Amazing paint job.

what is that ?

 

Tint film for car windows. There was a lot of discussion in the TE-01 Optimus thread starting with this post. You can get samples of various shades of window tint for just a few bucks each and that's all you'll need to do a ton of window customizing (the site is in @Scourgatron's post that I linked to). I don't think anybody ever managed to successfully apply the tint (as in remove the clear backing and get it to adhere to the window) - it's designed for glass and doesn't seem to want to bond correctly to plastic - so we just put it behind the windows and leave it at that. An extra benefit to the behind-the-windows approach is you tend to end up with a bit of a wave pattern that very closely resembles what we saw in the cartoon but using actual reflection rather than just flat-painted blobs. I liked ER Op's windows because they were clear and silver backed but it was a bit too flat looking. Using semi-reflective film gives it more depth (as opposed to fully reflective film which would make it look like his chest was just mirrors). The one I used was a bronze reflective which made the windows a little darker so they're a bit more believable (if you can't see in clearly, it's easier to believe there's a truck interior).

This is probably the clearest example of the wave pattern I described from the pics I've taken of him.

Almost looks cell shaded, doesn't it? But it's a real effect instead of just a picture of the effect.


Someday I'd like to replace Optimus' windows with lexan panels with the tint actually applied but my last test left the film a little bubbly on the plastic - as I said, it's intended for glass, not plastic, so it may not be possible to get a clean application.

 

Very insightful with the window trick. I am nearly done with my repaint of this figure as well. The reprolabels are a nice touch., and the extra paint apps. now i gotta say, prime looks really nice, for sure, but that trailer interior, wow!

Why the decision to leave the front rims alone? it was the first thing I did.

*edit: nevermind, i see why, you answered with the biceps question. I should have read more.

I left the biceps clean for that reason n mine as well.

 

With the rims, it was more that I never really settled on a final solution. He has three different wheel looks. Different colored tires on the back of the truck and the trailer, and then unpainted rims on the front. Ideally, I'd want to get them all to match but painting the tires is usually a no go - they have to take too much wear and don't hold the paint as well as I'd like. Also those holes in the back and trailer wheels just look bad.

What I'd really like to do is create completely new wheels for him with rubber tires and everything. One of the things I'm looking into for another project is making molds from 3d prints and casting them in durable plastic resins. Resins can be dyed and some are softer with a more rubber feel so I could potentially create rims in hard plastic and tires in rubber and assemble them. That's a future project, though, that I may or may not take on after I finish the other project and actually get the experience with casting (and, of course, buy the supplies).

 

I have contemplated with previous figures using wheels from a scale model kit, but I can't wrap my head around buying a set of wheels half the price of the figure. The real pain with that is the front wheels are on metal factory push fit pins that are legendarily hard to get out without some damage. The rears are a flanged, split tab molded onto the wheel inserted into a round hole, so mounting any other tires/wheels will be a feat.

 

Yeah, I'd have to create my own wheels because of the weird connections. I suppose I could design them to accept tires from an actual model kit (no idea why that didn't occur to me) but as you note, that would drive the price up. Not sure how much I've spent on him already but I'm pretty sure adding in tires from a model kit would be more than I'd want to pay.

 

Really pro looking work, that inside trailer details looks incredible. May I ask how tf you got behind the windows to apply the tint? I don't see how looking at mine. Thanks in advance!

 

You can see those dark spots on either side of each window? Those are tabs. If you open his chest, you can see the backs of the tabs. I just used a small screwdriver to push them out from behind. Another advantage of the tint is that it hid the tabs.

 

I got some Silver Krylon Fusion (had some luck with it on G.I. Joe Vehicles back in the day) but when I looked at my Roller Both Sides had 2 cracks on them from assembly  Emailed them to see if I can get a replacement sides so hopefully that works out.

(Note love that my personal Emoji I loaded here back in the day is still on here   )

 

So I got the blue paint you mentioned but I'm having some problems with it. It keeps turning white on me even after several coats. Did you have this problem?

 

No, that's really weird. Did you use a primer?

 

Beautiful custom work, Snaku. I'm planning on painting mine as well. I was also planning to paint some of the vent details on the backs of his legs for some nice contrast, so it's nice to see what it'll actually look like. So nice. I may try to find a red to match the upper body and paint the tops of his shoulders and the biceps. Why oh why didn't they just mold those in red? Dammit Hasbro!

How hard was it to remove the wheels from his legs? At first I thought they were pinned, but after looking again, I see they snap on. But it's such a tight area, I'm afraid of cracking the bits that they snap into.

 

Thanks! Look forward to seeing yours. Reliving the wheels was easier than I expected. Just grab from one side of the wheel and sort of pull down. Same with the trailer. Front wheels are pinned so I dunno about those: didn't want to try it.

 

No primer. But I did clean and sanded the parts a bit. And the drone already had some blue paint on it but got the same result.

 

I'd guess the paint must be defective. I've never seen that happen before. I'm on my second can of the stuff and both of mine have been fine.

 

Just to be sure I got the right paint.

 

Yeah, that's the stuff. Try it on some scrap pieces or something and see if the results are any different. I've never seen any spray paint do what you're seeing. I assume you shook the can before using it?

 

Did you disassemble the legs and waist? It’s that’s thing I need to do to finish my toy schemed version.

 

I wasn't able to get the legs apart. I was able to open up his upper body to separate it from the waist and I was able to open up the thighs but that was about it. I had to mask and spray to paint the legs.

 

I may take a stab at the leg pins. Have seen my version?