Heavy/Scratch: Classics Deluxe Optimus Prime

Discussion in 'Radicons Customs' started by Jarrod, Nov 13, 2012.

  1. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2004
    Posts:
    3,823
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Likes:
    +9,756
    Started this one, probably nearly a year ago, but put in on the back burner while I worked on the MP Prowl Trio...among other things. Finally finished him up a few weeks ago.

    I wanted a decent G1 style Prime for my Deluxe Prime vs Megatron shelf, so I pulled this guy out from being shoved in the back, hidden from view, and started working to see what I could do. I had some basic ideas: Get the cab section to not look like mess in truck mode, replace the head, ball jointed ankles, and of course a new paint job.

    I took a few WIP pics, so I'll start with them:

    First thing I worked on was having the wheel wells collapse in further in truck mode. So I chopped into the waist sections, and eventually cut some guide slots for the well to slide in on.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Then I cut down the wheel well section some too.
    [​IMG]

    Using the original swing pin as a slider, the sides can now slide in to be flush with the arms.
    [​IMG]

    Now the grill needed to slide out to meet the front of the truck. I gutted the "punching" gimmick and added a polycap inside, and a rod attached to the grill. The grill can now slide forward.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    After that, moving on to the arms. I built up the lower arms with some styrene, lengthening and widening them. I also added the cut out triangle and rectangle details to the top. New fists were added as well, from a junker Sideswipe.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Not shown, but I also built sliding blocks to collapse the lower legs, gave him ball jointed ankles from Hobby Base's Roll Swing Joints, rebuilt the front bumper, and built new headlight panels. The new headlight panels simply sit attached to the bumper on his back in robot mode...not the most elegant, but I think it looks fine.

    The new head is the extra one from Maketoys Battle Tanker, modified to look a bit more G1 like, and with a ball joint added.

    Painted with MM Dark Blue, Silver, and a custom deep, bright red.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 15
  2. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2004
    Posts:
    3,823
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Likes:
    +9,756
    And robot mode:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Thanks for looking!
     

    Attached Files:

    • Like Like x 15
  3. changepas39

    changepas39 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Posts:
    700
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    146
    Likes:
    +1
    I never have never imagined that the Classics Deluxe Optimus Prime could look so AWESOME!!!

    You did phenomenal work!!!
     
  4. Murasame

    Murasame 村雨

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2008
    Posts:
    25,367
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    412
    Location:
    The Lost Light
    Likes:
    +13,355
    Wow, now he looks cool. All he needs now are blue windows and he's perfect :) 
     
  5. thyvipera

    thyvipera ThyVipera

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2007
    Posts:
    3,348
    Trophy Points:
    151
    Likes:
    +31
    This!!

    You continue to amaze man! great work
     
  6. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2004
    Posts:
    3,823
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Likes:
    +9,756
    Thanks guys, still amazed out how totally different he looks myself.

    Yeah, to be fair, they actually are blue! Just not as blue as they could have been.
     
  7. Carpool

    Carpool Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2008
    Posts:
    642
    Trophy Points:
    212
    Likes:
    +44
    Youve taken wet poop and molded it to a gold brick. WHAT SORCERY IS THIS? Good show man...good show!
     
  8. KINGBOTZ

    KINGBOTZ www.KINGBOTZ.com

    Joined:
    May 6, 2008
    Posts:
    1,418
    Trophy Points:
    317
    Location:
    Metairie, La
    Likes:
    +1,841
    Ebay:
    Facebook:
    YouTube (Legacy):
    Man, that looks SO much better!!!
     
  9. TCracker

    TCracker R.I.P., 5/2019 Veteran

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2007
    Posts:
    17,043
    News Credits:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    347
    Likes:
    +22,444
    *wipes drool from the mouth*.......:p 
     
  10. BLOODRAGED189

    BLOODRAGED189 In it for the engineering

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Posts:
    3,292
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    Houston, Texas
    Likes:
    +995
    It's hard to believe this is Classics Deluxe Prime, amazing work.
     
  11. Solrac333

    Solrac333 G1 got it right!

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2009
    Posts:
    12,519
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Likes:
    +3,422
    Ebay:
    And that's all Hasbro needs to do. Very nice!
     
  12. SMOG

    SMOG Vocabchampion ArgueTitan

    Joined:
    May 13, 2006
    Posts:
    23,161
    Trophy Points:
    412
    Location:
    Robot Narnia, Quebec
    Likes:
    +9,485
    Wow... a stunning improvement, with so little changed (which is not to say easily changed... this took some work!).

    :thumb  Very niiiice.

    zmog
     
  13. T4mercustomz

    T4mercustomz I LIVE

    Joined:
    May 19, 2011
    Posts:
    2,029
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    292
    Location:
    Moon
    Likes:
    +617
    This is great!
     
  14. Ribieconvoy

    Ribieconvoy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2010
    Posts:
    6,567
    News Credits:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +1,111
    Even with its flaws, this mold is one of my favorite deluxes of all time (Blasphemy, I know), so seeing this with all the improvements just... wow. Not to mention your great paint work! I *really* love that shade of blue!
     
  15. Satomiblood

    Satomiblood City Hunter

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2007
    Posts:
    20,119
    Trophy Points:
    412
    Location:
    San Junipero
    Likes:
    +5,109
    I have to wonder if there's a way to create a hinged panel that can hide the head in alt mode. That might be the only thing this custom needs. But other than that, I'd say it's a top-shelf effort.
     
  16. stprime

    stprime THE コンボイ that the Matrix refused

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2009
    Posts:
    10,166
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    Art Room
    Likes:
    +17,167
    well i thought i was happy with mine, now thanks to this work of mastery i will hide mine in shame. :"(

    one tear for awesome and one for the shame that is mine.

    and because no one asked.... WHERE'S THE TRAILER?
     
  17. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2004
    Posts:
    3,823
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Likes:
    +9,756
    Thanks, and that's really what I was going for. I didn't want to rebuild the whole figure, just fix a few of its shortcomings.

    Haha, I tried to justify it being on my shelf for years, now he stands proudly at the front.

    I did consider that early on, but with all the other junk hanging off the back, I didn't want to clutter it up any more.

    I'm sure yours is great too!
    It's funny you ask about the trailer tho, because as I was posting this thread yesterday I was thinking, I wonder if I can still find one of those deluxe Movie Trilogy Primes anywhere to steal his trailer!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  18. Satomiblood

    Satomiblood City Hunter

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2007
    Posts:
    20,119
    Trophy Points:
    412
    Location:
    San Junipero
    Likes:
    +5,109
    Maybe sitting the head on top of a panel that can be flipped (somewhat similar to RTS G2 Prime), but that would mean more work. And honestly, why butcher the sculpted details that you can see through the windshield?
     
  19. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2004
    Posts:
    3,823
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Likes:
    +9,756
    I've bolded the important part, and pretty much why I left the head totally uncovered :D 
     
  20. Ribieconvoy

    Ribieconvoy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2010
    Posts:
    6,567
    News Credits:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +1,111
    I've always thought it might help hide the head a bit if you painted the back panel of it red. Since you don't really see the back of the head too much when it's on display, it would work at least a little more nicely than just having the big blue patch on top of his truck mode.