Minor/Repaint: Beast Hunters Smokescreen arm kibble mod

Discussion in 'Radicons Customs' started by Gatchaman, Mar 4, 2013.

  1. Gatchaman

    Gatchaman Well-Known Member

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    Helloooooooooo Radicons. Been a while since I've posted anything, but this one is quick and simple and makes a big difference IMHO.

    When they announced Beast Hunters Smokescreen (2 weeks after I had received my arms micron smokescreen :banghead: ) I had 2 initial thoughts.

    1) Man , I wish I hadn't just dropped $35 on AM Smokescreen

    2) This BH mold looks so much more screen accurate, but that arm kibble has got to go.

    So I found one on Friday morning, and was working on him by Saturday afternoon. I don't have wip pics, but will try to explain what I did with my after pics. I will be doing one for my buddy as well, so if there is interest I can take some wip shots, but it is very simple. I will update with some wip pics and also as I add some paint apps.

    This does involve parts forming the roof panels and just sitting the hood panels aside. I thought about using magnets to attach the hood panels to the backs of his legs, but since his hood is supposed to be on his chest in bot mode, it would ruin the cheat's illusion if he had his actual hood on his calves, or on the backs of his arms for that matter, :lol ) So all that is to say that if you don't like partsforming, this mod isn't for you. But if you just want a more accurate looking Smokescreen and to still be able to transform him after relocating and removing a couple panels, read on!

    1) Transform him into bot mode and and pop his arm off
    [​IMG] "Smokescreen, you needed that!"

    Now you can see the pin and basically an I beam with a notch on either side and plastic in the middle.

    [​IMG]

    2) trim that piece of plastic out with a small pair of snips, strong scissors, clean nail clipper scissors, or if you're very steady, an exacto knife.
    this is what I used

    [​IMG]

    Cut only enough that the end result is an open channel.

    [​IMG]

    3) remove the arm kibble by slowly pulling it down so that the pin passes right through the channel you've created.

    [​IMG]

    voila, once you've done that you are 1/2way there and have this:

    [​IMG]

    Now the next step is to remove the hood parts from the roof parts by just popping them of here:

    [​IMG]

    it just pops off, like this

    [​IMG]

    Next, you need to trim the bottom of the two tabs shown here

    [​IMG] do not attempt to adjust your screen, the image is upside down :lol 

    [​IMG]

    so that when you've done both sides of the roof and tab both roof halves back together you wind up with this:

    [​IMG]

    Cut it down about flush, then test fit, cut down a little more if necessary, then test fit again. You want it to be snug, but not so snug it pops out. Keep test fitting and sanding/cutting down, till it just fits in. If it's a little loose, that's ok, we can tighten it up later

    which you can then tab into the back of smokescreen's back between the two extrusions onhis lower back that hold the door wing assembly backbone in vehicle mode:

    [​IMG]

    If you find it is a little loose, you can add some super glue to give it more friction. Just add a couple drops of gel glue to the bottom of the roof where you trimmed the tabs and here on the parts that you peg the roof in between
    [​IMG]

    put it in place for no more than 10 seconds, then pull it out and leave it out for about 15 minutes, then test fit it again, then leave it out overnight, and in the morning you'll have a nice tight fit.


    which will then look like this:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG] Front and back

    So you can get rid of his arm Kibble and make him a little thicker all in the same mod! And of course once you put the hood panels back on, you can still transform it back to get this:

    [​IMG]

    Thanks for looking.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Mar 6, 2013
    • Like Like x 13
  2. XDIchigo

    XDIchigo Well-Known Member

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    um, hells yeah!
    you win by making the most coveted piece from this line sides shockwave, into more awesomeness than i thought possible
     
  3. Ømnidrive

    Ømnidrive Stop.....think......fart.....and keep on going

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    NICE LOOKING OUT FOR THE REST OF US!!!!

    Nice job though!!! :D 
     
  4. jozaeh

    jozaeh Well-Known Member

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    Dude, YES! I was SO excited for this figure when I saw it coming out. Finally a smokescreen of his own mold that looks really accurate! And then I watched a video review, and the thin-ness, and the arm kibble sealed the deal that I didn't want it.

    But you freakin saved the day! I'm getting this guy now, oooooh yeah!

    (and I have an idea to use the hood pieces to magnetise onto his chest that in my mind of course works, but in reality, we'll see.....)
     
  5. Brunkion76

    Brunkion76 HE>i

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    Bravo to you sir, well done, well done
     
  6. Solrac333

    Solrac333 G1 got it right!

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    Pretty cool. Can you take a pic from the side?
     
  7. SG hailstorm

    SG hailstorm JaAm aficionado

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    WIN! i need to find smokescreen now
     
  8. FERNANDO LAMAT

    FERNANDO LAMAT FERNANDO LAMAT.

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    yeah!
    nice job!
    greetings!
    BY LAMAT.
     
  9. ichnach

    ichnach Predacon

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    Argh, beat me to it. I figured this out last night but held off posting until i finish the repaint. Super easy mod to do and makes a 100% improvement to the figure. If anyone is interested I found a spot on match for the metallic grey plastic on this figure. Vallejo Model Color Gunmetal Grey is a perfect match.
     
  10. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

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    So, he part forms? :( 
     
  11. BLOODRAGED189

    BLOODRAGED189 In it for the engineering

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    This.
     
  12. TFfanOP

    TFfanOP Well-Known Member

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    I have no issues with part-forming, especially if it makes figure significantly better.
     
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  13. Gatchaman

    Gatchaman Well-Known Member

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    Wow, that is quite a compliment, thanks and I'm glad you like it!

    Sorry, but I'm sure he'll be out in force soon enough. He's 2 to a case so you've got a good shot at grabbing one once the wave hits your area.
    Thanks for the comment!

    Cool, I'm glad you decided to pick him up and let me know when you work out your idea to get his hood on his chest, that sounds awesome!

    Thanks!

    Thanks, and here you go:
    [​IMG]

    & without:

    [​IMG]

    Thank you!

    Don't sweat it, first isn't always best, I look forward to seeing yours painted up & thanks for the tip about the paint. Have you found a match for the red or blue?
     
  14. Gatchaman

    Gatchaman Well-Known Member

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    Ahh, Split Lip, thanks for coming by to restate the glaringly obvious fact that I stated quite thoroughly in a paragraph in my first post. Did you not read the paragraph, or were you just summarizing in case anyone else missed that part that this mod requires partsforming the arm kibble?

    & Bloodraged189, thank you for echoing Splitty's already redundant post.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  15. Gatchaman

    Gatchaman Well-Known Member

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    Thanks TFfanOP! I couldn't agree more nor said it better myself.
     
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  16. Jerrymiru

    Jerrymiru TF Ninja

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    MANY thanks for this idea. I will have to do this to mine when he shows up in my area. Kudos! :) 
     
  17. cheetor71

    cheetor71 Autobot

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    So what if he parts forms. 99% of the original figures were parts formers. This is a great mod and I will be doing it.
     
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  18. Arkvander

    Arkvander Optimal Optimist

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    Nicely done! I really have been liking this figure ever since you found it for me but the arm kibble was killing me! I might just take it upon myself to give this a shot too!
     
  19. Transformed

    Transformed 神戸 Member

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    Nice. I like this mod very much.
     
  20. neevnav

    neevnav The Flying Dutchman

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    Love it. Will be doing this when I get one. Thanks!