Our Featured Radicon this month is none other than TheDevastator!

Plowking: Devs has been bashing and customizing for as long as I can remember. The one thing that has always blown me away is his ability to give articulation to his G1 Customs, that itself, is a major accomplishment, let alone his other customizing talents. I first met Devs, and his works, at Transtopia. He was always willing to lend some helpful advice, and always had some jovial wise crack or a punch lined joke too

REDLINE: I feel that more important than all the active participation TheDevastator has had with his various customs over the years is the amount of work he has done that was to benefit the community and not himself. He was the driving force behind the scenes at the now-defunct Transtopia.com website. This was a haven for kitbashers . . . a resource as well as a place to share and visit. He was largely responsible for getting gallery submissions placed up in their galleries, but he did a lot of administrative work as well. There are those that were there that already know this, but surprisingly, many more do not. He's not given enough credit for the ways in which he has helped to advance our Customizing community and helped in its growth. To this, Rich, I salute you!

I don't mean to down-play the customs that he has made, for not only has he made many, they're all downright wonderful to behold. Seeing his work at taking G1 Combiners, limbs and all, and fully-articulating them in addition to making them more cartoon-accurate is really something to see. If you've ever had a G1 combiner, you can appreciate how small most of these individual robot arms and legs and heads ARE. Truly impressive!

superquad7: Devs and I met through the former website, Transtopia. When I first started out kitbashing, I had journeyed to Transtopia to view all of the kitbashes that had came before me. I had been a member of the Radicons Yahoo! Group for a while, mind you, but by the time I actually completed my first custom Radicons had merged with this site and was still in its infancy essentially. Transtopia, on the other hand, was the place to be for Transformers customs.

Many guys from there were very kind to me, but it was Devs who I had really connected with. I first contacted about submitting galleries for Transtopia, but always struggled with the quality of my photographs. He was very laid back about saying, "well when you get ready, I'll be glad to upload em." Later, TFMaster had made me an administrator at Transtopia. Once this happened, I gladly offered to help Devs take some of the workload off of him.

Sadly, Transtopia closed down before Devs and I really got to work together (he was about to "train" me on how to work on the galleries there). While things didn't pan out for me to help Devs, he and I continued just growing as good friends. I bounce ideas off of him all of the time, and I just love goofing around with him. He's always been so kind and accommodating to me and always willing to help out. At one point he even helped me out with my homework! I'm blessed and honored to be able to call Devs "friend."

I'm not sure how many people know this, but a good bulk of what was Transtopia is largely due to the efforts of TheDevastator. He worked hard uploading artist galleries, making sure the site was streamlined, and just being the driving force behind what Transtopia stood for - the customized artwork of the Transformers fandom. He is still very passionate about all things relating to Transformers customs.

You'll see from the galleries below, the sheer sweetness that is the work of TheDevastator. His customs are some of my favorite TF customs EVER. Every time I see an "updated" G1 custom from him, it always makes me wish that's what Hasbro should have made.

Congratulations, buddy! You truly exemplify what it means to be a Radicon.



TheDevestator


The Interview

R: Tell us a little about yourself.

Devs: My real name is Richard Batson, I’m half Filipino, half American, and I’m 28 years old. I have one brother that’s a year older than me and a half-sister that’s just finished her first year in college. I’ve worked full time at Big Lots for almost nine years now. I have what others describe as an infectious sense of bad humor. I spend my free time with friends either watching TV, movies, or going shopping. The rest of my time is spent catching up with Transformers message boards and customizing Transformers.

R: What got you into the art of kitbashing? Why do you like kitbashing? How long have you been into kitbashing?

Devs: My very first recollection of customizing is when I stickered-up my G1 Scrapper, the second Transformer I ever received. My dad had hordes of little sticker letters from his beta max collection. I’d later go on to try and make my own transforming character out of paper, and that usually lead to poor results.

