Leozack - Finished! Updated Pictures/Words: After some users provided great advice in this thread, I went back and did some reworking of this figure. The first thing (hopefully) that you'll notice is that I've done a lot more work on the head. I knew I had to make it more show-accurate or I'd never be happy with it. I mean, the guy doesn't just have a lion's mane on his head, he has a giant-as mechanized lion's mane on his head that almost resembles Mer-Man or something. I had to made it big, and make it stick out from the sides of his head. Second, he needed his spear, which was easy to steal from DOTM Space Case. Third, increased details for both him and Lionbreast. I think it'll be pretty obvious what I did. I tried not to go overboard, as I always like to make my customs look like something Hasbro COULD make, not the more hyperdetailed ultra-realistic stuff that, frankly, is out of my league. Fourth, I decided to go a little further and make sure Lionbreast could attach as a gun in either robot or alt mode. I gave him a simple handle (which unforunately resembles an enormous dong in beast mode) for hand-held gun mode. I also attached a couple rare earth magnets to allow him to mount in alt mode. All in all I'm pretty satisfied with this, though as I said originally, I am VERY eager for constructive criticism. Nothing's ever perfect, and I would feel privileged to hear what I could do better. Up next, Killbison (god have mercy, I think I'm doing all of Liokaiser). *******************************OLD PHOTOS************************************************ G1 Leozack is small, and not even remotely cartoon-accurate. Botcon Leozack doesn't have the "v-shaped wings behind back" or animal "helmet" look that I like so much. So, what's a guy to do? Get a Jetfire, get some extra parts, get some paints, and get to work. The following is still a work in progress. I'll get into why I'm dissatisfied with it later, but I think I still have a lot of work to do. Frankly, I've just been staring at it too long and I've lost all objectivity. I'm hoping that after seeing the following pictures, some of you can help me get it right. I also decided to take a stab at Lionbreast. He's even WIP-er than Leozack. I plan to paint the tail white, re-attach it, and paint the indented portion of his "mane" white as an accent color. So, here's the areas where I could use your advice: 1. Even though I'm this far in, is this the best mold? I've used tfu.info to look at every single plane mold, and I think this is the best I can do if I want to v-shaped wings in bot mode. I positively HATE the Stay-Puft Mashmallow Man legs/calves. I'm half-considering starting over from scratch using a Veritech mold altered to let the wings rotate upward. 2. Same issue with the head. I've put a lot of hours in, but I can't shake the feeling that it's just not as cartoon accurate as it could be. I'm considering sanding the sides completely smooth and attaching some "fins". Even if I stick with that head, I've got a ton of work sanding and puttying some of the seams... 3. Ok, this is an easier one. If I'm sticking with this mold, I need to spice things up a bit. It feels a bit...boring, honestly. I am considering taking some inspiration from the cartoon and adding some yellow in places, but I'm not sure where. I'd also like to add something to the chest, kind of like the white/blue stickers on the G1 toy, but I don't think my painting skills are up to the task. Long story short, I've been staring at it and thinking about it for 3 weeks and I could use any/all persective or advice people feel like giving. Help?
I definitley think you're being too hard on yourself, this guy looks great, maybe all you need is to weather him a lil and add in some more colour to vary it a bit as you've said. I love the head
I think it's great you're attempting this character and it looks pretty good already. The original colors were pretty dull in the first place, so you do need some accent colors, I'd say red or orange in some small key locations, anything that looks like it should be highlighted, like gems. You might consider putting in some orange/yellow stripes for contrast. Definitely needs some panel lining, maybe black on the blue parts and blue on the white to bring him together. The face looks perfect, but the helmet needs some work. The fins should definitely come out more like a mane, and I think the side parts next to his cheek are too large. It's hard to follow the line art, you really just have to compile reference pictures and sculpt in your favorite details. Yours looks pretty awesome though. I think larger side fins will make him look more like a dragoon.
I think the head looks sweet. Kinda a newer look. I think the chest detale will add alot to the look but yea your being to hard on yourself. Looks good.
Thanks for the great constructive input. I think we're on the same page regarding the highlights. I'll probably go with yellow on the "kneecaps" and someplace on the forarms, at the very least. I haven't done panel lining before. Is it difficult? Should I practice on another figure first? I'm glad to hear someone else agree with me about the side fins. I am really at a loss for how to do it, though. Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated. You're 100% right about the fact that the animation model is pretty difficult to follow. I've got a whole directory of screenshots, and no two are exactly alike. The fins are huge, the fins are small. The fins are swept back, the fins are at a 90 degree angle from the head. The things on the sides are even with his jawline, the things are all the way below his jawline. I do need to just go with whatever feels best, but what I've got sure isn't exactly it...
i feel like for the legs, all you need is a little putty or styrene. sand them down as best as you can then box them up a little more. so they aren't so round and chubby. besides that it looks great to me!
Wow, I'm working on one too! Same mold and everything. But looking good so far. Where'd you get the hard, or was it something you created?
I think it looks really good man, I'd tighten up some paints here and there and maybe look into some custom labels
You mean the head? It's created from a WFC Cliffjumper, a knockoff Robot Masters Victory Leo, the balljoint from a PCC head, and some putty. I'm scrapping it, though, after hearing Minsok's input. I've got a couple good ideas for a replacement head. When you say "tighten up" do you mean the occasional bit of slop left over, or something else? Also, do you know of anyone other than Reprolabels that does custom labels? I've offered to pay for 3 different custom sets and they never even do me the courtesy of turning me down, they just...don't respond. Even though I've spent hundreds of dollars there. Classy.
I think it looks great, some yellow striping on the arms and you'll be just about there, i love the head, but it's you're call, my advice is don't completely get rid of it unless you intend to use parts for the new version. It's a good start all round by the looks of things. If you decide to go with the rest of the breast force I think the HFTD Terradive mould would work well for Hellbat and Gaihawk.
Yeah, that's what I meant about the paint. On the subject of the labels, you might want to just get some measurements and make them yourself on the computer, then print them out on adhesives
Updated Pictures/Words: After some users provided great advice in this thread, I went back and did some reworking of this figure. The first thing (hopefully) that you'll notice is that I've done a lot more work on the head. I knew I had to make it more show-accurate or I'd never be happy with it. I mean, the guy doesn't just have a lion's mane on his head, he has a giant-as mechanized lion's mane on his head that almost resembles Mer-Man or something. I had to made it big, and make it stick out from the sides of his head. Second, he needed his spear, which was easy to steal from DOTM Space Case. Third, increased details for both him and Lionbreast. I think it'll be pretty obvious what I did. I tried not to go overboard, as I always like to make my customs look like something Hasbro COULD make, not the more hyperdetailed ultra-realistic stuff that, frankly, is out of my league. Fourth, I decided to go a little further and make sure Lionbreast could attach as a gun in either robot or alt mode. I gave him a simple handle (which unforunately resembles an enormous dong in beast mode) for hand-held gun mode. I also attached a couple rare earth magnets to allow him to mount in alt mode. All in all I'm pretty satisfied with this, though as I said originally, I am VERY eager for constructive criticism. Nothing's ever perfect, and I would feel privileged to hear what I could do better. Up next, Killbison (god have mercy, I think I'm doing all of Liokaiser).
Perfect! The lion helmet is just right! The colors you've chosen are great for the character and really make him work, and I LOVE the use of Space Case's trident. I have a friend who's trying to make one up out of Jetfire as well (of course, I have to send her the Jetfire I have at my house first ) It's just such a great idea to use this mold...she almost has me thinking of doing it too! Seeing yours might...MIGHT get me to give it a go. This is an awesome job.
