Minor/Repaint: TFP FE Bumblebee

Discussion in 'Radicons Customs' started by hthrun, Jan 29, 2013.

  1. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    My 7yo son asked me to do some mods to his TFP FE Bumblebee to make it look more like the show. I don't know if anyone's done anything like these because I usually only check out movie customs, but thought I'd post some pics here in case anyone else would be interested :) 

    Completed mods:
    - Removable windshield: Post #2
    - Removable car rear: Post #5
    - Ball joint wrists: Post #6
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 4, 2013
  2. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Removable windshield

    My son wanted the door/wings to go closer together in robot mode. To do so, he asked if I could make the windshield come off and go back on with a magnet. Instead, I just made a couple slots in it as shown. I first used small drill bits to make the holes, then used an exacto knife to slowly clear away excess plastic. Not the windshield can be put on or off and it can still work the way it did before.
    Hopefully you guys can tell the difference between the pic of Bee with the windshield on and with it off :) 
     

    Attached Files:

  3. cheetor71

    cheetor71 Autobot

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    This looks great. I might have to try it.
     
  4. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Thanks! I finished up making one of the car rear halves removable from Bee's foot. I want my son to try it out and make sure he likes it before I do the other foot, at which point I'll take some pics...
     
  5. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Removable feet mod

    My son wanted me to make the car rear removable since Bee doesn't have them in the show. Here's how I did it...

    1. Take out all three screws. Be sure to examine the legs now to decide if you really want to do this :) 

    [​IMG]

    2. Cut out the pegs. The back one I cut out in the middle, the front two I cut out at the base.

    [​IMG]

    3. Cut/shave down the ends so they're nice and flat.

    [​IMG]

    4. Screw the pegs back on.

    [​IMG]

    5. Drill the holes big enough that a twist tie can fit in them.

    [​IMG]

    6. Cut three small pieces. Not too small, they will be trimmed later...

    [​IMG]

    7. Super glue the twist tie pieces in the removable sections.

    [​IMG]

    8. After the glue has dried, try putting the twist ties into the corresponding holes on the foot and pushing the pieces together. Shorten the twist ties as needed until the removable piece can go on all the way.

    [​IMG]

    And there you have it!

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 4, 2013
  6. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Ball joint wrists

    Even though this toy already has articulation near the elbows to allow the forearms to turn, my son wanted the hands to match up with the forearms the way they do on the show. He asked me to give him ball joint wrists, since he's seen me do that with some of my other TFs. Here's how I went about it this time...

    1. Take the forearms apart by removing both screws.

    [​IMG]

    2. Put some super glue on the peg by the wrist. We won't need the screw for that peg anymore, so it can be saved for something else...

    [​IMG]

    3. Put the forearm back together using just the screw by the elbow. Leave the hand out.

    [​IMG]

    4. Cut the ring off the end of the hand. Also, when you cut out the ball joint from where ever it came from, try to leave the stem long.

    [​IMG]

    5. Hand drill a hole in the base of the hand for the stem of the ball joint to go in. With all of my drilling, I like to start with my smallest drill bit and work my way up until the hole is big enough.

    [​IMG]

    6. Glue the ball joint into the hand. If needed, trim down the ball joint's stem. The nice thing about this toy is there's quite a bit of room available in vehicle mode for the forearms and hand. On one of the wrists I did, I don't think the stem was quite long enough. The hand had a tendency to come out when I turned it. I used some Future on it to try and get it to stay in. I haven't used it tried out the toy since, I'll see if my son says anything...

    [​IMG]

    7. Hand drill a hole into the peg at the wrist. Again, start with a small drill bit and continue making it larger until the ball joint can fit in. It's ok if you completely cut through a side of the peg, or both sides. Just as long as the ends of the peg are able to hole the ball join in place.

    [​IMG]

    8. Push the hand back onto the wrist.

    [​IMG]

    And it's done!

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 4, 2013
  7. j.a.f.o.

    j.a.f.o. Just Browsing/Not Buying

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    Looks fantastic. You are one awesome dad!
     
  8. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Thanks! Now that I'm done with Bee, my son wants me to paint his TF Prime Megatron :) 
     
  9. ultraprime2010

    ultraprime2010 Member

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    Nice! I'll have to try that on mine as well.
     
  10. luap184

    luap184 Well-Known Member

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    This is great stuff, man :)  I'll definitely give the door-mod a try when/if I get the figure.
     
  11. hbwman

    hbwman Member

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    goodjob
     
  12. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Thanks! The nice thing about the foot and wrist mod is I think they can be easily fixed if there are any mistakes. Just super glue the parts back in place. I'm not sure about the window, though...
     
  13. Tarrn

    Tarrn Bikeformer Fanboy

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    Good work, man, will have to try the wrist mod on mine as I prefer not to do the others because of partsforming.

    Actually, it's not a big enough thing to warrant its own thread, but I found an extremely simple way to give FE BB his screen-accurate silver face if you want - just take one of those cheap silver pens you can get in three-packs for writing on Christmas cards and go over his face in a couple of different directions. It looks really good, as bright as the RID BB but more facially accurate because of the mould. And although those pens aren't normally any good for details because it rubs off plastic, it's okay here because the face is recessed and you'd only be touching the head itself when posing and transforming the figure.
     
  14. hthrun

    hthrun Show accuracy's overrated

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    Thanks for the idea! My son enjoys painting his toys, so I'll have to suggest it to him. Sometimes he wants me to do the painting, though :)