I will be posting my WIP here for the Master Collectibles Wheeljack conversion kit. You can read my detailed review here: Nori News: Master Collectables Wheeljack Kit WIP & Review

Here are some images to start with.
I am test fitting parts.
Alt Mode.


Robot mode, less new head. I do not know how the head will hold up to repeated removal so I am waiting to replace it until I paint the new head.

 

Lookin forward to it! Im not seein the pics tho, just the attached one with the head comparisons and some rough bodywork in the background.

~Z

 

Fixed. My blog was not allowing hotlinking.

 

Interesting...how much for the set?

 

I am pretty sure they were $44.98 + shipping.

EDIT: I am pretty sure they are sold out though.

 

Today's progress.

Most of the parts were easy to remove. They either had a screw holding them together or a ball joint. I had to use some pliers to remove the peg that held in the chest piece. I need to figure out how I will remove the rear wheels before I paint. They have the same sort of peg as the chest, but I do not want to do any damage to the tires. I am also debating on how I am going to paint the robot body. I do not want to change too much, but I will likely try and tribute the G1 character and add a few things of my own.

 

well for the rear wheels id try a soldering iron and heat the pin holding the wheel on there is a tutorial for that in the specified section.

and if you leave the wheeljack head on while transforming you dont have to remove it you can just turn it around 180 degrees and will slide right in! hope this helps

 

Thanks, I will look into that.

I know that, I just do not want to put it on until I paint it.

 

ah ok i thought you werent to sure on it! and honestly the soldering iron trick works well just hold the tip on the metal pin for 20-30 seconds and try to pull the wheel over the pin comes off a treat!

the pin can also be removed and when ready to refit put the pin in the wheel and use the hot soldering iron to push the wheel back on. sounds crazy but works!

 

Why remove the wheels when you can just mask them off with masking tape before you paint?

 

I have done two customs with this mold (SG Sideswipe and Sunstreaker), one where I masking taped the wheels and one where I removed the wheels using a soldering iron. The final result with the taped toy looks awesome, but I am happier with the paint finish with the soldering iron, and with all honesty it was quicker and easier to remove the wheels than it was to mask them off.

 

I was amazed how easy that worked. I placed one of my small screwdrivers behind the wheel and balanced the rear quarter on its edges and the driver. Then I heated the metal, and placed gentle pressure on the center of the body and the wheel moved out. I then Pulled it the rest of the way off. I wish I had some wheels that were better suited, but I will likely just have to paint these black to simulate 1) the G1 Wheeljack and the Stratos it mimicked.

 

You said you used pliers to remove the chest piece. Does it look like it will go back in easily or not?

When I did my Sunstreaker and Sideswipe swapovers to make Tigertracks and Red Sunstreaker, the chest piece was the only bit I couldn't do.

 

It looks like it will go in with a little force. Its the same kind of peg used on the wheels, so if it takes too much force to push back in, then I will use the heat iron like I did with the wheels.

 

glad that worked well for you! i would also like some better wheels for this mould and and if they had rubber tyres it would be even better!

 

I wonder what scale this car is? I bet someone, somewhere makes a wheel that could be adapted.

 

The stratos it mimic'ed actually has red star shaped rims.



I had a set of rims for my WJ I was making like that (cut out every one of the spokes painted the inside and the rim red).. But then I lost them before I could finish making the star pattern.. WTF house..

I'm sure they'll turn up when I no longer am working on my WJ...
 

 

But the G1 toy had black wheels and the cartoon had white wheels.
I will likely do red. I am not sure if I will cut these wheels up or not though.

IMCDb.org: Lancia Stratos Group 5 in "Transformers, 1984-1987"

 

But the G1 toy had black wheels and the cartoon had white wheels.
I will likely do red. I am not sure if I will cut these wheels up or not though.

IMCDb.org: Lancia Stratos Group 5 in "Transformers, 1984-1987"

 

Cool trick with the heating iron, does that work on 'all' pins? Looking forward to your custom paint job. What are you going to use to pain the lines straight? I picked up some Tamiya masking tape as I read it's nearly the best stuff out there if you burnish it right.