Any ideas? I just combed home depot and walmart and target for some sort of chrome finish pipe about 3" long that I can slide over the plastic existing exhaust pipes. I was hoping for a REAL chrome finish, with a soft tip (rounded in a bit) best Idea I came up with was one of those old antennas you see on a radio that extends...only using the larges section, but couldn't even find these. I bought some pens that have a shiny steel rod section, gonna ambutate it apart and see how it works, got a nice shiney finish and its the perfect size.

EDIT....

The pens were the totally wrong size. I bitched to my girlfriend and she said. I have make up applicators exactly like you are describing. So...here I am 10 minutes later with chrome exhaust pipes for leader class prime. WITH a tutorial, because it was sofa king easy!!!

here's my quick how-to....

1. go to Rite-Aid/Longs pharmacy and buy this (chrome) makeup application set. don't worry about people wondering why a dude's buying make up... Screw them you have more important things to worry about. My girl said the set is like $2.

2. break off the actuall brushes and shit on the applicators. you need the tube.
Take a pencil or something light and make 2 small marks where you want to cut the piping.



3. rest an X- acto blade on your mark, pressing firmly (but keeping it straight) then roll the piping under your blade, causing a 'score' where you want the piping cut. roll it a few times until you hear light 'crunching noises'



4. grab some pliers or something to grasp the smaller end (not the part you will be using as the pipe, or you will hurt the finish)... with other hand, snap off you pipe. don't laugh at my shitty Ikea brand tools...



5. take the good part, and lay it's end onto some fine grit sandpaper. gently sand off any sharp edges. this also creates a nice buffed look for the edge.



6. cut about 3/4 off of the rubber pipes on leader Prime. Whatever's left over you need to shave down so these new pipes slide on tightly. I suggest trimming the rubber pipes so they are cone shaped. I left most of the base untouched, only trimmed a bunch off the tops. they need to be shaped like a pencil point.



7. Firmly slide your new pipes onto Optimus. Mine sit so tight, I won't even need glue. Now, I have Nice shiny chrome exhaust pipes.

 

Nice work! It looks pretty good!

 

Nice work! It looks pretty good!

 

That's a really good mod.

 

That's a really good mod.

 

This is great im definitly going to try this

 

This is great im definitly going to try this

 

Seconded! Great work on the custom AND the tutorial!  

 

Seconded! Great work on the custom AND the tutorial!  

 

Cool idea.

 

Cool idea.

 

Any bot mode pics?

 

Any bot mode pics?

 

not yet. matter of fact he's in the shed drying right now. I doused many coats of gloss clear coat on the exterior. LEmme tell you, he looks amazing with a high gloss. the painted flames on the hood and wheel wells in the back. polished the metallic silver parts and ...

 

not yet. matter of fact he's in the shed drying right now. I doused many coats of gloss clear coat on the exterior. LEmme tell you, he looks amazing with a high gloss. the painted flames on the hood and wheel wells in the back. polished the metallic silver parts and ...

 

It is a good idea eccept the new piping has a better sheen than the exaust guards.

 

It is a good idea eccept the new piping has a better sheen than the exaust guards.

 

not necessarily. I painted a high gloss almost chrome like finish on the guards as well, looks pretty good together.

 

not necessarily. I painted a high gloss almost chrome like finish on the guards as well, looks pretty good together.

 

Give the man a Nobel Prize of some sort!

Brilliant!



*runs out to the makeup counter*