So a while back I started making an Alternator Bumblebee based on the original design found in the BT book. Here's a pick borrowed from Remy's site.






I think I have it pretty well figured out except for the hood. Where do you guys think it would go in bot mode? Covering the shins like Classics BB or a shield maybe?

Discuss.

 

Wow that's hard for me.. BB would look cool with a shield.. especailly since he's a small guy.. it would make sense to give him more protection.. but the shin thing would be cool too because it means less detached parts

 

the hood is on his back attached to the windshield under the roof. you can see it sticking up behind his head. It looks like it spins around to point up. The shins are the dashboard, and the seats fold up on his upper legs.

 

Working at a VW Dealership parts department, I would have fun putting together a life-size version of this..than put it on the front of the Dealership lot...  

 

i wish VW would have given them a license to make this... would have been sweet!!!

 

First, glad to see you back in it. I always enjoy seeing your stuff. This is one I had plans on doing too. I’ve already had the VW kit (for a year now, lol). Don’t think I’ll ever get to it though. Ok, I think you should have the hood/engine bonnet cover the shin. The bonnet is a bit too small to be a believable shield. If anything, the roof would make for a better shield. And since it only hangs off the back in bot mode it’ll make for a nice detachable shield. I look forward to seeing this done. I’m sure it’ll look awesome.

 

I think Lobo meant the engine bonnet when he said hood (instead of roof. Both can be referred to as hood though). It’s unclear where the engine bonnet goes in the pics. It may be attached to the windshield which is in turn attached to the roof.

 

I like the shield idea since the little guy takes so much pounding from the big guys.
He can always use some defense +1

 

Thanks.

I've been working on a few little side projects but since nothing was finished I never posted anything.



I should have clarifed some stuff. As best as I can tell there are 5 bits of kibble that need to be accounted for in bot mode. The roof, the front windshield, the back windshield, the hood (front of the car over the engine) and the trunk (back of the car where BB head is at).

By the drawing, it looks like the roof and windshields fold up on the back. The truck is in there as well if I remember right. I think there were pics how the trunk folds up in the book. Ultimately I think the hood does fold up on the shins mainly because of it's similarities to the Classics version. But I also don't like the idea because I'd hate to cover up the leg details.

 

...yeah.. i'm bummed that VW had to care about war-politics.. I understand history.. but look at other car companies.. they licensed.. and they are fine.. (i think?)

When i read Infiltration.. and saw BB's hood split and that blaster pop out... during his transformation.. it totally made me think alternators... man

 

I'd say that if you can get it worked out, have the hood fold up with the windshield/roof asembly....as you stated, it would be a shame to cover up all that detail on the legs with the hood....

And I too am glad to see that you haven't totally quit on the customs....its gonna be so cool to see something from you again....you were the reason I got into bashing in the first place anyways....

Keep us posted!!  

 

Very nice...   make it happen  

 

Honestly, I think ALL the kibble is right there on his back, man. If you look closely at the large piece under the smaller piece, you can see a "seam" or a "crease". I think that the hood IS those kneecaps, look at the transformation. You flip out the front tires, and then flip down the feet and push them up the leg, making the kneecaps fit in perfectly where the hood goes. on a VW the engine in is the REAR not the front, so that's the trunk, which it shows they flip open to reveal rockets or something. I think on his back you're at least looking at the roof, rear hood, and rear windshield... but I wouldnt' be surprised if the front windshield is supposed to be tucked in their as well. the doors are on the back of the shins and simply flip to the sides of the legs to line up with the feet/quarter panels. spin the waist and all that back kibble fills in the cab, with the arms filling in the engine compartment in the rear. you can see the bar that folds up on his back that also straightens out to support the cab panels in car mode.

 

I think redline is right, and it just deosn't look like much of a hood in the drawing because of the angle. I've poured over those dwgs so many times trying to pull out every detail. If i remember right, the "cliffjumper" dwg showed a little more of the back and how that mechanism works. I almost thought it was a roof rack or something the first time i saw it. Glad someone is finally attacking this, I've thought about it ever since I heard they weren't going to make it.
Randy!

 

If anyone can pull it off, Lobo's one to do it, that's for certain.  

 

seeing as that is a newer model V.w. (not the classic pregnant roller skate) the hood would be connected to the front glass as the engine is in front

 

OK, I've been looking at the model, the book, and Classics BB (because I think the transformation is almost the same) and I think i have it figured out. See if you all agree?



I think almost all the big pieces of kibble collapse on the back. That also means they have to be connected together somehow. I'm thinking similar to the Mazda mold were the connecting rods strung along the inside of the roof.

The drawing itself is kinda cartoony so it's hard to get any measurements off of so I think there will be a lot of trial and error. Especially since the framework itself will have to be built from scratch. I originaly planned on using parts from an old Silverstreak and some Lego bits I had but I don't think it they'll work anymore. Here's a pic of what I had done so far.




BTW Redline, the New Beetle's engine is in the front. It's one of the major design changes when they came out.

 

I realize that now, but I still say the dash is also the hood. the bulk is so high I don't see a separate hood fitting over it flush... looking at the feet and how they slide after you flip them downward, the curve on the back of the shin lines up with the wheelwell, and that makes the knees line up in the hood gap.

I agree on the classics comparison though, it looks like the arms are nearly identical, save the doors not being on them.

 

I've had this project planned myself as well, but I've been wanting to knock out all of these repaints I've got scheduled first. Honestly speaking, I'd rather you take me to school on how to do this anyways Lobo.  

You ARE the Main Man, of course  

(on topic, I always just assumed everything folded up behind his back. I hadn't bothered to really examine everything this closely since my own project has been a ways off for some time now.)

I'm curious, what kit are you going to be using for this guy? I've got a couple of 1:25 New Beetle kits I've had for nearly 2 years waiting on my projects (note the plural).

 

Not even worried since it's in your hands, just look foward to seeing it finished. Already know it'll be awesome