Been pitching this idea around and I'm just going for it despite lacking part of what I need to finish him. Optimus Primal is a deeply underrated Prime for me, but also I think that's partly because none of his other toys look nearly as iconic as that season 1 design fore me. Transmetal Primal is a little goofy with the chrome blue head and health of unhighlighted details in his sculpt. Optimal Optimus is just a little too busy and unfocused for me. So I felt it my mission to make a cool Transmetal Optimus Primal that more folks could enjoy. He's getting additional fur sculpted onto some of his robotic parts and a paint job that more evokes the look of Season 1 Primal. The primary robot mode head will also be losing the goofy mouth I've alway had mixed feelings about. Update 9/3/2020 - Got the fists nearly done for both modes, robot mode head is looking really close to how I wanted it. Also the legs are shipping, huzzah!
I've always felt the same way about Transmetal OP too. That's why I didn't buy the recent OSKO/3P version of him, as I felt they didn't give enough additional pieces to customise his look into something less goofy.
Very nice. I like this mold. It was interesting that the Transmetal molds had more organic features in bot mode, and more robotic in beast modes.
This!!! This makes want to do the same as this was my favorite Primal figure!!! I look forward to the finished product!!!
Thanks so much for the kind compliments. I really want this to be the kind of Primal anyone would be happy about having. This biggest hurdle I've yet to cross is that I want to get a pair of Season 1 Primal legs and modify them to go on this body. That way the robot mode will be a bit taller and better proportioned, but also the ape mode will no longer look extremely stubby. I guess the bad part is that he'd lose the hoverboard mode, but I assume that's a small sacrifice for the modifications. This is the original digibash I made for the start of this whole project. A friend urged me to start doing this and honestly I really appreciate the advice because its made the direction of the project feel a lot more focused. This is my first Beast War custom, well as an adult and not as a 12 year old like when I painted my TM Cheetor 19 years ago. If this turns out well though I have plans for a Hound that turns into a hound, mostly because I feel like it was a missed opportunity and TM Rhinox doesn't look that much like a Rhino.
Sounds interesting but to me it would be too much organic detail for a Transmetals' beast mode and I really like the surfboarding monkey (/ape). What would his flight mode be then? And you wouldn't have the original toy's back and butt section to cover the robot mode thighs anymore. I hope I don't sound too opposed And every Primal needs his butt... I really like that idea. Looking forward to see your custom to this one Did you make those digibashes with photoshop?
I figure the robot bits being exposed will be mostly fine, especially considering the beast mode is more robotic in sculpt than the robot mode. I have some ideas on how to blend it all together better once the legs are here. I've been having a lot of fun getting the fur all dry brushed and funky looking for the final assembly. I'm debating sanding the fur down on one leg and making it more visible robotic, maybe even asymmetrically like I did on the arms. This time on purpose though, as originally it was going to be all one arm, but I messed up and sculpted the wrong forearm with the upper arm. I really wish the air attack Primal was smaller, I almost bought some parts to one, but he's colossal compared to all other Primal toys and his arms or legs would have been wonderful for this. Ignore the robot mode head, his beast mode head isn't done yet and I'm installing articulation in it. Edit: Also I used GIMP for my digibashes because its free lol.
Little more progress today on cleaning up the fur, adding blue accents, and hopefully making the head look nicer.
You also making it even more asymmetrical, i think that makes ir even better, only complaint is that you should have left his left pec mechanical or at least have some mechanical details , like the one that looked like a badge
You know, you're not wrong. I had considered doing that, but the paint on the robo mode gorilla chest turned out so well, at least for me, that I didn't want to obscure it any. Like do I wanna take pride in my sculpting or painting and I guess painting won out. I'm definitely going to attempt to make the legs more asymmetrical to make up for it.
Final test fit before final paint. I have the legs all resculpted and I have the base coat on them. Just gotta let it all cure, do the washes and weathering, then he's basically done.
I had the longest internal debate about what eye color to give him, I ended up settling on blue just because I felt like it made him look friendly and heroic. He's all done, he'll probably be going up on ebay in the next few days. And gorilla mode! Its a little awkward, but I like it.
Stumbled upon this thread, I gotta say this guy looks EXACTLY like ROTB Primal its uncanny. Great job!