Heavy/Scratch: Animated Cheetor Head Replacement

Discussion in 'Radicons Customs' started by Arginus Prime, Aug 3, 2020.

  1. Arginus Prime

    Arginus Prime Active Member

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    Hey folks, I've been working on a 3D printed project for a replacement head for the Botcon TFA Cheetor. Always wanted to make one as the head-sculpt on the official figure doesn't really cut it for me.

    I've finally managed to design, print and test-fit a prototype and would like to share the results to you! I did my best to replicate the official design from Derrick J. Wyatt. I was expecting the alt-mode to be a disaster as I didn't know if the model would fit in the cramped space (maybe that's one of the reasons why the official head-sculpt was so flat) but it turned out pretty okay. It even looks like a set of claws protruding from the boot of the car (if you squint a tiiiiny bit).

    The SLA print wasn't perfect, lots of blemishes and the printing service placed support materials onto the actual face. I'll go for another test print after some minor modifications to the clearances. I used Fusion 360 for the 3D modeling. The first version I created had some troublesome geometry and it was impossible to print. I couldn't fix it no matter what I did in the 3D program so I decided I'd have another go at this from scratch. I'm happier with how the second version turned out.

    IMG20200802141500.jpg IMG20200802141629.jpg IMG20200802141850.jpg IMG_0285.jpg IMG_0283.jpg IMG_0296.jpg djw-design.png Cheetor - Comparison 03.png

    More photos attached. What do you think?

    Edit: Formatting
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 4, 2020
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  2. The Fallen

    The Fallen Retired Collector

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    That is indeed a vast improvement over the original. I think you absolutely nailed the design in relation to the artwork. Nice job!
     
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  3. deliciouspeter

    deliciouspeter Back in Black TFW2005 Supporter

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    Looks great. Nice work! It does look a touch big compared to the artwork, but regardless it is awesome. Can’t wait to see it painted up.
     
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  4. tabtiurf

    tabtiurf Chimeracon

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    Rad! One of the best looking 3d prints I've seen and a much better fit for the character.

    Don't forget to do the neck fix while you're in there!
     
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  5. misternewuzer

    misternewuzer Predacon Secret Police

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    This looks great! I'd buy it if I had the Cheetor toy :[

    You could potentially help me (and other customizers!) with something though... Could you use this model as a base for a Drift head?[​IMG]
     
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  6. ThunderDestron

    ThunderDestron Vast predatory bird

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    Awesome!

    animated custom = instant like
     
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  7. SG hailstorm

    SG hailstorm JaAm aficionado

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    i....i really really want this
     
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  8. valguerra

    valguerra Well-Known Member

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    Great job. Will they be able?
     
  9. Arginus Prime

    Arginus Prime Active Member

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    Thank you! Now that you've mentioned it, the print does look bigger compared to DJW's artwork. While doing the model, I was also looking at the page illustrations in the Stunti-Con Job comicbook and Cheetor's head in it are bigger (probably to express emotion better). I'm having trouble deciding if I should scale down to match DJW's original concept because doing so means starting from scratch again as the clearances would be wrong and panel lines might be too small to print if I just scale down the existing STL.

    Much thanks! I noticed the neck issue too. I will when I get a better pin removal tool. It's great getting tips and feedback from awesome customizers like you and deliciouspeter! :D 

    I can give it a shot. It's going to be more difficult as it seems there's no other artwork of TFA Drift out there. Cheetor had these official turn-around sketches that helped quite a lot:

    Cheetor - Head.png

    English is not my first language. What does the question mean?
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2020
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  10. deliciouspeter

    deliciouspeter Back in Black TFW2005 Supporter

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    If it’s any trouble, don’t change a thing! If anything a larger size may be an improvement overall. Looks great and can’t wait to see it painted up!
     
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  11. ThunderDestron

    ThunderDestron Vast predatory bird

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    Doesnt make much sense in English either! I think "able" might be autocorrected from "available" (as in available to buy/ print)
     
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  12. valguerra

    valguerra Well-Known Member

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    will the files be available?
     
  13. Arginus Prime

    Arginus Prime Active Member

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    Yes, sorry for the late reply. I'm working on the revisions now and once the test print is perfect, I'll make the STL available.
     
  14. ipmj2

    ipmj2 Well-Known Member

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    This is really nice! God bless!
     
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  15. misternewuzer

    misternewuzer Predacon Secret Police

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    And then Drift! *fingerscrossed*
     
  16. Ramjet555

    Ramjet555 Well-Known Member

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    That's absolutely incredible in its own right, but honestly the most incredible thing here is that you modeled that in Fusion. How in the world is that even possible, that program seems like it'd be pulling teeth to model something that organic! I figured it would be zbrush or Blender!
     
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  17. Arginus Prime

    Arginus Prime Active Member

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    Here's some update photos to see how the paint could look like. I've never tried painting a figure before and made the mistake of putting a grey primer as the initial coats. The yellows turned out bad and I had to do another coat of white primer on top of everything. I didn't try to strip the wrong paint layers as I didn't know how resin would react to the thinner.

    IMG20200909175413.jpg IMG20200909175419.jpg IMG20200909175426.jpg

    I'll be adding the greens (will try to copy the neon-ish greens of the figure instead of the shade of green in the DJW illustration), some silver for the mouth part (like the figure too) and some black panel lines.

    I haven't got around to doing a second print yet but decided to put the first print to good use by testing out the paint. In person, it looks shinier that I'd like it to be so I'll try to finish it off with a matte/flat topcoat.

    I've learned a lot from painting this and hopefully I get to bring that wisdom when painting the next print.

    Haha, yeah. I've started doing some turn around sketches for it. Let's see how it turns out. I'll post a separate thread if something comes of it.

    I know what you mean! 75% of the design work was planning. I used 3D Sketches and Lofts. I did some Surface modeling for the facial features. And for the back of the head I used Form modeling.
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2020
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  18. misternewuzer

    misternewuzer Predacon Secret Police

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    That would be wonderful, I have a Blurr waiting in the wings, I would be first in line to purchase :]
     
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  19. Arginus Prime

    Arginus Prime Active Member

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    Some more progress photos. One part showed a tiny crack after it had fallen to the floor. :confused:  Black panel lines around the eyes and face before the top coat and the prototype will be done.

    IMG20200910164506.jpg IMG20200910164516.jpg
     
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  20. LegoTFGuy

    LegoTFGuy aka BrickBotGuy

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    Looks absolutely phenomenal!! Great to see more Animated projects.
     
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