It is JUST as insane as it sounds. I love that I get to do this. Someone commissioned me to take a Transformer figure and turn it into Ike using his Smash4 outfit, inspired by the recent StreetFighterxTransformer crossover. I opted to go with a TLK Voyager Megatron since it needed no extra parts added on. Just a metric ton of cutting, sanding, and contour putty. Aiming for an end result CLOSE to this that can still transform. I was originally just going to send these pictures to the commissioner, but I figured you guys would enjoy the process at least a little bit. I'm expecting to fully finish within the next 3 weeks and I'll be posting pictures probably once a week due to the process. So first week; All the cutting&sanding is done. I'll be applying contour putty today, but I won't be able to take pictures of that til it fully cures for a few days. - Week 1 - Notes at this point: - Still absolutely able to transform without any issue. - I don't remember this thing having such durable plastic when working on Depthcharge or another unfinished custom. My arms weak, biceps spagetti, there's saw dust on my sweater already. - Since a lot of the shape comes from contour putty, I didn't need to cut/sand some areas yet such as the chestplate. - The hair is going to be the hardest part to deal with, because I'll have to carve out a lot of the cockpit to let it fit inside. - Sword is DEFINITELY not as long as I'd like it to be. Contemplating extending it. Might be fine though, haven't quite decided yet. - Week 2 - *Week 2 Images in post below* This is the starting point for contour putty on the figure. It'll be applied in a LOT of other places as well, so I had to divide this into two phases. This first phase are all on keypoints that I'll need to be able to put my hand on to finish the rest, so it needed to sit&cure&harden for a few days before I worked on any further. These sections aren't finalized either, but they're sturdy enough now to do the rest of the figure. I'm planning to have all the contour putty done in the next 3 days, meaning I'll probably be posting pictures of its final appearance before paint next monday(or tuesday). See you next week. - Week 3 - *Week 3 Images in post below* - This is the final application of Contour Putty before I start painting. - Every contour putty'd area in week 2 had more added to it except the skirt. The feet may not be that noticable, but they are much more boot-like and more weighted for balance. - Still 100% transformable without any issues. The jet cavity had to be melted out to give the proper room without creating a hollow void space. Likewise the jet's pivot joint was sanded down heavily so that you don't have to grind the plastic to align the cockpit correctly. - Some areas still look rough (upper lip), but that's to give me something to cut off while painting. The lips should be as smooth as the cheekbones when finished. Remember, it is easier to remove something than it is to add it back. - The shirt may have a somewhat baggy look to it, moreso than actual Ike. This is so that the skirt flaps can still go almost fully up for poses&transformation. To be fair, the skirt can no longer go 100% vertical and instead stops at around 85% vertical. - Because of the left shoulder plate, I couldn't give the left shoulder the same muscle treatment as the right side, but...I mean...That's why the plate is there. - No, I did not forget Ike's bandanna. That comes later. I now begin hand painting the entire thing. Assuming all goes well, this custom will be done by next week. - Week 4+5 - - And here we are. Finished at last. - Fully painted all of the figure. - Glued a twist-tie bandana to the back of the figure covering the ear cavity and maintaining posability without just using ribbons. - Of note is that the leg band, Leg/LeftArm armor and the bandanna all have a black outline to make them stand out more, as do the armbands and the figure's eyes. The hair also received black/grey highlights before the blue coat to make it look more shaded&natural. - Re-sculpted the face until I was satisfied. - Since I didn't have anything to extend the sword, I decided to just create a flame effect to attach to the sword's handle instead. Using one of the "BAF Ares" swords from the DC Multiverse, I cut the sword out of the flame by hand and then attached trimmed off parts to create a handle extension attached to clear plastic peghole from an Energon Hotshot's gun. The entire thing was then blackwashed with red paint by hand(paint+wipeoff) to get the proper color and blend it with the attached port. - I will admit the plane mode did not get much effort, I tried to add SOME gold to the cockpit&spine so that it wasn't just 100% red blob...But it's still a big red blob. - I literally have spent the last week waking up each day to take pictures of this thing and then being like "but I could do THAT part better...I'll take pictures tomorrow after I fix that". I had to stop for my own sanity's sake, so you probably think this looks way better than I do. This was...Both fun and completely nightmarish.
Please, for the love of my avatar, somehow make a matrix of smash!! Also, can't wait to see this done! *Grabs popcorn*
Looks good so far. It is an interesting idea, I'm looking forward to seeing how it will look. "You only get one shot, do not miss you chance..."
- Week 2 - This is the starting point for contour putty on the figure. It'll be applied in a LOT of other places as well, so I had to divide this into two phases. This first phase are all on keypoints that I'll need to be able to put my hand on to finish the rest, so it needed to sit&cure&harden for a few days before I worked on any further. These sections aren't finalized either, but they're sturdy enough now to do the rest of the figure. I'm planning to have all the contour putty done in the next 3 days, meaning I'll probably be posting pictures of its final appearance before paint next monday(or tuesday). See you next week.
- Week 3 - - This is the final application of Contour Putty before I start painting. - Every contour putty'd area in week 2 had more added to it except the skirt. The feet may not be that noticable, but they are much more boot-like and more weighted for balance. - Still 100% transformable without any issues. The jet cavity had to be melted out to give the proper room without creating a hollow void space. Likewise the jet's pivot joint was sanded down heavily so that you don't have to grind the plastic to align the cockpit correctly. - Some areas still look rough (upper lip), but that's to give me something to cut off while painting. The lips should be as smooth as the cheekbones when finished. Remember, it is easier to remove something than it is to add it back. - The shirt may have a somewhat baggy look to it, moreso than actual Ike. This is so that the skirt flaps can still go almost fully up for poses&transformation. To be fair, the skirt can no longer go 100% vertical and instead stops at around 85% vertical. - Because of the left shoulder plate, I couldn't give the left shoulder the same muscle treatment as the right side, but...I mean...That's why the plate is there. - No, I did not forget Ike's bandanna. That comes later. I now begin hand painting the entire thing. Assuming all goes well, this custom will be done by next week. PREPARE YOURSELF
- Week 4+5 - - And here we are. Finished at last. - Fully painted all of the figure. - Glued a twist-tie bandana to the back of the figure covering the ear cavity and maintaining posability without just using ribbons. - Of note is that the leg band, Leg/LeftArm armor and the bandanna all have a black outline to make them stand out more, as do the armbands and the figure's eyes. The hair also received black/grey highlights before the blue coat to make it look more shaded&natural. - Re-sculpted the face until I was satisfied. - Since I didn't have anything to extend the sword, I decided to just create a flame effect to attach to the sword's handle instead. Using one of the "BAF Ares" swords from the DC Multiverse, I cut the sword out of the flame by hand and then attached trimmed off parts to create a handle extension attached to clear plastic peghole from an Energon Hotshot's gun. The entire thing was then blackwashed with red paint by hand(paint+wipeoff) to get the proper color and blend it with the attached port. - I will admit the plane mode did not get much effort, I tried to add SOME gold to the cockpit&spine so that it wasn't just 100% red blob...But it's still a big red blob. - I literally have spent the last week waking up each day to take pictures of this thing and then being like "but I could do THAT part better...I'll take pictures tomorrow after I fix that". I had to stop for my own sanity's sake, so you probably think this looks way better than I do.