I eventually gave up on the whole concept until I saw some custom Cyberjets in G2’s hay day. There was a guy by the name of Drogen (or something similar to that) that made what seemed to be a small army of four-armed Cyberjets. The more complex figures I wouldn’t dare emulate, but he did have a very detailed follow-along for the four-armed Space Case. I saved up all the coins I could and eventually bought two of the little guys at a Kay Bee Toy Hobby (yeah, that used to be the full name!). It was at a mall and it was almost closing time so the gate was half-way down. I ran in and asked if I could still get something and the cashier said yes. I never thought until years later what a jerk I must’ve seemed like paying with nothing but change right at closing time.

I managed to mess up simple parts of the Cyberjet project but I eventually had my first true kitbash. My next custom project would be years later in the form of a show-accurate Beast Machines Obsidian repaint. I eventually turned him into a show-accurate kitbash.

My super-poseable Constructicons were technically my third kitbash project but they would mark the start of my custom “career.” I started them in 2003 and barely finished them in time for the OTFCC in 2004.

What I really love about customizing is that I’m able to make the figures the way I think they should be. I would love for all Transformer toys made to be super-poseable and show accurate. In some cases all they really need is a new color scheme, but I prefer to work on the older figures because they’re what I grew up with. I am very fond of combiners, and because there are so many, I usually only customize them.

R: How did you get to your level of customizing? Did you have any formal training and/or previous experience in your background? What have been some useful resources for your artwork that you suspect others are unaware of?

Devs: The only thing that comes to mind when I think of how I’ve improved my customizing skills is my level of patience. When I really enjoy what I’m doing I don’t really mind if it takes me a while to finish it. I know that I’ll eventually be able to figure out how to fit parts together and sometimes that’s all I need to keep going.

I never had any formal customizing training; at least not any more than any other beginner out there. I used to make things out of paper, but most of those were just boxy cars or 2D people. Shop class (or Technology as my school called it) was quite unpleasant for me. We did get to build things with some really nice tools, but I was terrible at most of the projects we had to work on. I remember spending almost a month sanding the same piece of wood for a shelf because I had no idea what I was doing and was afraid to ask.

I don’t really think I have any resources for my artwork that people might be unaware of. My work is based almost entirely on the cartoon appearances of the various characters with a little bit of my own unique touches. “Transformers: The Ark” is a very valuable resource for me. I never questioned whether or not I should get it.

R: What are some of your short-term goals as a kitbasher? What is your ultimate goal as a kitbasher?

Devs: I suppose my short-term goal would be to make some really awesome figures for the Transformers community to enjoy. My ultimate goal would be to inspire people to build their own customs regardless of how hard they think it’ll be.

R: Do you have a dream project, and if so, what is it?

Devs: My first dream project was Devastator. That dream being fulfilled, my next dream project is a group of my fan characters. I’ve given it a shot once before and it failed miserably, but I think I’ve gotten much better since then so I hope to eventually try again.

R: What other hobbies do you have, if any?

Devs: I collect Transformers. I have every US mass-released main-line figure since the start of G2 with the exception of some movie figures and variants. They’re a nightmare to collect. I also collect the occasional non-TF related action figure. My favorites include Terminator endoskeletons, Super Mutant Shredder (not to be confused with Super Shredder, though I like him too) and a few Iron Man toys. I also enjoy trying to improve the speed at which I solve Rubik’s Cube and I play the occasional video game.

R: Do you have any advice for up-and-coming kitbashers?

Devs: The best advice I have to give is to be patient. I don’t believe anything I do is terribly complicated, but the end result is something that even I find is amazing. The reason I’m able to achieve such results is because I’m willing to see a long project to the end. Also, don’t cut corners. It may be somewhat cliché to say it, but you’re only cheating yourself when you cut corners.

R: What is your inspiration for your projects? What influences your character choices?

Devs: The inspirations for my projects come mostly from the original cartoon series and movie. I want my customs to be able to do the things the characters did in the show and look the part as well. Even with the amazing work the recent comic book companies have done with the Transformers, I still favor how they looked on TV when I was growing up.

