

    Fakebusker's Shapeways Store
     

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 3
  2. Alloy Alchemist

    Alloy Alchemist Decepticon sympathizer

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    Looks great ,as dose all your work. Dose this new knowlege about printable hand size mean you will be making posable hands for deluxe size TFs ?
     
  3. fakebusker83

    fakebusker83 Radicon

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    This is a good question, and the answer is 'it depends' on which figure it is for.
    WFC Megatron fortuitously has large hands in game so I had a lot of leeway in terms of size, but I would think a majority of deluxes won't look right with those large hands unless their body frame allows them to.

    Looking at the figures on my desk now I would say these hands would be more suitable for voyager figures. My hands and TFP voyager Megatron's hands are almost the same size.
     
  4. primecustomizer

    primecustomizer Autobot Leader

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    Great way to give Megatron more playability and some new articulation where it wasn't before.
     
  5. Megatron31

    Megatron31 I Belong to Nobody!

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    printible in FUD?
     
  6. frenzyrumble

    frenzyrumble Banned

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    I like red M&Ms.
    can't wait for this...
     
  7. PrimusVsUnicron

    PrimusVsUnicron Well-Known Member

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    interesting
     
  8. PrimusVsUnicron

    PrimusVsUnicron Well-Known Member

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    lol at the M&Ms part
     
  9. cheetor71

    cheetor71 Autobot

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    This is a great set. As far as the hand size, PRID Megatron is really an oversized deluxe and the hands just might work for older deluxe figures.
     
  10. Rodimeister0088

    Rodimeister0088 Prime

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    sweet! looks a bit big but you are right. the hands are big in the game.
     
  11. javaco

    javaco javaco

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    woah.. they are huge..
     
  12. Kilowog

    Kilowog ORA ORA ORA

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    Fuck skittles
     
  13. BScorpinok75

    BScorpinok75 Squadron X #1 Consultant

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    This is awesome!!! This is exactly what I wish I had the skills to see pull of for Classics Tank Megatron's gun arm.
     
  14. megatronatlas

    megatronatlas Well-Known Member

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    :cool:  gonna get these
     
  15. daimchoc

    daimchoc Well-Known Member

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    As always, great job.
     
  16. Rexidus

    Rexidus Autobot

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    Fuck... I'm trying to not spend money...

    How do you think they would hold up in polished aluminide?
     
  17. autobot prowl

    autobot prowl Well-Known Member

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    These turned out great and really add a lot to this figure! Arms look a little oversized now but I can dig it!
     
  18. ryanlb

    ryanlb Well-Known Member

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    Wow, these look great. I'm very tempted to get them, especially since i just got the Dream Maker set, and I don't like the arms, they just sorta almost clip on over the existing ones, look a little too bulk, AND DON'T STAY ON. The weapons are nice though.

    So yeah, I might have to be ordering this set today.
     
  19. CodeXCDM

    CodeXCDM Well-Known Member

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    These came out pretty nicely. Definitely want to see someone paint these up. I imagine folks will be buying the posable hands for Voyager or bulky deluxe kitbashes.

    Now... I do have to ask something somewhat related though...




    Is this *that* much different from what I'm seeing on Shapeways for buying Meg's new Hands and Gun?

    At 55$ for both, you're paying for more than 3 deluxes worth. Seems like you're kind of going back on that notion now... no offense.
     
  20. fakebusker83

    fakebusker83 Radicon

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    Yeah...they look a little too large don't they? That's why the final version is revised to be slightly more compact and shorter. I haven't got a sample to show yet but I think they will look more proportionate.

    When designing this model, the base measurement I had to work from are the hands, and everything else was 'shelled' around them. Hence there's not much I can do to shrink them without affecting posability.

    I could have done just a one-piece fist design with a 5mm peg hole and call it a day, but hey, we should push a concept as far as it can go, right?

    [​IMG]

    This was the screenshot I based my measurements off from. It doesn't look oversized now, does it?


    Thanks PC. Yeah, I love that figure now :) 



    That's true. I kept thinking back to those old Energon figures and they do have some chunky hands!


    Well, I can't wait for that. ;) 

    Aww hey...I like skittles too!



    Thanks guys! Thanks for the support!


    Yes but I wouldn't advise it. It will be very expensive and I'm not sure how well the joints in the hands will hold up.


    They'd probably look good, but will be very loose. But a dedicated customizer can fix that with a bunch of glue :) 
    And hey, Christmas!


    Na...not a fan of the Dream Maker rendition. It's not accurate at all...Nice giant blade though.
     

    Attached Files: