Recently, I was taking a look at MP-10 and comparing it to MP-01. One of the things I noticed was the shoulders: MP-10: Mine: Since I like the MP-10 shoulders better, iI decided to do what I have never seen done before... ...modify the shoulders. SO... 1) I removed all the pistons from the arms, ground down the biceps and fitted some heavy sheet styrene to the shoulder: 2) I then checked the transform to make sure nothing got in the way: 3) Detailing the shoulders came next: 4) I then did my best to match the existing paint job I had: 5) Finally, the labels (and silver bicep stripe): And MP-01 now had detailed shoulders (that transform!) that are more in-line with MP-10's. Final result: Yeah,. the paint looks a little streaky, but eventually, this is going to get a total repaint/relabeling when I have the money to do so. Stay tuned...
Thanks! It came out just as I hoped it would. I plan on making more improvements along the lines of restyling MP-01 to MP-10's specs. I probably won't be able to do every single thing that I want, but we'll see how well MP-01 takes the modifications.
Looks good, I think its the first time any one has done mods like this to mp01. Cant wait to see where you take this from here.......... ive often thought better hip joints, knee swivel, thigh swivel and better ankle tilt would improve mp01 quite a bit.
Thanks craftsmith; my next move is to see if I can modify the hips/waist to work more like MP-10's version, and do away with the hinged "skirt". I already had to repair the hip joints one, and I think a new system would be better anyways. Also, the knees are worrisome, as they are well-known for breaking. I'm going to see if I can incorporate a new, more solid ratchet system that eliminates the pistons and whatnot. Perhaps building a whole new leg that would allow for the original leg armor to be ground out until it's "hollow" and attached would probably be best. That would also allow the thighs to be reshaped and look less chunky. Additionally, I plan on removing the "back kibble" panels (headlights) and incorporating them into the transform differently, so I can detail the back a bit better and make the overall cab in vehicle mode look more convincing. The headlights themselves will be redone to resemble MP-10's, as they look better. and the silver "stripe" on either side of Prime's chest is going to be redone to look less boxy and more like MP-10's as well. I might even go so far as to joint the fingers! Meantime, I still need to get back at some point to my G1 Ark and G1 Cybertron projects. Those still need materials, but I hope to be working soon. Stay tuned folks...
UPDATE: I just figured out how to make a new neck for my MP-01 on the same plans as the MP-10's version! I'll post pics of my plans and progress tomorrow night. Stay tuned folks...
Actually, that face is from the MP-05 Megatron. All I did was to alter the helmet (remove the slide down front of it and glue in the flip-up backstrap piece) and add in the "crown" over the eyes, and add in the chin piece.
that makes his face look so much better and imposing though. the only thing left is the chicken legs, but you can't change that i think unless you want him to be an actionmaster
Actually, I'm working on those legs as we speak, designing a modification that will keep the transformational ability.
UPDATE: I DID IT!!! Prime now has a NECK: And he can STILL transform without removing parts! *With back cover: *Without (showing head positioning): I'll be posting more pics of the process I used to rebuild his neck tomorrow evening, after I get back from my job orientation. Stay tuned...
Okay, as promised... First, my battle plans--er, blue prints: Then, raw materials: I cut everything into rough shape, then I began gluing sheets of plastic together into a block: Comparing it to the plans to ensure specs: The finished block, marked for shaping: Sanding, phase 1: Beginning the scary part: cutting into the figure itself. No turning back now; if it doesn't work, I'm in a world of deep doo-doo! First, I ground down the plate the head and neck sits on: Complete removal of the old "neck": Continued shaping of the neck block; the "ears" are the revised version of the "box" I originally envisioned, held on with a metal pin that goes through the neck block: If you thought the removal of the neck from the head-plate was scary, routing out the bottom of Prime's noggin was absolutely terrifying! : Test fit of the new neck: I then attached the pivot peg and drilled a hole in it for the screw to attach: I drilled a 2-step hole into the head-plate: 1 large enough for the pivot peg; the other just big enough for the screw to come through on the other side: Test-fit of the new neck to the head-plate; I was tempted to put the "ears" up and paint it blue : Full-up test of neck on head-plate, with head set in place: Side-view: Transform test; this was to ensure the neck didn't make the head too tall to fit into the back properly to transform: Results: The head is glued to the neck "ears" supports now; I have to sand and paint up the neck and smooth out the work done to the bottom of the head. The ears still move smoothly, and the neck has full movement. it just looks better to me now. Next on my list: fix the thighs and "skirt". Stay tuned...
Working on painting the neck right now; I'll have pics soon. Then the work on the waist and thighs. Also thinking about making new fuel tanks to replace the way-too-small ones. Stay tuned...
Thanks. I was really scared when cutting away the neck joint; if I was wrong, I would be up the creek!
Okay folks, photo time... The neck and other parts I had to scrape paint off of have been painted: Prime can move his head up and down about as well as with the ball joint: Looking up: Back of neck: Side view, showing the flexion of the joint: And the classic Marvel Comics upper corner cover pose (at least as well as I could manage it): Okay, now on to the upper legs. Stay tuned...
My plan for the upper legs is to extend the center piece on the pelvis and attach the hip pivots there. Then, I'm going to put extensions on the thighs, and attach the hip pivots to them to resemble the way it attaches to the thighs of MP-10. I'll have to re-engineer the lower legs so the thighs will fully retract into them after the mods.