The main influences of the characters I chose to do used to be based on how much I liked them in the show balanced against how much I thought I could get the toys to look like they did in the show. Now that I feel pretty confident that I can get any character to be largely show-accurate, it’s more of a factor of when the toys were released. I like to try to go in order. The figures should also have some sort of combining feature. I’d love to customize all Transformers ever made, and since that’s not really a possibility, I’m starting with the gestalts. Did I mention I love gestalts?

R: Who are some of your favorite kitbashers and inspirations?

Devs: I’d be at a loss not to mention William Koshorek, aka TFmaster. The first work of his that I ever saw was his RiD Menasor. I wanted to make something that was equally amazing and I already had my Devastator in mind. Ultimately, I wanted to join his “club.” I had seen pictures of his super-poseable Devastator as well and even though I had already started on my Devastator project by that point, it gave me a few good ideas. The concept of kitbashing was in my head, but without the seed of desire TFmaster planted I don’t know if I’d be where I am today in the customizing community. I also love the G1 kitbashes that Ptitvite and Wheeljack have put out. Some of the stuff they do really blows my mind.

There are many other kitbashers that inspire me not so much through their works, but through their direct support of what I do. Redline, Superquad7 and Decepticon1976 just to name a few.

R: What figure has been your favorite to work on so far? Why?

Devs: Devastator has been my favorite figure to work on. Not only was he my first major rebuild, but he was and is my favorite gestalt. He has a consistent size scale that most other G1 gestalts don’t have and even before the modifications each Constructicon looked really awesome. It still took a lot of work to customize him but starting with a figure that already looks good typically makes for better results.

I also love how he’s stood the test of time as far as my customs are concerned. If I was to remake him today, there really isn’t much I’d change.

R: How long does it typically take you to complete a project from start to finish?

Devs: Assuming I have most of the parts I need, it will typically take me three months to finish a gestalt team. Ever since I customized Devastator I’ve been working on two gestalt teams at the same time and I usually switch back and fourth between the teams. I still consider it one project even though I’m doing two gestalts and that usually takes me six or seven months.

R: Which TF is your favorite and why? Favorite TF character? Favorite series? Favorite toy (non-custom)? [Answers do not need be the same for each question]

Devs: Devastator is my favorite Transformer because he looks so cool. In the toy line, the Constructicons were mostly the same scale and each looked great in robot mode. What child doesn’t love construction vehicles? The unified color scheme helped the appearance of the toys and TV show incarnations. Devastator was the first humanoid gestalt we were treated to in the show and at least for a while he was fairly imposing. That’s cool too.

My favorite series overall is G1, and that’s largely because that’s what I grew up with. As far as writing however, I think Beast Wars has been the best series.

It’s probably getting repetitive, but my favorite toy is Devastator. I just can’t get over how cool he looks. The first complete Devastator I ever had was my G2 Devastator. When I first got him I remember occasionally sitting him on a table and just staring at him. They’ve come up with some decent interpretations of him over the years, but nothing will ever compare to the original. My second favorite Transformer toy would have to be the Voyager Classics Optimus Prime.

R: What was your first customs project that you worked on? Any memorable stories to share?

Devs: See the answer to the first question.

R: What are your favorite movies//TV shows?

Devs: My favorite movie is The Transformers: The Movie. It’s in the unshakeable “god status” and there will never be another movie I like more. That doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been a better written or more successful movie, it just meant a lot to me. Following that, I like most of the stuff Leslie Nielsen was in, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, The Pick of Destiny, Godzilla, Ghostbusters, the Matrix trilogy, Star Wars and many more. For TV shows I love the new Battlestar Galactica, Stargate SG1 and Stargate: Atlantis, Transformers Animated, Dr. Who, The Soup, and just about anything on TRU TV.

R: What do you consider your strengths as a kitbasher are? Weaknesses?

