By Generation: Energon Sky Shadow to Classics Powerglide, Wing Modification

Discussion in 'Tutorials and How Tos' started by Brunkion76, Sep 10, 2010.

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  1. Brunkion76

    Brunkion76 HE>i

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    Hey everybody . . . I finally was able to finish the wing mod tutorial for my Classics Powerglide [which uses the Energon Sky Shadow mold], so without further ado, here we go!

    1) You will need either of the Energon A-10 combiner figures, Sky Shadow or Terradive, to perform this mod, and you will need these tools, courtesy of REDLINE and Lobo http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/tutorials-how-tos/214536-customizers-tools.html. In addition to the tools listed in that thread, you will also need a hot knife, which is basically a soldering iron with an exacto blade attachment on the end and can be found at Michael's as well as a 1/16 pin punch for removal of pins.

    2) Using the hammer and pin punch, separate the backpack from the figure, keeping track of the pin. Also remove the arms and put those to the side. Here's what you should have at this point:

    [​IMG]


    3)Next, take the backpack and lay it flat. I have placed arrows pointing to the parts you are going to cut with the Dremel and cutting wheel. This is necessary to remove the wing pins, you will need to take the wings off to do this mod. The pics show what you should have when done:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    4) You'll need the hammer, pin punch, a pair of pliers and a roll of tape to remove the wings. Just take the backpack, insert the pin punch in the hole with the pin in the wing, and place it on top of the roll of tape which is used to absorb the shock of the blows and as a soft surface to drive the pin into, and carefully but forcefully strike the pin until it is protruding. You will then grab the pin with the pliers and pull it out. Repeat the process for the other wing, here's a pic to show you what you should have:

    [​IMG]


    5) Next we have to remove the head and pin from the backpack. You'll notice I have an arrow pointing to where the pin is, just knock that out. Here's a pic:

    [​IMG]


    6) Now flip the backpack over. See those landing gears? Pull them out. With the wheels out, you'll notice that it looks like you could run a pin or a piece of wire through that area. Guess what? You can, and this is part of the secret to the wing mod. [Here are] a couple of pictures just to show what I mean:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    7) I have provided a pic that shows the areas you will be working on next, these will need to be Dremeled out; that is a the Dremel accessory I used to do it:

    [​IMG]


    Here's a pic of what it should look like when it's done. Remember to clear out as much of that area as possible, it will make things much easier later:

    [​IMG]


    8) Turn the backpack on it's side. Here we see there is a line created by the black and white paint. This is the line you will be cutting along with the hot knife, going up and around the wing hinge as well. In front of the hinge you'll see another line going down, you'll also be cutting here as well. A word of caution: the knife is going to be hot and we all know what happens when too much heat is applied to plastic for too long - melt-y messy ruined custom, so don't keep the knife on it for too long. As a matter of fact, I would recommend letting the plastic cool between cuts just to be safe. Please look at the pics before performing this step to have a clearer idea of what we're aiming for:

    [[​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    This is what you should have if you did this right. Repeat for the other side, and don't worry if it isn't perfect - it will pretty much be covered up by the wings when they are back on. Just make sure you have something that resembles this.


    9) Next, take your files and file down the sharp edges from the pieces and areas you just cut so everything is nice and pretty. Got any other figures laying around that you can cannibalize pins from? Good, because you are going to need 2 pins about a centimeter long each. If you have a long pin, just clip it til it's about that long X 2. When you have them, set them aside nearby. Take one of the pieces you cut off the backpack and fit one of the pins into the hole on it. Most likely, you will need to widen the hole a bit, so take a 5/64 drill bit and carefully widen the hole with it a little at a time checking often for fit. What you are aiming for here is a very snug fit, and if you overdid it a bit, just take some superglue and glue the pin in:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    10) Remember step 6, the one with the piece of wire going through the landing gear area? If not here's another look:

    [​IMG]


    We are next going to drill this hole out a bit as well using our 5/64 drill bit and checking often for fit. These holes can be a little looser than the other ones we just did, because we want the pieces to pivot freely here. This is the trick to the wing mod and will give you that upright wing position our friend Powerglide is famous for. As with the previous step, if you overdid the drilling, just take some superglue and put it on the pin, then insert it into the area. You will want to keep moving the piece up and down every few seconds so that you do not permanently glue it in. As a side note, this is a useful trick for loose ball joints and hinges as well, just remember to continuously move the piece in question around until it tightens up. Anyway, if you followed along to this point here's what you should have.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Thus ends my tutorial, congrats, and please feel free to hit me up by PM with any other questions you may have. Here's one last pic for incentive and shameless self promotion:

    [​IMG]
     

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 11, 2010
  2. Brunkion76

    Brunkion76 HE>i

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    I was wrapping up a commissioned Powerglide for a guy when another member hit me up with the question of how to do the head joint. I figured since the commissioned piece was still in pieces and I had a little time, I'd just add on to the standing tutorial to help people out more. I've written it to pick up right where I left off in the wing mod thread.

    11) Now, move on to the main body. Remove the 2 screws in his back, and the pin as well. This is accomplished using the heated pin trick, which is basically done by taking a soldering iron and applying it to the pin in question for anywhere between 30 seconds to a minute at a time until you are able to pull the pin out with pliers. You need to be careful here, too much heat for too long will melt the plastic.
    You will probably need to shave a bit off the plastic under the pin to be able to get a pair of pliers on it. This area will be covered by the backpack when it is back on, just don't go crazy. After you get the body apart, remove the energon connector, this creates a space which you will later use to fold PG's head into.

    12)Shave the pin off the front of the body (Don't mind the red chestpiece, i'm using a finished commission to show you how to do this head joint, although that is how it should look once you get to that point, just a simple shaving off of the energon chip plug and shaving the inside of the PG chestpiece till it fits on the body)
    [​IMG]

    13)In the spot where the ball joint was take a 5/64 drill bit and carefully and as straight as possible drill through both sides. This will create a slot to slide a pin through. What pin will I use you ask? The one from step 5 is great for this, go back and take a look in case you forgot.
    [​IMG]

    14)This is just a reference pic to show where and how the old head pin will be used.
    [​IMG]

    15)Take the wing joint from PG, you'll need to use it to fill the space between the shoulders on the pin. Here's a pic of it doing just that.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    16)I've drawn lines with a sharpie to show where to cut the joint, as well as shot of the dremel and cutting wheel at the spots you'll be cutting and what it should look like when you're done.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    17)Here's the 3 pieces of the joint, there should be 2 small ones and the longer middle one
    [​IMG]

    18)Take the piece with the pin in it and remove it with a pair of pliers. Next drill out the rest of that piece with a 5/64 drill bit.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    19)Take the old head pin and thread the 3 pieces onto it while simultaneously pushing the pin into position through the shoulder holes.
    It's not too hard, see
    ONE...
    [​IMG]

    TWO...
    [​IMG]

    and THREE...
    [​IMG]

    20)The long middle piece has a flat area on it, use this to glue your choice of balljoint onto it. I used a hand from ROTF scout Slapdash because its small and the corresponding socket you need to insert into PG's head to complete the balljoint is small too. Legends arm and leg joints work well here also. You may find that the three pieces in the middle are a little loose, just take some super glue, put a little dab in between 2 of the joints, and turn it slowly every 2 to 3 seconds or so until the glue dries and the joint has stiffened up. Well, that's it, you now have a head joint for Powerglide, enjoy!
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 17, 2013
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