So here is what we are going to try and accomplish today:

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The first thing I noticed when I got Kup was how much I disliked his arm pads [as] they hindered everything. So, I sought out to fix it at any cost!

As much as I hate parts forming due to transformation, I couldn’t find any other options. I am super pleased with the look, and who cares if he parts forms? He's Kup!

Things required:

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• a soldering iron (for pin removal)
• a drill
• a 5/32 drill bit
• a Kup

First, remove the pins from his forearms to take the door panel off (which would be in the photos below if I hadn’t done it already, but pretend there is a pin here):

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Now, take a soldering iron and place it on the top of that pin for 30-45 seconds (the goal here is to make the pin hot enough to make the plastic soft and if you go too long on this it may deform the plastic):

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Once you heat the pin enough the door panel will come off with very little effort like so

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Part two of this is to make a hole in the back of the leg using the 5/32 drill bit.

I have already done this on mine, and I don’t have any pictures of it before the holes were made. Again, use your imagination. While looking at some of the detail on the legs, notice the things that kind of resemble mufflers parallel to each wheel. I used these for a starting point for the holes I drilled. On the outside half of the leg in the second notch down, take your X-Acto knife and make a starter hole so the bit will not walk during drilling:

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Now that you have marked the whole drill it out:

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Now test fit the panel to see if it works (and it should):

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And that is it! You are fiinshed!! You should be left with this:

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To transform him back to truck, put the panels back where they go on the arm (just don’t put the pin back in):

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[The] arm [should look] just like this:

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Transform him the same way before the panels were removed:

[/CENTER]

None of this affects poseability either, so if you feel the same way I did, here is the means to change it!

(Guns graciously donated by RotF brawn)

Thanks guys hope you enjoyed and that it helps!


[quote=Lord T]To remove the arm pads did you need to heat the pin with the soldering iron? I can't think of another way they would be detachable.[/quote]

Yes, you take a soldering iron and hold it on the top part of the pin for 30-45 seconds (depends on the iron) and pull the panel right off. You need a fine tipped soldering iron I always use a butane one I got at RadioShack.


[quote=Thinktank]I think I have figured out a "non-partsformer" cheat to that modification.

Basically the gist of it is Zaku hoses:
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwaldo/sets/72157613372009085/]HG Zaku II Rebuild - a set on Flickr[/url][/quote]

[CENTER][IMG]http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachment.php?attachmentid=27297560&stc=1&d=1337157572​

Removing the door panel from a hot pin should be effortless. Make sure you give the soldering iron plenty of time to heat up before counting (if you turn it on and immediately try to heat the pin it will take much longer than the recommended 40 seconds). I have had instances where I pin did not want to come out and required more time.

There is a tutorial on pin removal as well found here: http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/tutorials-how-tos/214537-how-remove-pins-rivets.html

 

In that case, you could try my version. Seen here. I had no idea this tutorial was here, but I ended up with my own arm mode.

With mine...
1. Just break the other door to match.
2. Using a pair of side cutters, trim the pin as short as you can.
3. Mix up some Dev-Con Plastic Welder to put the now shortened pins back into their shallow holes.

4. Disassemble his legs and glue a strong magnet in. Shows where I stuck the magnet.


5. Reassemble.

When you transform back into vehicle mode, the doors just pop into to place. Hope this helps.