Devs: My biggest strengths are my patience and my desire. I long to see how my customs will turn out and the best way to make sure that happens is to take my time. My weaknesses would be my inability to accurate measure anything, my sloppy cutting, and my reluctance to re-do any part I’m not completely satisfied with. It’s usually quicker to pull something apart that I’ve customized and re-customize it to my liking. However, I quite frequently will spend more time trying to “fudge” the part to look better and in the end I usually end up taking it apart anyhow. My painting could probably use some improvement too.

R: How would you describe your work environment? For example, do you like to have certain music going while making customs or do you have certain things set up that immediately inspire you?

Devs: My work environment is usually somewhat unorganized. I’ve always had a small area to work with and I’m constantly looking for tools that I’ve covered up with other tools. I sometimes will listen to music, but usually I have nothing more than the television running. I occasionally take breaks to watch TF episodes that involve the characters I’m working on for inspiration.

R: What are your favorite things about the process of making a custom? Pet peeves?

Devs: My favorite things are the acquiring of supplies and seeing a custom start to take a recognizable shape. I think I have more fun hunting down the base figures and buying the glues than I do actually customizing them sometimes. However, nothing can overcome the joy of seeing a pile of parts becoming something you’ve waited so long to see.

R: How do you incorporate other elements outside of Transformers into your work?

Devs: I can’t think of anything non-Transformer related in my work aside from the Chimaira stickers in my custom Cerebros’ chest. At the time I really hated the Headmaster statistic chest-readout gimmick and picked something that I thought had nothing to do with Transformers. My brother was pre-occupied with Chimaira at the time so it seemed like something silly I could do. I have very few non-Transformer customs and they mostly take cues from comic book characters.

I dunno if blood counts, but I cut myself at least one during every project. It’s not something I do on purpose of course, but some of it usually ends up in my customs.

R: What are things you look for as “cool” in a toy? Describe what you like/dislike in certain Transformer toys.

Devs: Poseability is easily the coolest feature in a figure. I absolutely fell in love with the super-poseable G2 figures when they came out, most notably Dreadwing, Smokescreen, and Laser Rod Optimus Prime. They looked awesome but even a really terrible figure looks much better when a few added points of articulation. I also like my figures to be blocky and well-proportioned. Arms and/or legs that are too long or too short can really hinder a figure’s appearance. That doesn’t mean I don’t like figures that don’t fit those guidelines, but the closer they are to those guidelines generally means I’ll like them more.

What I really dislike about some Transformer toys is the lack of poseability. Some figures like those of the G1 and early G2 era have an excuse - that’s as good as the designers thought to make them back then. Granted, some designs were still unforgivingly bad, but I’m willing to overlook most of the bad toys from those days. I’m mostly upset when a newer figure, say like most of the Armada toys, lack poseability because designers wanted to work in some silly gimmick or just wanted to save a little extra money. Yes, I am aware that they have their reasons, but that doesn’t mean some of those figures don’t suck.

R: What do your non-TransFan friends say about your work?

Devs: Most of them say, “That’s pretty cool,” and show little to no more interest in what I do. They are supportive, but they don’t really understand what an accomplishment some of my work is. I gave Groove legs for goodness sake!

R: How has the new movie affected your customs?

Devs: Outside of providing me with more custom kibble options, the new movie has not affected my work. In fact, the only movie parts I used for my customs were the tank turrets from two movie deluxe Brawl. I used them to make the shoulder cannons for my Predaking custom.

R: What artwork do you do outside of Transformers customs?

Devs: I used to draw various Transformer and non-Transformer characters before I started customizing. A drawing is nice, but nothing beats making the character come to life in the 3D world. I have a small series of custom action figures that I’m developing a universe for, but that’s on hiatus right now while I work on Transformer customs. They were mostly built out of spare parts, but I’ve vastly improved since I built them and I’d love to re-do them in more original forms.

R: What non-TF artwork heavily influences your customs work and why?

