Decided to revive this project started in 2011 and regularly improved throughout 2012 and earlier this year... Felt the flat bed trailer (which separates to form Optimus' armor) could use an upgrade... BEFORE AFTER Fully compatible with the base trailer! It will eventually into a separate base/battle station for humans, haven't started designing the interior yet.
Spent much of the day yesterday reinforcing the different trailer panels. It's crazy how Kre-O bricks can't be secure, all they want to do is explode between your hands. Also redesigned Roller a bit, and the interior, will post updated pics soon.
Not done yet. But space is very limited inside; when you close the trailer, there's pretty much no room left. Fitting the radar dish in was a miracle! So you get: -1 missile on the left, 1 missile on the right -1 deployable radar dish on the right -storage compartments on the left -weapon storage on the right -2 cylindrical things that just look cool (one on each side) -the battle turret with 3 cannons -Roller Trying to fit computer screens and maybe seats somewhere, but I'm not sure I'll be able to... Also, the doors now open normally in trailer mode, and there's a ramp that folds down to accomodate Roller.
Revised base mode... Modified the weapon storage (right) and storage compartments (left), added some lights on the floor, plus a bed (left) and a computer (right). And as you can see, it's a tight fit in trailer mode, the computer has to go around the battle turret!
More : So all in all, this set gives you: -Stealth Force/Human Alliance truck w/ flat or closed trailer -Human Alliance robot + base (with the flat trailer base) -Human Alliance super robot (truck + flat trailer combined) + base (without the flat trailer base) Now I just need to integrated a Headmaster, a Powermaster and a Targetmaster.
L to R: Headmaster (with shoulder cannons), Targetmaster (with jet pack) and Powermaster (with overhead cannons). All 3 combined with Optimus Prime in super mode (Powermaster also has a weapon mode, as shown on the left shoulder):
Truck mode with Powermaster in place and Headmaster and Targetmaster in weapon mode... Stealth Force mode with all 3 partners in weapon mode...
More revisions... Completely redesigned the turret in base mode, and it transforms for storage in trailer mode (seat rotates 180, cannon swings down, and side panels folds flat). I've also revised the chest struts. Now they're perfectly parallel and completely reach the back of the robot to properly support the chest. Before that, they were too wide and short, so they were sitting at a slight angle and kinda just floating there. Base/trailer with regular robot mode with Targetmaster/Powermaster attached and Headmaster in robot mode Base/no trailer with super mode (including Headmaster in head mode) Also fixed some cosmetic issues in truck mode (namely the grey stripe). I should really shoot a video, that toy is too complex to explain.
Even though no parts were modified and the build is 100% Kre-O, it wouldn't be possible to sell because the connection between some of the bricks is sometimes too weak to support the weight or the movement. I had to glue a bunch of pieces to make it sturdy enough for play. That said, I'm sure would be possible to sell simpler transformable sets. I have a few official (Takara G1 Convoy, Animated Optimus and Animated Bumblebee) and unofficial sets (Movie Optimus) that can transform.
Revisited this build once again the past couple days to make some improvements... -redesigned/reinforced lower torso area -redesigned lower cab panels -reintegrated underarm weapons (made some room inside) Cab (with Kreon Powermaster attached) Underarm weapons folded back Underarm weapons deployed Robot mode The cool thing is that when they're folded back for truck mode, the underarm weapons actually lean on the waist to help support the cab (forearms were floating above the waist before). I've ordered a whole bunch of red flat tiles from Lego the other day to finish off the cab. I'm also trying to find a way to attach the Powermaster at the front in robot mode (the actual grill is on the back) and to make cabbard to store the sword.
Tons of revisions once again... First of all, I've decided to redesign Roller a bit... And make him transformable... Into some kind of shield (inspired by the Blast Buggy toy in the Power Rangers SPD line). I've also designed brand new hands with articulated fingers. Before, I could just kinda jam the sword in the hand, but it wasn't very secure. Now, it pegs in the palm and the fingers can close around it. Because of the redesign, I've moved the overhand guns to the hips, and that looks cooler imo. I've also redesigned the chest armor. The redesign solves 2 problems: it fills up a 4x2 gap that was left in the hitch section of the trailer, and it create some kind of abdominal armor. Also bought a whole bunch of flat tiles, and I also redesigned the trailer legs to make it perfectly level and fully supported (before they were kinda floating as they were not completely touching the underside of the trailer). By creating those 2 "tracks", I've been able to improve the interface with Optimus' feet in combined mode and with upper portion of the trailer. Also finished off the rear ramp with flat tiles. I've also finished off the interface between both parts of the trailer to remove all the gaps left (I didn't press the upper section fully onto the lower section to make it easier to detach, but it can be done). I've added flat tiles all over Optimus too, and I've also redesigned his hitch gun a bit. Reworked underarm cannons. Folded back. Inside of the trailer. Added flat tiles to the floor. Yes, it can still close with everything inside. VERY tight fit. Truck mode. Stealth Force/Human Alliance mode still fully functional. I plan to redo this project with just Legos to close all the gaps in truck mode (can't be avoided because of in-between length of the Kre-O ball joints) and add clicky joints all over for stability.