Devs: There was one Transformer custom I did of one of my original characters and he was based somewhat on medieval artwork. I just love the otherworldly feel some of the dragon-and-wizard artworks have. I’d like to experiment more with that sometime.

R: What has been the most influential movie for you and why?

Devs: I can’t think of any movie that continually influences me, but for my Devastator project I got a lot of influence from The Transformers: The Movie. He was so awesome an imposing and it hurt me that my Devastator toy couldn’t be as cool. Even my custom Devastator falls short, but he’s much closer now.

R: If you like to read, what are some of your favorite books and why? How does this impact your artwork?

Devs: The last real book I can remember reading was Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It had an unusual format and I love that sort of thing. Most of the non-Transformer reading material I’ve gotten lately is comedic stuff like Stephen Colbert’s I Am America and So Can You! and the Perry Bible Fellowship’s The Trial of Colonel Sweeto and Other Stories. Those books don’t really influence my work but I’d recommend them to anyone.

R: When you listen to music, what do you like to listen to and why? How does this impact your artwork?

Devs: I love listening to cheesy 80’s music like Dead or Alive’s “You Spin me Round” or Falco’s “Rock me Amedeus.” Sometimes songs of their nature get me excited and give me the energy I need to make it to the next step in my projects.

R: What do you want people to most remember you for and why?

Devs: I want people to remember me for my sense of humor because so many people take too many things in life too seriously. Everybody seems to want to wait until all of their troubles are out of the way before they’ll allow themselves to laugh at something and that day will never come. We need to enjoy life as it happens because we never know what’s coming up next. If people can remember that, then I think we’ll all be better off.

R: What toys besides TFs do you enjoy and why?

Devs: I enjoy most of the movie-related Marvel toys because they’re generally very poseable and realistic in appearance. Right now I’ve got most of the Iron Man 6” movie lineup. I collected Exo Squad toys until that line ended. The poseable human figures with robotic exo-suits looked so cool. I’ve always been a fan of robotic things. I really wish they’d release the series on DVD and make a new show and/or the movie they were planning for it. I have a few Power Ranger Zords as well.

R: Boxers or briefs?

Devs: I should’ve known telling you to add this question to the questionnaire would haunt me one day REDLINE! I’d tell you but I honestly don’t think most people would feel comfortable knowing what I wear under my pants.

R: What trends do you see in your own work and what do others tend to say about your customs?

Devs: I my cuts are getting straighter and my paint apps have greatly improved from my early projects. The biggest trend is that my figures are getting even more poseable. The elbows on my Stunticons and Aerialbots are ball-and-socket joints now instead of simple hinges. Also, their heads are able to tilt a bit from side-to-side and front-to-back instead of merely rotating.

I feel that people tend to shower me with praise with things like “this is what Hasbro should have come up with” or “holy crap, that is amazing” and “you’re my mentor.” I really love the attention, but I don’t really feel like I’m doing something other people couldn’t do. I try to stay humble and I’m usually surprised when I get such strong praise even after all of these years.

R: How has making Transformers customs impacted your life uniquely?

Devs: Just like every situation in life, there are good and bad things that come out of customizing. Billy was obsessive with this hobby and while he loved it, it was also a source of torment. Sometimes I fear I’ll fall into the same hole. My initial impulse is to get mad at anything that keeps me from customizing, but I have to realize that I need to have a life outside of it. I do love the praise I got though. I really feel like I have a place in the Transformers community and customizing is what I want to be known for over everything else Transformer related.

Basically what it all comes down to is to enjoy the hobby, but keep in mind that friends will always be more important.




Photograph #1 of TheDevastator's workbench


superquad7: Being the expert on the Devastator character/toy(s), what are some of your pet peeves on how he’s been handled (both in the cartoon and in the toylines), but also what’s so cool about him?

Devs: My biggest pet peeve is that Devastator has only been re-invented once in the 24 years Transformers has been around. That one time it was the Energon Construticon Maximus, and even that attempt was somewhat of a failure to me. He was only five figures instead of six, and only three of those five molds were original. He was only barely adequate as an homeage, and because of him we got an improper recolor for the Classics line.

Some people may think “there were more than just two Devastators in Transformers toyline history.” That is correct, but aside from the original Devastator and Constructicon Maximus, none of those Devastators were original molds. Action Master Devastator and the PVC figures were interpretations of the original toy and cartoon models, so I do not count them. Besides, they don’t transform.

I thought the G1 cartoon did a great job of giving the Constructicons screen time and portraying Devastator as a giant hulking monster. I didn’t like how easily he got his butt kicked, but that was pretty standard fare for the Decepticons. Constructicon Maximus’ portrayal in Energon was just plain terrible. That’s not surprising given the nature of the show.

Any homage to the original Devastator is cool to me, but ultimately it keeps toy designers from making a true new Devastator. Michael Bay has provided me with some hope.

plowking: You don't have many G1 combiners left to have upgraded them all. Do you plan to do these remaining four (Seacons, Monstructor, Raiden, and Dinoking)? Any other G1 updates?

Devs: You forgot Roadcaesar, Liokaiser, Landcross, and the Micromasters gestalts. I also haven’t counted out non-humanoid combiners like Reflector. While I’d love to do them all, I’m focusing on US released stuff right now. The Japanese gestalts are on the short list though.

I really don’t like talking too much about a project before I even start on it, but I will say that I have sea creatures and monsters very near my desk.

REDLINE: I know you have said that someday you would like to make "new" combiners, much like myself, Ptitvite and Wheeljaxx have done. Do you plan to do these as soon as you finish all the G1 combiners? Care to divulge any of these on your list beyond the obvious Devastator?

Devs: It is true that I would love to make an original Devastator custom. I’d probably work on my custom characters before that though, and yes, this would all come after I’ve completed the G1 US humanoid gestalt roster.

REDLINE: Have you told Ptitvite you take back your proposal, and if so, when do you plan to move to Missouri so we can overload this area's "Geek Allowance"?

Devs: I was tempted to take back my proposal to Ptitvite, mainly since I’m not gay, but I just can’t say turned off by that guy! Also, I’d love to move to Missouri but there are a few other people on the “move in with me” list that I would be doing a disservice to not to check with first.

The Radicon Staff would like to thank TheDevastator for taking the time to answer all of our questions! We wish you all the very best in your future endeavors as an artist and we look forward to all of your future contributions!




Photograph #2 of TheDevastator's workbench


TheDevastator's Customs

Combaticons - Bruticus

Bruticus

Constructicons - Devastator

Devastator

Terrorcons - Abominus

Abominus

Protectobots - Defensor

Defensor

Technobots - Computron

Computron

Stunticons - Menasor

Menasor

Cataclysm

Alternators Advantage

Powerlinx Optimus Prime

Black Arachnia

Cog

Cerebros

Predacons - Predaking

Predaking


TheDevastator Complete TFW Radicon Gallery


TheDevastator's Threads

Super-poseable Combaticons

Super-poseable Protectobots

Articulated Cog

Articulated Constructicons

Articulated Cerebros

BW Blackarachnia repaint

Powerlinx Prime repaint

Articulated Technobots

Articulated Terrorcons

Alternators Advantage (repaint)

Expanded Universe Cataclysm

Sound the alarms, it's an Air Raid!

Fireflight - for when you have that burning desire to fly

Silverbolt - neither silver nor a bolt - discuss!

Skydive - cool bot or the worst airborne hangout ever?

Superion! His name isn't as humorous as the others

Slingshot - a great way to get animal crackers into the pool without leaving your apartment!

Dragstrip - Now with mods Muler's team never dreamed of!

Wildrider - No wild has been ridier!

Breakdown, takedown, everybody wants into the crowded line

Deadend - More depressed than a tongue at a dentist's office

Motormaster - Obey your master! Or don't. Just please look at the pics.

Menasor - Just put some cream on it

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